Japanese manga is a major entertainment that people enjoy everyday as a part of their lives not just in Japan but also all over the world these days though it was looked on as a kind of subculture that only a small minority of geeks are interested in especially overseas.
New manga are first published in Japan, and some of the popular titles are translated into multiple languages and distributed to the world almost simultaneously. So, you can enjoy reading the hottest manga series in real-time wherever you live.
The problem is which manga to read now while lots of new quality manga are being made and released. To build or update you manga reading list, I’d like to introduce best ongoing manga for fans who are looking for what to read next and beginners who want to catch up with the current manga trend.
Be grateful to be alive in the same period as these wonderful manga are serialized and don’t miss the recent episodes of the popular series.
▷Check out the best manga series of all time containing the classic legends and the current trends here, too!◁
Serialized
Here is the list of the best manga series now serialized on manga magazines and online publishing platforms.
1. One Piece
One Piece, written by Eiichiro Oda, is the most famous and popular ongoing manga series all over the world and has already established its fame as the legendary manga of all time though it has been not completed yet. The adventure manga is reaching the 100th volume in 2021, serialized on Weekly Shonen Jump since 1997.
One Piece focuses on the adventure of Monkey D. Luffy, the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. He has a grand ambition to become the king of the pirates all around the sea, meeting unique crews and fighting against distinctive opponent characters.
Published from 1997
Serialized on Weekly Shonen Jump
>>Check One Piece Box Set 1 on Amazon.com!
>>Check One Piece Box Set 2 on Amazon.com!
>>Check One Piece Box Set 3 on Amazon.com!
>>Check One Piece Box Set 4 on Amazon.com!
Who would miss the chance to watch every episode of the greatest ongoing anime series One Piece on a real-time basis? Mo[…]
2. Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen (呪術廻戦) is one of the hottest ongoing manga serialized on Weekly Shonen Jump. The dark-fantasy manga written by Gege Akutami was adapted into the first season of the anime series, followed by the first anime movie Jujutsu Kaisen 0 in 2021.
The story begins when a pink-haired high school boy with a high athletic ability Yuji Itadori swallows a finger of Ryomen Sukuna, who is the king of Curses. Jujutsu Kaisen depicts the conflict between the Jujutsu Sorcerers and the Curses while Yuji is put in a delicate and complicated situation.
Published from 2018
Serialized on Weekly Shonen Jump
In the manga titles of the best selling Japanese comic magazine Weekly Shonen Jump, Jujutsu Kaisen is the most popular a[…]
3. My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia (僕のヒーローアカデミア) is a popular ongoing action manga among both Japanese and foreign manga fans since its serialization on Weekly Shonen Jump started in 2014. The Kohei Horikoshi’s superhero manga just reached the 30th volume in 2021 and the several popular anime adaptations have been made since 2016.
A main character Izuku Midoriya, a high shooler with green hair, is gifted a Cuirk called One For All by the legendary hero All Might although he has a grueling experience for lacking a Quirk in his childhood. Powerful battle scenes between various attractive heroes and the vicious Villains are presented throughout the story.
Published from 2014
Serialized on Weekly Shonen Jump
My Hero Academia (僕のヒーローアカデミア) is now one of the most famous and popular action manga and anime series in this modern ag[…]
4. Chainsaw Man
After the first part of the surprising dark-fantasy manga series Chainsaw Man (チェンソーマン) completed in the end of 2020, its sequel is coming back to the online manga platform Shonen Jump+ in July, 2022. The hottest series is now gaining popularity more since its anticipated anime adaptation made by Mappa is scheduled to air in 2022. Following 11 Tankobon volumes in the first part known as Public Safety Arc, the first volume of the second part (serially Volume 12) was published in October 2022.
The second part of Chainsaw Man, which is known as the Academy arc, restarted with Chapter 98 “Bird and War” centering on a new high school girl character Asa Mitaka, whose parents were killed by a Devil. One day, she becomes to share her body with Yoru, the War Devil. How will she get involved with the Chainsaw Man?
