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

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, it becomes a challenge to discover every noteworthy release. As always, the mainstream series capture the spotlight, but there's a plethora of hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

A particular delight for fans of the medium is finding a mostly obscure series buried in publication schedules and recommending it to friends. This list highlights of the finest under-the-radar manga I've discovered recently, along with motivations for they're deserving of your time ahead of the curve.

Some of these series have not yet reached a broad readership, partly due to they haven't received anime adaptations. Some could be less accessible due to digital exclusivity. But recommending any of these will earn you some serious bragging rights.

10. The Plain Salary Man Turned Out to Be a Hero

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

Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but bear with me. The medium embraces absurdity, and that's perfectly fine. I admit that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While the title diverges from the template, it embraces familiar conventions, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a RPG-like world structure. The unique hook, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who unwinds by sneaking into mysterious dungeons that materialized globally, 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 clock out punctually for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is a rare example from a top company, and thus readily accessible to international audiences on a digital platform. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher sets the standard, and if you're in need of a short, lighthearted escape, The Plain Salary Man is highly recommended.

9. The Nito Exorcists

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

Ordinarily, 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 reminds me of the finest elements of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, unique visuals, and sudden violence. I stumbled upon it accidentally and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who eliminates cursed beings in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than fueling his retribution. The storyline appears straightforward, but the character development is subtle and refined, and the visual contrast between the comedic design of foes and the violent battles is an effective bonus. This is a series with real potential to become a hit — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

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

When artistic excellence matters most, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on the series is stunning, meticulous, and unique. The story doesn't stray far from classic shonen conventions, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the cast is wonderfully eccentric and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a poor neighborhood 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 manner of death: someone who hanged themselves manifests as a choking force, one who perished by suicide causes blood loss, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that provides substance to these antagonists. This series might become a major title, 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. The Call of War: A Bugle's Song

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

This dark fantasy manga approaches the ubiquitous battle trope 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—people with distinct abilities. Luca's ability enables him to convert audio into visuals, which lets him guide troops on the battlefield, employing his instrument and background in a cruel mercenary band to become a powerful tactician, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.

The backdrop is a little plain, and the addition of advanced concepts feels forced at times, but The Bugle Call still provided grim twists and surprising narrative shifts. It's a mature shonen with a group of eccentric individuals, an compelling ability ruleset, and an interesting combination of warfare and grim fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

• Author: Sho Yamazaki
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

A emotionally distant main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism becomes the owner of a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since a massage from its small claws 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