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

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, it becomes a challenge to keep up with every worthwhile new series. Inevitably, the biggest series get all the attention, but there's a plethora of overlooked works ripe for exploration.

A particular delight for a dedicated reader is unearthing a mostly obscure series buried in publication schedules and then sharing it to friends. This list highlights of the finest under-the-radar manga I've read in 2025, along with explanations for why they're deserving of your time ahead of the curve.

Some of these series lack a mainstream following, notably because they are without anime adaptations. Others may be harder to access due to their publishing platforms. However, suggesting any of these will earn you some impressive fan credentials.

10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero

• Authors: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

I know, it's an unusual starting point, but let me explain. Manga can be silly, and that's perfectly fine. 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 unbeatable hero and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The appeal, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who relieves pressure by entering fantastical portals that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He has no interest in treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to keep his hobby secret, protect his family, and finish work early for a change.

Superior genre examples exist, but this is one of the few published by a major house, and thus readily accessible to international audiences on a digital platform. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're looking for a short, lighthearted escape, this manga is highly recommended.

9. Nito's Exorcists

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

Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title turns me away due to the abundance of similar stories, but my opinion was altered this year. It evokes the best parts of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its creepy atmosphere, distinctive artwork, and unexpected brutality. I started reading it by chance 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 paired with his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than supporting his vengeance. The plot may seem basic, but the treatment of the characters is subtle and refined, and the visual contrast between the comedic design of foes and the violent battles is a nice extra touch. This is a series with the capacity to run for a long time — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

• Creator: Yuto Sano
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus; Viz

For readers who value visual splendor, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is spectacular, meticulous, and unique. The narrative hews close of typical hero's journey beats, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the setting is intriguing. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, manage the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, solving problems in a working-class district where people and animal-human hybrids live together.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga has powers relating to the circumstances of their end: someone who hanged themselves has the power to choke people, one who perished by suicide induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that provides substance to these antagonists. Gokurakugai has potential for massive popularity, but it's constrained by its monthly schedule. Since its debut, only a handful of volumes have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

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

This bleak fantasy manga approaches the common conflict theme from a novel angle for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it showcases epic historical battles. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—individuals possessing a unique special power. Luca's ability lets him transform noise into illumination, which allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, using his trumpet and upbringing in a cruel mercenary band to become a skilled strategist, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.

The backdrop is a little plain, and the addition of advanced concepts occasionally doesn't fit, but this series still surprised me with dark turns and shocking story pivots. It's a mature shonen with a group of eccentric individuals, an compelling ability ruleset, and an enjoyable mix of warfare and grim fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

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

A cold-hearted main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that a massage from its little feet is the only thing that relieves his stiff shoulders. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you