Published from 2014
Serialized on Weekly Shonen Jump
The anticipated anime series of Chainsaw man just started airing from October 12. It has been already expected to become[…]
5. Dragon Ball Super
Dragon Ball Super (ドラゴンボール超) is the official sequel of the famous manga and anime series Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, written by Akira Toriyama and illustrated by Toyotarou. The previous Dragon Ball was serailized on Weekly Shonen Jump between 1984 and 1995 and Dragon Ball Super was launched on V Jump in 2015 while its anime series also started in the same year.
Dragon Ball Super depicts the world after Goku defeats Majin Buu at the end of the original Dragon Ball. The story begins when Beerus, known as God of Destruction, awakens after a long period of dormancy and seeks a Super Saiyan God seen in his dream.
Published from 2015
Serialized on V Jump
The live-legend action adventure franchise Dragon Ball is still ongoing with the sequel title Dragon Ball Super. More ne[…]
6. Kaiju No. 8
Kaiju No. 8 (怪獣8号), which is also known as Monster#8, is a recent ongoing manga series written by Naoya Matsumoto. The action fantasy manga has been serialized on Shonen Jump Plus since 2020.
Kaiju No. 8 has the theme of Kaiju (Japanese monsters) centering on a man named Kafka Hibino. Kafka, who comes very close to giving up joining the Defense Force and becomes a Monster Sweeper, finally becomes its member to eradicate the Kaiju. On the other hand, he accidentally gets the half-human, half-Kaiju body.
Published from 2020
Serialized on Shonen Jump Plus
What has a high potential for becoming one of the most popular manga series was born in 2020, whose title is Kaiju No. 8[…]
7. Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (BORUTO-ボルト- NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS) has raised much attention from manga fans all over the world as the official sequel of the legendary Ninja manga masterpiece Naruto. The new adventure series is supervised by Masashi Kishimoto, who is the manga artist of Naruto.
As shown in the title, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations follows the son of the previous protagonist Naruto, whose name is Boruto. It is set in the world 15 years later from the 4th great ninja war breaks out, where the Hidden Leaf Village is ruined.
Published from 2019
Serialized on Weekly Shonen Jump (2016-2019)/V Jump (from 2019)
The popular ongoing manga and anime series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations has attracted not only the fans of the great […]
8. One-Punch Man
One-Punch Man (ワンパンマン) is a famous and popular ongoing manga especially among international manga fans, written by ONE and illustrated by Yusuke Murata. The action comedy manga has been serialized on Tonari no Young Jump since 2012.
One-Punch Man revolves around a 25-year-old bald-head superhero named Saitama, who gets the strongest power that allows him to beat any enemy with a punch by just training very hard everyday for three years. He and other various heroes battle against powerful monsters attacking the earth.
Published from 2012
Serialized on Tonari no Young Jump
One-Punch Man is one of the most famous and popular manga and anime series all over the world. The one and only series i[…]
9. Spy × Family
Spy × Family, written by Tatsuya Endo, is a modern spy-themed ongoing manga with action and comedy. It has been loved by a wider range of readers from kids and adults since its serialization began on Shonen Jump Plus in 2019.
Spy × Family centers on a splendid spy Loid Forger sneaks in the hostile country Ostania for his country Westalis. To pretend an ordinary father, he comes to arrange a bogus marriage with a distinguished assassin wife Yor and an adopted little psychic girl Anya.
Published from 2019
Serialized on Shonen Jump Plus
What is your hottest manga and anime series these days? What has achieved much praise from modern fans of Japanese and f[…]
Recently, the anime adaptations of popular manga have been very successful, and both fans of the original manga and new […]
10. Yotsuba&!
Yotsuba&! (よつばと!), categorized as slice of life and comedy, has been loved by a wide range of readers around the world. Written by Kiyohiko Azuma, it has been serialized on a monthly Japanese shonen manga magazine Dengeki Daioh with the theme of “Enjoy Everything” since 2012.
Yotsuba&! tells daily stories of a five-year-old sprightly and inquisitive girl Yotsuba Koiwai and her father. The slice-of-life manga begins when they move into their new place, and Yotsuba takes a pleasure in everything in the peaceful days that is ordinary for anyone else in the town.
