On the surface, Hakumei and Mikochi couldn’t be more different - one’s a chaotically energetic carpenter and the other’s a quiet and caring seamstress. Despite their differences, though, the two tiny women live peacefully together in their tree hollow home in the woods. 

At work, Hakumei helps build and repair old buildings, and Mikochi sews clothing and helps others with fashion. Along the way, they’ll meet new people, discover new places, and try new things; even if it means they’ll sometimes get pursued by a puzzled owl or an angry fish, they live for the thrills in life. 

All of the characters, despite following many tropes common to literature (eg. Hakumei being a tomboyish carpenter and Mikochi a feminine tailor), are very compelling and interesting to read about. I particularly enjoyed Hakumei’s interactions with her boss, Iwashi, as they’re both quite funny as characters and their screeching at each other is hilariously wholesome. I also particularly liked Sen, one of the side characters, and her relationship with the main protagonists - her calm and quiet demeanor balances the chaotic nature of Hakumei and matches Mikochi quite well. 

The story’s art style remains one of my favourites in manga, even after seeing so many styles. I like how realistically the animals are drawn, and the artist does a great job of underlining their expressions. It adds to the overall atmosphere of the manga, and makes for a very engaging read. 

The series is primarily more of a casual read - the plot isn’t really anything to write home about, and depicts a largely mundane and peaceful life. Avid enjoyers of action mangas may want to look elsewhere, as there are almost no fight scenes to speak of and it’s a very calm read overall. That being said, readers who enjoy a relaxing slice-of-life read will probably enjoy this - what it lacks in action, it makes up for with amusing interactions between characters. 

Overall, Hakumei and Mikochi is one of my favourite series of manga. While it’s not particularly action-packed or romantic and the plot isn’t award-winning, it’s a wholesome slice-of-life story illustrating the beauties and joys of daily life.