Yatta-Tachi’s Choices of 2025 Best New Manga

We are a little late to the game, but a few of us (Adam, AJ, Kai, Tony, and John), including myself, put together a list of new manga released in 2025 and shared our thoughts as to why we believe you should check them out!

Firefly Wedding Volume 1

• Publisher: Viz Media
• Genres: Shojo, Romance
• Vibes: Yandere ML, Ye old’ times in Japan, Assassins, oh he’s unhinged
• Our Review: https://yattatachi.com/firefly-wedding-volume-1-manga-review

Synopsis: On the surface, Satoko has it all—she’s beautiful, the daughter of a nobleman, and at a prime age for marriage. Unfortunately, she is also quite ill and only has a short time left to live. Before she can secure a marriage that will redeem her worth in her family’s eyes, she finds herself the target of the mysterious assassin Shinpei, and her plans are put in jeopardy. In order to save herself, she makes a desperate proposal—of marriage! When it comes to love, however, Shinpei takes “until death do we part” seriously.

Kai’s reason: I have been avidly reading Firefly Wedding for the last while, and I can look away even though I have a strong inkling of how this doomed romance will end. Satoko really grows throughout the volumes as she encounters dangerous situations after her kidnapping, and even if it doesn’t seem like it, Shinpei is a great match for her. As for Shinpei: he has done all the wrongs and he is still the littlest guy, a supreme meow-meow…he looks so cool when he’s cutting people down, and adorable as he tries to grasp normal human emotions, and it’s this wild pendulum between these two lovers that keeps me coming back. The art and panelling are gorgeous to look at, and I look forward to seeing if the spin-off/continuation series by the same artist will come out in English.

AJ’s Reason: Everybody loves a bad boy, especially an absolutely unhinged one in a supremely toxic situationship with a chronically ill queen.

Love in the Palm Of His Hand Volume 1

• Publisher: Square Enix Manga & Books
• Genres: Yaoi (Boy’s Love), Romance, Slice-of-Life
• Vibes: Adult romance, deaf lead, inclusive, theater kid, university students

Synopsis: “To think that just what I’ve always wanted to hear would come from someone I just met.” Fujinaga is a university student who dreams of becoming an actor so he can do what he loves best—conveying emotion and story through physical expression. But after failing multiple auditions, his hopes are dashed and his confidence crushed. When he meets Keito, a fellow student with congenital hearing loss, Fujinaga is suddenly introduced to the world of sign language. Although clumsy at first, Fujinaga quickly picks up signing and surprises Keito with his astonishing talent of expressing emotions through action. Is it that only in a place beyond all verbal limitations can two people, both yearning to be understood, forge a bond they never expected?

Katy’s reason: Sweet, compelling adult romance. A lot of care & consideration to be inclusive and considerate to the Deaf community. Creative lettering for the deaf lead. I highly recommend it if you’re a fan of A Sign of Affection.

Spacewalking with You Volume 1

• Publisher: Kodansha
• Genres: Slice-of-Life
• Vibes: high school, neurodivergence and autism representation, friendship
• Our Review: https://yattatachi.com/spacewalking-with-you-vol-1-manga-review

Synopsis: Kobayashi just can’t focus—not on studying, not on work—and the adults in his life think he’s in danger of becoming a worthless dropout. Then, one day, a strange new presence arrives in his class: an energetic and naive kid named Uno. Kobayashi saves Uno from getting scammed, and that close encounter launches a new friendship. Uno’s definitely a space cadet, but Kobayashi can’t help admiring the way he floats through life, and before he knows it, he might start feeling his feet lift off the ground, too…

Katy’s Reason: “Sometimes people just need a little something extra so they can live like everyone else.” to say that I ugly cried reading this would be an understatement. This beautiful series is one of the more accurate & well-handled depictions of folks on the neurodivergence and autism spectrum. Inuhiko Doronoda managed to capture a budding friendship between two students as they learn to accept themselves and to cherish their newfound friendship.

Kai’s Reason: I started reading this recently, and have been extremely touched by the insight into what it’s like to be neurodivergent and trying to get by. I just love that Kobayashi and Uno are learning from one another, and reading about how they become friends is a joy. While the friend group might put people off at first, they all slowly start changing for the better.

