A Curated List of 10 Japanese Comics I Read This Year (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, staying on top to keep up with every noteworthy title. Predictably, the biggest series dominate conversations, but there's a plethora of hidden gems ripe for exploration.

A key pleasure for any manga enthusiast is finding a largely unknown series buried in publication schedules and spreading the word to friends. This list highlights of the finest under-the-radar manga I've read in 2025, along with motivations for they're worth checking out ahead of the curve.

Some of these series have not yet reached a broad readership, notably because they haven't received anime adaptations. Some could be harder to access due to where they're available. But recommending any of these will earn you some serious bragging rights.

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

• Authors: 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. Comics are often fun, and there's nothing wrong with that. I confess that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While The Plain Salary Man isn't strictly an isekai, it follows many of the same tropes, including an unbeatable hero and a RPG-like world structure. The appeal, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who vents his stress by sneaking into mysterious dungeons that emerged suddenly, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. 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.

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 brief, enjoyable diversion, this manga is highly recommended.

9. The Nito Exorcists

• Artist: Iromi Ichikawa
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

Usually, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the saturated market, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. The Nito Exorcists reminds me of the best parts of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its creepy atmosphere, unique visuals, and shocking ferocity. A random click got me hooked and got hooked instantly.

Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who eliminates cursed beings in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is more interested in protecting Gotsuji than supporting his vengeance. The plot may seem basic, but the treatment of the characters 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 become a hit — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

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

When artistic excellence matters most, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is breathtaking, intricate, and one-of-a-kind. The narrative hews close of typical hero's journey beats, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the characters are all quirky and the world is fascinating. 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. For those from people, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the manner of death: someone who hanged themselves manifests as a choking force, one who perished by suicide causes blood loss, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that provides substance to these antagonists. Gokurakugai could be the next big hit, but it's limited due to its infrequent release pace. From the beginning, only a limited number of chapters have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

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

This grim fantasy manga tackles the ever-present fight narrative 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—individuals possessing a unique special power. Luca's ability enables him to convert audio into visuals, which helps him command armies on the battlefield, using his trumpet and upbringing in a cruel mercenary band to become a skilled strategist, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.

The backdrop is a little plain, and the inclusion of futuristic tech occasionally doesn't fit, but The Bugle Call still delivered grim twists and unexpected plot twists. It's a mature shonen with a group of eccentric individuals, an interesting power system, and an interesting combination of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

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

A cold-hearted main character who idolizes 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 small claws 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