If you’re interested in Japanese culture, you most likely know at least a little about the history and some popular works of manga. In this article, we offer you an exclusive lineup of the best Japanese manga covering a variety of genres. Go over the list, and you’ll find new favorites or you may want to rummage through your bookshelf to find some classic manga for the first time in years!
Contents
Action and Adventure
Dragon Ball (1984-1995) – Written/Illustrated by Akira Toriyama
Serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump, one of the long-standing, and most popular manga magazines in Japan, for over 10 years during the period 1984-1995, Dragon Ball represents not only the action and adventure genre of Japanese manga, but the prosperous period of Japanese manga culture itself. 42 volumes were released and it has sold over 260 million copies across the world.
A boy named Son Goku starts to explore the world to collect seven Dragon Balls, which are said to make wishes come true. As the story goes on, Goku encounters various characters and sometimes makes friends with them or a lot of times gets into battles with them. Through tough training sessions in martial arts to beat enemies, he grows both physically and mentally and learns unique techniques including the popular one called “Kamehameha”. In the later series, Goku’s sons Gohan and Goten are also featured after Goku becomes an adult.
- Dragon Ball, Vol. 1 (Amazon)
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (1987-Now) – Written/Illustrated by Hirohiko Araki
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is one of the classic manga series with nine chapters (parts) over 35 years. It was first serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump and is currently is found in Ultra Jump. The series has sold over 120 million copies with several spin-off works including anime adaptions and a live-action movie.
The main character varies in each part, featuring a cross-generational adventure of the Joestar family. With an overall theme of humanity, the mysterious story includes building friendships and fights in partner “Stand”, a physical manifestation of the person’s life energy against enemies. Unique poses and onomatopoeia seen in battle scenes are some of the reasons that the JoJo’s series has attracted enthusiastic fans for a long time.
One Piece (1997-Now) – Written/Illustrated by Eiichiro Oda
One Piece has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump since 1997 with 105 volumes, making it the second longest-running series in the magazine industry. On top of 500 million copies sold worldwide, One Piece holds several of the highest domestic records in publishing, and a variety of derivative works such as a TV anime program, films, and video games have been created to accelerate its ever-growing popularity.
A young pirate, Monkey D. Luffy, who has a rubber body after accidentally eating a Devil Fruit, goes on a sailing trip to find the world’s biggest treasure called “One Piece”. Along the way, he stops by a lot of undiscovered, unique islands to find his future crew and rivals. Through the battles and the adventure on the sea, hidden stories behind the treasure and each character including Luffy, his crew, and even rivals are revealed with comedic scenes along the way, and it has attracted many fans of all ages for over 25 years.
- One Piece, Vol. 1: Romance Dawn (Amazon)
Fullmetal Alchemist (2001-2010) – Written/Illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa
Fullmetal Alchemist was serialized for 9 years in Monthly Shōnen Gangan, competing with Monthly Shonen Jump and some other manga anthologies. With 27 volumes, the series has sold over 80 million copies worldwide.
In the story, two alchemist brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric have the ability to create anything in exchange for something of equal value. They violate the taboo of bringing something back to life of with their mother, who died of an epidemic, but their attempt fails, and this results in them losing part of their bodies. The brothers then start traveling to seek the Philosopher’s Stone to regain what they have lost. The story and settings are a perfect yet complex mix of adventure, dark-fantasy, action, and steampunk.
- Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 1 (Amazon)
Battle with Japanese Style
Rurouni Kenshin (1994-1999 / 2017-Now) – Written/Illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki
Rurouni Kenshin, also known as Samurai X in the US and some other countries, was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump during the period from 1994 to 1999, when Dragon Ball was about to complete its adventure and One Piece had started its sailing. Set in the early Meiji era in Japan, the historical action story was sensational at that time and gained popularity especially when the TV anime series began to air in 1996. After 18 years, a sequel started to be serialized in the same magazine and a new anime series was also announced to be aired in 2023 in Japan.
In the story, Himura Kenshin is a legendary swordsman who was once feared as “Battousai“ or a great slayer during the “Bakumatsu”, or final years at the end of Edo era. After the Meiji Restoration, the political revolution to end the Tokugawa shogunate and restore imperial rule, he starts traveling around the country as a wanderer (“Rurounin”), determined not to kill anyone anymore. Through a fateful encounter with a brave young lady and battles with some archenemies, Kenshin ultimately seeks a life of peace while protecting citizens in need.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2016-2020) – Written/Illustrated by Koyoharu Gotouge
“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump during the period 2016-2020. The TV anime adaptation exploded its popularity in 2019, and the 2020 film’s box-office revenue reached 40.43 billion yen in the midst of the COVID pandemic, making it the best hit of all time in the country. Set in the Taisho period (1912-1926), the characters wear kimonos and other old-fashioned clothes in various colors and designs which makes the anime and film adaptation even more outstanding.
In the story, Tanjiro Kamado lives happily with his mother and his 6 younger sisters and brothers in total peace until almost the whole family is slaughtered by a demon (an “Oni”) while he is away. Nezuko, one of his sisters, is the only survivor but she turns into a demon later. Tanjiro decides to become a demon slayer in order to find a way to return his sister to human somehow.
