Cute, hilarious, sad, poignant and beautiful, Pokotsu Ponko is a gentle, pleasant manga that truly lives up to the idea of Iyashikei. The story of an old, clumsy robot girl trying too be useful to humans and an old man enjoying his last years can be gut-bustingly funny sometimes, but most of the chapters are an easygoing slice-of-life story that is occasionally melancholic, but will never leave you without a smile. All the secondary characters are equally lovable and charming, seeing all the small ways Ponko changes their lives is adorable.
Underneath the cuteness, lies a story with a lot of real heart, with a meaningful message about the impermanence of life, the search for meaning and purpose, and the value of all the little happy moments of everyday life.
At 10 volumes, Ponkotsu Ponko is a brisk, pleasant read that any fan of Iyashikei and slice-of-life will enjoy. 10/10, we all could use a Ponko in our lives.