Published from 2012
Serialized on Dengeki Daioh
11. The Apothecary Diaries
A trendy light novel’s manga adaptation was released in 2017, titled The Apothecary Diaries (薬屋のひとりごと). The historical mystery manga, which is also classified into drama and romance, has been adapted by a manga artist Nekokurage from the original light novel series written by Natsu Hyuga since 2011. This is one of the existing manga series that are the most anticipated to be adapted into an anime series at the moment.
The Apothecary Diaries is set in an alternate China, casting a spotlight on on a young court lady named Maomao. She was raised by a distinguished pharmacist but kidnapped and sold for the inner palace of the East land. While she intends to maintain a low profile there, she unintentionally attracts attention from a eunuch Jinshi by solving a mystery owing to her literacy and knowledge about medicine and poison.
Published from 2017
Serialized on Monthly Big Gangan
12. Case Closed
Case Closed (名探偵コナン), which is also known as Detective Conan, is one of the most famous and longest-running ongoing manga. The mystery manga series has been loved by both children and adults since it started to be serialized on Weekly Shonen Sunday by Gosho Aoyama in 1994. The classic manga is reaching the 100th volume while an anime series has been made since 1996 and anime movies are released every season.
Case Closed depicts incidents occurring around a young kid named Conan Edogawa, whom a splendid high schooler detective Jimmy Kudo (known as Shinichi Kudo in Japanese) is transformed into by the Black Organization’s poison. He hides from the Black Organization in search of the way to restore his original appearance.
Published from 1994
Serialized on Weekly Shonen Sunday
13. Laid-Back Camp
Laid-Back Camp (ゆるキャン△), written by Afro, is a modern trend, serialized since 2015 and adapted into two seasons of an anime series in 2018 and 2021 and a live-action drama series. It has been announced that the first anime movie will be released in 2022.
The camp-themed, slice-of-life manga series is set in Yamanashi Prefecture near Mt. Fuji and focuses on an outdoor life of high school girls including Rin Shima who loves camping solo and Nadeshiko Kagamihara who is only beginning to go camping. There are various beautiful camping sites surrounded by rich nature and useful tips for camping in the manga series.
Published from 2015
Serialized on Manga Time Kirara Forward (2015-2019)/Comic Fuz (from 2019)
The recent surge in anime popularity can be attributed to the presence of slice-of-life anime. These series rarely featu[…]
14. Bungo Stray Dogs
Some manga series are especially popular with girls for their attractice good-looking characters. Bungo Stray Dogs (文豪ストレイドッグス) is one of the ongoing manga that are popular among not only boys but female fans. Written by Kafka Asagiri and illustrated by Sango Harukawa, it is categorized as fantasy, action and mystery. Its serialization began on a monthly Seinen manga magazine Young Ace since 2012. There are also light novel series written by them and some spin-off manga series of Bungo Stray Dogs.
Bungo Stray Dogs introduces cool characters with supernatural powers who are named after Japanese and international literary giants such as Osamu Dazai, Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Scott Fitzgerald, Mark Twain and so on. The story unfolds since a 18-year-old orphan Atsushi Nakajima becomes a member of the Armed Detective Agency. With other members who has supernatural abilities, he battles against opposite organizations the Port Mafia, which is led by Akutagawa, and the Guild, which is led by Fitzgerald.
Published from 2012
Serialized on Young Ace
There have been various anime categories including a large number of subgenres and niche themes recently. Almost all ani[…]
15. Kingdom
Kingdom (キングダム) is one of the most popular ongoing manga series especially among adults in Japan, serialized on Weekly Young Jump since 2006. The Yasuhisa Hara’s historical manga has been also made into an anime adaptation since 2012.
The Chinese history themed action manga is set in the Warring States period, when the king of Qin Ying Zheng attempts uniformity in China. It mainly follow a poor orphan named Xin, who has a dream to become the great General of the kingdom. There are moving human dramas, powerful battle scenes and various fighting tactics in the manga.
Published from 2006
Serialized on Weekly Young Jump
16. Berserk
Berserk (ベルセルク) is a well-known dark-fantasy manga series with the theme of sword and sorcery, serialized from 1989. The classic manga has been loved by lots of adults for a long time and an anime adaptation has been made since 1997. Unfortunately, its manga artist Kentaro Miura passed away in May, 2021, and it was never completed by himself. However, after being stopped for over one year, Berserk is coming back to Young Animal from June 24, 2022. Its serialization has been taken over by the editors of the magazine and some manga artists who had close relationships with Kentaro Miura since then.
