Jinushi's quietly charming manga Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You (Super no Ura de Yani Sū Futari) is gathering international attention: Indonesian publisher Elex Media Komputindo recently announced it has licensed the series and plans to release volume 1 on May 1 (tentative). The gentle, character-driven story — which began on X/Twitter in March 2022 and later moved to Square Enix's Big Gangan — has already reached its eighth tankōbon and earned recognition in the Manga Taisho awards. An anime television adaptation is also slated to premiere in July, bringing wider exposure to this reflective slice-of-life title.
What is Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You?
Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You (original Japanese title: Super no Ura de Yani Sū Futari) is a seinen manga by Jinushi that focuses on small human connections and the quiet moments that punctuate daily life. The story centers on Sasaki, an overworked middle-aged office worker whose routine existence is brightened by brief encounters at a nearby supermarket. The manga explores themes of loneliness, fleeting comfort, and the unusual bonds people form in the margins of everyday spaces.
Synopsis — a gentle hook
Meet Sasaki: the kind of salaryman whose days blend into one another. Smoking is one of the few small comforts he allows himself, and the smile of Yamada, a supermarket employee, becomes the faint highlight of his day. One evening, after missing Yamada’s shift, Sasaki goes searching for a place to smoke and discovers a hidden smoking spot — and Tayama, a biker-jacket-wearing girl who invites him to join her. From this chance meeting, the manga opens into a series of quiet, character-led vignettes that reveal more about Sasaki and the people who intersect his life.
Main characters to watch
- Sasaki — The protagonist, a middle-aged salaryman whose routine life is softened by small rituals and unexpected encounters.
- Yamada — The friendly supermarket worker whose smile becomes a daily bright spot for Sasaki.
- Tayama — A free-spirited girl in a biker jacket who introduces Sasaki to the secret smoking area and to a different way of seeing the world.
Publication history and recognition
Jinushi first published the series on X/Twitter (March 2022), and the manga’s serialization began in Square Enix's Big Gangan magazine in August 2022. As of the latest compiled shipments, the series reached its eighth volume on January 23. The work’s quiet emotional resonance has not gone unnoticed: it finished in eighth place in the 16th Manga Taisho awards in 2023, a notable accomplishment for a character-driven slice-of-life title.
Indonesian release: Elex Media Komputindo
Indonesian manga fans will soon have official access to Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You: Elex Media Komputindo announced a tentative release date of May 1 for the first volume. For readers who prefer physical editions and regional translations, this license is welcome news — it promises a localized edition that keeps the original’s tone intact while making it accessible to a broader audience. For the official announcement, see Elex Media’s post on X/Twitter (link opens in a new tab). Elex Media on X/Twitter
Anime adaptation — what to expect
The manga is being adapted into an upcoming television anime that is scheduled to premiere in July. Given the source material’s focus on mood, atmosphere, and small interactions rather than spectacular plot twists, the adaptation will likely emphasize thoughtful direction, measured pacing, and character-focused moments. Fans of deliberate slice-of-life anime should watch for a faithful translation of Jinushi’s understated emotional beats to animation.
Tone, pacing, and adaptation challenges
Adapting a series that thrives on quiet, introspective moments requires a studio and staff that can capture subtle facial expressions, ambient soundscapes, and the unspoken rhythms of daily life. The anime’s success will hinge on how it renders pauses, cigarette-break conversations, and the delicate tonal shifts that make the manga feel lived-in. If done well, the TV version could introduce new audiences to the beauty of slow storytelling.
Why Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You matters
In a publishing climate often dominated by high-concept premises and action-oriented series, Jinushi’s manga stands out for its intimacy and human-scale drama. The story is easy to underestimate until the reader notices how much emotional truth is packed into seemingly tiny interactions. It’s a reminder that literature (and manga) can find profundity in ordinary places: supermarket shifts, a shared cigarette, a brief smile exchanged across aisles.
Themes and appeal
- Loneliness and connection: The series interrogates how people seek connection in low-stakes spaces.
- Ritual and comfort: Small rituals (smoking breaks, supermarket runs) provide a framework for the characters’ internal lives.
- Slow-burn character study: This is a read for those who appreciate patience and nuance over action and spectacle.
Where to read and follow updates
The manga began on X/Twitter and later serialized in Big Gangan, and compiled volumes are available in Japanese. For Indonesian readers, keep an eye on Elex Media Komputindo’s releases for the localized edition (May 1 tentative). For additional reporting on the Indonesian licensing news, see this coverage at Kaori Nusantara (link opens in a new tab). Kaori Nusantara article
Reading tips for new fans
If you’re coming to Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You for the first time, approach it like a short, reflective novella. Read slowly, linger on panels that show everyday gestures, and let the quiet moments breathe. The reward is emotional: small discoveries about the characters’ interior lives accumulate into a resonant whole.
Final thoughts
Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You is one of those manga that proves how much can be conveyed in simple, well-observed scenes. With a growing number of compiled volumes, a respected showing at the Manga Taisho awards, an Indonesian license from Elex Media Komputindo, and an anime adaptation coming to TV in July, Jinushi’s work is poised to reach a larger audience. If you appreciate tender, slow-building stories that linger after you finish reading, this title is worth your attention — whether you pick it up in Japanese, wait for the localized Indonesian edition, or check out the upcoming anime adaptation.
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