My Top 10 Japanese Comics I Enjoyed in 2025 (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, it becomes a challenge to keep up with every significant title. Predictably, the biggest series dominate conversations, but there's a plethora of hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

A particular delight for fans of the medium is unearthing a mostly obscure series amidst the weekly releases and recommending it to friends. Here are some of the best lesser-known manga I've read in 2025, along with reasons why they're worthy of attention ahead of the curve.

Some of these series lack a mainstream following, partly due to they all lack anime adaptations. Some could be trickier to read due to where they're available. But recommending any of these grants you some impressive fan credentials.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

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

I know, it's an unusual starting point, but bear with me. Manga can be silly, and there's nothing wrong with that. I admit that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While The Plain Salary Man isn't strictly an isekai, it uses similar story beats, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a RPG-like world structure. The charm, 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 pummel creatures. He has no interest in treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to keep his hobby secret, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is one of the few from a top company, and thus readily accessible to international audiences on a digital platform. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher sets the standard, and if you're in need of a few minutes of silly fun, The Plain Salary Man is highly recommended.

9. The Nito Exorcists

• Creator: Iromi Ichikawa
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

Usually, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the saturated market, but my opinion was altered this year. It evokes the strongest aspects of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and sudden violence. A random click got me hooked and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who kills evil spirits in the hope of finding the one that murdered his mentor. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than aiding his quest for revenge. The premise sounds simple, but the portrayal of the cast is thoughtfully executed, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the comedic design of foes and the bloody fights is a compelling layer. This is a series with great promise to become a hit — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

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

For readers who value visual splendor, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is spectacular, intricate, and one-of-a-kind. The narrative hews close from classic shonen conventions, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a poor neighborhood where humans and beast-men coexist.

The villains, called Maga, are formed from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga wields magic reflecting the way the human died: a hanging victim has the power to choke people, one who perished by suicide induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that gives weight to these antagonists. Gokurakugai has potential for massive popularity, but it's limited due to its monthly schedule. From the beginning, only five volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

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

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

This grim fantasy manga examines the common conflict theme from a new viewpoint for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it depicts epic historical battles. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. Luca's ability lets him transform noise into illumination, which allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, employing his instrument and background in a brutal fighter company to become a powerful tactician, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.

The setting is somewhat generic, and the addition of advanced concepts occasionally doesn't fit, but this series still surprised me with grim twists and shocking story pivots. It's a mature shonen with a cast of quirky characters, an engaging magic framework, and an pleasing blend of strategy and horror.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

• Author: Sho Yamazaki
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

A emotionally distant main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since 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