Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You works because it understands something most romance anime don’t bother with: the specific comfort of finding one person you can be completely normal around. No grand gestures, no manufactured drama, just two people in a quiet corner of the world having conversations that actually go somewhere.
Unfortunately, that’s a harder thing to replicate than it sounds, which is why finding something to watch after it can feel surprisingly difficult. This list pulls together ten anime that share at least one piece of what makes Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You work, whether that’s the adult setting, the slow burn, the hidden double life, or just two unlikely people gravitating toward each other in the same spot.
1. Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku
Narumi has just started a new job, but she’s already keeping a secret. She’s a hardcore fujoshi, and every boyfriend she’s had has dumped her as soon as they find out. On her first day, she runs into Hirotaka, a childhood friend who’s just as obsessed with gaming, and by the end of episode one, they’re dating. It sounds like it skips over the usual buildup, but that’s kind of the point. The show isn’t about the confession itself; it’s about what comes after.
The comparison to Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You comes down to one thing. Both shows are about adults who need somewhere private to drop the version of themselves they show the world. A smoking area behind a supermarket, a corner booth at a bar after work. A-1 Pictures produced the 11-episode series in 2018, and it holds a 7.9 on MAL with fans consistently praising how refreshingly undramatic the whole thing is. If you watched Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You and immediately wanted more adult characters actually talking to each other like real people, start here.
2. After the Rain
Akira is a teenage track star whose career got cut short by an injury, and now she works part-time at a family restaurant with zero enthusiasm for basically anything. Her manager, Kondo, is 45, divorced, bumbling, makes dad jokes constantly, and has absolutely no idea she’s fallen for him. The age gap is upfront, and the show doesn’t pretend it isn’t there, but what actually drives the story is something quieter than a romance. Two people who both abandoned something they loved, stuck in the same rainy corner of Yokohama, slowly pulling each other back toward the things they’d given up on.
Wit Studio handled the animation and went all in on rain-soaked visuals and tight close-ups that give the whole thing a literary quality you don’t expect from a 12-episode series. The manga had over 2 million copies in circulation by the time the anime aired in early 2018, and the ending theme by Aimer became genuinely iconic in its own right. If the workplace dynamic and age gap in Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You are what hooked you, this one scratches exactly that itch.
3. Recovery of an MMO Junkie
Moriko Morioka quit her corporate job at 30 after 11 years and has absolutely no regrets about it. She spends her days in her apartment playing an MMO as a handsome male avatar named Hayashi, forming a close bond with a female healer called Lily. The twist is that Lily is actually a guy named Yuta who keeps running into the real Moriko at the convenience store down the street, neither of them realizing they already know each other pretty well.
It sounds like a gimmick, but the show handles it with a lot of warmth and zero melodrama. The adult cast, the low-stakes humour, and the way both characters are clearly using the game as a pressure valve for real-life exhaustion are exactly what make it feel like a natural follow-on from Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You.
4. My Senpai is Annoying
Doga Kobo, the studio behind Oshi no Ko and Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, has a specific talent for making workplace settings feel genuinely warm and lived-in rather than just a backdrop for romance. That’s exactly what they brought to this one. Futaba is a small, sharp office worker who gets mistaken for a child constantly, and her senpai Takeda is enormous, loud, and completely oblivious to how she feels about him despite the fact that literally everyone else in the office has already figured it out.
The reason it sits on this list is that the show is less about whether they’ll get together and more about the small daily rituals of two people who genuinely like spending time with each other. Lunch breaks, late shifts, after-work drinks. The manga started as a Twitter webcomic in 2017 and even managed to win the Next Manga Award in the web category just one year later.
5. The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague
Himuro is a descendant of the Snow Woman from Japanese folklore, which sounds dramatic until you see what it actually means in practice. Whenever he gets flustered around his colleague Fuyutsuki, he accidentally starts a blizzard in the break room, his plants freeze solid, and his feet get stuck in blocks of ice on the office floor. Everyone around him can track exactly how he’s feeling at any given moment purely by monitoring the indoor weather. Fuyutsuki, the one causing all of it, remains completely oblivious.
Since the supernatural element is quite light, more of a running visual joke than a plot driver, it never really takes center stage. What the show is really about is the same quiet daily rhythm that makes Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You work so well, which is two people finding small reasons to be around each other. The show is not the most complex show on this list, but genuinely one of the most relaxing.
