Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You

Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You is a gentle romantic comedy about tired adults and small daily comforts. The story began in March 2022 as a short webcomic that the artist Jinushi posted on Twitter. It became popular fast. Later that year, it moved to Square Enix's Monthly Big Gangan magazine as a regular manga (Japanese comic). The manga won the 2022 Next Manga Award in the web category, and it has more than 3 million copies in print. The TV anime was made by Asahi Production, with series composition by Mio Inoue. It aired for 12 episodes from July to September 2026. It streams on Crunchyroll outside Asia.

The main character is Sasaki, a 45-year-old office worker. In Japan, a salaryman is a man who works long hours for a big company. Sasaki works too much for a harsh boss, and his days feel gray and empty. He gets through them with tiny pleasures. He likes his favorite snack, a cigarette now and then, and above all, a short, friendly chat with Yamada. Yamada is a cheerful young cashier at Super S, the supermarket near his home. Her bright smile at the register is the best part of his day.

One night, Sasaki shows up late and Yamada is not at her usual spot. On top of that, he has nowhere to go for a smoke. Then he meets Tayama, a cool young woman with a leather jacket and piercings, who invites him to smoke with her behind the store. They start meeting there often. They talk, tease each other, and share quiet breaks under the night sky.

The audience soon learns the fun secret that Sasaki does not. Tayama and Yamada are the same person. Tayama is Yamada's hidden, off-duty side. Yamada likes Sasaki a lot and enjoys teasing him as Tayama. Sasaki, however, has no idea about her double life or her feelings. Much of the humor comes from this. Viewers watch Yamada nearly give herself away, while Sasaki stays sweetly clueless.

The cast also includes the people of the supermarket. There is Goto, the store manager, Yamada's coworkers Maezawa and Ohno, and Obata, who runs the produce section. At Sasaki's job, his kind coworker Suzuki gives him support, while his demanding boss adds stress.

The mood is warm, relaxed, and a little bittersweet. It is a slice-of-life show, meaning it focuses on ordinary daily life rather than big adventures. It also touches on the loneliness of adult work life and the quiet power of feeling seen by another person. It is a cozy watch for anyone who likes slow-burning romance and simple, heartfelt comedy.