Silver Spoon

The manga I’m introducing today is Silver Spoon by Hiromu Arakawa, the world-renowned author of Fullmetal Alchemist. If you’re expecting another grand fantasy adventure like FMA, I have to disappoint you—Silver Spoon is not that type of story. But don’t worry—Silver Spoon is one of my all-time favorite manga, and it’s an incredibly engaging and moving series. The story takes place at an agricultural high school in Hokkaido and follows Yuugo Hachiken, a boy from the city of Sapporo who enrolls in the countryside’s Ooezo Agricultural High School. Through hands-on experiences in dairy farming and agriculture, he gradually learns the importance of life, discovers who he truly is, and grows as a person. What makes Silver Spoon so captivating is how it lets readers “virtually experience” farm life. From how to care for cows to managing chickens, the manga depicts agricultural practices in detail while also delivering the hard realities of farming and the profound value of life. Arakawa-sensei herself drew from her own experiences growing up on a farm, which is why the series feels so authentic. Her ability to create not only fantasy epics like FMA but also heartfelt, slice-of-life stories like Silver Spoon shows the true breadth of her talent as a veteran mangaka. In today’s world where IT companies dominate global industries—I myself work in IT—Silver Spoon sparked my curiosity about the challenges and importance of primary industries. After all, society could survive without social media, but we can’t live without food. For anyone feeling overwhelmed by the digital world or seeking a little “digital detox,” Silver Spoon is the perfect manga to remind you of life’s essentials and inspire a deeper appreciation for the food and people who sustain us.

September 7, 2025