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

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, it's increasingly difficult to keep up with every worthwhile new series. Inevitably, the most popular series dominate conversations, however, countless gems of overlooked works just out of sight.

One of the greatest joys for a dedicated reader is stumbling upon a hidden series buried in publication schedules and then sharing it to friends. This list highlights of the best lesser-known manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with explanations for why they're worthy of attention before they gain widespread popularity.

A few of these titles have not yet reached a mainstream following, partly due to they are without anime adaptations. Some could be harder to access due to where they're available. But recommending any of these provides some notable geek cred.

10. The Plain Salary Man Turned Out to Be a Hero

• Creators: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available 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 confess that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While The Plain Salary Man diverges from the template, it uses similar story beats, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The charm, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who vents his stress by entering fantastical portals that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He's indifferent to treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to maintain his double life, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.

Superior genre examples exist, but this is an accessible title released by a leading publisher, and thus readily accessible to international audiences through a popular app. For easy reading, this publisher sets the standard, and if you're in need of a short, lighthearted escape, this manga is an excellent option.

9. Nito's Exorcists

• Author: Iromi Ichikawa
• Publisher: 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. This series recalls the finest elements of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and shocking ferocity. I stumbled upon it accidentally and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who purges ghosts in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. He's accompanied 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 comedic design of foes 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

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

When artistic excellence matters most, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is stunning, detailed, and distinctive. The plot remains within of typical hero's journey beats, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the characters are all quirky and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a working-class district where people and animal-human hybrids live together.

The villains, called Maga, are formed from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the manner of death: someone who hanged themselves can strangle others, one who died from self-harm induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that gives weight to these antagonists. It could be the next big hit, but it's held back by its infrequent release pace. From the beginning, only a handful of volumes have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

7. The Call of War: A Bugle's Song

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

This bleak fantasy manga approaches the ubiquitous battle trope from a fresh perspective for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it showcases large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—those granted singular talents. Luca's ability enables him to convert audio into visuals, which helps him command armies on the battlefield, employing his instrument and background in a brutal fighter company to become a formidable commander, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.

The world feels a bit standard, and the addition of advanced concepts can seem jarring, but this series still delivered dark turns and shocking story pivots. It's a sophisticated series with a group of eccentric individuals, an compelling ability ruleset, and an pleasing blend of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

• Author: Sho Yamazaki
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

A emotionally distant main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and subscribes to ends-justify-the-means becomes the owner of 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