おやすみプンプン [Oyasumi Punpun]

Inio Asano's Oyasumi Punpun (2007–2014, Shogakukan) is a starkly intimate coming-of-age saga that follows the life of a young boy, Punpun, depicted as a simple, bird-like figure, through the trials of adolescence and into adulthood. Written and illustrated solely by Asano, the series uses this surreal visual metaphor to explore profound themes of depression, loneliness, and the crushing weight of ordinary existence. Spanning 13 issues, it stands as a defining work of early 21st-century manga, celebrated for its unflinching emotional honesty and its haunting, minimalist art that mirrors the protagonist's inner turmoil.