18 Manga About Grief, Death and the Loss of a Loved One
Processing grief and loss can be incredibly difficult, often being triggered by the simplest of recollections. While nothing can completely suppress the sadness and the void we feel when we lose a loved one, there are things that can help. Time, acceptance, and reading stories of people in similar situations can all help.
Many manga that deal with grief exist, showing characters that are still affected by the death or disappearance of a family member or close friend. Whether it was recent or years ago, these stories demonstrate the realities of grief and, although they can't compare to the real experience, they have a cathartic effect of their own.
+Manga That Will Make You Cry+
+Anime Movies That Will Make You Cry+
1. My Broken Mariko
マイ・ブロークン・マリコ - Yiska
Mariko Ikagawa and Tomoyo Shiino have been best friends since they were young, but their relationship was no ordinary one. For Mariko, it was a source of solace amid the abuse and depression she had endured since she was young. But when Shiino, now a 26-year-old office worker, hears a newscaster report that Mariko has killed herself, she is baffled and unable to accept the truth until her failed attempts to contact Mariko attest to reality. Desperate to free Mariko from her despicable father, Shiino impulsively steals her remains and takes them on a journey to a place where Mariko once wanted to visit. As she travels, Shiino reminisces about their happy memories together and begins to realize Mariko's gradual mental deterioration. Shiino's deep regret is palpable as she struggles to come to terms with feeling helpless over how she could have helped Mariko after all the suffering she had to endure.
+Volumes: 1
+Chapters: 5
+Published: 2019
+Genres: Drama
+Authors: Hirako Waka [Story&Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Comic Bridge
2. Ikoku Nikki
違国日記 - Journal with witch
"I hated your mother from the bottom of my heart. And I hate the fact that those feelings aren't going to go away even with her dead, so whether you're related to her by blood or not, I don't think I could get anymore emotionally attached to you as some random passerby kid, but you're a 15-year-old kid. It's not right for you to be in such an ugly situation. That, at least, I'm sure of. You deserve something more beautiful." The story revolves around Asa, who lost her parents in an accident, leaving her to live with her Aunt Makio. In the early chapters, she is still coming to terms with the death of her parents, while Makio, a writer, is not particularly affected by her sister's passing. Both characters are portrayed with realism and the manga does not shy away from portraying the impact of the tragedy - Asa and Makio both struggle with grief and the need to adjust to a new reality.
+Volumes: +10
+Chapters: +50
+Published: 2017 to Present
+Genres: Drama - Slice of Life
+Authors: Yamashita Tomoko [Story&Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Feel Young
3. Yunagi no Machi Sakura no Kuni
夕凪の街 桜の国 - Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms
Town of Evening Calm explores the impact of war and the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. This manga provides a melancholic insight into how survivors cope with the aftermath and how they try to move on from tragedy. It follows two stories that are connected. The Hirano family is the focus of the first story, as they struggle with the guilt of not being able to save their loved ones and rebuild their lives. Minami, the main character, notices how everyone seems to move on from the tragedy as if it never happened while she seems stuck in time. The second story follows Asahi, Minami's brother, and takes place years after the first one. It revisits the past from a new perspective and is a touching reminder of the power of resilience and hope.
+Volume: 1
+Chapters: 3
+Published: 2003 to 2004
+Genres: Drama - Slice of Life - Historical
+Authors: Kouno Fumiyo [Art&tory]
+Serialization/Other work: Manga Action
4. Shigeshoushi
死化粧師 - The Embalmer
Shinjuurou Mamiya is an embalmer - a profession that is not highly sought after by Japanese society due to religious traditions and the fact that it is seen as 'unclean.' Despite this, Mamiya is driven by his passion for providing dignity to the deceased and has accepted the ostracizing that comes with his job. Although his clientele is limited, his skill is remarkable; he takes great pride in transforming a corpse into a state that makes the loved ones believe they are in a peaceful sleep. Shigeshoushi brings to life the delicate psychological relationship between life, death, grief, and mourning. Each embalming that Mamiya performs restores the inner beauty of the deceased to give their loved ones an opportunity to say goodbye properly.
