The 10 Best Japanese Comics I Enjoyed in 2025 (Which Are Mostly Unknown).
As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, staying on top to discover every significant title. As always, the biggest series dominate conversations, yet a treasure trove exists of undiscovered treasures just out of sight.
One of the greatest joys for any manga enthusiast is finding a largely unknown series in the sea of new chapters and recommending it to friends. This list highlights of the best lesser-known manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with motivations for they're worthy of attention before they gain widespread popularity.
Several entries here have not yet reached a mainstream following, especially as they haven't received anime adaptations. Some could be less accessible due to digital exclusivity. However, suggesting any of these will earn you some serious bragging rights.
10. The Plain Salary Man Turned Out to Be a Hero
- Creators: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
- Publisher: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus
I know, it's an unusual starting point, but bear with me. Manga can be silly, and that's perfectly fine. I confess that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While this series doesn't fully fit the genre, it uses similar story beats, including an unbeatable hero and a RPG-like world structure. The appeal, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who relieves pressure by entering fantastical portals that materialized globally, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He has no interest in treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to keep his hobby secret, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.
More polished fantasies are out there, but this is one of the few published by a major house, and thus easily available to international audiences through a popular app. Regarding online access, this publisher sets the standard, and if you're looking for a short, lighthearted escape, this manga is an excellent option.
9. The Nito Exorcists
- Creator: Iromi Ichikawa
- Released by: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus
Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title turns me away due to the genre's overpopularity, but two series changed my mind this year. The Nito Exorcists recalls the finest elements of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its creepy atmosphere, stylized art, and shocking ferocity. I started reading it by chance and got hooked instantly.
Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who purges ghosts in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than aiding his quest for revenge. The storyline appears straightforward, but the treatment of the characters is thoughtfully executed, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the comedic design of foes and the violent battles is a nice extra touch. This is a series with real potential to go the distance — provided it survives.
8. Gokurakugai
- Author: Yuto Sano
- Publisher: Shueisha
- Find it on: Manga Plus; Viz
If breathtaking art is your priority, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on the series is spectacular, meticulous, and distinctive. The narrative hews close to traditional battle manga tropes, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the characters are all quirky and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, manage the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a poor neighborhood where humans and beast-men coexist.
The villains, called Maga, are formed from human or animal corpses. For those from people, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the circumstances of their end: a hanging victim manifests as a choking force, one who perished by suicide can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that provides substance to these antagonists. Gokurakugai might become a major title, but it's limited due to its slower publication rate. Starting in 2022, only a limited number of chapters have been released, which can test a reader's patience.
7. The Bugle Call: Song of War
- Writing Team: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
- Publisher: Shueisha
- Find it on: Viz
This bleak fantasy manga approaches the ever-present fight narrative from a fresh perspective for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it showcases epic historical battles. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. Luca's ability allows him to manifest sound as light, which allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a brutal fighter company to become a skilled strategist, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.
The world feels a bit standard, and the addition of advanced concepts can seem jarring, but this series still provided dark turns and surprising narrative shifts. It's a mature shonen with a collection of odd personalities, an interesting power system, and an pleasing blend of strategy and horror.
6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao
- Creator: Sho Yamazaki
- Released by: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus
A calculating main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and subscribes to ends-justify-the-means becomes the owner of a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that a massage from its small claws is a unique cure for his aches. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you
