Buzz
Manga is an immensely popular genre worldwide, originating from Japan and swiftly dominating the global comic scene. It has become an indispensable source of entertainment for many, especially the younger generation. Let's explore the top 30 best manga globally, evaluated based on awards and best-selling records.
1. One Piece – Pirate King
Original Title: ワンピース
Author: Eiichiro Oda
First published in 1997 and still reigning after more than a decade, One Piece continues to hold the throne for the best-selling and unbeaten manga.
One Piece unfolds the vast world of the sea with the adventures of pirates and their clashes with the navy. Everyone aims to seize the greatest treasure of the sea, One Piece, left by the pirate king Gol D. Roger before his execution.
The main character of the story is the straw-hat pirate Monkey D. Luffy, along with the friends he encounters on his journey, establishing the Straw Hat crew and embarking on the Great Sea Voyage with the ambition to find the One Piece treasure and become the Pirate King.
2. Dragon Ball - Seven Dragon Balls
Original Title: ドラゴンボール
Author: Toriyama Akira
A tale inseparable from the childhood of many from the 80s and 90s, the story revolves around the boy Son Goku, who lives with his grandfather in the woods. When Goku's grandfather passes away, he leaves behind a Dragon Ball with 4 stars.
Later, when Goku meets Bulma, he learns that this is one of the seven Dragon Balls. When gathered all 7 balls, he can summon the dragon god and make any wish, including resurrecting the dead.
Goku is determined to join Bulma in the quest for the seven Dragon Balls to make positive wishes. Throughout their journey, Goku and Bulma fight villains together and meet good friends.
3. Naruto
Original Title: —ナルト—
Author: Masashi Kishimoto
The story revolves around a boy carrying a nine-tailed fox monster inside him, despised by the entire village.
Everyone fears that one day the monster inside the boy will break free and pose a threat to everyone, similar to the tragedy 12 years ago. Naruto lives in such a dark childhood, but he always has a burning desire to become a Hokage—the leader of the village—to gain recognition from all the villagers. For this, Naruto always strives to become an outstanding and skilled ninja.
4. Kochikame – The Genius Policeman
Title: Kochikame – The Evergreen
Author: Osamu Akimoto
Kochikame is a long-running manga with a history spanning 40 years. It narrates humorous stories around the police box near Kameari Park in Katsushika ward.
The story hilariously depicts the mid-aged police officer Kankichi Ryotsu and his comical misadventures.
This manga once held the Guinness World Record for 'Most volumes published for a single manga series.'
6. Detective Conan – The Legendary Detective
Original Title: 名探偵コナン
Author: Aoyama Gosho
The story revolves around a kid who looks 11-year-old, Edogawa Conan, with extraordinary intelligence, secretly solving many challenging cases. Few know that this kid is actually Kudo Shinichi – a highly famous high school detective who continues to assist the police in solving difficult cases.
While observing criminals in black, Kudo was attacked and forced to swallow an experimental poison called APTX4869. However, the dose didn't kill him but instead shrank his body into a kid.
Conan, the shrunken Kudo, lives with his girlfriend Mori Ran and her father Mori Kogoro – also a detective. Throughout the story, Conan silently supports Mr. Mori in solving cases by... drugging him to sleep. Thus, the nickname 'Sleeping Detective' was born.
6. Slam Dunk – Basketball Prodigy
Original Title: スラムダンク
Author: Takehiko Inoue
This is a classic in Japanese sports manga, particularly in the basketball genre. It caused a basketball craze in many Asian countries.
The story follows the unique high school student Hanamichi Sakuragi. Hanamichi, known for his bright red hair, has an unsuccessful love life, holding a record for consecutive rejections and earning the nickname 'T Square' (meaning love failure) from his friends.
Hanamichi possesses exceptional strength and health. When he coincidentally meets Haruko Akagi, the assistant of the school's basketball team, Hanamichi decides to join the basketball team to be closer to Haruko.
However, later on, Hanamichi genuinely develops a love and passion for the sport. He wants to play basketball with an intense burning desire for the hoop rather than using it as an emotional outlet for romantic pursuits.
7. Tetsuwan Atomu – Siêu nhí Astro (Thái Không Phi Thử)
Original Title: 鉄腕アトム
Author: Osamu Tezuka
Astro Boy, known in English, is a manga that was once a phenomenon in Japan. It tells the story of a boy robot with extraordinary strength.
The narrative unfolds in a Metro city in the future world. Dr. Tenma, overwhelmed by the pain of losing his son, creates a robot boy resembling his late son Toby. However, upon realizing that nothing can replace his lost child, Dr. Tenma rejects and thrusts the innocent robot boy into a lonely adventure.
