He is good at his job and looks handsome. At the workplace, he acts as a reliable section chief, appearing to everyone around him as an impeccable adult man. What if such a person actually harbored a secret that no one must ever know? What Section Chief Oji, the protagonist of Tsutomu's manga “Ojisan wa Kawaii Mono ga Osuki.”, is hiding is neither a dangerous past nor an unspeakable incident. What he simply cannot confess to those around him is that he “loves cute things.” He especially has a weak spot for cute characters, and while he would normally love to adore them to his heart's content, he cannot honestly declare it publicly when considering the image he has built up at work. From this huge gap between his appearance and inner self, a secret-filled “Ojikawa” (cute middle-aged man) daily life begins.

For Section Chief Oji, cute things are not just a way to kill time, but something so precious that finding them makes his heart dance. However, anxiety gets in the way, making him worry, “What would people think if they found out a grown man loves cute things?” Therefore, while outwardly acting as the usual cool and capable section chief, inside his heart, his affection for cute things explodes. This is a major point that creates the comedy in this work. While for him it is a serious crisis where his secret might be exposed, to the readers, it feels like “you really don't have to hide it.” This temperature difference is exquisite, and the harder he struggles to prevent his hobby from being noticed, the cuter Section Chief Oji himself starts to look.

Hearing about a story involving secrets, you might imagine tense developments where an identity is discovered. To be sure, there are thrilling moments in this work as well. However, because what he is hiding is “love for cute things,” that tension is somehow heartwarming. Finding a favorite character and almost accidentally reacting, or trying to enjoy his hobby while worrying about the eyes around him, for Section Chief Oji, every day is a secret-keeping mission where he cannot let his guard down. Even so, at the root of it is a pure feeling of wanting to cherish what he loves. Without having flashy events happen one after another, you can laugh just at the small everyday struggles. I feel that this approachability is a charm unique to this work.

The setting of “a handsome middle-aged man liking cute things” alone is funny enough, but as you read further, there is something that remains in your heart even more. That is whether age or appearance matter to the feeling of “liking” something. Because you are an adult, because you are a man, because you are seen this way at work. Without realizing it, we sometimes put the brakes on our own hobbies for such reasons. Section Chief Oji's struggles are depicted comically, but the feeling itself of “not being able to proudly say you like what you like” is surprisingly familiar. That is why, even though you were supposed to be reading it while laughing, you sometimes find yourself strangely sympathizing. The fact that such a gentle theme is hidden within the comedy is also impressive.

At first, you were probably enjoying the gap, thinking, “Does such a handsome section chief really hide his love for cute things so desperately?”, but before you know it, you will want to cheer him on, thinking, “Why doesn't he just take the plunge and say he likes them?” However, precisely because he cannot easily say it, he is Section Chief Oji. Adoring cute things as if hiding from the world, while properly completing his work as a member of society on the other hand, and panicking inside his heart whenever his secret is about to be exposed. An affection wells up including even that clumsiness. The title is “Ojisan wa Kawaii Mono ga Osuki.”, but by the time you finish reading, some people might end up thinking, “Isn't Section Chief Oji the cutest one of all?”

“Ojisan wa Kawaii Mono ga Osuki.” is a bright and heartwarming comedy depicting the daily life of Section Chief Oji, who loves cute characters. While making you laugh with the gap between his handsome appearance and his inner self that resembles a maiden's heart, it naturally depicts everything from the embarrassment of having one's hobby known to others to the joy of cherishing what one truly loves. You can enjoy it when you want to laugh casually without thinking about complicated things, and if you have a hobby that you don't talk to people much about, Section Chief Oji's figure should feel a little familiar to you. “You can enjoy what you like in whatever way you like.” It is a work where an enjoyable and adorable middle-aged man reminds you of such an obvious yet easily forgotten feeling.