6. Call of the Night
Ko Yamori stopped sleeping. Not in a dramatic way, just gradually, high school started feeling like something happening to him rather than something he was part of, and one night, he slipped out through his window and started walking. That’s how he meets Nazuna, a vampire living alone in an abandoned building who spends her nights wandering the same empty city he does. She’s the first person he’s actually wanted to talk to in a long time, which creates a problem since the only way she can turn him into a vampire is if he genuinely falls in love with her first.
The connection to Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You is less obvious than the other entries on this list, but it’s real. Both anime treat a specific place and time as a kind of refuge where two people can drop whatever version of themselves they show everyone else, and both let that space do most of the emotional heavy lifting. Produced by Liden Films on Fuji TV’s Noitamina block, the manga won the 68th Shogakukan Manga Award for the shounen category in 2023 and had over 5.3 million copies in circulation by 2025.
7. Sing “Yesterday” for Me
Before recommending this one, it’s worth noting that the ending is divisive, the pacing frustrated a significant chunk of its audience, and the love triangle at the centre of it gets genuinely messy in ways that not everyone will find satisfying. If you watched Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You specifically because it felt uncomplicated and warm, this might not scratch the same itch.
However, what it does share with Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You is the adult setting and the very specific feeling of someone who has quietly stopped moving forward. Rikuo graduated from college and settled into a convenience store job, not dramatically, just gradually, and the show watches him and the people orbiting him with a patience and visual care that some called near movie-level. Best suited for viewers who don’t mind a romance that gets complicated and uncomfortable before it resolves.
8. Science Fell in Love, So I Tried to Prove It
Himuro is a grad student who tells her colleague Yukimura she thinks she might be in love with him. As a scientist, he treats it like a hypothesis that needs testing.SO, they start running “experiments” like measuring heart rate when they hold hands, setting controls, and even calculating margins of error. The whole thing is played completely straight while being genuinely hilarious, and like Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You, the romance builds through two people spending time together in a very specific shared space, in this case, a university lab rather than a supermarket smoking area.
Produced by Zero-G and streaming on Crunchyroll, the 12-episode series aired in early 2020 with a second season following in 2022. A recurring mascot bear appears throughout to explain actual statistical concepts to the audience, which somehow makes it funnier. Similar to Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You, this anime has natural and unhurried chemistry between the leads, just with significantly more spreadsheets involved.
9. See You Tomorrow at the Food Court
Wada looks like the kind of girl who has everything together. Good grades, composed, quietly intimidating to approach. Yamamoto is a gyaru who makes other students nervous just by walking past them. What nobody at either of their schools knows is that these two meet every single day after school at a mall food court, eat together, complain about everything, and are completely different people around each other than the versions everyone else gets.
Like Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You, See You Tomorrow at the Food Court is built around a specific location that functions as a private world for two people who need somewhere to just exist without performing. This is genuinely one of the best picks on this list if what you’re after is something chill that doesn’t ask much of you but never gets boring either. Only 6 episodes were produced by Atelier Pontdarc and directed by Kazuomi Koga of Re: Zero – Starting Life in Another World, with series composition handled by Jukki Hanada.
10. I Have a Crush at Work
Most romance anime spend their entire run building toward a confession. This one skips that part entirely and starts with the couple already together. The twist? They are secretly dating while spending their work days pretending they can barely stand each other in front of their colleagues. It’s a genuinely fresh angle for the genre and one that shares Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You’s specific energy of two people carving out private space in a very public setting.
Produced by Studio Blade and adapted from Akamaru Enomoto’s manga that ran in Kodansha’s Morning magazine from 2019 to 2023, the 12-episode series aired in early 2025 with an opening theme by Polkadot Stingray. Reviews flagged the pacing as uneven in the second half, but the central couple is charming enough to carry it. A good closer for this list and probably the most structurally similar show here to what Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You is actually doing.
Summer anime seasons have a reputation for being quieter than spring, and every year that reputation gets proven wrong. Summer 2026 is already shaping up to be one of the stronger recent seasons, with a mix of highly anticipated sequels, original productions, and adaptations that have been on watchlists for years finally making it to the screen.
Whether you’re completely caught up on your watchlist or just looking for something new to add to it, this list covers the 12 best anime shows currently airing this summer.
1. Saga of Tanya the Evil II
Nine years is a long time to wait. Season 1 aired in 2017, the film dropped in 2019, and then nothing for half a decade while fans kept wondering if the story would ever continue. It finally does on July 8, picking up directly after the film left off with Tanya von Degurechaff, the reincarnated Japanese salaryman trapped in the body of a terrifyingly competent little girl, deeper into a war she never asked for against a god she refuses to acknowledge.
Studio NUT returns with most of the original team intact, though Takayuki Yamamoto steps in as director for the first time, helming a full series. The light novel has 14 volumes, and Season 2 is expected to cover volumes 4 through 6, which fans of the source material have been calling some of the strongest material in the whole franchise.
2. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3
At this point, Rudeus has gone from helpless infant to someone with real relationships, real responsibilities, and a long list of things he’s handled badly along the way. Season 3 opens with the Eris Training Arc, following Eris through her self-imposed exile to the Holy Land of Swords, before pivoting to Rudeus and his party heading to Perugius’s floating fortress for a magic that could change everything. The emotional stakes here are considerably higher than anything the first two seasons set up, because the show has spent years earning them.
Sasaki is a burnt-out salaryman in his mid-forties who gets through the week on mochi chips, cigarettes, and the brief comfort of chatting with Yamada, his favorite supermarket cashier. One evening, he finds a striking woman behind the store and ends up sharing a smoke break with her. He has no idea she’s the same person he’s been smiling at across register number two. That running gag sounds thin on paper, but the show earns it completely because the dynamic between these two people, in both versions, is genuinely warm without overselling itself.
The manga started as a Twitter webcomic in 2022, won the Next Manga Award that same year, and had over 3 million copies in circulation by 2026. The anime hit a perfect 5-star rating on Crunchyroll within three days of premiering, pulling in 14,000 ratings before most shows manage half that after completing their full runs. In a sea of teen romcoms, it’s refreshing to finally get a grounded adult romance aimed at people in their thirties and forties.
4. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity
This is the one Bleach fans have been waiting twenty years for. Everything since episode one has been building toward Ichigo versus Yhwach, and The Calamity is where that finally happens. Yhwach has taken down the Soul King, the Gotei 13 is in ruins, and what’s left of the cast has to pull off something close to impossible with very little left in the tank. Tite Kubo is personally involved in expanding the notoriously rushed manga ending with anime-only content, which makes this the version of the finale the story always deserved.
Studio Pierrot has maintained the staggering animation quality that made the Thousand-Year Blood War adaptation so celebrated, and the first three episodes got a theatrical run in the US, Japan, and Australia before the TV broadcast began on July 25, pulling in $3 million in US theaters alone. That number tells you exactly how much the fanbase has been holding its breath for this. That said, you absolutely need to have watched the previous three cours first, but if you’re already there, nothing else this summer comes close.
5. Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie – Walpurgisnacht: Rising
Before anything else, you need to watch the original 2011 TV series and the 2013 film Rebellion first. This is a direct sequel to Rebellion’s ending, which left Homura Akemi having reshaped reality itself to keep Madoka by her side, a decision that split the fanbase right down the middle and kept people arguing for over a decade about what it meant. Walpurgisnacht Rising picks up in that rewritten world as a dangerous new threat connected to Walpurgisnacht forces Homura to confront exactly what she built and what it cost.
6. Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs 2
Leon is a regular office worker who is forced by his sister to grind through an otome game, a romance game made for women, for two straight days before dying of exhaustion. He wakes up reincarnated inside that exact game, in a world where women hold all the power and men exist mostly to look pretty and compete for female attention. The twist is that Leon has zero interest in any of that. He just wants a quiet life in the countryside, and the fact that he knows exactly how the game’s story plays out makes him dangerous in ways nobody around him sees coming.
If you’ve never seen Grand Blue Dreaming and someone describes it to you as a show about college students who go scuba diving, that description is technically accurate and completely useless. What it actually is is a relentlessly chaotic comedy about a group of men who drink heavily, strip down to nothing at every available opportunity, and drag a perfectly normal first-year student named Iori into their insanity, whether he likes it or not. The diving is almost incidental, but the friendships built around it are not.
Arc woke up inside his MMORPG as a fully armoured skeleton knight, and four years after Season 1 aired, he’s back. Season 2 picks up with the political tension between humans and elves escalating into something bigger, with a corrupt prince eyeing the throne, an uneasy alliance forming between kingdoms, and Arc still trying to mind his own business while his sense of justice keeps dragging him into everyone else’s problems. The fox companion Ponta is still there, which is reason enough for some people.
This is not an anime that tries to reinvent isekai. In fact, it doesn’t try to become anything else. It knows its place as a show about an overpowered protagonist, a growing party of companions, solid action, and a fantasy world that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Aura Studio takes over production from Studio KAI for this season, with a new scriptwriter, Toshizo Nemoto, who previously worked on That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4 and Inu X Boku Secret Service. If Season 1 hit the right notes for you, Season 2 delivers more of what made it work.