9. Doraemon
Original Title: ドラえもん
Author: Fujiko Fujio
Doraemon is a cat-like robot from the 22nd century who travels back in time through a desk drawer. Doraemon returns to the past to assist the clumsy fifth-grade student, Nobi Nobita, at the request of Nobita's future grandson.
Doraemon has a magical pouch on his belly containing numerous gadgets that have helped Nobita solve many troubles in life. However, issues caused by these gadgets often escalate beyond the initial plan.
Doraemon has been officially recognized as a legal citizen by the Japanese government since 2012 due to his image of always helping others, setting an example for young children.
9. Fist of the North Star – Hokuto No Ken
Original Title: 北斗の拳
Author: Tetsuo Hara
This is a manga set in a post-nuclear war world, devastated and chaotic. Human life becomes anarchic, and criminal gangs roam freely, escaping government control. In this era, concepts like justice cease to exist, and the only law that prevails is the law of the jungle, where power rules all.
Touch is a gripping story about the aftermath of a nuclear war, where survival is a constant struggle, and the search for justice becomes a personal quest for revenge.
And in the midst of this, a hero emerges, Keshiro, the leader of the world's most powerful martial arts school. He seeks to find the one who betrayed him, the one who kidnapped his wife and left him in peril.
10. Touch – Reach Out
Title: Touch
Author: Adachi Mitsuru.
Touch is a sports manga that follows the story of three individuals: Asakura Minami and the twin brothers Uesugi Kazuya and Uesugi Tatsuya.
The romantic plot of this manga involves a love triangle between the three, with Kazuya and Minami growing close, much to the approval of their parents who see them as an ideal couple. However, the reality is that Minami feels a stronger connection with the older brother, Tatsuya.
Tatsuya, exceptionally talented and sharp-minded, tends to be lazy, always deflecting the spotlight to his younger brother, even in academics and the prominent position in the baseball team. Following a sudden accident at the beginning of their third year, Kazuya, the younger brother, tragically loses his life while trying to save a child standing by the roadside.
After this incident, Minami convinces Tatsuya to step into his late brother's shoes and lead the school's baseball team to the national championship.
12. Hajime no Ippo – The Fighting Spirit of Ippo
Original Title: 幕之内一歩
Author: George Morikawa
The story revolves around Ippo Makunouchi, a shy high school student with no friends. Ippo is constantly bullied by a group of students, and in a particularly brutal beating, he is saved by a professional boxer passing by, who takes him to his boxing gym.
Mamoru Takamura, the man who saved Ippo, teaches him how to channel all his frustrations into a sandbag, recognizing the potential for a boxer within him. This marks the fateful day when Ippo embarks on the journey to become a professional boxer.
13. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure – The Mysterious Adventure
Original Title: ジョジョの奇妙な冒険
Author: Hirohiko Araki
JoJo is a legendary Japanese adventure manga known for its epic battles and recently became a hot meme trend in the Vietnamese manga community.
The story revolves around the thrilling adventures of the Joestar family in their quest to combat supernatural forces.
13. Kindaichi Detective – The Kindaichi Files
Original Title: 金田一少年の事件簿
Authors: Kanari Youzaburou, Seimaru Amagi, and Satou Fumiya
The story follows a high school prodigy with a rare IQ of 180, known for being mischievous and playful. Hajime Kindaichi inherits his exceptional intelligence from his grandfather, the renowned detective Hajime Kosuke.
He and a charming girl, Nanase Miyuki, embark on numerous thrilling adventures, confronting ruthless enemies. Despite the challenges, Kindaichi aids the two detectives, Kenmochi Isamu and Akechi Kengo, in solving perplexing murder cases.
14. Sazae-san – The Wondrous World of Sazae
Original Title: サザエさん
Author: Hasegawa Machiko
This manga revolves around the cheerful homemaker Sazae-san, narrated in a gentle storytelling style with a warm atmosphere.
Sazae's family is a large and ideal Japanese family, consisting of parents, husband, son, and siblings. The story predominantly focuses on daily occurrences within the family.
Sazae is beloved for her strong personality and high sense of responsibility, reminiscent of the traditional image of Japanese women.
15. Bleach – The Soul Reaper
The original name of this manga is 'Bleach'.
Written by Noriaki 'Tite' Kubo, the story unfolds in a spiritual realm invisible to humans. Deceased individuals become souls guided by Soul Reapers to the afterlife. However, some souls turn into Hollows upon death, posing a threat to humans, and it becomes the duty of the Soul Reapers to eliminate them.
The protagonist, Kurosaki Ichigo, is a youth with the ability to see spirits since childhood. In an accidental encounter between a Soul Reaper and a Hollow, Ichigo's ordinary life takes an unexpected turn.
15. Bleach – The Soul Reaper
16. Tsubasa – Dreams on the Soccer Field
The original title is 'Captain Tsubasa.'