Naruto (1999-2014) – Written by Masashi Kishimoto
Naruto was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump for 15 years with 72 volumes selling over 250 million copies across the world. The ninja action manga gained popularity together with “One Piece” in the same magazine, and its TV anime adaptation was broadcast for over 10 years, making it the first long-running series which started in the 21st century. The sequel titled “Boruto”, which is the name of Naruto’s son, has been serialized since 2016.
In the story, a young ninja named Uzumaki Naruto is thought to be a failure by everyone including himself, but Naruto tries to develop his skills and master techniques using the chakra energy, eventually finding a mighty nine-tailed fox hidden inside his body. To become the strongest ninja in the village, Naruto overcomes numerous challenges and grows together with his friends while facing setbacks and suffering again and again, but ultimately succeeding.
- Naruto, Vol. 1: Uzumaki Naruto (Amazon)
See also：4 Best Anime and Manga Museums in Japan
Mystery
Death Note (2003-2006) – Written by Tsugumi Ohba / Illustrated by Takeshi Obata
Death Note was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump in the early 2000s with 12 volumes selling 30 million copies. Even after the manga series was completed, the psychological battle story and the world it creates created continue to capture passionate fans and has been widely distributed in a variety of media, including an anime adaptation and live-action movies.
In the story, a genius high school student named Light Yagami finds a strange, black notebook called the “Death Note” in Japanese, which has a the power to kill anyone when their name is written in it. With the help of the God of death (“Shinigami”) called Ryuk, the owner of the “Death Note”, Light decides to create a crime-free world by eliminating all the criminals or those who are immoral. Through the battles between Light and the world’s greatest detective “L” and the police forces, the story not only gives readers a thrill ride but also asks them what true “justice” is.
- Death Note, Vol. 1 (Amazon)
Detective Conan / Case Closed (1994-Now) – Written by Gosho Aoyama
Detective Conan, or Case Closed, has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Sunday since 1994 and is the longest-running manga in the magazine’s history. Over 270 million copies have sold around the world with 102 volumes in total, a TV anime adaptation has been broadcast since 1996, and a film adaptation has been released every year since 1997.
In the story, Shinichi Kudo, a high school student and a young detective, is transformed into a small kid by two suspicious men with a special poison, who turn out to be members of the mysterious group named the “Black Organization”. To escape from the organization, Shinichi hides his true identity and starts to live as the elementary schooler Conan Edogawa, named after Arthur Conan Doyle and Ranpo Edogawa, two legendary writers in Britain and Japan. Despite his small body, Shinichi (Conan) still has the ability to solve cases as a great detective and tries to find a the secret of the “Black Organization”.
- Case Closed, Vol. 1 (Amazon)
Sports
Slam Dunk (1990-1996) – Written by Takehiko Inoue
Slam Dunk, serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump, is one of the most popular sport manga of all time in Japan. 170 million copies are in circulation with 31 volumes, and its TV anime series exploded its popularity during the 1990s. An anime movie with a brand-new story was released in 2022 over 25 years after its original completion.
In the story, a delinquent high school student Hanamichi Sakuragi happens to belong to his school basketball club and meets his rival and a the brother of his crush. Through tough training and playing on the team, Hanamichi develops his hidden talent and realizes how much he loves playing basketball with his unique, great team members. Although the story mainly focuses on basketball practices and matches, it depicts how each member suffers their own problems and eventually overcomes them with the famous phrase “It’s only when you give up that the game ends (up)”.
- Slam Dunk, Vol. 1 (Amazon)
Girls
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (1991-1997) – Written by Naoko Takeuchi
Sailor Moon, also known as Pretty Soldier/Guardian Sailor Moon, was serialized in one of the most popular monthly Shōjo manga magazines named Nakayoshi in the 1990s. The 18 volumes that were published have sold a total of 46 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling manga in history. A TV anime series was broadcast during the period 1992-1997, which sparked its popularity, and a wide variety of media including animated films and a live-action TV adaptation were distributed. Also “pretty” surprisingly, an official fan club “Pretty Guardians” was created in 2016, almost 20 years after the completion of its original manga story.
In the story, a clumsy, cheerful schoolgirl named Usagi Tsukino meets a mysterious black cat named Luna, who can talk to Usagi. That is when she notices her supernatural ability to transform herself into powerful Sailor Moon to fight against villains who threaten the earth. As the leader of the Sailor Guardians, Usagi grows with several other talented Sailor members and her mysterious boyfriend, and starts to realize what her true identity is.
Nana (2000-Now) – Written by Ai Yazawa
Nana appeared in the monthly Shōjo manga magazine Cookie in 2000 and has been on hiatus since 2009. Not only its dramatic and impressive storyline but edgy punk fashion and the style of the characters attract fans of all ages and genders, and its two live-action movies along with featured songs were blockbuster hits with over 5.2 billion yen in total sales.
An ordinary, 20-year-old, “Nana” Komatsu decides to move to Tokyo to live with her boyfriend, while another “Nana” Osaki, also age 20, moves to the metropolis at the same time to seek a success as a punk singer. The two women happen to live in the same apartment and grow their friendship grows while struggling to achieve what each dreams of.
- Nana, Volume 1 (Amazon)
See also：6 BEST Japanese “Seishun” Anime You Should Watch
Summary
We have introduced the 12 best Japanese manga of all time in different genres. Although all the manga works in this list have already been translated into English, we encourage you to try the Japanese editions later. Once you know the story, you will feel much more comfortable following it in another language and it will tremendously help your Japanese learning!
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