Additionally, the manga it adapts was nominated for the 2019 Next Manga Award and made MAL’s 2024 Unique Art and Story recommended reading list. The story follows two girls at a school that trains orphaned children as magical weapons, one immortal, one dying, and the romance that forms between them inside that world.
10. You and I Are Polar Opposites Season 2
You and I Are Polar Opposites Season 1 wrapped up in March 2026 with both central couples finally making moves and viewers immediately wanting more. Suzuki and Tani are now actually together, which sounds like the part where most romance anime run out of ideas. The difference here is that Kōcha Agasawa, who also wrote The Ramparts of Ice, writes relationships with enough texture to keep going long after the will-they-won’t-they is settled. The friendships surrounding the main couple carry just as much weight as the romance itself, which is rarer than it should be.
When Cleavatess aired in 2025, it was one of last summer’s biggest surprises, a dark fantasy that opened with mass slaughter and somehow pivoted into a story about the lord of magical beasts reluctantly raising an orphaned baby and a resurrected hero he personally killed. That premise sounds ridiculous, and the execution was anything but. Season 2 picks up with Clevatess and his unlikely found family infiltrating a prestigious magic academy under false pretenses, hunting for secrets left behind by a defeated enemy while navigating a world that is still very much at war with itself.
With Yuji Iwahara, best known for his character designs on Darker Than Black and as the original creator of Dimension W, the pedigree behind this series is serious. Lay-duce returns for production, with the main Season 1 cast and staff reprising their roles, while MYTH & ROID handle the ending theme with “Awake Anew.”
12. The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You Season 3
The 100 Girlfriends’premise is exactly as unhinged as the title suggests. Rentaro Aijo was rejected by 100 girls over his lifetime, visited a shrine to pray for luck, and the God of Love showed up to explain that all those rejections were actually a divine clerical error. His compensation is 100 destined soulmates, all of whom he will meet in high school. Any girlfriend he fails to date properly dies. The show takes that absurd setup and runs with it at full speed, introducing increasingly chaotic new characters while maintaining a genuine sweetness underneath all the comedy.
Best manga you should read in 2024? Well, let me think about that. I’ve been exploring manga across genres for nearly two decades. I’ve read everything ranging from heartwarming slice-of-life through detective mystery to crazy isekai, and now I’m really excited to share my seasoned recommendations with you.
I know a few good ones I can recommend. And wow, do I feel kind of old now! Yes! That being said, manga offers a different experience compared to anime. Also, not every fantastic manga receives an anime adaptation, so you can experience some of the rich worlds filled with iconic characters and gripping plotlines only if you read.
So, here are my best manga recommendations I think you should be reading in 2024. I’m really excited about these, and I’d love to hear your thoughts or if you have any recommendations of your own! Hit me up in the comment section below, please.
30. The Summer Hikaru Died
Author(s)
Mokumoku, Ren (Story & Art)
Chapters
24 + ?
Also known as Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu, this is a horror manga I found with a bit for everyone, and by a bit for everyone, I mean the BL/Yaoi genre fans. What I found most alluring was the unpredictability of the story, which is perfectly portrayed by its distinctive art and fitting sound effects. It definitely has that “it factor” to keep you hooked.
The Summer Hikaru Died follows Yoshiki and Hikaru, two best friends who live in a small village. Yoshiki notices a change in Hikaru’s behavior, and when he confronts him, Hikaru transforms into an otherworldly being, threatening to kill Yoshiki. Yoshiki struggles to adapt to the new Hikaru while strange things start happening in the village, causing chaos.
29. Daemons of the Shadow Realm
Author(s)
Arakawa, Hiromu (Story & Art)
Chapters
27 + ?
I’m really into this manga. At its core, Daemons of the Shadow Realm is a perfect blend of action, mystery, and horror. It can also get intense and violent, which can be surprising because of its usual tone. The mangaka behind this manga is no one else than Hiromu Arakawa, who also created the renowned Fullmetal Alchemist. Actually, it’s her first fantasy manga after she finished FMA!
The story follows two twins, Yuru and Asa, who are separated by a shocking attack. Soon, Yuru uncovers a hidden power that could change everything.
28. Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You
Author(s)
Jinushi (Story & Art)
Chapters
35 + ?
Can sharing space also create enduring relationships? Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You might have the answers! This romance slice-of-life series is filled with relatable characters who share genuine moments together. Some might call it boring, but the slow pace is actually perfect in this case.
Sasaki finds comfort in Yamada’s smile, a young woman working at a supermarket he frequents. After a tough day, he visits the store to interact with her only to meet Tayama, a bold woman who works behind the store. An unlikely friendship develops as they smoke together.
