The Spring 2022 Anime Season has come to an end, and with it, Deaimon: Recipe for Happiness. This sweet retreat tells the story of a traditional Japanese sweets shop and those who work there, focusing particularly on a young girl abandoned by her parents and the man asked to become a new father figure in their place. Deaimon offered a weekly escape into a better world where kindness and forgiveness came above all and catharsis could be delivered through the taste of a traditional sweet treat.
However, just because Deaimon is over doesn't mean there aren't plenty of anime to fill the void. Slice of life shows that focus on and beautify every day activities have been very popular within the last decade, and these shows often also include Deaimon's sense of healing, which is referred to as the genre of 'iyashikei'. The inclusion of children in this genre is common as well, making these five anime the perfect watch now that Deaimon is completed.
Barakamon
Seishu Handa is the up-and-coming star of the calligraphy world until he can't take a bit of criticism and ends up punching an elderly calligraphy master in the face for claiming his work lacks originality. For punishment, Handa's father sends him to the remote Goto Islands where he can reflect on both himself and his craft, but the trip is hardly a luxury in isolation.
Upon arriving, Handa is beset by local orphan Kotoishi Naru, who takes it upon herself to introduce him to the home she loves. Through Naru and the other island residents, Handa begins to explore parts of himself he never imagined were there before, as well as allow that new self to shine through in his calligraphy. Barakamon is a funny and touching work about how it can take a village to raise a man, as well as how much we can allow ourselves to grow just by letting other people in.
Sweetness and Lightning
Recently widowed high school teacher Inuzuka Kohei is struggling to connect with his daughter, Tsumugi, in the wake of his wife's death. In particular, he feels guilty over always serving Tsumugi store bought meals instead of home cooking like his wife was able to provide. Luckily, one of his students, Iida Kotori, helps her family run a restaurant, and agrees to teach Kohei and Tsumugi how to cook. Though not a particularly skilled chef, Kohei is willing to learn if it means keeping his daughter close, and Tsumugi is ecstatic to be working in the kitchen.
Not only does Sweetness and Lightning provide lessons on basic Japanese dishes, the story of a struggling father and his daughter surviving hardships together makes it a must-see for any fan of family-oriented anime. Tsumugi is definitely in the running for cutest anime daughter as well! The addition of cooking on top of the father and daughter duo makes this an even more perfect choice for fans of Deaimon, along with the more mature themes of grief and loss that the characters must heal from.
Poco's Udon World
With both parents having passed on, Tawara Souta chooses to take a break from Tokyo and visit his sleepy hometown of Kagawa, the site of the now abandoned family udon restaurant. When Souta goes inside, however, the last thing he expects to find is a young boy sleeping in a pot in the kitchen. That's not where the surprises leave off however --the boy sprouts ears and a tail to transform into a tanuki, or a racoon-dog, which are known as trickster animals in Japanese mythology with the ability to shape-shift. Souta decides to take the tanuki in and names him Poco.
As Souta and Poco learn to co-exist, Souta comes to terms with his own past, particularly how he left things with his deceased father that he will never get the chance to fix. Poco's Udon World is a tale of healing and learning from the past, as well as the importance of trust and promises. It emphasizes the small and important details of life for the Ghibli fans out there, and just how much one person can matter when it comes to extending kindness.
Kakushigoto
Secrets don't stay secret forever, but Gotou Kakushi is attempting to shield his daughter from one fact for as long as he can -- his occupation as the author of dirty manga. Kakushi dotes endlessly on his daughter, Hime, in place of a mother who is no longer in the picture, all while a cast of increasingly exasperated assistants look on his elaborate schemes to keep his two lives separate. Kakushi's devotion to Hime is heartwarming and his antics to make certain his daughter is 'safe' from his own career, as well as the commentary on the manga industry keeps the laughter going as audiences wonder just how long he can keep that particular secret from coming out.
In the end, Kakushi's endless love for his daughter makes this anime truly special, even as if causes him complete chaos. While certainly more comedic than Deaimon or Sweetness and Lightning, Kakushigoto still holds that all-important feeling of love and kindness as well as a cathartic ending to extend that feeling of healing.
School Babysitters
When a plane crash orphans Kashima Ryuuichi and his toddler brother Kotarou, they are offered the opportunity to stay at the elite Morinomiya Academy by chairman Morinomiya Youko, but it's at a price: Ryuuichi must work as a babysitter at the school in exchange for their stay. Morinomiya Academy is home to a babysitters' club to help the female teachers at the school, but it is currently in need of members to handle the rowdy crowd of toddlers.
Luckily, Ryuuichi has the perfect sort of temperament for dealing with the problems that arise, whether those problems stem from the children, their parents or from Ryuuichi's classmates. School Babysitters is sweet, simple and focuses on the everyday problems of teenagers and toddlers, making it the ultimate choice for a relaxing watch, and the toddlers are endearing and full of personality, making sure there's not a dull moment.
Sometimes, a simple story where people learn how to heal and how to be better is exactly what's needed. As Deaimon and these five shows prove, sometimes children have the most to teach, whether it's because they need more in return, like Tsumugi with a home cooked meal, or simply because their worldview provides something unique, like Naru introducing a complete city boy to the joys of cicadas and being shoved in the ocean.
Though these shows are about simple things, they can encompass the most important emotions, such as friendship and forgiveness, much more effectively than other anime because the characters and situations are more similar to our own lives and concerned with what would otherwise be considered tiny details. Fans of Deaimon should be sure to check out the above anime for that perfect slice of life feel and the emotions they bring with them.