Sweetness & Lightning by Gido Amagakure
The story of Sweetness and Lightning takes place half a year after one of our main characters, Kohei, experiences his wife Tae’s passing away. Wrought with confusion and exhaustion, he tirelessly raises their five-year-old daughter, Tsumugi, while maintaining household chores and working as a high school math teacher. Although their days seem to be going at a steady pace, they both knew that there was always something missing from their lives, as Tae was a loving mother and an incredible cook. After months of frozen dinners, Kohei and his daughter find a new light in their life: they team up with one of Kohei’s students, who’s an aspiring cook and the daughter of a restaurant owner. Together, the three of them develop a beautiful friendship while honing their culinary skills.
Many of us can relate to the main characters’ life in the beginning– the messy, unchecked paperwork laying about; frozen dinners, and stressed family members running on strict schedules. Watching the characters progress throughout the story has been an unforgettable experience for me. Seeing Kohei’s development in not only his cooking, but the bond he has with his daughter is simply beautiful. The story has incredible artwork, and the characters have relatable, down-to-earth experiences. It does a wonderful job of representing grief, yet makes the experience healing instead of mournful. Sweetness and Lighting is an adorable, wholesome series that anyone can enjoy. It’s also a great choice as a beginner’s manga; it’s the first series I ever fell in love with. I highly recommend it!
Reviewed by Teen Volunteer, 11/16/24.