27. The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity
Author(s)
Mikami, Saka (Story & Art)
Chapters
107 + ?
This is a manga I feel has exceptional character development and a captivating storyline. The love story and deep friendships are beautifully portrayed without any cringy moments like other romantic comedies. It’s a must-read manga that evoked a lot of awe moments from me and left me grinning at the adorable relationships portrayed.
Also known as Kaoru Hana wa Rin to Saku, it tells the story of two students from different schools; Chidori Public High School and Kikyo Private Academy. They are next to each other but seem to exist in two different worlds. Rintarou Tsumugi is a student at Chidori with a frightening face. He secretly helps out at his family’s cake shop. One day, he meets Kaoruko Waguri, a Kikyo student. Despite their schools’ rivalry, Rintarou looks forward to forming a friendship with her.
26. I Think Our Son Is Gay
Author(s)
Okura (Story & Art)
Chapters
104
Good parents want their kids to be happy. Although I may not be a parent myself as of writing this list, my mother supported me and my siblings growing up. I loved this wholesome manga where the mom understood her son. It was rare to see a parent’s viewpoint in a manga. This manga is also called Uchi no Musuko wa Tabun Gay.
In this LGBTQIA+-friendly family comedy, a mother and her two sons go about their daily lives. Hiroki, the eldest son, is starting to think about sex and romance. Although Tomoko, the mother, suspects that Hiroki might be gay, she is going to let him realize it for himself. Despite belonging to a family of four, the Aoyama residence is typically home to three due to Father Akiyoshi’s job. The story is hilarious and heartwarming, which makes it one of the best LGBTQIA manga out there.
25. Don’t Call It Mystery
Author(s)
Tamura, Yumi (Story & Art)
Chapters
12 + ?
This manga is also known as Mystery to Iu Nakare. It’s a unique and underrated work from the author of 7 Seeds. Even though it looks like a murder mystery, it’s actually a philosophical manga that explores deep ideas. The main character has a cool design and an interesting perspective on life. The artwork is clean and nice, and the dialogue and character designs are amazing.
College student Totonou Kunou is suspected of murder when a classmate is found dead near his house. Despite his claims of innocence, a witness places him at the crime scene. As evidence piles up, Totonou uses his deductive skills to solve the mystery, clear his name, and find the real culprit.
24. Kindergarten Wars
Author(s)
Chiba, Yuu (Story & Art)
Chapters
72 + ?
Also called Youchien Wars, Kindergarten Wars is a manga that takes the successful formula of combining assassins and child care to a new level by setting the story in a kindergarten run by actual assassins. It features over-the-top romantic-comedy gags, direct references to shoujo manga, and high-octane action sequences involving guns, grenades, and helicopters.
The story focuses on adults, making it a refreshing take on the action/childcare genre. If you’re a fan of this genre, Kindergarten Wars is definitely worth reading.
23. In the Clear Moonlit Dusk
Author(s)
Yamamori, Mika (Story & Art)
Chapters
30 + ?
I’m loving Yamamori Mika’s latest work, In the Clear Moonlit Dusk, aka Uruwashi no Yoi no Tsuki. The mangaka is known for popular romance series like Daytime Shooting Star or Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet, both of which have significant fanbases.
It’s not that often that you run into manga where you can confidently say that both leads are likable. However, this manga has this quality. Moreover, the art is beautiful. I would say that overall, it’s a promising shoujo read.
Yoi Takiguchi is known as the school’s “prince” due to her boyish looks and casual attitude. Kohaku Ichimura, another school “prince,” enters her life and calls her beautiful. Although Yoi tries to distance herself, Kohaku’s compliments make her nervous, and she cannot ignore the feelings he stirs in her heart.
22. Kono Oto Tomare!: Sounds of Life
Author(s)
Sakura, Amyuu (Story & Art)
Chapters
131 + ?
I love Kono Oto Tomare! It has excellent characterization, and an engaging and meaningful plot, and uses literary devices like motifs, symbols, and imagery to create a well-paced story. The mangaka clearly treats their characters and story with care and patience, which is also why it deserves a place as one of the best manga out there.
Takezou Kurata becomes the new president of the Koto Music Club after all the other members graduate. Struggling to recruit anyone, Kurata loses hope until Chika Kudou, a delinquent, offers to join and become the new president. With the help of koto prodigy Satowa Houzuki, they recruit Kudou’s friends and save the club. Now with enough members, they aim to become the best koto players in the nation. But they’ll face challenges and hardships before reaching their goal.
21. Witch Hat Atelier
Author(s)
Shirahama, Kamome (Story & Art)
Chapters
78 + ?
