Pinning Down Joy

There stands a house in the forest where the wind blows and 'monsters' frighten children. A man lives in this house, as well as a number of spirits. - Volume 1 contains the oneshot **Hikidashi no Naka** - Volume 5 contains a side story *Hoshigahara Aomanjuu no Mori* was published in Swedish as *Aomanjuskogen* by Ordbilder.

Hisae Iwaoka's latest series features warm-hearted short stories about life and its little wonders. Sweet and delicate, they are like little cookies for a stressful mind.

A girl falls into a coma and finds herself at an unusual "convenience store" managed by a talking dog. In the land where dreams are made, suspended somewhere between life and death, she watches and learns from the various souls she encounters.

Far in the future, humankind has evacuated the Earth in order to preserve it. Humans now reside in a gigantic structure that forms a ring around the Earth, thirty-five kilometers up in the sky. The society of the ring is highly stratified: the higher the floor, the greater the status. Mitsu, the lowly son of a window washer, has just graduated junior high. When his father disappears and is assumed dead, Mitsu must take on his father's occupation. As he struggles with the transition to working life, Mitsu's job treats him to an outsider's view into the various living-room dioramas of the Saturn Apartments. Won the 15th Japan Media Arts Festival Grand Prize for Manga.

One volume of touching short stories revolving around life, death, companionship, and the deeper meaning to be found in the world around us. Includes the following short stories: 1. Once Upon a Time A lost little girl wants to find her way home… 2. See You Next Time A girl calmly reminisces about her dead friend. 3. Imp in the Night A little imp wonders why he's afraid of the night. 4. Sakura Antique Store The story of an old watch sitting in the window display of the Sakura Antique Store. 5. Shiroi Kumo (White Clouds) A beautiful and touching story about life, death, and the heartening belief that we will all arrive at the same place when our time has come. 6. Molehill The story of a young mole who decides to become human so that he can see his girlfriend's face… 7. The Lands of Dreams A girl is trapped in an endless dream… 8. Grape Picking Two teachers discuss the godliness of children. 9. Let's Go Home An elderly couple's reminiscences as they pay a visit to the village from their shared childhood. 10. The Story of a Flower They don't have a mother, but… 11. The Road Where Flowers Bloom A careworn man whose life stuck in a rut, a book with Sakura blossoms stuck in the pages, a mysterious woman who claims to have been killed by him, a childhood best friend's mysterious reappearance… 12. Egg Water The taste of the water bubbling up from a well in the backyard of a little old lady's house… 13. Hoppie's Bear The unlikely friendship between a lovelorn office worker and a strange – and strangely mature – girl. 14. To A Certain Place… Returning home.

A collection of sweet, realistic tales about the everyday lives of various cats and the people who come to associate with them.

Mikumo’s cafe and Yano’s gift shop are located next to each other. She likes him, but is too shy to say anything. Thankfully, the spirit of Yano’s mother remained behind to watch over him, and mom’s going to do her best to see him happy. The lives of two shopkeepers whose romance is non-existent, watched over by the meddling spirits of their departed loved ones.