My Top 10 Japanese Comics I Discovered Recently (Which Are Mostly Unknown).

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, staying on top to track every significant release. Predictably, the biggest series capture the spotlight, but there's a plethora of overlooked works waiting to be discovered.

One of the greatest joys for fans of the medium is unearthing a largely unknown series buried in publication schedules and then sharing it to friends. Here are some of the best lesser-known manga I've read in 2025, along with explanations for why they're deserving of your time ahead of the curve.

Some of these series are still awaiting a mainstream following, especially as they all lack anime adaptations. Some could be trickier to read due to digital exclusivity. But recommending any of these grants you some impressive fan credentials.

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

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

Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but let me explain. The medium embraces absurdity, and that's perfectly fine. I admit that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While the title doesn't fully fit the genre, it uses similar story beats, including an overpowered main character and a RPG-like world structure. The unique hook, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who vents his stress by sneaking into mysterious dungeons 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 finish work early for a change.

More polished fantasies are out there, but this is a rare example released by a leading publisher, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences via a free service. Regarding online access, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're looking for a few minutes of silly fun, this manga is an excellent option.

9. The Nito Exorcists

• Author: Iromi Ichikawa
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the abundance of similar stories, but two series changed my mind this year. It evokes the best parts of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and sudden violence. I started reading it by chance and got hooked instantly.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who eliminates cursed beings in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's paired with his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than fueling his retribution. The storyline appears straightforward, but the portrayal of the cast is subtle and refined, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the absurd look of the enemies and the gory combat is a nice extra touch. This is a series with the capacity to go the distance — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

• Creator: Yuto Sano
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus; Viz

When artistic excellence matters most, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is stunning, intricate, and unique. The story doesn't stray far from classic shonen conventions, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're not officially called "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 people and animal-human hybrids live together.

The villains, called Maga, are born from human or animal corpses. For those from people, the Maga has powers relating to the circumstances of their end: a suicide by hanging manifests as a choking force, one who perished by suicide causes blood loss, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that gives weight to these antagonists. It could be the next big hit, but it's held back by its slower publication rate. From the beginning, only a handful of volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

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

This bleak fantasy manga approaches the ubiquitous battle trope from a new viewpoint for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it showcases 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 allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, using his trumpet and upbringing in a brutal fighter company to become a formidable commander, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.

The world feels a bit standard, and the inclusion of futuristic tech can seem jarring, but it still delivered dark turns and surprising narrative shifts. It's a sophisticated series with a collection of odd personalities, an interesting power system, and an pleasing blend of strategy and horror.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

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

A emotionally distant main character who idolizes Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism becomes the owner of a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that a massage from its little feet 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