Created by Takahashi Yōichi, this manga is a timeless classic in the sports genre, focusing on the soccer prodigy Ozora Tsubasa. He starts as the captain of a youth soccer team and later becomes the captain of the Japanese national team.
Đây là một tác phẩm truyện tranh về thể loại thể thao bóng đá vô cùng kinh điển. Bộ truyện kể về cậu bé thiên tài bóng đá Ozora Tsubasa đội trưởng đội bóng đá nhí và rồi trở thành đội trưởng đội tuyển quốc gia Nhật Bản.
Tsubasa unfolds the fiery matches between young and passionate players, propelling Japanese soccer onto the global stage by defeating giants in the football realm.
17. Vagabond – The Wandering Swordsman
The original title is 'バガボンド,' and it is created by Inoue Takehiko. Vagabond explores the journey of a wandering swordsman, weaving a captivating tale of martial arts and self-discovery.
Tác giả: Inoue Takehiko
Vagabond is a masterpiece tailored for the young audience by sensei Inoue. Following the tremendous success of Slam Dunk, fans were treated to another captivating work in a different genre.
Vagabond, drawing inspiration from the novel, narrates the life of a wanderer in early Edo period named Miyamoto Musashi.
Miyamoto, a formidable swordsman, aspired to use his swordsmanship to build a legacy. However, as the Warring States era led to decline, Miyamoto found himself a solitary swordsman.
18. Rurouni Kenshin – The Wandering Swordsman Kenshin
Original Title: るろうに剣心
Author: Watsuki Nobuhiro
Kenshin is a skilled swordsman in Japan's Meiji era, but for some reason, he conceals his identity and talents. With long, neatly tied hair and a cross-shaped scar on his right cheek, he exudes a rugged charm.
The story unfolds as Kaoru seeks a person claiming to be Battousai. Initially believing Kenshin fits the description, Kaoru becomes skeptical after witnessing his clumsiness, doubting he's the legendary assassin.
Later, Kaoru discovers that all her assumptions were wrong.
19. Hunter × Hunter – Thợ Săn
Tên gốc: ハンター×ハンター
Tác giả: Yoshihiro Togashi
The world in the story revolves around elite hunters with extraordinary abilities surpassing ordinary people. They undertake tasks such as hunting rare items, creatures, and even humans.
However, to be recognized in this profession, one needs certification and must pass an exam with a success rate of only 0.001%.
The main character is Gon, a boy from the remote Whale Island who embarks on a journey to find his rumored-to-be-alive father and become a professional Hunter. He participates in the Hunter exam and encounters close friends like the assassin descendant Killua, the last survivor of the Red-Eyed Clapika tribe, and a young man aspiring to become a doctor, Leorio.
21. Fullmetal Alchemist – Alchemist of Steel
Title: Fullmetal Alchemist
Author: Arakawa Hiromu
The story unfolds in a fascinating world where alchemists create unique products merging science and magic known as alchemy.
Edward and Alphonse Elric, two alchemist brothers, once aimed to use alchemy to resurrect their mother, but it cost them parts of their bodies.
The duo embarks on a quest to find a mythical substance known as the Philosopher's Stone to restore their lost body parts.
Title: Boys Over Flowers
Author: Yoko Kamio
The narrative revolves around the lives of the wealthy elite, uncovering the dynamics within the rich and privileged.
Known by its Vietnamese name, many fans of the romance genre immediately recognize this highly popular series. It serves as the original work for the well-known film Boys Over Flowers, widely known in Vietnam as Vườn Sao Băng.
The story follows Makino Tsukushi, the sole poor student at Eitoku Academy, accurately described as the rich kids' school. Dominated by four wealthiest male students, they form the notorious F4 group.
Students targeted by F4 receive a red card and face bullying and social isolation throughout the school.
Makino, originally leading a quiet life, unintentionally clashes with F4's leader, Domyoji, to defend her friend. Despite receiving a red card, she remains determined to attend school with unwavering resilience.
22. Eichi Tsū – H2
Original Title: エイチ・ツー
Author: Adachi Mitsuru
Another sports genre work by the seasoned Adachi, H2 depicts lively baseball matches in high schools alongside heartwarming romantic stories of young girls and boys entering adolescence.
23. Nana
Original Title: ナナ
Author: Yazawa Ai
Osaki Nana, a strong-willed punk-rock singer, and Komatsu Nana, an emotionally charged and love-struck girl, share the same name but have contrasting personalities. They meet on a fateful train journey to Tokyo on a spring day when they turn twenty.
After a series of coincidences, the two girls met again and decided to rent apartment 707 together. Despite their contrasting natures, they choose to live together, both loving and respecting each other.
Listening to the plot might sound a bit romantic, but in reality, both girls are straight.
