The 10 Best Japanese Comics I Read This Year (Flying Under the Radar).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, staying on top to track every significant release. Predictably, the mainstream series capture the spotlight, but there's a plethora of undiscovered treasures just out of sight.

One of the greatest joys for any manga enthusiast is stumbling upon a hidden series amidst the weekly releases and recommending it to friends. I present of the top obscure manga I've read in 2025, along with explanations for why they're worthy of attention before they gain widespread popularity.

A few of these titles lack a large audience, partly due to they haven't received anime adaptations. Some could be harder to access due to where they're available. Sharing any of these grants you some serious bragging rights.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

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

This may seem like a strange choice, but hear me out. Comics are often fun, and that's perfectly fine. I admit 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 RPG-like world structure. The unique hook, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker 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 clock out punctually for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is one of the few 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 seeking a short, lighthearted escape, the series is a great choice.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

• Author: Iromi Ichikawa
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the abundance of similar stories, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. The Nito Exorcists evokes the finest elements of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its eerie vibe, distinctive artwork, and shocking ferocity. A random click got me hooked and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who kills evil spirits in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than supporting his vengeance. The premise sounds simple, but the portrayal of the cast is thoughtfully executed, and the visual contrast between the absurd look of the enemies and the violent battles is an effective bonus. This is a series with great promise to run for a long time — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

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

When artistic excellence matters most, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on the series is spectacular, meticulous, and unique. 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 world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a working-class district where two species live side-by-side.

The villains, called Maga, are formed from human or animal corpses. When human-based, the Maga wields magic reflecting the way the human died: a suicide by hanging can strangle others, one who died from self-harm 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 constrained by its infrequent release pace. Since its debut, only a handful of volumes have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

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

This dark fantasy manga examines the ubiquitous battle trope from a new viewpoint for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it showcases 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 lets him guide troops on the battlefield, employing his instrument and background in a ruthless soldier group to become a powerful tactician, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The world feels a bit standard, and the insertion of sci-fi elements can seem jarring, but The Bugle Call still surprised me with bleak developments and shocking story pivots. It's a grown-up battle manga with a collection of odd personalities, an compelling ability ruleset, and an interesting combination of strategy and horror.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

• Artist: 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 takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—allegedly because a massage from its little feet 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