This is a really good manga. I cannot put it into words, but it just makes you think about life, makes you feel something. It's overall a really wholesome manga, but melancholy is creeping up in the background, and I honestly feel scared something will go wrong. Maybe I make it sound uncomfortable, but its a really cool manga, that just somehow encapulates life. I really wish I could articulate, because I don't give the manga justice, but yeah it just really cute and has wholesome moments, but still makes me feel melancholic somehow, and just puts life in a sort of perspective.

Since I'm not good at writing reviews and I have to write more, I'm gonna write a little bit of fill in with some more spoilers.
Since Yoshioka's wife died he has just been a stubborn, grumpy old man, not caring much about anything. He just complains and doesn't want to do anything. We see little glimps of his past here and there, it's obvious he has lived his entire life in the village he resides in, and has a lot of memories bound to the place. Ponko comes into the picture, even though he doesn't want her, he is nice enough to let her stay, since if he doesn't, she will be scrapped. He never says this, but it's obvious he cares at least a little about ponko, because when she was supposed to go back home and get scrapped, he didn't say anything, instead allowing her to stay and "live", I will go back to what I mean by that later. But for now it's important to understand Yoshioka's character growth and why Ponko is so important. The two characters dynamic helps them both grow; in the past, Yoshioka didn't want to go to the local festival, despite his wife and his children going every yeah, because it was a "waste of time and just loud" or something like that. This year, however, Ponko really wants to go and he goes with her to show her what it's like, while he hides the fact by saying it's just to help out. You realize slowly overtime Ponko is much more than a machine, she feels sad, excited, and happy. As the story progresses we get more and more glimpses into Ponko's consciousness, and Yoshioka's past and character growth into a less stubborn and grumpy person, and we see more of his kindness.

I really really really recommend you atleast give it a try!! Character growth is done super well in this manga, and you can't help but love every single character. I audibly laugh in basically every chapter, while still being engaged in the story and on the verge of crying. Each chapter is better than the last, and I can't wait to read more. The manga is quite frequently updated too, as far as I know anyway. Basically, this manga has it all, it may be unknown and I personally didn't expect much from it, but you gotta give it a go.