A Curated List of 10 Japanese Comics I Read This Year (Flying Under the Radar).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, staying on top to track every noteworthy release. Predictably, the most popular series get all the attention, yet a treasure trove exists of undiscovered treasures just out of sight.

One of the greatest joys for any manga enthusiast is unearthing a largely unknown series buried in publication schedules and then sharing it to friends. This list highlights of the best lesser-known manga I've read in 2025, along with reasons why they're worthy of attention prior to a potential boom.

A few of these titles have not yet reached a broad readership, especially as they are without anime adaptations. A few are less accessible due to digital exclusivity. But recommending any of these grants you 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

I know, it's an unusual starting point, but let me explain. Manga can be silly, and that's perfectly fine. I'll acknowledge that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While this series isn't strictly an isekai, it embraces familiar conventions, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a RPG-like world structure. The appeal, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who unwinds by exploring strange labyrinths that materialized globally, 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 clock out punctually for a change.

More polished fantasies are out there, but this is one of the few released by a leading publisher, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences through a popular app. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher sets the standard, and if you're looking for a few minutes of silly fun, The Plain Salary Man is highly recommended.

9. The Nito Exorcists

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

Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the genre's overpopularity, but two series changed my mind this year. The Nito Exorcists evokes the finest elements of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its ominous tone, distinctive artwork, and sudden violence. I started reading it by chance and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist 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 more interested in protecting Gotsuji than aiding his quest for revenge. The storyline appears straightforward, but the portrayal of the cast is subtle and refined, and the artistic dichotomy between the silly appearance of the spirits and the violent battles is a compelling layer. This is a series with great promise to go the distance — provided it survives.

8. Gokurakugai

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

When artistic excellence matters most, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is spectacular, intricate, and distinctive. 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 backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, manage the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, solving problems in a poor neighborhood 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 wields magic reflecting the manner of death: someone who hanged themselves manifests as a choking force, one who died from self-harm causes blood loss, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that adds depth to these antagonists. This series might become a major title, but it's limited due to its monthly schedule. Starting in 2022, only a handful of volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

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

This bleak fantasy manga approaches the common conflict theme from a fresh perspective for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it presents 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 to eventually earn his freedom.

The setting is somewhat generic, and the insertion of sci-fi elements feels forced at times, but this series still provided grim twists and shocking story pivots. It's a sophisticated series with a cast of quirky characters, an engaging magic framework, and an interesting combination of strategy and horror.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

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

A calculating main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and subscribes to ends-justify-the-means adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that a massage from its little feet is his sole relief from tension. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you