Being left-handed means running into small, everyday "that's so me" moments — things that right-handed people would probably never notice.
This illustrated series, Left-Handed Life in Japan: A Manga Series, captures those little slices of daily life in comic form. We hope you find yourself nodding along.
Vol. 4 is about a little thing left-handers learn to look for: elbow room.
Imagine filling out a form at a city hall counter in Japan. The person beside you writes with their right hand; you write with your left. Bump! Your elbows meet in the middle. You both apologize, and you quietly shift a little farther over.
The same thing can happen at a ramen counter. When eating with a group, you might find yourself hoping for a seat at the end, where your left elbow has a little more space. A narrow table at an exam can bring back that familiar feeling, too.
But the real challenge is the chair with a small writing tablet attached on the right. If you write with your left hand, you have to twist across your body to reach it. Sitting through a class or a seminar like that can feel surprisingly awkward.
Every once in a while, though, you spot a left-handed chair tucked away in the corner. What a relief! A small bit of consideration can make all the difference.
Have you ever chosen your seat to avoid bumping elbows? What are tablet-arm chairs like where you live? Tell us in the comments — we'd love to hear your left-handed stories.
More volumes coming soon.
Previously in the series
Vol. 1: The Soup Ladle
Vol. 2: Writing
Vol. 3: Ticket Gates
Illustrated by Haru Kawase
Manga artist and illustrator. Based in Japan. Debut work: "Three Mysterious Days to Get Myself Back" (2021). Also known for "Good Morning, Tail" and "Kumasaki-san" (Bungeishunju). Left-handed.
@kawase_haru on Instagram
