He reads a lot, and this list is about the girls.
Tatsuki Fujimoto, the creator of Chainsaw Man, often recommends manga to his readers. Sometimes it's the work of his assistant, sometimes it's just something that moved him. The list of things he mentioned and wanted his readers to pay attention to is vast, and the titles span from surprisingly wholesome things to something creepy to something thought-provoking to R18 BL (which is still wholesome, but, well, R18).
But considering some recent discussions centered around Fujimoto's portrayal of female characters, we decided to make a list of manga series and one-shots he recommended that are centered around female characters and girlhood.
My Broken Mariko
Mariko, as stated in the name of the work, is broken — she dealt with abuse and depression since she was young, but finally, she finds a friend. And it seems that everything is okay, until Shiina, that friend, sees a news report saying that Mariko killed herself. It's a short manga that deals with heavy topics and depicts them in raw emotions, and reading it is devastating. But the story is great and five chapters were enough to make characters feel fleshed out.
Memories of Emanon (Omoide Emanon)
A mysterious and dramatic story about a girl, Emanon, who says that she has three billion years worth of memories, right from the moment the first single-cell organism was born in the ocean. It's enigmatic and captivating, with a blanket of melancholy covering the whole narrative but it still has a huge heart beneath it. It's mostly dialogue; there's no character development over the 9 chapters of the story, but it's you, the reader, who learns and who ends up in awe.
Blood On The Tracks (Chi no Wadachi)
A psychological horror story about a hyper-protective mother and her son. It's a work by Seiichi Osabe, so you know that it's something that will fill you with gooey, inescapable dread. It's so good at inducing terror in a very silent way. It's disturbing and brain-wringing. The pace is deliberately slow, or so it seems, and it works to build up tension — only for it to snap at the right moment. The art style with the focus on facial expressions also conveys the story perfectly. But it's hard to read.
I Want To Hold Aono-kun So Badly I Could Die (Aono-kun ni Sawaritai kara Shinitai)
A girl confesses to a boy, and he agrees to date her. Fast forward two weeks, and you think it's another regular school romance story, but then the boy dies in an accident. You think it's going to become a weird drama, and you're right. However, the weirdness is brought to you by the boy himself, as he ends up haunting the girl. The type of weirdness that this manga exudes is insane. It mixes romcom and horror so wonderfully, the art style combines cuteness and roundness of character with graphic depictions of body harm in a near whiplash way. It's a wild ride, and one that feels like something that could definitely inspire Fujimoto.
Yokohama Shopping Log (Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou)
A story that can be considered a celebration of life, of people who surround you, and of the time that you have available. It's set in a post-apocalyptic world where Alpha Hatsuseno, an android, runs a small café in Yokohama where she meets her old friends and makes new ones. She also goes on an adventure and tries to see the world, and with that Alpha gains a new perspective on life. A very cheerful story, although with some somber undertones.
School Back
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A manga that is focused on Fushimi, who works at school as a janitor. She's tall and she can offer advice to those who don't know what to do when they become adults, even if they are already adults. She's one of those adults who consults kids, too, just by being around and caring rather than diminishing their problems. It's a nice blend of regular cheerful slice-of-life with some disturbing topics, and the art just makes you smile.
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Claymore is one of those manga that needs a rebooted anime adaptation. Because the story is worth it. The world-building is great — it's a mix of fantasy and horror, with half-monsters and half-human female warriors defending humans from monsters. We follow Clare who chose the path of revenge, but this path is filled with new beginnings and some very enlightening events. Clare grows, and it happens organically and believably. You follow her journey gladly. And hey, it has girls with big swords.
Yotsuba&! (Yotsuba to!)
Yotsuba is a little girl who is extremely fascinated with the whole world — which is normal for a 5-year-old. And she's a menace, in a kid way. She's always up to something, from fixing global warming to finding out how windows work. She's filled with curiosity, and she's written so well that you can't be annoyed by her for so long. She's too cute for that, she's just a child exploring the world and doing it in a way she believes is the right one. It's too wholesome.
Witches (Majo)
The combination of stunning backgrounds and insanely detailed grotesque creatures is something that may definitely inspire Fujimoto. It's an anthology of short stories that are all set in one universe that surrounds witches. The plot is pretty dark and simple, but the art is incredible. The characters feel predictable, yet there's still a layer of mystery over the whole work.
Source: X (formerly Twitter), Reddit