Witch Hat Atelier aka Tongari Boushi no Atelier feels like stepping into a fairytale. There are witches and medieval vibes all over. Also, the art is stunning. The magic system starts simple but gets more interesting as you go, and it feels really thought out. I’m only a few chapters in, but I can’t believe how good it is!
The manga follows Coco, a dressmaker’s daughter, who discovers that her favorite picture book is actually a magic book. So, she starts testing spells. One spell causes a disaster, but Qifrey, a skilled witch, rescues her and decides to train her. Together, they aim to track down the Brimmed Caps, a dangerous group of heretics. But first, Coco must improve her skills and get along with Qifrey’s other apprentices.
20. Orb: On the Movements of the Earth
Author(s)
Uoto (Story & Art)
Chapters
62
Orb: On the Movements of the Earth is a fascinating story about finding humanity’s place in the universe. It follows different characters who fight for the idea that the sun is the center of our solar system (heliocentrism). While they debate this theory (sometimes in long conversations), the story also explores other big ideas in a way that makes you think, even if the talks can feel a bit awkward at times.
In the fifteenth century, Rafal, a brilliant young man, valued Reason above all else. He believed that the Earth orbits the Sun, and was persecuted by the Inquisition. A decade later, members of the Watch Guild found a hidden chest containing the secrets of the universe that Rafal left behind. They wondered whether selling the texts would change their fates or lead to their demise.
19. Medalist
Author(s)
Tsurumaikada (Story & Art)
Chapters
38 + ?
Medalist is a manga that shows a lot of potential. Just after reading a few chapters, you will be already able to tell that the author genuinely loves figure skating. Also, the artwork shines during skating scenes and emotional moments. The story is great, and the characters are lovable. All in all, Medalist is one of the best sports manga and a must-read for fans of the genre, especially those who like figure skating.
The story follows a coach, Tsukasa, who couldn’t become a solo skater because he started late. He sees himself in a new student, Inori, who everyone says can’t succeed because she’s also a beginner. Tsukasa vows to train her and help her become a medalist, a different path than his own.
18. Dandadan
Author(s)
Tatsu, Yukinobu (Story & Art)
Chapters
147 + ?
Dandadan is a wild manga that’s funny, exciting, and beautifully drawn. The plot is chaotic but creative, which is a major draw for those who dare to read it.
The story follows a girl who believes in ghosts and a boy who believes in aliens. They team up to fight both after realizing these crazy things are real!
With awesome side characters and a cute romance, Dandadan is a hidden gem waiting for anyone who loves action and a bit of weirdness.
17. Firefly Wedding
Author(s)
Tachibana, Oreco (Story & Art)
Chapters
35 + ?
Fans of handsome yandere boys will be certainly happy about this manga’s male lead. Firefly Wedding has a super unique story with a twist: the sickly rich girl falls for the assassin who kidnaps her!
Shinpei, the assassin, is both cool and a little obsessive, which makes him interesting. The art is clean and switches between dark and funny moments perfectly. Even though they start out strange, the couple ends up being really sweet together. The story takes place in the Meiji era Japan, which adds to the whole vibe.
16. Gachiakuta
Author(s)
Urana, Kei (Story & Art)
Chapters
93 + ?
I heard about Gachiakuta because Urana Kei assisted on Fire Force. Thankfully, it lives up to Ookubo’s standards. The first three chapters are the strongest, with Rudo’s fall into the abyss leaving countless questions. He joins a group and learns the combat system, with great artwork and twists in the plot. I have been enjoying my time with this manga.
Rudo and his foster father Legto live in the slums of a wealthy town. Rudo regularly searches through the town’s garbage for anything valuable. One day, Rudo returns home to find Legto dying and is accused of murder. He is thrown into the Abyss but instead of dying, he finds himself surrounded by monsters made of trash. Enjin, a janitor, saves Rudo and convinces him to become a janitor to fight his way out of the Abyss and avenge Legto’s death.
15. Fool Night
Author(s)
Yasuda, Kasumi (Story & Art)
Chapters
58 + ?
I was skeptical about Fool Night’s dystopian theme at first, but as I read on, I found it well-executed. There are complex and interesting characters and you can be sure that the manga will make you think hard about right and wrong. All in all, it has elements of body horror that explore the darker sides of society and survival.
The future is rough in Fool Night! Earth’s covered in clouds, oxygen’s rare, and people can turn into plants to survive. Toshiro’s gotta decide if that’s the only way to save his sick mom. He can’t afford her meds, and things are getting desperate. This story’s gonna test how human people can be!
