A Curated List of 10 Japanese Comics I Read This Year (Which Are Mostly Unknown).
With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, it becomes a challenge to keep up with every noteworthy title. Inevitably, the biggest series capture the spotlight, however, countless gems of hidden gems ripe for exploration.
A particular delight for fans of the medium is unearthing a hidden series buried in publication schedules and spreading the word to friends. Here are some of the best lesser-known manga I've read in 2025, along with explanations for why they're worthy of attention prior to a potential boom.
A few of these titles have not yet reached a mainstream following, notably because they all lack anime adaptations. A few are harder to access due to digital exclusivity. But recommending any of these grants you some serious bragging rights.
10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero
- Creators: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
- Released by: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus
This may seem like a strange choice, but bear with me. Manga can be silly, and there's nothing wrong with that. I'll acknowledge that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While the title diverges from the template, it embraces familiar conventions, including an unbeatable hero and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The charm, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who unwinds by exploring strange labyrinths that materialized globally, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to hide his pastime, 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 conveniently readable to international audiences via a free service. Regarding online access, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're in need of a few minutes of silly fun, this manga is an excellent option.
9. Nito's Exorcists
- Author: Iromi Ichikawa
- Released by: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus
Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the genre's overpopularity, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. This series reminds me of the finest elements of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its creepy atmosphere, unique visuals, and unexpected brutality. I started reading it by chance and was immediately captivated.
Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who kills evil spirits in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. He's paired with his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is more interested in protecting Gotsuji than supporting his vengeance. The storyline appears straightforward, but the treatment of the characters is subtle and refined, and the artistic dichotomy between the absurd look of the enemies and the bloody fights is a compelling layer. This is a series with great promise to become a hit â should it get the chance.
8. Gokurakugai
- Author: Yuto Sano
- Publisher: Shueisha
- Find it on: Manga Plus; Viz
If breathtaking art is your priority, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is spectacular, detailed, and one-of-a-kind. The plot remains within to traditional battle manga tropes, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the characters are all quirky and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a low-income area where people and animal-human hybrids live together.
The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the circumstances of their end: someone who hanged themselves 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 limited due to its slower publication rate. From the beginning, only a limited number of chapters have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.
7. The Bugle Call: Song of War
- Authors: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
- Released by: Shueisha
- Find it on: Viz
This grim fantasy manga approaches the ever-present fight narrative from a fresh perspective for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it depicts epic historical battles. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branchedâthose granted singular talents. Luca's ability enables him to convert audio into visuals, which lets him guide troops on the battlefield, using his trumpet and upbringing in a cruel mercenary band to become a powerful tactician, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.
The world feels a bit standard, and the inclusion of futuristic tech can seem jarring, but it still surprised me with bleak developments and shocking story pivots. It's a grown-up battle manga with a group of eccentric individuals, an interesting power system, and an enjoyable mix of strategy and horror.
6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian
- Author: Sho Yamazaki
- Released by: Shueisha
- Find it on: Manga Plus
A cold-hearted main character who reveres Renaissance thinker NiccolĂČ Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary becomes the owner of a cute cat named Nicoloâallegedly because a massage from its small claws is his sole relief from tension. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you
