Synopsis

From the day he was born until the moment he died, 25-year-old Yusuke Yahagi never had a say in his life. Even after being hit by a truck and sent to a new world, he was given a job he hadn’t asked for: a dagashi-ya. But the cheap and tasty snacks that line his shop are different from those back in Japan. From Curry Rice Crackers to Anzu Sticks, each item comes with its own special effects. Unfortunately, this new world has no idea what dagashi are! It’s up to Yahagi to teach them about the wonders of dagashi as he builds a new life for himself, selling his stat-boosting snacks to help adventurers in need and earning loyal customers—like the lively pink-haired Meryl, the mysterious man in the silver mask, and maybe even a witch or two…? (Source: J-Novel Club)

Sweets, Snacks, and Sorcery!

Written by Bunzaburou Nagano and illustrated by Neruzo Nemaki, Dagashi-ya Yahagi, J-Novel Club’s latest title, proves that there are unseen powers to be had from sweets and snacks.

Similar to titles like Peddler in Another World, Dagashi-ya Yahagi belongs to the ever-popular and growing sub-genre of mercantile isekai. A sub-genre dedicated to protagonists who reveal their heroism through business, this series focuses on Yahagi and his traditional shop, known as a Dagashi-ya. For those unfamiliar, a Dagashi-ya is a cheap neighbourhood sweet and snack shop popular with children. For comparison, for those of you who live in the UK, this tradition serves its place alongside popping down to the corner shop for some sweets. 

As this is a fantasy world, Yahagi’s sweet shop isn’t exactly the same as your normal neighbourhood store. Each of the cheap products that he sells comes with some sort of effect that would be of use in a world filled with dungeons, monsters, and sorcery. With each new product introduced as Yahagi levels up his store, some praise must be given to the author as they seamlessly meld together traditional items with fantasy, even those that don’t have any benefit in a fantasy world at first glance.

Combining sweet treats and positive status effects turns out to be a profitable business venture, as Yahagi quickly gains some regular customers. Varying in personality, it’s through these customers that Yahagi ends up acting within the world beyond his store and getting into all sorts of trouble. Of particular note for this volume, however, is Minerva, who is known by others as a death god.

First introduced as a dangerous individual, it quickly becomes apparent that there’s more to her than meets the eye. For Yahagi, however, this meeting between them blossoms into something much sweeter than fear.

The romantic journey between them brings with it mixed emotions, especially regarding Minerva’s characterisation. Perhaps as a way to keep her identity a secret, the series leans a little too heavily on portraying Minerva as a Yandere rather than a woman anxious over a recent rejection. While the former would have taken the series in a very different direction, it is thankfully put to rest as the climax explores Minerva’s past and softens her up through her relationship with Yahagi. As it stands now, their romantic future looks to be of the cute and fluffy variety.

Overall, Dagashi-ya Yahagi’s first instalment lays the foundations for a bright future. While some of its characterisation was out of place in the first half, this is more than made up for by the end of the volume as the series sets in place each character’s role. Additionally, there’s lots of entertainment to be had from the myriad of Dagashi-ya items introduced throughout the story.

I Give Dagashi-ya Yahagi: 7/10