This time, let me introduce a heartwarming and humorous story about a lovable, chubby dad and his high school daughter. Their everyday life provides not only plenty of laughs but also useful Japanese expressions, making it a great resource for language learners.
Work Information

Pocchari Papa wa Musume ni Aisaretai! (ぽっちゃりパパは娘に愛されたい!)
Author: Sacchi
Publisher: Kodansha
Amount of text: sparse
Challenge level: ★
Latest volume : Vol.2(Oct.2022 / Completed)
Story overview
Norihiro Kaida, 45 years old. A slightly chubby but completely ordinary salaryman. However, he has one major problem—his high school daughter is incredibly cold towards him! She used to be a daddy’s girl… but now, she barely speaks to him. Dreaming of the day they can have fun conversations again, he resolves to lose weight! But will it work out…?
Why this manga is suitable for learning Japanese
The text is minimal, and hiragana is provided for the kanji.
This work has a generally small amount of text, making it less burdensome for beginning Japanese learners to read and allowing them to more easily finish an entire book. This can give learners a sense of accomplishment and confidence. Additionally, all kanji characters in the speech bubbles are accompanied by hiragana, making it even more beginner-friendly.

Abundant Simple Everyday Conversations.
The story primarily focuses on everyday family life, so it doesn’t include difficult vocabulary or complex concepts. By encountering numerous simple phrases commonly used in daily conversations among native Japanese speakers, learners can enhance their understanding of Japanese dialogue.

Phrase Spotlight
The mother’s speech endings are not a good model for real-life Japaneseやめたほうがいいわよ
The mother’s speech often ends with expressions like 「〜だわ」 (~dawa), 「〜わよ」 (~wayo), and 「〜ね」 (~ne). These forms are commonly associated with stereotypical feminine language in Japanese fiction—particularly in manga, dramas, and novels—and are not frequently heard in modern, casual conversation. Although you may occasionally come across these endings in real life (especially among older generations or in very specific dialects), it’s generally uncommon and best not to mimic them if you want to sound natural.

Breaking Down the Phrase
① 〜だわ (~dawa)
・だ (da): The plain copula (“is”).
・わ (wa): A soft, feminine sentence-final particle, adding a nuance of gentle assertion or emphasis.
Put together, “だわ” sounds firm yet feminine, often used in fictional contexts to characterize someone as either very ladylike or slightly dramatic. In modern daily life, however, it would likely come across as excessively old-fashioned or theatrical.
② 〜わよ (~wayo)
・わ (wa): As above, a soft, feminine particle.
・よ (yo): An emphatic sentence-final particle used for asserting or emphasizing information.
Combined, “わよ” creates an even stronger dramatic and feminine emphasis. In everyday speech, it can sound either overly polite or slightly archaic, depending on the context and intonation.
③ 〜ね (~ne)
・ね (ne): A common sentence-ending particle in Japanese that implies seeking agreement or adding softness to the statement. Unlike “だわ” or “わよ,” “ね” by itself is quite prevalent in daily life.
・However, in the mother’s speech, you might notice an exaggerated or particularly “feminine” usage (e.g., stretching the sound: “〜ねぇ”).
“ね” is not inherently old-fashioned, but when combined with other particles (e.g., “〜なのね” or “〜わね”), it can sound more theatrical than normal conversation typically warrants.
Usage in Manga & Fiction
In modern Japanese media—particularly manga, light novels, anime, and dramas—these endings are often used to:
・Portray stereotypically feminine characters, such as elegant ladies or doting mothers.
・Convey a slightly old-fashioned or over-the-top tone.
・Add comedic effect by having a character speak in an unexpectedly dramatic way.
Because these speech patterns aren’t standard in real-world, everyday dialogue, many Japanese people associate them primarily with fictional settings or older language styles.
A Little Warning
Some kanji characters don’t have hiragana.
While all the kanji characters inside the speech bubbles have hiragana, those outside the speech bubbles do not.

Work Information

Pocchari Papa wa Musume ni Aisaretai! (ぽっちゃりパパは娘に愛されたい!)
Author: Sacchi
Publisher: Kodansha
Amount of text: sparse
Challenge level: ★
Latest volume : Vol.2(Oct.2022 / Completed)
This Blog’s ConceptIn this blog, we are introducing manga that are not only highly captivating but also ideal for Japanese language learners. Studying Japanese through manga is both fun and effective. Manga allows you to understand the subtleties of keigo (honorifics), teineigo (polite speech), and casual conversation in Japanese. We hope you find works that match your interests and use them to enhance your Japanese learning journey.