My Top 10 Japanese Comics I Enjoyed in 2025 (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, it becomes a challenge to keep up with every worthwhile new series. As always, the most popular series capture the spotlight, however, countless gems of undiscovered treasures just out of sight.

A key pleasure for a dedicated reader is stumbling upon a mostly obscure series amidst the weekly releases and recommending it to friends. I present of the finest under-the-radar manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with reasons why they're worthy of attention prior to a potential boom.

Some of these series lack a large audience, partly due to they all lack anime adaptations. Others may be trickier to read due to where they're available. But recommending any of these provides some impressive fan credentials.

10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero

• Creators: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

This may seem like a strange choice, but hear me out. Manga can be silly, and that's perfectly fine. I admit that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While The Plain Salary Man 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 your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who relieves pressure by entering fantastical portals that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to smash monsters. He has no interest in treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to keep his hobby secret, protect his family, and finish work early for a change.

More polished fantasies are out there, but this is an accessible title from a top company, and thus easily available to international audiences on a digital platform. For easy reading, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're looking for a few minutes of silly fun, the series is a great choice.

9. The Nito Exorcists

• Artist: Iromi Ichikawa
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

Usually, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the abundance of similar stories, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. This series recalls the strongest aspects of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, distinctive artwork, and sudden violence. I stumbled upon it accidentally and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who purges ghosts in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than supporting his vengeance. The plot may seem basic, but the character development is subtle and refined, and the visual contrast between the absurd look of the enemies and the bloody fights is a nice extra touch. This is a series with the capacity to go the distance — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

• Creator: Yuto Sano
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus; Viz

When artistic excellence matters most, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is stunning, detailed, and distinctive. The plot remains within to traditional battle manga tropes, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the characters are all quirky and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a poor neighborhood where humans and beast-men coexist.

The villains, called Maga, are born from human or animal corpses. When human-based, the Maga has powers relating to the manner of death: a hanging victim has the power to choke people, one who ended their own life induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that adds depth to these antagonists. This series could be the next big hit, but it's constrained by its monthly schedule. Starting in 2022, only five volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

7. The Call of War: A Bugle's Song

• Authors: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Viz

This dark fantasy manga examines the ubiquitous battle trope from a novel angle for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it presents massive army conflicts. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—individuals possessing a unique special power. Luca's ability lets him transform noise into illumination, which allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, employing his instrument and background in a ruthless soldier group to become a formidable commander, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.

The world feels a bit standard, and the insertion of sci-fi elements can seem jarring, but The Bugle Call still provided dark turns and shocking story pivots. It's a grown-up battle manga with a cast of quirky characters, an engaging magic framework, and an enjoyable mix of strategy and horror.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

• Creator: Sho Yamazaki
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

A cold-hearted main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary becomes the owner of a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since a massage from its tiny paws 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