A Curated List of 10 Japanese Comics I Enjoyed in 2025 (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, staying on top to discover every significant release. Inevitably, the most popular series get all the attention, however, countless gems of overlooked works ripe for exploration.

A particular delight for any manga enthusiast is stumbling upon a mostly obscure 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 explanations for why they're worthy of attention prior to a potential boom.

Some of these series have not yet reached a broad readership, partly due to they haven't received anime adaptations. Some could be harder to access 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
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

I know, it's an unusual starting point, but hear me out. The medium embraces absurdity, and that's perfectly fine. I confess that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While The Plain Salary Man isn't strictly an isekai, it uses similar story beats, including an unbeatable hero and a game-influenced setting. The charm, however, stems from 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 doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to hide his pastime, protect his family, and clock out punctually for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is an accessible title released by a leading publisher, and thus readily accessible to international audiences through a popular app. For easy reading, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're looking for a few minutes of silly fun, the series is a great choice.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

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

Usually, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the genre's overpopularity, but my opinion was altered this year. It reminds me of the strongest aspects of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and sudden violence. A random click got me hooked and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who purges ghosts in the hope of finding the one that murdered his mentor. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than supporting his vengeance. The storyline appears straightforward, but the portrayal of the cast is thoughtfully executed, and the artistic dichotomy between the absurd look of the enemies and the bloody fights is a compelling layer. This is a series with great promise to run for a long time — provided it survives.

8. Gokurakugai

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

For readers who value visual splendor, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is breathtaking, detailed, and unique. The story doesn't stray far from classic shonen conventions, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the cast is wonderfully eccentric and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a working-class district where two species live side-by-side.

The villains, called Maga, are born from human or animal corpses. For those from people, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the manner of death: someone who hanged themselves can strangle others, one who perished by suicide can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that adds depth to these antagonists. It might become a major title, but it's limited due to its slower publication rate. From the beginning, only five volumes have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

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

This grim fantasy manga approaches the common conflict theme from a novel angle for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it depicts large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—those granted singular talents. 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 brutal fighter company to become a skilled strategist, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The backdrop is a little plain, and the inclusion of futuristic tech can seem jarring, but The Bugle Call still delivered dark turns and shocking story pivots. It's a mature shonen with a group of eccentric individuals, an engaging magic framework, and an pleasing blend of warfare and grim fantasy.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

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

A calculating main character who idolizes Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—allegedly because a massage from its tiny paws 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