My Top 10 Japanese Comics I Enjoyed in 2025 (Flying Under the Radar).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, staying on top to discover every worthwhile release. As always, the most popular series dominate conversations, yet a treasure trove exists of overlooked works waiting to be discovered.

A particular delight for a dedicated reader is finding a hidden series buried in publication schedules and recommending it to friends. Here are some of the best lesser-known manga I've discovered recently, along with motivations for they're worthy of attention ahead of the curve.

Several entries here have not yet reached a broad readership, partly due to they are without anime adaptations. Others may be trickier to read due to their publishing platforms. But recommending any of these grants you some impressive fan credentials.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

• Authors: 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 it's part of the charm. I'll acknowledge that transported-to-another-world stories relax me. While this series doesn't fully fit the genre, it embraces familiar conventions, including an unbeatable hero and a RPG-like world structure. The charm, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who relieves pressure by exploring strange labyrinths that emerged suddenly, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. 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.

Superior genre examples exist, but this is an accessible title published by a major house, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences via a free service. Regarding online access, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're seeking a few minutes of silly fun, this manga is a great choice.

9. Nito's Exorcists

• Creator: 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 recalls the finest elements of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its creepy atmosphere, unique visuals, and shocking ferocity. I stumbled upon it accidentally and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who kills evil spirits 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 premise sounds simple, but the portrayal of the cast is as delicate as the art, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the absurd look of the enemies and the bloody fights is a nice extra touch. This is a series with real potential to become a hit — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

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

If breathtaking art is your priority, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is spectacular, detailed, and one-of-a-kind. The plot remains within of typical hero's journey beats, 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 humans and beast-men coexist.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. When human-based, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the way the human died: a suicide by hanging has the power to choke people, one who ended their own life can make people bleed out, 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 slower publication rate. 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

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

This dark fantasy manga examines the ever-present fight narrative from a fresh perspective for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it showcases massive army conflicts. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. Luca's ability allows him to manifest sound as light, which lets him guide troops on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a ruthless soldier group to become a skilled strategist, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The world feels a bit standard, and the inclusion of futuristic tech can seem jarring, but this series still surprised me with bleak developments and unexpected plot twists. It's a sophisticated series with a group of eccentric individuals, an compelling ability ruleset, and an interesting combination of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

• Artist: Sho Yamazaki
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

A emotionally distant main character who idolizes Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since 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