ASHIHARA HINAKO

Life isn’t going too well for Yuzuki. She’s a 34-years-old and without a boyfriend. The elementary school she works at is close to firing her, and to top it off she doesn’t know what to do with her life at all. But even when she quits her job and tries to have an arranged marriage things don’t work out. Only the bread she eats at the small stationery store around the corner gives her comfort. So one day, she asks the storeowner to marry her on a whim and to her surprise, he agrees...?

After her parents divorce, Anna Uekusa and her mother move from Tokyo to rural Shimane. Used to the anonymity of city living, An can't get used to the almost overbearing kindness of the people in her mother's hometown. But when personal tragedy strikes, An discovers how much she needs that kindness.

After her parents divorce, An Uekusa and her mother move from Tokyo to rural Shimane. Used to the anonymity of city living, An can't get used to the almost overbearing kindness of the people in her mother's hometown. But when personal tragedy strikes, An discovers how much she needs that kindness.In 2005 Sand Chronicles was awarded the 50th Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo manga.

23 year-old Office lady Akari is looking for a marriage partner, with whom she can have a steady and “normal” married life. While she is spending her days hedging risks so as not to become unhappy, she becomes interested in her plain 40 year-old co-worker, Tanaka-san. Judging by her figure, Akari suspects she must be doing something. And that something is… bellydancing! When she discovers Tanaka-san’s secret, Akari becomes a fan of this stoic yet sexy older lady. As a friendship blooms between them, two women chase after their dreams and love.

Life isn't going too well for Yuzuki. She's a 34-years-old and without a boyfriend. The elementary school she works at is close to firing her, and to top it off she doesn't know what to do with her life at all. But even when she quits her job and tries to have an arranged marriage things don't work out. Only the bread she eats at the small stationery store around the corner gives her comfort. So one day, she asks the storeowner to marry her on a whim and to her surprise, he agrees...?

Despite repeated rejections, Shinatsu fell in love at first sight with the most popular boy in school, Yoshiyuki-sempai (a member of the tennis club). After unhesitatingly joining the team, she gets rejected by her sempai. On top of that, she is bullied by his girlfriend. However, as her childhood friend Iku, says, "Things that are too easy to obtain aren't amusing at all." Right?

Will anyone answer love's distress call? Find out in this funny and poignant collection of short stories!1) SOS2) Organ -A pipe organ is discovered in the debris after the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake. What does that have to do with the dreams of two young people in the Taisho era?3) The Easy Life

The daughter of a washed out actress, is given the chance to see what its like to be in a real family.Itsumis mother, Kei, is a washed-up actress. One day, Itsumi meets a lady with a severe heart condition and receives an invitation to her house. The house, which Itsumi thinks of as the ideal family home, was just a performance arranged for the lady. Among the family members, Itsumi meets Shuu, a very polite boy, and is persuaded to play in a theatre... ?!

From Shogakukan: Kazuna's late grandfather was a writer, and his unpublished novel depicting his private life was found among the articles left by him. He had written down his affection to his lover, while he was a devoted husband. Kazuna felt perplexed, and went to see his grandfather's lover. Hinako Ashihara depicts sweet, painful love in this collection of her long-piece love stories.

When a young girl loses her confidence to dance, she fears she'll never set foot on the stage again. But then she falls in love with an all-guy avant-garde dance troupe and their leader...and everything changes. Soon, her primary goal in life is to join the troupe and snag the guy. So what if she's missing a Y-chromosome? She's got spunk, skill, and passion--and, in the end, she hopes that love will conquer all.