+Volumes: 7
+Chapters: 42
+Published: 2002 to 2013
+Genres: Drama - Romance - Psychological
+Authors: Mihara Mitsukazu [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Feel Young
5. Usemono Yado
うせもの宿
Usemono no Yado is a captivating story that revolves around an inn where lost items - some of which belong to people that have now passed - are found. The inn is managed by an enigmatic landlady who helps her guests find the deepest desires of their hearts, be it to re-experience the warmth of a person no longer in their life or to try to move on from them. Usemono Yado narrates the story of how we take things for granted, only to realize their importance when we irrevocably lose them.
+Volumes: 3
+Chapters: 18
+Published: 2014 to 2015
+Genres: Drama
+Authors: Hozumi [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Flowers (Monthly)
6. Haru’s Curse
春の呪い - CURSE OF SPRING
Haru's curse is a complex story about the diverse spaces people affected by grief must navigate. After losing her sister, Haru, to cancer, Natsumi becomes overwhelmed with the idea of living life without her by her side. But she also harbors guilt because she is now dating Togo, her dead sister's fiancé. Haru and Togo were together due to an arrangement between their families, but Haru was in love with him. Natsumi clings to Togo in a twisted way because she feels he's the only thing left of her sister. Following her struggles, the story delves into the mystery of human sadness and love. It also examines the limits of these emotions, simultaneously asking many questions, one of which: is it possible to miss someone so much that you become compelled to live their life instead of them? Although this is a manga, its style resembles manhwa character design, so I decided to include it here.
+Volume: 2
+Chapters: 8
+Published: 2015 to 2016
+Genres: Drama - Romance - Slice of Life - Psychological
+Author: Konishi Asuka [Story&Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Comic ZERO-SUM
7. Sekai no Chuushin de, Ai o Sakebu
世界の中心で、愛をさけぶ - Socrates in Love
Sakutaro Matsumoto embarks on a journey to Australia with a special mission—to spread his beloved late lover Aki Hirose’s ashes over Ayers Rock. As he treks through the Outback, he reminisces about the sweet memories they shared together—from when they first met in middle school to when they bravely faced the challenge of Aki’s fatal illness. The story of Sekai no Chuushin de, Ai wo Sakebu is a heartwarming tale of love and loss, exploring the depths of human emotion as Saku grapples with the grief of losing someone to an illness and how to keep her memory with him and move on without betraying the love he still feels for her.
+Volumes: 1
+Chapters: 5
+Published: 2003 to 2004
+Genres: Drama - Romance
+Creator: Katayama Kyoichi [Story] Kazui Kazumi [Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Petit Comic
8. Fruits basket
フルーツバスケット - FuruBa
Fruits Basket follows the life of a teenage girl, Tohru Honda, who has recently experienced the loss of her widowed mother. Living alone in a tent in the woods, Tohru is taken in by two members of the Sohma family, who she soon discovers are under a mysterious curse that turns them into animals of the Chinese zodiac if people of the opposite sex embrace them. This manga connects readers to characters pained with grief and regret and shows how they are able to overcome it in realistic ways. Grief isn't the main focus but is part of a larger story of love, laughter, pain, and tragedy.
+Volumes: 23
+Chapters: 136
+Published: 1998 to 2006
+Genres: Drama - Romance - Supernatural
+Authors: Takaya Natsuki [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Hana to Yume
9. Chichikogusa
ちちこぐさ - Father and Child Grass
Chichikogusa follows Torakichi, a medicine seller who traverses the Japanese countryside in the late 1800s, delivering seasonal orders to his customers. Spending most of the year on the road, he feels detached from his wife and newborn son Shirou; these feelings intensify when his wife tragically passes away, leaving him as the only one to provide for his son. Unable to forgive himself for leaving his wife, he leaves Shirou with his sister and focuses solely on his work, only to later realize that his present course of action is a replay of his past errors. Torakichi eventually returns home and takes the now four-year-old Shirou with him on his trips, learning the beauty and challenges of fatherhood, grief, and the meaning of family as he goes.
