2026 has not been a slouch when it comes to mega
entertaining Anime titles (though maybe not quite as on par with the cultural zeitgeist
that was a Demon Slayer and Chainsaw Man movie breaking box office records left,
right and center). Jujutsu Kaisen made
it’s triumphant return. Bleach is actually
closing in on it’s proper finale. And
the newest iteration of Ghost in the Shell has gotten some of the most positive
buzz the franchise has had in a long time.
However, there is one title that is standing out amongst the rest, not
for its spectacle or action but for its more down to Earth realism, honesty and,
above all, genuine kindness while enjoying a favorite pastime. I’m talk about Smoking Behind the Supermarket
with You. Somehow a show with a premise
so simple (the title mostly covers it) has become one of the most talked about
and widely praised of the year. Heck it’s
one of the few I’m personally keeping up with as close to when new episodes air
as I can. So today on Top 5 Wednesday,
we’re gonna chill a little bit and talk about the Top 5 Reasons Why Smoking
Behind the Supermarket with You is the Feel Good Anime of 2026.
#5-Easily Accessible for All Anime Fans As one of the freshest title on the market today, Smoking
Behind the Supermarket comes with the least amount of baggage compared to several
other shows that have had years of world building and massive casts of
characters only getting bigger and bigger.
It’s a show that can be enjoyed by long time Anime fans, casual viewers
and even people who aren’t into Anime but can really get into the relatable
subject matter of each episode (more on that later).
While most understandably associate Anime
with “go big or go home” spectacle, Smoking Behind the Supermarket is much more
simpler and therefore, a lot easier to get into for however long you want to
enjoy it.
#4-Bite Sized Enjoyment
Most episodes thus far have been split into two even halves,
which I like. Funny enough before the
first episodes officially came out, Crunchyroll was streaming like the first 4
or 5 episodes in 15 minute mini segments.
I thought it was how the show was going to be presented altogether and
you know what, Id’ve been ok with that.
This is the kind of series you can enjoy as a full 30 minute standard
episode or inch through it by watching one 15minute segment at a time. With time management being a pain as is for
some people, Smoking Behind the Supermarket surprisingly takes this into
account in a way more shows could learn from.
#3-A New Rom Com for the Ages
Beyond the self explanatory title, Smoking Behind the
Supermarket is a cute little rom com in the making as we follow hapless office
worker Sasaki who is unaware that his new best smoking buddy, the beautiful
Tayama, is actually his lucky smiling supermarket checkout girl Yamada.
Tayama’s endless teasing of Sasaki over not
being able to tell them apart is fun but the genuine bond built between these
two is sweet.
It’s a friendship that is
destined to blossom into something more and I think we’re all here to see that
happen while Tayama continues to terrorize poor Sasaki into experiencing the
best parts of his day.
The supporting
cast helps a bit too, especially my favorite character Goto, Yamada’s boss who
is watching this would be romance play out like a crazed viewer with a bag of
popcorn, I love her.
#2-Real World Honesty
Let’s be honest: the real world kind of sucks sometimes,
especially these days.
And no show gets
that better than Smoking Behind the Supermarket.
From Sasaki’s neverending verbal abuse from
his boss to Yamada’s need to be the best version of herself in front of
customers even when she doesn’t feel that way, this show is all too real at
times.
But that’s what makes it special.
Smoking Behind the Supermarket is a show that
understands the hazards of the daily grind and is content to let you sit with
it and let you vent like Sasaki or Tayama.
It’s a show that listens and while it may not have all the answers, it
might just be the smile you’ve needed to have after a hard day of work.
#1-The Cutest Damn Couple
I think Marin Kitagawa and Gojo have some real competition
for best couple in Anime right now.
While I’ve covered the Rom Com aspects earlier, it bears repeating just
what kind of an endearing leading pair Sasaki and Tayama/Yamada really are,
cause theyre the reason this show works so well (and their writing, wow).
Sasaki clearly doesn’t see why a girl with piercings,
rocking a mini dress and tights with the stare of a cat about to pounce on him
has any interest in being his friend.
At
the same time, even Tayama doesn’t realize Sasaki has helped her in the past
way before they ever met in ways that have changed her forever.
You fall for the idea of these two being a
couple with each passing moment or conversation and, just like Marin and Gojo,
you want Sasaki and Tayama to end up together somehow, I know I do.
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