Telework Yotabanashi
Home Office Romance

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Yotabanashi—the perfect phrase that encapsulates the essence of this manga, yet frustratingly there’s not an equivalent word in English that captures its meaning.

Yotabanashi generally carries a negative connotation, but it could be neutral as well. Whether it is describing a meritless gossip, a far-fetched story, or a trivial anecdote depends entirely on context. And depending on your perspective, Telework Yotabanashi could be all three of those things.

The story is narrated by future Nokoru, reminiscing on what is perhaps the turning point of his life. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic when his company started a work from home scheme that led him to meeting Natsu, ... his archaeology post-grad neighbour. To say that he has low self-esteem and lives a mundane life before their fated encounter would be an understatement. He was conventionally unattractive and was never hit on, he works at a terrible company at a job that drains him. Over the 20 chapters, Natsu aggressively makes advances towards Nokoru and pulls him out of that life.

I won’t claim that the romance and dialogue between Natsu and Nokoru is authentically Japanese, but even if it is not, it is at least honest. Things occasionally do get awkward, and as with all things miscommunication do happen, but they are always sincere and frank towards each other and untangle every situation as the adults they are. I think what I want to say is that they display emotional maturity, which cannot be said about a majority of romance manga out there.

This emotional maturity is supported by the author’s amazing art. Especially the facial expressions of the characters, which are diverse and subtle yet vivid.

The manga could have gone on a lot longer, talking about their adventures around the world in detail. But, as Nokoru said, this was nothing but a yotabanashi. He had a story in mind he wanted to tell, and while it might be trivial, it might not interest you, it might seem implausible, but this is the story of how he met his wife.

Yamada-san never dissapoints, does she? No one's ever landed the vibe of beat down office workers managing their lives and relationships like her. Asako (Ase to Sekken) and Nokoru share very similar life situations but it seems like Nokotu's story will be much more mature than a smelling kink comedy.

The story so far (14 chapters) is so cozy.. Definitely a high 8 or 9/10. And if they go on many dates it will skyrocket. It is a story of how they got married so I feel like I'll love this one. Having high hopes for the future!

The characters are nice, they both feel like real ... people with work and school on their minds. I hope their relationship builds on their lifestyle and doesn't just replace it. I've been looking for a story like Bonnouji and this has the most potential. Just go at it casually.

The art is a 10/10 imo. I don't know why but just as Kotoyama hits perfect smug looks, Yamada is a master of the overworked office worker (Nokoru looks like he's been hit by a truck XD).

Overall I'm loving it and highly recommend it to anyone who likes realistic romances and some pure, crisp slice-of-life.


Also I gotta gush over Izumi-san a bit.. A beautiful archaeology undergraduate who also likes manga? Yamada-san definitely knew where she was going with this...

I just feel sad knowing that I won't see more of these characters again...

MAL wants me to add more fluff to this review, however there's not much to say.
The manga goes to the point, it is short and sweet. Made me feel comfortable whilst reading it.
As you've realised, I love the interaction between the protagonists. It was a breath of fresh air to have adult characters that quickly realise what they want, each-other. There was no time wasted with an unnecessary drama arc or an extra lover to compete against. The hardships of an adult life brought all the ingredients required to make this work.
I ... am writing this review after finishing the manga and I don't know yet what I am feeling. This could be a 8/10, or a 10/10, or even a 5/10, but I wanted to write a few words about this before the clock ticks and this manga just becomes another small blur in the memories of my boring and fast passing life.

Thanks.

My biggest issue with this manga is the reason why I think it's so good.

It's because it's so short.

This series was just criminally short, but it was so refreshing to see a story that you know was fully fleshed out before a single panel was even drawn. The author had a vision, and completed the vision with momentum and expertise.

Every chapter was told as a normal romance would have been told. The thing that makes this stand out is the lack of silly tropes and misunderstandings. It was short, sweet, to the point, and beautiful.

I wish it was longer, but at the same time I ... don't. Both options just feel like paradise to me..

So far, so good! A solid 8 to 8.5 (and can even turn into a 9 depending on where this goes).
Edit after finishing all 20 chapters: The score remains the same (8 to 8.5).

Honestly, this manga had so much potential. I admire the mangaka for keeping it concise, but realistically we could get a 35-40 chapter manga without it dragging too much. Heck, even 5-7 chapters more would help with fleshing out the relationship dynamics/character development progress.

After all, the Nokoru we see in the beginning differs quite a bit from the one we see at the end. Would have been nice to document it through ... the gentle nudges from Natsu, served in SoL chapters seeing them travel around the world/just doing mundane things together.

Had it been given the breadth to explore those two in more detail, this would have been a solid 9+. Brevity is nice, but the series as it is simply didn't give enough space for the relationship between the duo to bloom properly.