+Volumes: 8
+Chapters: 49
+Published: 2013 to 2018
+Genres: Slice of Life
+Authors: Tagawa Mi [Story&Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Comic Garden
10. Chichi to Hige Gorira to Watashi
父とヒゲゴリラと私 - Dad, the Beard Gorilla and I
Five-year-old Michiru's life changed forever when her beloved mother tragically passed away in a traffic accident. Her father's younger brother Kouji, whom Michiru quickly nicknamed "Beard Gorilla," moved in to help her out with housework and other shores. As the loss of her mother causes a huge shift in relationships between Michiru, her father, and her uncle, the 3 eventually learn to navigate their new reality. Their story touches on how you can move on from a loss and highlights the significance of strong familial relationships and selflessness when dealing with difficult situations.
+Volumes: 7
+Chapters: 97
+Published: 2011 to 2018
+Genres: Comedy - Slice of Life
+Authors: Koike Sadaji [Art&Story]
+Serialization/Other works: Manga Club
11. My Mother and Older Sister
母と姉 - Haha to Ane
This one is a bit of an odd story: while grief is present, it is not accompanied by intense love or heartache but rather by small relief and distressing feelings of identity. The plot follows two sisters that face a difficult challenge as they must learn to navigate their new relationship in the wake of their mother's passing. Jealousy, inherited from their mother, contributes to rising tension between them.
+Volumes: 1
+Chapters: 8
+Published: 2019 to 2020
+Genres: Drama - Psychological
+Authors: Fuyumushi Kaiko [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Torico
12. My Girl
マイガール
My Girl explores the themes of grief, family, and parenthood through the eyes of 23 years old Masamune Kazama and that of a daughter he did not know he had. One day, his mundane life is turned upside down as he suddenly finds himself navigating newfound responsibilities, sorrows, and the insecurities and fears that come with being a single father. The complexities of everyday life with his daughter are illustrated in an array of emotionally sour and sweet scenes and situations tinted with a potent dramatic execution. In his struggle to grow as a parent, son, and individual, Masamune will need to (or try to) understand what gives him fulfillment and happiness in life, what makes it worth living, and how to act around the people he loves without hurting or isolating himself from them.
+Volumes: 5
+Chapters: 44
+Published: 2006 to 2010
+Genres: Drama - Slice of Life
+Authors: Yumeka Sumomo [Art&tory]
+Serialization/Other work: Comic Bunch
13. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
葬送のフリーレン - Sousou no Frieren
After the triumphant defeat of the Demon King, four heroes— mage elf Frieren, hero Himmel, priest Heiter, and warrior Eisen—return home from their decade-long journey. The elves' longer lifespans, however, give Frieren the bittersweet opportunity to witness her beloved companions slowly pass away one by one. On the deathbed of her last companion, Heiter, Frieren is given a human apprentice to accompany her in her future journeys. Passionately determined to collect a plethora of magical spells, the two embark on a voyage to revisit the same places she has once been to. As Frieren revisits her past with her new companion, she slowly discovers her regret for the missed opportunities to form deeper bonds with her departed friends. This story demonstrates Frieren's growth as she learns to appreciate life's smaller facets and value the people that join her in her long journey, even if for just a moment.
+Volumes: +9
+Chapters: +106
+Published: 2020 to Present
+Genres: Adventure - Fantasy
+Authors: Yamada Kanehito [Story] Abe Tsukasa [Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Shounen Sunday
14. Real
リアル
Real follows the journey of 3 young individuals who deal with their griefs and shortcomings in their own way. Tomomi Nomiya is seen as a worthless delinquent by those around him, ostracized by society for ruining a girl's life after a traffic accident he was responsible for. As he tries to atone for his sin by helping her, he meets Kiyoharu Togawa, a former aspiring professional sprinter who lost his leg and is currently playing wheelchair basketball. As the two meet, the third protagonist, Hisanobu Takahashi, gets into an accident, rendering his lower body paralyzed forever. The grief prevalent in this manga is not due to the loss of a loved one, but a loss of self, possibilities, and aspirations due to severe and unexpected circumstances.
