Asoko de Hataraku Musubu-san

Today’s featured manga is Asoko de Hataraku Musubu-san, a romance story between Yui “Musubu” Kondō, a female condom researcher, and Gorō Sagami, a salesman at the same company. When I first picked up this manga, my initial reaction was, “A condom company?!” But despite the unusual setting, the content is very much a classic romance. In fact, the manga is supervised by Sagami Original, a world-famous condom manufacturer, giving readers a surprisingly authentic look into the workplace of a condom company. A fun side note: if you combine the first characters of Musubu’s surname and given name, you get “condom,” and Sagami’s surname is inspired by Sagami Original. The charm of Asoko de Hataraku Musubu-san lies—unsurprisingly for a romance manga—in its main heroine. Musubu-san is pure, wholesome, and irresistibly cute. With no romantic experience, her natural innocence and naivety have captivated many male readers. Unlike school-life romcoms, this is an adult romance, and the pacing is refreshingly comfortable. In many high school romance manga, the thrill comes from the long, drawn-out progression from crush to relationship—but for readers, that can sometimes be frustrating. In Asoko de Hataraku Musubu-san, the adult romance means less of that drawn-out frustration. While this faster pace is a strength, it also raises a slight concern—whether the story could risk becoming repetitive over time. At the start, Sagami is shy and reserved, but little by little, he closes the distance between himself and Musubu-san. His earnest, kind personality is a big part of the series’ appeal, making this manga a perfect pick for those who enjoy pure-hearted love stories. On the other hand, if you prefer youthful school-romance comedies, this one might not be for you.

August 13, 2025