The Shadow Husband

Loved the way it has begun and ended. Of course, vivian's death was unexpectedly shocking. Hoped to see more of his work

The term "slice-of-life" denotes a genre that focuses on the everyday, seemingly ordinary events in the lives of characters and their surroundings. While it's frequently employed within the anime and manga community, this genre seldom ventures beyond these confines, making these mediums particularly distinctive. But what precisely constitutes slice-of-life? What criteria must be met to accurately categorize something as such?

People will inevitably have differing understandings of the genre's definitive essence. For me, however, I believe Hitoshi Ashinano, famed for Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou, provides an apt definition through his work. His meticulous yet minimalist attention to detail, both in the foreground and background, invites readers to internally fill in the gaps he outlines, thus compelling movement. Ashinano’s ability to immerse readers in such a static medium is unwavering and commendable.

While PositioN may not reach the heights of YKK or possess the intricate detail of his more recent works like Kabu no Isaki or Kotonoba Drive (a loose sequel to this piece), it remains a solid addition to his calming oeuvre. Among all his creations, PositioN might be considered the one with the most conventional setting—sketches of people’s encounters with the supernatural and unexplained, typical exchanges with friends, and discovering unique aspects during leisurely walks down familiar roads.

There is perhaps no better mangaka to encapsulate "simplicity" than Ashinano. In PositioN, his simplest work, this quality is most evident. Slice-of-life doesn't rely on grandeur but rather on the small, meaningful interactions that occur daily, which though seemingly simple, enrich life significantly.

PositioN is a relatively brief manga, having been canceled after only 7 chapters, yet it is undoubtedly worth your time.

In view of the long wait for my reading of Yokohama Kandaishi Kikou (the only manga that could dethrone my top 1), I'm keeping busy by reading Hitoshi Ashinano's various works.  

After the very charming but above all very short Kumabichi No Koto and before the promising Kotonoba Drive, PositioN is a kind of little oasis between all these works. It doesn't pretend to have a big, complex plot, but plunges us into the strange daily life of Suu-chan, a young girl who can see certain "special" things. In just 7 chapters, rather unrelated to each other, Ashinano transports us with its atmosphere and mastery of the slice of life.  

I wasn't expecting it, but I think Ashinano will quickly become one of my favorite authors in the future. Thank you for this idyllic moment.

Great way of starting a story. There were already some mysteries to solve. I love how the author narrated each chapter. I’m hooked on how would Anastacia face her problems, especially what happened between her and the stranger that night. ...

At first it was good, but later they started with Chinese propaganda saying that the powers of Japanese anime are superficial and that only by cultivating like in the xianxia one could become really strong, all this ended up ruining this work.

another 0 star banger might have to test thgis out