24. Fruits Basket
Original Title: フルーツバスケット
Author: Takaya Natsuki
The main character of the Fruits Basket story is the orphaned girl, Honda Tohru. Tohru coincidentally encounters Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure Soma, members of the Soma family cursed by the Zodiac.
The curse states that if someone touches them, they transform into an animal corresponding to their Zodiac sign.
Tohru inadvertently discovers the truth about the Soma family. Her innocence, kindness, and sincerity gradually melt the long-standing icy barrier surrounding the Sohma household.
Death Note – The Death Notebook
Original Title: デスノート
Authors: Ohba Tsugumi and Obata Takeshi
The story revolves around a death notebook that can determine the demise of a person once you know their name and face.
The story begins when a bored death god, Ryuk, drops his death notebook in front of an ordinary human. Anyone who touches the notebook can see the death god and wield its power by writing the name and cause of death.
The notebook falls into the hands of Yagami Light, an exceptional student with a father in the police force. Light decides to use the notebook to kill criminals and those he deems worthy of death.
Within a week, 52 criminals worldwide die, prompting police forces everywhere to hunt down the mysterious killer known as 'Kira.' The tension escalates when a mysterious detective using the alias L joins the investigation.
26. Fairy Tail – Guild of Wizards
The original name: フェアリーテイル
Author: Mashima Hiro
Fairy Tail is a story about a mischievous and rowdy guild of wizards. The main character is Natsu, a wizard who harnesses the power of flames, derived from an ancient dragon named Igneel.
27. Mahoutsukai no Yome – The Bride of the Magus
The original name: 魔法使いの嫁
Author: Kore Yamazaki
The world in The Bride of the Magus is a magical realm filled with enchanting spells, witches, sorcerers, werewolves, as well as demons, and humans with the ability to see these mystical beings.
Chise, a 15-year-old girl, is the protagonist of the story. Despite her young age, she has lived a destitute life, falling into dire straits and forced to sell herself as a slave.
A sorcerer with a demonic appearance appears to take care of the girl and teach her, and from then on, Chise becomes the apprentice of the sorcerer.
28. Inuyasha – Khuyển Dạ Xoa
The original name: 犬夜叉
Author: Takahashi Rumiko
Set in Japan's Warring States period, this is a world full of yokai and the sorcerers who hunt them.
InuYasha is a hanyo (half-demon) born to a demon father and a human mother. Wanting to become a full-fledged demon, InuYasha attacks a village to steal the Shikon Jewel – a coveted artifact among many demons.
Kikyo shoots an arrow into InuYasha's heart and seals him to the base of the sacred tree until a girl from over five hundred years later removes the arrow and releases InuYasha from his seal.
Kagome, a high school girl in the modern world, inadvertently travels through a dry well and ventures into the Warring States period of over 500 years ago, carrying the Shikon Jewel that many demons desire.
29. Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba
Original Title: 鬼滅の刃
Author: Koyoharu Gotouge
This manga gained immense popularity with the release of its anime adaptation. The story unfolds in a world inhabited by demons. These demons, driven by insatiable hunger, relentlessly attack humans, turning those bitten or exposed to their blood into demons themselves.
The protagonist of the story is Kamado Tanjiro, a kind-hearted boy living with his family on a mountain, earning a living as a charcoal burner. His family is massacred by demons, leaving only his sister Nezuko alive, but turned into a demon herself.
Tanjiro attempts to save his sister from the blade of a demon slayer, and surprisingly, Nezuko retains human emotions and thoughts. Tanjiro, along with his sister, embarks on the path to becoming demon slayers to protect humanity.
Tanjiro and his sister set forth on the journey to become demon slayers, aiming to protect humanity from the demonic threat.
30. Attack on Titan – Shingeki no Kyojin
Original Title: 進撃の巨人
Author: Isayama Hajime
The story unfolds in a world filled with bloodshed and terror as humans struggle against the flesh-eating giants known as Titans. Humanity is confined within colossal walled cities, resembling giant cages, to evade the relentless pursuit of these gigantic beings. They establish elite military forces to resist and exterminate these Titan creatures.
Humans are at a disadvantage in a world dominated by flesh-eating Titans, and they live confined within massive walled cities resembling colossal cages to escape the relentless pursuit of these giant beings. To counter the threat, they form elite military forces tasked with resisting and exterminating the Titan menace.
The protagonist of the story is Eren Yeager, an ordinary citizen who witnessed his mother being devoured by a Titan. Since then, Eren vows to eradicate all Titans and joins the Survey Corps to accomplish this mission.
Thank you for reading and following Mytour's article on the Top 30 best manga in the world. The numbering is not indicative of the manga's quality; it's merely for tracking. We hope you can enjoy and find manga that suits your taste.