+Volumes: +15
+Chapters: +93
+Published: 1999 to Present
+Genres: Drama - Sports
+Authors: Inoue Takehiko [Story&Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Young Jump
15. My Brother's Husband
弟の夫 - Otouto no Otto
Yaichi Origuchi's peaceful day is suddenly thrown into a state of confusion when a towering, burly foreigner appears on his doorstep and begins to embrace him. The man introduces himself as Mike Flanagan and reveals he is the widower of Yaichi's younger twin brother, Ryouji, who had left for Canada ten years prior. Yaichi had heard nothing about him since then, apart from his marriage and passing. Yaichi is taken aback by the situation, but his daughter Kana is overjoyed at the prospect of having a gay Canadian uncle. It causes Yaichi to reflect on his own preconceived notions about Japanese society's views on homosexuality and his relationship with his brother. As Mike continues to stay with the family, it offers them all a chance to talk about Ryouji and explore Yaichi's emotions and acceptance of his brother's death.
+Volumes: 4
+Chapters: 28
+Published: 2014 to 2017
+Genres: Slice of Life
+Authors: Tagame Gengorou [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Monthly Action
16.Bitter Virgin
ビターバージン
Let's start with the fact that this title is very misleading: the story this manga portrays is not carnal, but actually hauntingly tragic. The narrative follows high school student Daisuke as he falls in love with Hinako, a girl in his class with an incredibly brutal and traumatic past. Showcasing both the hideous side of human nature as well as the bright and beautiful one, this manga intertwines terrible aspects of life with a coming-of-age romance. Not for the fainthearted, Bitter virgin will make you well-up with tears.
+Volumes: 4
+Chapters: 32
+Published: 2005 to 2008
+Genres: Drama - Romance
+Authors: Kusunoki Kei [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Young Gangan
17. Your Lie in April
四月は君の嘘 - Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso
Kousei Arima was taught how to play the piano by his mother, who would make sure that he would strictly follow the musical notations on his sheet. Practicing daily and feverishly adhering to the notes, Kousei won every competition he entered. One day, his mother suddenly dies, and due to a sheer shock and inability to deal with her death, he becomes tone-deaf and gives up on ever performing again. A couple of years later, his best friends introduce him to Kaori Miyazono, a whimsical violinist who plays without the use of music sheets. As friendship emerges between the two, Kaori slowly taints his black and white life with splashes of colors, urging him to play music again. Despite the heartwarming setting and plot, this manga is also heart-shattering. Expect sweet moments laced with tragedy.
+Volumes: 11
+Chapters: 44
+Published: 2011 to 2015
+Genres: Drama - Romance
+Authors: Arakawa Naoshi [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Shounen Magazine (Monthly)
18. Solanin
ソラニン
For some, their twenties are synonymous with endless sunshine and hope; for others, they signify the moment in their lives in which self-doubt and terrorizing uncertainty slammed into them. Most of us fall in the middle of this pendulum, experiencing both pain and limitless joy, and Solanin is the depiction of those incessantly pivotal moments. Through the eyes of 23-year-old Meiko Inoue and her boyfriend Nauro Taneda, an intimate story will unfold as they both decide to quit their job and embark on a new journey of trials and tribulations. This manga lingers with a feeling of depression and even a bit of anxiety, managing to capture the blues we feel when we are aimless.
+Volumes: 2
+Chapters: 28
+Published: 2005 to 2006
+Genres: Drama - Slice of Life
+Authors: Asano Inio [Story&Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Young Sunday (Weekly)
