About the book

Silver Spoon (銀の匙) is a slice-of-life manga series by Hiromu Arakawa, author of the highly popular series “Full Metal Alchemist” . The story revolves around university freshman Yuugo Hachiken, who enrolls in an agricultural high school to flee from the demands of his strict father. However, he soon learns that life on an agricultural school is not as easy as he initially believed.

The manga series is very well received by its readers in Japan, and became the fastest Shogakukan title to reach the mark of one million first-print copies just one year and three months after its launch. It reached the 7th best-selling manga in Japan in 2012, and was the top selling title from Shogakukan. By October 2013 it has sold 12 million copies in Japan. This series has since been adapted into animation, with season 1 airing in 2013 and Seaons 2 in 2014.

A live-action film based on the manga was also produced in 2014. The manga was well received by its Japanese audience while earning itself awards, including the 5th Manga Taishō Award’s Grand Prize, and the 58th Shogakukan Manga Award in 2012, as well as the first Japan Food Culture Contents Award in 2013.

Summary of the book

Towards the end of summer, Hachiken has come to terms with Butadon’s fate. With strengthened resolve, he buys over Butadon’s meat with his hard-earned money and turns it into bacon to share with his classmates. A cut of meat was also sent back home to his family to show his newfound determination.

Then, the season turns to autumn with the seniors from the Equestrian Club retiring. Hachiken is unexpectedly promoted to the role of vice-president, and he finds himself faced with a new dilemma — his feelings for Mikage. What is her relationship with Komaba? And is Hachiken’s concern for Mikage more than just platonic?