5 Most Popular Shonen Manga In Japan (& 5 In The US) | CBR - CBR - Comic Book Resources

Manga, or graphic novels, originate from Japan, and when they come to the States there are some similarities in their ratings but due to cultural differences, some cannot do as well in the West as it has in the East.

Most of the time, popular series do quite well for male and female readers in both Japan and abroad. Almost all of the shonen series which will be listed here will be familiar to anime fans. It has been speculated that shonen is one of the most popular of all the series of manga and anime alike, due to it being action-packed and rewarding in its storylines and character development. The top-selling shonen manga series in Japan from November 2019 through November 2020 are reported by Oricon, a big name in the Japanese music & book industry. Meanwhile, the most popular series in the US are based on the Amazon bestsellers as of January 2021.

10 JAPAN: Demon Slayer

As of the end of 2020, Demon Slayer is now one of the top-selling manga of all time, claiming One Piece's lifetime record of best sales, with a total of 82.3 million copies sold. This series, following a young boy, Tanjiro Kamado, along his journey to becoming stronger to defeat the demon who killed most of his family, aside from his sister who had been turned into a demon herself. With the series of stunning artwork and unique character designs, it has become a household name even for those who aren't fans of anime or manga.

9 AMERICA: My Hero Academia

The top-selling manga is listed as My Hero Academia and has an overall rating of 5.0 out of 5 stars on Amazon with the debut of its animated counterpart. The story follows the young Izuku Midoriya, a boy born into a world full of others with superpowers (known as "Quirks") and having none of his own. However, it just so happens that his Hero mentor can help him with that. This series is very relatable and popular with young and old readers alike.

8 JAPAN: Kingdom

A not so popular series outside of Japan, Kingdom has had 8.2 million copies sold. A manga retelling events that happened within the Warring States period following the adventures of an orphaned boy, Xin, who ultimately unifies China with the help of his comrades after being separated for hundreds of years.

7 AMERICA: Black Clover

Next in line of the top-selling manga is a tale that follows the progression of two orphaned childhood friends Asta and Yuno. With Asta's best friend becoming a prodigy due to his natural magic talents, he strives to be like him and to be like the Magic Emperor of old.

The animated counterpart of this series has gained much popularity and is ranked one of the most popular series on Crunchyroll's streaming service for the first quarter of 2020 not only in the States but in Canada, the UK, and more.

6 JAPAN: One Piece

A hugely popular series that has a multitude of fans, being Japan's top-selling manga for many years, One Piece has sold 7.7 million copies as of November 2020. Spanning 97 volumes and still going strong, the story follows Luffy, a pirate with the supernatural ability to stretch his limbs like rubber, who sails the seas with a crew of interesting characters to find the infamous "One Piece" treasure so he can someday become King of the Pirates.

5 AMERICA: The Promised Neverland

Shonen Manga The Promised Neverland Guns

With the highly anticipated second season of its animated counterpart now released here in the U.S., there has been much hype for this supernatural tale of survival. It follows the main characters within a mysterious orphanage, Emma, Ray, and Norman, as they uncover the twisted reality of their cozy home, rebelling against the only mother they knew and fleeing for their lives. With its highly detailed art style and loads of surprises, this series, as well as Emma herself, has captured the hearts of many.

4 JAPAN: Haikyu!!

A popular sports manga among both men and women is Haikyu!!, meaning "volleyball" which has sold 7.2 million copies since the series ended with its 45th volume. The story follows a determined young boy, Shoyo Hinata, on his journey to becoming a professionally skilled volleyball player even though he is short in stature.

3 AMERICA: Demon Slayer

Genya Shinazubawa - Kimetsu no Yaiba manga

Similar to Japan, Demon Slayer has made it into America's most popular list as well, however, much farther down in ranking. While the animated film, a continuation of where the anime left off, has done incredibly well in Japan, it has still not been released in the U.S. The manga series has since concluded as of May 2019 with a total of 23 volumes.

2 JAPAN: Jujutsu Kaisen

A more recent series, which began serialization in 2018, has sold 6.7 million copies as of November 2020. With the release of its animated counterpart in 2019, the manga has achieved more fans in recent months.

This story follows Itadori Yuji, a student with incredible will, strength, and morality, as he enters into the world of Cursed Spirits terrorizing his hometown after devouring a powerful artifact from a feared and revered demon, Sukuna. Using his newly attained powers, he helps to rid the world of malicious curses along with many other characters with unique powers.

1 AMERICA: Haikyu!!

Also on Japan's list, Haikyu!! has gained similar popularity in the States. Sports anime have become increasingly popular both in the East and the West, with its high-intensity volleyball matches as well as riveting character interactions on and off the court. Following along with the main character's underdog tale, it's a rewarding story of overcoming the odds and true teamwork.

NEXT: Berserk: 10 Reasons Why It's One Of The Best Manga Ever

Next 10 Anime Villains Who Ended Up Killing Their Parents (& Why)

Related Topics

About The Author

Dannie Pierce (38 Articles Published)

Dannie Pierce is a Japan enthusiast based in New York who loves and appreciates everything to do with Japan, from anime, manga, video/arcade games, to food and the culture, as well as the language. She also loves animals, art, fashion, photography and travel, as she has vacationed in Japan at least once a year since 2013. Dannie is also the Freelance Arts & Entertainment Editor for Japan-CultureNYC as well as an artist, and now has come on board as a Freelance Organic List Writer for Comic Book Resources, specifically about anything anime (or video games). Has a bachelors degree in Studio Arts as well as a completed a continued education course on becoming a veterinary assistant.