Usagi Drops is a josei manga by Unita Yumi about the trials of a single salaryman dealing with the complexities of having a new child. Suddenly, the protagonist, Daikichi, must navigate the intense Japanese corporate culture while struggling to make sure his child is enrolled in a good daycare program. The slight twist, however, is that the child is not his. Rather, she is the product of his grandfather's affair, and the family only finds out about her after his death. The family views her as nothing more than the product of an illicit relationship and therefore wants nothing to do with her. Nonetheless, our protagonist Daikichi views the child as innocent, and decides that it is his responsibility to take care of her - especially since she displays a natural affinity for him. What ensues is a touching story about how Daikichi and Rin further connect as father and daughter. Personally, I enjoy this story for its humor and it is refreshing to read something different amid the wash of a million vaguely identical shounen manga. Sometimes deciding what to say in front of the PTA can be just as exciting as a life or death battle atop a mountain...kinda.
