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 significant title. Inevitably, the biggest series dominate conversations, but there's a plethora of overlooked works ripe for exploration.

One of the greatest joys for fans of the medium is unearthing a mostly obscure series buried in publication schedules and spreading the word to friends. I present of the top obscure manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with reasons why they're worthy of attention before they gain widespread popularity.

Several entries here are still awaiting a large audience, partly due to they all lack anime adaptations. Some could be less accessible due to digital exclusivity. Sharing any of these grants you some serious bragging rights.

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

• Creators: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Publisher: 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 admit that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While The Plain Salary Man doesn't fully fit the genre, it follows many of the same tropes, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a RPG-like world structure. The unique hook, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who vents his stress by exploring strange labyrinths that materialized globally, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to keep his hobby secret, protect his family, and finish work early for a change.

More polished fantasies are out there, but this is one of the few from a top company, and thus readily accessible to international audiences on a digital platform. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're in need of a short, lighthearted escape, the series is an excellent option.

9. The Nito Exorcists

• Creator: Iromi Ichikawa
• Publisher: 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. This series evokes the finest elements of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, distinctive artwork, and sudden violence. I stumbled upon it accidentally and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who kills evil spirits in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than fueling his retribution. The plot may seem basic, but the treatment of the characters is thoughtfully executed, and the artistic dichotomy between the comedic design of foes and the gory combat is an effective bonus. This is a series with the capacity to become a hit — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

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

For readers who value visual splendor, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on the series is spectacular, intricate, and distinctive. The plot remains within of typical hero's journey beats, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, solving problems 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 possesses abilities connected to the manner of death: a suicide by hanging can strangle others, one who ended their own life can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that gives weight to these antagonists. It might become a major title, but it's limited due to its slower publication rate. From the beginning, only a handful of volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

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

This grim fantasy manga approaches the ever-present fight narrative from a fresh perspective for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it depicts massive army conflicts. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—individuals possessing a unique special power. Luca's ability enables him to convert audio into visuals, which lets him guide troops on the battlefield, using his trumpet and upbringing in a ruthless soldier group to become a skilled strategist, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.

The world feels a bit standard, and the addition of advanced concepts can seem jarring, but The Bugle Call still surprised me with grim twists and shocking story pivots. It's a sophisticated series with a collection of odd personalities, an engaging magic framework, and an interesting combination of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

• Creator: Sho Yamazaki
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

A cold-hearted main character who idolizes Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and subscribes to ends-justify-the-means adopts 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