14. Sakamoto Days
Author(s)
Suzuki, Yuuto (Story & Art)
Chapters
161 + ?
Sakamoto Days is an exciting manga that blends John Wick and old-school Jackie Chan. The retired assassin, Sakamoto, initially leads a peaceful life but gets involved in the underworld and crime syndicates at war to protect his loved ones. He becomes a force that tips the scales in favor of the good guys during intense battles.
Tarou Sakamoto, once the greatest hitman of all time, left his life of crime for love. Now working as a convenience store clerk, his former rivals and partners refuse to believe he has truly left the business. He must find creative ways to protect his family, store, and town without killing.
13. Hirayasumi
Author(s)
Shinzou, Keigo (Story & Art)
Chapters
62 + ?
Hirayasumi is a lo-fi manga created by Shinzo Keigo, who recently overcame cancer and was inspired to write it after missing the simple pleasures of life during his hospital stay. The manga’s central theme is enjoying the little things in life. Hirayasumi has a simple yet beautiful art style, relatable characters, and a slice-of-life story that is not too complex or dramatic. All in all, it’s one of the best manga for relaxing and a wholesome read that reminds us to appreciate the present moment.
Hiroto Ikuta, a 29-year-old resident of Asagaya, inherits the house of his favorite elderly woman called “Granny” after she passes away. Three months later, his cousin Natsumi Kobayashi moves in with him to attend art school.
12. Touge Oni: Primal Gods in Ancient Times
Author(s)
Tsurubuchi, Kenji (Story & Art)
Chapters
26.5 + ?
If you like well-developed relationships, unique characters, and top-notch worldbuilding, you’ll fall in love with Togue Oni. There are supernatural elements but the manga is consistent with actual physics, which is great because it looks at least somewhat realistic. Too bad that it doesn’t have that many readers despite its quality.
In ancient Yamato, Miyo is chosen as a human sacrifice for her village’s god, Kippuuson-no-Mikoto. Can Ozuno, a monk who can speak with the gods, save her life?
11. Suicide Notes Laid on the Table
Author(s)
Minami, Toutarou (Story & Art)
Chapters
51
Fantastic series with well-crafted mysteries, surprising twists, and complex characters. Only 51 chapters long, but packs a punch. Read it now! The manga is also known as Isho, Koukai.
Class 2-D of Kairei Private Middle School receives an email at the start of the year detailing a “class hierarchy.” Tsubaki Himeyama, the top-ranked student, manages to ease the tension. But when she commits suicide on campus, her classmates discover suicide notes on their desks. These notes threaten to reveal the dark secrets of Class 2-D.
10. Blue Period
Author(s)
Yamaguchi, Tsubasa (Story & Art)
Chapters
67 + ?
This is my favorite manga. The writing is mature, the stories are not typical, and it follows the rule of “show, not tell.” The ideas are grounded and realistic, and the author tells personal stories. Read this manga if you liked Holy Land, The Climber,or Real. It will leave a lasting impression, at least it did with me.
Our protagonist Yatora Yaguchi is a bored second-year high school student. However, after seeing a painting made by a member of the Art Club, he discovers the joy of drawing. From that moment on, he decides to pursue art as a career path.
9. The Fox & Little Tanuki
Author(s)
Tagawa, Mi (Story & Art)
Chapters
48
Legend tells of animals born with great power, like Senzou the black fox. Imprisoned for misusing his abilities, he can only regain them by helping Manpachi, a tanuki cub. Bound by magic beads, he must be a good babysitter or lose his powers forever.
A fun and adorable read, The Fox & Little Tanuki (Korisenman) is an adventurous comedy with charming characters. Japanese mythology is filled with stories and beliefs that have been passed down for thousands of years, and the manga decided to integrate them. Luckily, the story is easy to consume, so it’s a good fit for kids, teenagers, and even adults looking for a break from the smoggy city.
8. Umi ga Hashiru End Roll
Author(s)
Tarachine, John (Story & Art)
Chapters
11 + ?
This manga was a bit atypical. First, the strange cover art caught my attention, and then I found out there was an elderly protagonist. I mean, that’s not something you see every day in manga or anime. Just like the protagonist, the story felt refreshing, with deep themes including end-of-life regrets, sexuality, and the age gap. Overall, it’s deeper than expected, and Haru is the best girl.
Umiko Chino, a 65-year-old widow, visits the cinema when her VCR breaks down. During the movie, she notices a young person in the audience who later introduces himself as Kai Hamauchi, a film student. After fixing her VCR, Kai asks Umiko if she wants to make a movie with him, which changes her life.
