My Top 10 Japanese Comics I Read This Year (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, it becomes a challenge to discover every significant title. Inevitably, the mainstream series get all the attention, but there's a plethora of hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

A particular delight for fans of the medium is finding a hidden series amidst the weekly releases and spreading the word to friends. I present of the finest under-the-radar manga I've read in 2025, along with reasons why they're worth checking out prior to a potential boom.

A few of these titles are still awaiting a large audience, especially as they haven't received anime adaptations. A few are harder to access due to digital exclusivity. Sharing any of these provides some serious bragging rights.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

• Writing Team: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

I know, it's an unusual starting point, but hear me out. Manga can be silly, and there's nothing wrong with that. I'll acknowledge that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While The Plain Salary Man diverges from the template, it embraces familiar conventions, including an overpowered main character and a game-influenced setting. The charm, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who relieves pressure by sneaking into mysterious dungeons that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to smash monsters. He has no interest in treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to maintain his double life, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is an accessible title released by a leading publisher, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences on a digital platform. Regarding online access, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're seeking a few minutes of silly fun, the series is a great choice.

9. Nito's Exorcists

• Author: Iromi Ichikawa
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it 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. This series evokes the finest elements of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its eerie vibe, unique visuals, and shocking ferocity. I stumbled upon it accidentally and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who purges ghosts in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety 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 silly appearance of the spirits and the violent battles is a compelling layer. 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
• Available on: Manga Plus; Viz

When artistic excellence matters most, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on the series is stunning, meticulous, and one-of-a-kind. The plot remains within from classic shonen conventions, 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, run the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a working-class district where humans and beast-men coexist.

The villains, called Maga, are born from human or animal corpses. When human-based, the Maga wields magic reflecting the way the human died: a suicide by hanging has the power to choke people, one who perished by suicide can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that provides substance to these antagonists. It could be the next big hit, but it's limited due to its infrequent release pace. Since its debut, only five volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

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

This dark fantasy manga examines the common conflict theme from a novel angle for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it depicts epic historical battles. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—those granted singular talents. Luca's ability lets him transform noise into illumination, which lets him guide troops on the battlefield, using his trumpet and upbringing in a cruel mercenary band to become a formidable commander, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.

The world feels a bit standard, and the inclusion of futuristic tech occasionally doesn't fit, but it still surprised me with grim twists and shocking story pivots. It's a sophisticated series with a group of eccentric individuals, an compelling ability ruleset, and an enjoyable mix of strategy and horror.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

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

A emotionally distant main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and subscribes to ends-justify-the-means takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that a massage from its tiny paws is his sole relief from tension. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you