‘Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You’ Anime Sets New Crunchyroll Records

A quiet revolution is taking place in the anime landscape, and it doesn’t involve epic battles or magical realms. Instead, it unfolds in the parking lot behind a supermarket, focusing on a weary salaryman and a cashier with a hidden life, resonating with audiences in a way few anime have achieved.

At the heart of ‘Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You’ is a seinen romantic comedy and slice-of-life narrative that carries a gentle, bittersweet tone. The story revolves around Sasaki, a 45-year-old overworked salaryman, and Yamada, a cheerful supermarket cashier who leads a double life.

When Sasaki can’t find Yamada after a challenging day, he encounters a striking woman who invites him to smoke. He believes he has found a new smoking companion in the cool, teasing Tayama, unaware that she is someone he already knows.

Originally a webcomic launched on Twitter in March 2022, the series transitioned into a serialized manga in Square Enix’s Monthly Big Gangan magazine. The manga won the 2022 Next Manga Award in the web category and received high rankings in bookstore recommendations, resonating with its honest portrayal of adult life, addressing themes of burnout, identity, and the small yet meaningful moments that foster human connection.

The anime adaptation has taken things to extraordinary heights. Crunchyroll kicked off its summer lineup early, following the Japanese streaming platform ABEMA with a special pre-release of ‘Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You,’ featuring 12 mini-episodes that premiered on June 3.

All 12 episodes, ranging from nine to 18 minutes, were made available for premium members, complete with unique theme songs, while free viewers will gain access on June 26. The full television broadcast is set to premiere on TBS and 27 other channels in July, airing every Thursday at 11:56 p.m. JST.

The response to the early release has been historic. ‘Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You’ achieved a perfect 5-star rating on Crunchyroll, garnering around 14,000 ratings within the first three days of its premiere—an impressive figure that surpasses what many anime achieve after their entire runs.

The anime also boasts an impressive rating of 8.50 on MyAnimeList, marking it as one of the best-received anime of 2026.

While shonen anime filled with battles and high school romances remain popular, many new-generation anime currently topping the charts are slice-of-life adaptations that offer a sentimental and bittersweet view of adulthood. ‘Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You’ fits perfectly into this growing trend and is making a significant impact.

The anime arrives at a time when there is a greater demand for mature, understated stories, following the path paved by shows like ‘A Sign of Affection’ and ‘Wotakoi,’ which have created space for narratives that do not rely on adolescent melodrama. What distinguishes this series is the specificity of its emotional core.

Sasaki is not portrayed as a hero or an aspirational figure; he is simply tired and often overlooked. The small comfort he finds in a supermarket checkout line is painfully relatable to anyone who has ever experienced unexpected solace in an unlikely place.

Directed by Tadato Suzuki and Aoi Mori at Asahi Production, the anime features Takuya Sato as Sasaki and Seena Hoshiki as Yamada and Tayama, with series composition by Mio Inoue and character design by Yasuka Otaki. The opening theme is performed by Zutomayo, while the ending song ‘Fiction’ is by imase, showcasing a creative team that clearly understands the material.

There is compelling evidence that ‘Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You’ could set a new standard for slice-of-life anime, demonstrating a genuine appetite among fans for adult dramas that prioritize emotional honesty over spectacle.

Achieving a perfect rating before the show has even completed its full run is not just a milestone; it is a statement. The anime community has been yearning for something that feels authentic, and it appears they have found it in this unexpected setting.

What are your thoughts on ‘Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You’ and its record-breaking reception on Crunchyroll? Share your opinions in the comments.