Berserk follows an adventure of Guts, a soldier with a large sword and a small cannon, and an elf named Puck. He continues traveling to revenge himself on archdemons called God Hand.
Published from 1989
Serialized on Monthly Animal House (1989-1992)/Young Animal (from 1992)
As the renowned manga and anime series with the theme of sword and sorcery, Berserk (ベルセルク) has been loved by both domes[…]
17. Hunter x Hunter
Hunter x Hunter is one of the most popular and famous manga series among both domestic and international fans, written by the well-known manga artist Yoshihiro Togashi. The action adventure manga series started on Weekly Shonen Jump in 1998 and have been intermittently stopped for personal reasons of the author. Finally, its serialization, which had been on hiatus since the late 2018, re-started in October 2022.
Hunter x Hunter depicts the growing-up story of a 12-year-old protagonist Gon Freecss, who becomes a licensed Hunter to seek his lost father. He gets more and more powerful by training and meets various unique friends and villains.
Some fans of Hunter x Hunter think the story is wrapped up with the Chimera Ant Arc while others hope the following story is updated.
Published from 1998
Serialized on Weekly Shonen Jump
The living legend Hunter x Hunter has attracted a great number of fans of manga and anime all over the globe for a long […]
18. A Certain Scientific Railgun
As the most popular spin-off of Toaru Majutsu no Index, A Certain Scientific Railgun (とある科学の超電磁砲), also known as Toaru Kagaku no Railgun, has been authored by Kazuma Kamachi and illustrated by Motoi Fuyukawa since 2007. There are three seasons of its anime adaptation televised in 2009-2010, 2013 and 2020.
A Certain Scientific Railgun focuses on Mikoto Misaka, a heroine from the science side of Toaru Majutsu no Index. Possessing powerful electric abilities, Mikoto ranks as a Level 5 esper, the highest level in Academy City, a technologically advanced city populated with students trained to use their psychic powers. Throughout the series, Mikoto and her friends encounter and unravel various mysteries and dark side events occurring within the city, combining action-packed sequences with fascinating scientific concepts.
Published from 2007
Serialized on Dengeki Daioh
A Certain Scientific Railgun, which is also known as Toaru Kagaku no Railgun, is one of the most popular action sci-fi a[…]
On hiatus
Here is a list of the best ongoing manga on hiatus that lots of fans all over the world have looked forward to the resumption of their serialization.
19. Vagabond
Vagabond (バガボンド) is a famous historical manga series written by Takehiko Inoue, who is also known as the manga artist of Slam Dunk. It started to be serialized on Weekly Morning in 1998 but has been on hiatus since 2015.
Vagabond is based on a Eiji Yoshikawa’s novel Musashi published between 1935 and 1939 featuring the legendary Samurai Musashi Miyamoto. The manga series depicts life of Musashi Miyamoto, set in around the 17th century. He sets out on a journey to become the strongest man fighting with powerful swordsmen and spearmen.
Published from 1998
Serialized on Weekly Morning
Did you enjoy the list of the best ongoing manga series? Those trendy manga are worth starting reading even from now while they are already much popular among manga fans.
▽For the list of the best completed manga series, check this article below!▽
Countless new manga are born everyday and some superior titles start to be serialized on manga magazines and online publ[…]
If you are interested in the latest info about manga and other pop culture in Japan, check these lists, too!
<<Recommended Articles>>
In the mecca of Japanese pop culture, countless anime have been produced, broadcasted and completed ever. Some successfu[…]
Do you follow the fashion of Japanese ongoing light novels on a constant basis? A great number of light novel titles are[…]
Which manga will come next to Chainsaw Man and Spy x Family? Manga from Japan and Webtoon from South Korea have got m[…]
<<Editor’s Picks>>
Manga, which is known as Japanese comic books, has been one of the most famous and popular modern Japanese cultures worl[…]
Which do you read manga on a physical book or a digital book like Kindle? Many manga fans still love collecting and read[…]
Japanese manga has been read by more people throughout the world recently, and its book is being sparked by popular anim[…]
