My Top 10 Japanese Comics I Read This Year (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, it's increasingly difficult to discover every worthwhile release. As always, the mainstream series dominate conversations, however, countless gems of hidden gems ripe for exploration.

A particular delight for a dedicated reader is stumbling upon a mostly obscure series amidst the weekly releases and then sharing it to friends. I present of the best lesser-known manga I've read in 2025, along with motivations for they're deserving of your time before they gain widespread popularity.

Some of these series have not yet reached a broad readership, partly due to they are without anime adaptations. Others may be trickier to read due to their publishing platforms. But recommending any of these grants you some notable geek cred.

10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero

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

This may seem like a strange choice, but let me explain. The medium embraces absurdity, and it's part of the charm. I confess that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While the title isn't strictly an isekai, it embraces familiar conventions, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The unique hook, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who relieves pressure by sneaking into mysterious dungeons that emerged suddenly, armed only with a baseball bat, to pummel creatures. He's indifferent to treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to maintain his double life, protect his family, and finish work early for a change.

Superior genre examples exist, but this is one of the few released by a leading publisher, and thus readily accessible to international audiences on a digital platform. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're in need of a brief, enjoyable diversion, the series is highly recommended.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

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

Ordinarily, 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. This series evokes the strongest aspects of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its eerie vibe, unique visuals, and unexpected brutality. I stumbled upon it accidentally and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who kills evil spirits in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is more interested in protecting Gotsuji than aiding his quest for revenge. The storyline appears straightforward, but the portrayal of the cast is as delicate as the art, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the silly appearance of the spirits and the gory combat is a compelling layer. This is a series with great promise to go the distance — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

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

When artistic excellence matters most, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is spectacular, meticulous, and distinctive. The story doesn't stray far from classic shonen conventions, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the characters are all quirky and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a poor neighborhood where humans and beast-men coexist.

The villains, called Maga, are formed from human or animal corpses. When human-based, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the manner of death: a suicide by hanging manifests as a choking force, one who ended their own life causes blood loss, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that provides substance to these antagonists. It might become a major title, but it's limited due to its infrequent release pace. From the beginning, only five volumes have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

• Writing Team: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Viz

This dark fantasy manga examines the ubiquitous battle trope from a fresh perspective for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it showcases epic historical battles. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—individuals possessing a unique special power. 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 ruthless soldier group to become a formidable commander, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The setting is somewhat generic, and the addition of advanced concepts feels forced at times, but this series still provided grim twists and surprising narrative shifts. It's a mature shonen with a cast of quirky characters, an engaging magic framework, and an enjoyable mix 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 reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that a massage from its tiny paws is his sole relief from tension. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you