---

Anyways. I can really relate to Natsu. I was doing my Ph.D. in Japan during Covid too and had the same feeling of disillusion. (Also, god damn the paper-thin walls of your typical JP apartment!) I like how the manga tackles adult and serious themes in a balanced manner, without overdoing it or underappreciating what we all (might) struggle with depending on our walks of life.

The ML is your typical introverted ML, but with a more outspoken and gentle twist. It's nice how he snapped out of his self-pity from the first few chapters and is slowly becoming more proactive in the relationship. We see him fully get out of his shell (both nudged by Natsu, but also learning to stand up for himself) in the final chapter. Shame we couldn't follow more of his mentality shift - it would have been interesting exactly because he's not the standard 'purely reactive' type of male protagonist.

Natsu is the obvious star of the show. She oscillates between being bubbly and serious, and I like how well-defined her interests and daily life dynamic are despite the short chapters. The 'attack' gag is also cute as hell.

You know, as a whole, the character dynamics are very organic and...kind of cozy, in a way? The scenes all read very genuinely, with zero pressure, just a feeling-good journey in a sub-12 page format. As the other reviewer noted, 'cozy' is the proper keyword for this manga.

Also, that socialization Excel spreadsheet thing cracked me up, lmao.

Definitely one of my favorite recent SoL stories. Disappointed in how short the journey was, but hey, that's how the world works sometimes.

One of the best “Rite of Passage” manga I've ever read.

Slice of life and romance are two genres that I've come to be annoyed at. Extremely long runs, slow progress that's always shattered by filler chapters that don't matter to the whole thing. It's usually riddled with clichés, but this is the manga that encapsulates EVERYTHING that works in the genre. Two people, with a perfect excuse to bond, and a perfect environment to justify the bonding. It feels like a low budget, underrated indie movie that's got a perfect script.

Characters are perfect, interactions feel legitimate, misunderstandings are solved with communication. Wow, it's ... just like real people solve problems by being real people. It shouldn't surprise me that it's written like it, but I wish it was the standard. They don't go through extreme development, but that's the magic of it. If the story is logical, of course it won't be that long. The best romances I've ever seen come from extremely short stories that know how to flesh out the writing without adding anything we don't need.

Art is perfect for the story, with some beautiful, subjective panels from our protagonists perspective. I read it in one sitting, and I'm entirely satisfied with what I got.

9/10. If it makes me feel lonely, it's a great romance story.

Plot
programmer introvert works from home due to covid. has a new neighbour who is in college. The series has the narrator establish that they will marry, so there's no suspense. It follows the early events of their relationship like how they met, how they got closer etc.. before finally doing a timeskip at chapter 20 (climax) to show their married lives.

This manga is mostly about wholesome vibes while an awkward man slowly develops a relationship with his charming neighbor lady. But you should really manage your expectations. It only deals with the start of their relationship until a sudden event in chapter 18/19 forces a ... proposal before doing a timeskip to married life. Many will feel that this ended too fast, and i agree. This is too good to end so soon, but it is better to have quality over quantity.

it is still worth it tbh, because the first 17 chapters are really great and sweet enough to give you diabetes.

I am avoiding a full fledged review because this is a short series. You can probably complete this manga within like 20 minutes, instead of reading a review :) If you are looking for similar levels of sweetness between adults, i recommend "Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You" which is still ongoing.

Telework Yotabanashi is a delightful romance manga that manages to capture the heart of readers with its well-crafted characters and unique art style. The story follows the daily activities of Nokoru, our male lead, as it slowly evolves into a charming romantic tale between neighbors. With only 20 chapters, this manga manages to pull all the stops and deliver an ideal relationship that many readers would envy.

The pacing of the story is perfect, giving readers just enough time to get invested in the characters and their relationship without dragging on. The character development is subtle but effective, making the romance feel authentic and genuine. The ... art style is unique and visually stimulating, perfectly complementing the story and its direction.

While the emotional engagement with the characters may fall short towards the end, the journey towards the conclusion is an enjoyable and wholesome read that is sure to leave a lasting impression on the reader. The story is refreshing and innovative, offering a unique take on the romance genre.

Although Telework Yotabanashi may not contribute much to the culture, it has the potential to develop a cult following with appropriate promotion. It is an easy-going and enjoyable romance manga that only demands 20 chapters of your time. For optimal enjoyment, it is suggested to read at intervals and not all the chapters at once, as it provides the much-needed engagement to fully appreciate the work of art.

Here's a Summary of My Rating
Writing Structure - 1.16/1.45
Visual Aesthetics - 0.72/0.80
Emotional Engagement - 0.70/0.95
Enjoyment - 1.80/1.80
Originality - 2.04/2.55
Genre Conventions - 0.98/1.30
Cultural Significance - 0.41/0.65
Intellectual Stimulation - 0.33/0.50

Overall, Telework Yotabanashi is a charming and heartwarming read that deserves an 8.15/10 rating. It's a must-read for anyone looking for a wholesome and delightful romance manga that is sure to leave a smile on your face.