My Top 10 Japanese Comics I Enjoyed in 2025 (Which Are Mostly Unknown).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, it becomes a challenge to track every worthwhile new series. Predictably, the biggest series get all the attention, but there's a plethora of hidden gems just out of sight.

A particular delight for fans of the medium is unearthing a hidden series buried in publication schedules and then sharing it to friends. I present of the best lesser-known manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with reasons why they're worth checking out before they gain widespread popularity.

A few of these titles lack a broad readership, partly due to they haven't received anime adaptations. Others may be harder to access due to where they're available. But recommending any of these provides some serious bragging rights.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

• Writing Team: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but hear me out. The medium embraces absurdity, and there's nothing wrong with that. I'll acknowledge that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While the title diverges from the template, it follows many of the same tropes, including an unbeatable hero and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The appeal, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who unwinds by exploring strange labyrinths 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.

There might be better isekai series, but this is an accessible title from a top company, and thus easily available to international audiences via a free service. For easy reading, this publisher sets the standard, and if you're looking for a short, lighthearted escape, The Plain Salary Man is an excellent option.

9. Nito's Exorcists

• Artist: Iromi Ichikawa
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

Usually, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the abundance of similar stories, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. The Nito Exorcists recalls the strongest aspects of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its creepy atmosphere, stylized art, and shocking ferocity. A random click got me hooked and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who eliminates cursed beings in the hope of finding the one that murdered his mentor. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than fueling his retribution. The premise sounds simple, but the portrayal of the cast is thoughtfully executed, and the visual contrast between the comedic design of foes and the bloody fights is a compelling layer. This is a series with real potential to run for a long time — provided it survives.

8. Gokurakugai

• Artist: Yuto Sano
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus; Viz

For readers who value visual splendor, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on the series is stunning, meticulous, and unique. The narrative hews close of typical hero's journey beats, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the cast is wonderfully eccentric and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a working-class district 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 has powers relating to the manner of death: someone who hanged themselves has the power to choke people, one who died from self-harm causes blood loss, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that adds depth to these antagonists. Gokurakugai might become a major title, but it's limited due to its infrequent release pace. Since its debut, only five volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

• Authors: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Viz

This dark fantasy manga tackles the ever-present fight narrative from a fresh perspective for shonen. Instead of centering 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 allows him to manifest sound as light, which lets him guide troops on the battlefield, using his trumpet and upbringing in a brutal fighter company to become a skilled strategist, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The setting is somewhat generic, and the addition of advanced concepts can seem jarring, but The Bugle Call still delivered grim twists and unexpected plot twists. It's a sophisticated series with a collection of odd personalities, an interesting power system, and an interesting combination of warfare and grim fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

• Artist: Sho Yamazaki
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

A emotionally distant main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since 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