Hikari no Hako
Box of Light

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I saw this on the bookstore shelves and thought it seemed interesting, I googled reviews and ratings and read mostly bad things. I decided to buy it anyways, and I am so glad I did!

Box of Light gets better with every chapter. While I originally bought it because I wanted something spooky, it's not really that creepy or unsettling, but yet it's perfect the way it is. It's actually surprisingly wholesome, though it can be dark.

While it's not exactly scary, it certainly is mysterious. It raises a lot of questions and leaves a lot of potential for answers, it doesn't feel ... too predictable either. I think the world building has been done well so far.

I like all the characters a lot, we learn quite a bit about them in these first two volumes, and I'm excited to see what else we'll learn in coming volumes. They're interesting, and their interactions are entertaining.

Tl;dr summary: This story draws you in. It's mysterious and wholesome. I really do enjoy reading it and it makes me want to read more. If you like mystery and wholesome things, this is for you.

I love this manga, I'm confident it will be an anime in 2025.

Seconds from deaths' door, Kokura is given one final opportunity to live if he agrees to work part time at a convenience store. A modern take on Usemono Yado, the Konbini straddles the world between life and death. It's customers having the opportunity to purchase one final item before either returning to the world of the living, or traversing to the after-life.

Each chapter we're exposed to a wide range of characters with different personalities, traits, and lifestyles. Connected by their near death experience through the convenience store. The big "mystery" lies ... in the origins of the store and the non-humans called spectral's; who operate the store behind the scenes. There's also a gruesome, pitiful mascot called the "darkness cat" who pops-up around the store and wreaks havoc; occasionally being an essential piece to the storyline.

The art feels modern and clean, similar to that of Kowloon Generic Romance. Capturing the surreal feel of the fantastical world, along with the mundane chores of working a part-time job. The author Seiko Erisawa hasn't written anything else that's been translated to english, so I don't have much else to compare it with.

Despite only having 2 volumes translated (which are available in paperback!), Box of Light has the foundation to be a classic. I'm confident that as more chapters are translated, it will gain popularity as rise to become one of the top new-gen manga.

Definitely worth a shot to read.
I know the rating are low but I think that's because they have yet to show what they can do here.

I have read 2 volumes so far and the first one is more of a intro to the story. We get to know the characters and where they work and how it works. The 2nd vol is a lot more interesting, im not wanting to give to much away. But we get some back story and more interesting build up. As far as I'm aware vol 3 isn't out yet, and with how vol 2 left off. Ohh ... there is some hype.


Onto over story.
The story can seem bland at first, just like with jojo's phantom blood. But the set up is decent, I really love the idea with the supernatural and after life.

The characters are fun and make you want to learn more about them. Eveyone is interesting with how they got to work at the gas station.

There is also some nice world building going on. The gas station bring a in-between of life and the after life in very interesting. Also the fact when costumers walk in, they forget they are dead or close to being dead.

There is definitely more to be seen here and built on. There's so many ways this story could go. We only just started. So hopefully we get some more.

It's a fun story on supernatural themes, fun world building, and intresting characters. So please give it a read!