A Curated List of 10 Japanese Comics I Enjoyed in 2025 (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).
With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, it's increasingly difficult to discover every worthwhile release. Predictably, the most popular series get all the attention, however, countless gems of undiscovered treasures just out of sight.
A particular delight for any manga enthusiast is finding a mostly obscure series in the sea of new chapters and then sharing it to friends. This list highlights of the best lesser-known manga I've discovered recently, along with explanations for why they're worth checking out ahead of the curve.
Several entries here lack a mainstream following, partly due to they all lack anime adaptations. A few are less accessible due to their publishing platforms. However, suggesting any of these provides some serious bragging rights.
10. The Plain Salary Man Turned Out to Be a Hero
- Writing Team: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
- Released by: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus
Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but bear with me. Comics are often fun, and that's perfectly fine. I confess that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While this series diverges from the template, it follows many of the same tropes, including an unbeatable hero and a game-influenced setting. The charm, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who relieves pressure by entering fantastical portals that materialized globally, armed only with a baseball bat, to smash monsters. He's indifferent to treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to hide his pastime, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.
Superior genre examples exist, but this is a rare example published by a major house, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences through a popular app. For easy reading, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're in need of a short, lighthearted escape, this manga is highly recommended.
9. Nito's Exorcists
- Author: Iromi Ichikawa
- Released by: Shueisha
- Find it on: Manga Plus
Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the saturated market, but my opinion was altered this year. The Nito Exorcists reminds me of the finest elements of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its ominous tone, distinctive artwork, and sudden violence. A random click got me hooked and was immediately captivated.
Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who eliminates cursed beings in the hope of finding the one that murdered his mentor. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than fueling his retribution. The storyline appears straightforward, but the character development is subtle and refined, and the visual contrast between the absurd look of the enemies and the gory combat is an effective bonus. This is a series with the capacity to run for a long time — if it's allowed to continue.
8. Gokurakugai
- Author: Yuto Sano
- Publisher: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus; Viz
If breathtaking art is your priority, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on the series is spectacular, meticulous, and distinctive. The narrative hews close from classic shonen conventions, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, manage the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a poor neighborhood where two species live side-by-side.
The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. For those from people, the Maga has powers relating to the way the human died: a suicide by hanging manifests as a choking force, one who ended their own life causes blood loss, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that adds depth to these antagonists. Gokurakugai might become a major title, but it's held back by its monthly schedule. Since its debut, only a handful of volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience.
7. Bugle Call: War's Melody
- Writing Team: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
- Publisher: Shueisha
- Available on: Viz
This dark fantasy manga examines the common conflict theme from a fresh perspective for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it depicts large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—individuals possessing a unique special power. Luca's ability lets him transform noise into illumination, which lets him guide troops on the battlefield, using his trumpet and upbringing in a ruthless soldier group to become a formidable commander, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.
The backdrop is a little plain, and the inclusion of futuristic tech occasionally doesn't fit, but it still delivered dark turns and surprising narrative shifts. It's a grown-up battle manga with a collection of odd personalities, an compelling ability ruleset, and an pleasing blend of strategy and horror.
6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao
- Creator: Sho Yamazaki
- Released by: Shueisha
- Find it on: Manga Plus
A emotionally distant main character who idolizes Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and subscribes to ends-justify-the-means adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—allegedly because a massage from its little feet 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
