The magic of Umina Chika

A cozy panel from Sangatsu No Lion

Just look at that picture. Don’t you just want to join them under there? I love the detail Umina Chika puts in panels like this in Sangatsu No Lion. The crowded, cramped nature of the panel underscores the coziness of the living room at new year’s eve, everybody snug under the kotatsu, cats and all. It’s a bit of gentle humour to set the scene before the mood turns serious. A pity this series doesn’t have an official English translation yet.