7. Boy’s Abyss
Author(s)
Minenami, Ryou (Story & Art)
Chapters
172 + ?
Perhaps you’d love to read something that’s gripping but also dark and messed up. Then I have something for you. Boy’s Abyss‘s characters might be teenagers, but they are far from the carefree Tiktokers we see every day. Each of the protagonists is messed up in their own way and the manga is not afraid to show it. Also, there are a lot of sex scenes and emotional stuff going on.
Reiji’s stuck in a dead-end town. He can’t leave his family behind, but he dreams of escaping like his friend Sakuko. To forget his troubles, he gets lost in the music of the idol group Acrylic. One day, he meets Nagi, the hottest member, and his life gets flipped upside down.
6. Choujin X
Author(s)
Ishida, Sui (Story & Art)
Chapters
51 + ?
I’m loving the new manga by Ishida Sui (the mangaka behind Tokyo Ghoul). It’s a guilty pleasure that feels like heaven, or maybe… hell? It seems promising so far and Ishida’s talent is evident in his use of symbols. The story is emotional and the art is fantastic. I hope he takes the time he needs to deliver a beautiful and well-written story. I’d give it an 8.5 if I had to rank it and can’t wait to see what happens next!
Tokio and Azuma are high schoolers who fight injustice in their town. They avoid confrontations with Choujins, powerful supernatural beings. When a defeated thug seeks revenge, they inject themselves with a drug that can transform them into Choujins. While Azuma remains the same, Tokio grows a beak. He must hide his identity as there are people unhappy about their use of the drug.
5. Sundome
Author(s)
Okada, Kazuto (Story & Art)
Chapters
76
Manga that can make you laugh and cry? That would be Sundome. The plot of Sundome centers on an indifferent young guy whose life is turned upside down when a confident girl approaches him about joining the same after-school club that he already belongs to.
An emotional read with lots of fanservice, this manga isn’t for everyone because it contains a fair amount of nihilism and tragedy. I’d say that you either enjoy this or you don’t. Since I can easily imagine these things happening somewhere in the actual world, I’d even go so far as to say that this is a pretty realistic story.
4. Bleach
Author(s)
Kubo, Tite (Story & Art)
Chapters
705
The protagonist of the iconic shonen action manga is Ichigo Kurosaki, a brash adolescent with ghost-seeing abilities. When he meets Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper entrusted with battling demonic spirits known as Hollows, his world is completely turned upside down. Ichigo absorbs Rukia’s powers after she is hurt, turning into a substitute Soul Reaper.
For fans of shounen, Bleach is full of epic battles, well-developed characters, and an interesting power system. While the manga might not be the most talked-about shounen anymore compared to its contemporaries like Naruto or One Piece, it still holds a special place for many fans.
3. Tokyo Ghoul
Author(s)
Ishida, Sui (Story & Art)
Chapters
144
Tokyo Ghoul’s setting is straight out of a horror movie: there are creepy ghoul creatures who secretly live among humans and need to eat people to survive. The main character, Ken, gets into a freaky accident and becomes half-ghoul himself. Now he struggles to fight for survival and keep his secret.
With beautiful, detailed art, fleshed-out characters, and dark themes, Tokyo Ghoul has a lot to offer, and its popularity is well-deserved. Even in 2024, it’s easily one of the best manga out there.
2. Koe no Katachi
Author(s)
Ooima, Yoshitoki (Story & Art)
Chapters
64
A second chance story, Koe no Katachi is about a bully who tries to make amends with the deaf girl he bullied. The manga explores themes of forgiveness, empathy, and overcoming guilt in a way that tugs at your heartstrings. The artwork is amazing, especially during touching moments and when portraying the struggles of deafness.
Since Koe no Katachi shows you both sides of the story, you will understand both characters and their struggles. In fact, you’ll end up rooting for them both in the end!
1. Berserk
Author(s)
Miura, Kentarou (Story & Art), Studio Gaga (Art)
Chapters
373 + ?
A dark fantasy with stunning art, Berserk is an epic story full of violence and dark stuff. Both fights and characters look incredible. Due to its lasting impact on both readers and the genre, I find Berserk the best manga you can read if you can handle mature themes.
Sadly, Miura Kentarou, the mangaka behind this masterpiece, passed away in 2021. The story, however, is being continued by Miura’s close friend and fellow manga artist, Kouji Mori. Assistants and apprentices from Miura’s studio, Studio Gaga, are also contributing to the artwork.
The main character, Guts, fights his way through a crazy world filled with demons using a giant sword. He’s got a dark past and a complicated relationship with his best friend (who turned evil).