Tony’s Reason: This manga has one of the best first chapters I’ve read in quite some time. It’s a well-written, coming-of-age story about two high school boys who are total opposites, but find common ground due to both having difficulties finding their place in modern life. If you want a manga about the power of male friendship and two boys displaying their emotional vulnerabilities towards one another, Spacewalking with You is the manga for you.

Adam’s Reason: The first chapter stands well enough alone that I was initially worried what the rest of the series might add. But Doronoda keeps finding new ways to put us in Uno’s headspace via the power of manga, and later chapters introduce some intriguing new characters. I’m excited to see the artist continue to improve their craft.

Legend of Kamui

• Publisher: Drawn & Quarterly
• Author: Shirato Sanpei
• Vibes: Historical fiction, leftist political propaganda, ninja

Synopsis: “It’s the 17th century in Japan. Child outcast Kamui lives on the fringes of a miserably stratified society. Fueled by pure grit, rage, and a dash of cunning, his only way out is to take up the mantle of ninja. Follow scrappy peasants, cold-blooded ninja, and warriors both disgraced and exalted as they navigate the unforgiving hardships of a violent yet hopeful age. With its vivid and critical attention to social injustice and environmental issues against a backdrop of heart-pounding action and romance, this multilayered gekiga drama not only redefined ninja and samurai fantasy, it also offers astonishing parallels with the modern day.”

Adam’s Reason: I’ve been champing at the bit to read Legend of Kamui, so I was beyond excited when Drawn & Quarterly licensed the series. Every volume is a dense 500 page brick of tragedy, violence and Marxist rhetoric. Even so, it’s fascinating to see just how much Sanpei is able to fit into this series, from peasant revolts to long wordless sequences set in nature. When violence comes, it is shocking, brief and even anticlimactic. This is a series that hates samurai and wants you to know it.

Read Adam’s Full Review: https://yattatachi.com/the-legend-of-kamui-review

Miss Ruki

• Author: Fumiko Takano
• Vibes: Comic strip, slice of life, virtuosic cartooning
• Publisher: New York Review Books

Synopsis: “A classic of Japanese manga, Miss Ruki is a warm and vivid portrait of the lives of two young women in Tokyo during Japan’s 1980s bubble economy. The titular Miss Ruki spurns the fast-paced consumer culture of the era in favor of a lighthearted life dedicated to her hobbies, her books, and spending time with her anxious but far more pragmatic friend, Ecchan.”

Adam’s Reason: Takano is a good enough artist that she can make the reader laugh just by how she draws her heroine Miss Ruki struggle to reach a rice cooker instruction manual on the opposite side of her kitchen from her wired telephone. I can’t believe that it’s taken this long to see her work in English. There’s not much plot or character development, but I enjoyed the book’s gentle critique of the Japanese 1980s economic bubble, as well as Ruki and Ecchan’s friendship.

Read Adam’s Review: https://yattatachi.com/miss-ruki-manga-review

Land

• Author: Kazumi Yamashita
• Vibes: Dystopia, mystery/fantasy (or is it??)
• Publisher: Yen Press

Synopsis: “The younger sister ran through the fields, happy to live with the father who loved and adored her in the peaceful village under the watchful gaze of the four gods. Her elder twin ran through the mountains, swearing vengeance against the man who abandoned her to the very beasts she was hunting—her own father. When their paths finally cross, the terrible truth of their birth is revealed and An is left with a difficult decision: follow her twin to the mountains and beyond as she so desperately desires, or condemn her for trying to take her most precious person away…?!”

Adam’s Reason: I swear that this series was made for me: conspiracies, societies governed by arbitrary rules, terrifying god statues that may or may not be alive, larger-than-life characters fighting to survive, kids hitching rides on birds…plus an early reveal that will leave you questioning exactly what kind of book you are reading.. Land is a reminder that no, they really do still make them like they used to, you just have to know where to look. As for its artist Kazumi Yamashita, I will seek out her work regardless of subject or packaging. This is the good stuff.

Kodansha Young Magazine US

• Publisher: Kodansha
• Genre: Various
• Our Review: https://yattatachi.com/the-hits-and-misses-of-young-magazine-usa

Synopsis: Join Young Magazine in celebrating their 45th anniversary by reading the very first English edition of the magazine! This 1000+ page tome is chock-full of new manga written by emerging artists and famous artists alike, available now for free! Enjoy reading all new series, including Subaru and Subaru by Shuichi Shigeno. Cast your vote by November 10th, 2025 for which new series you like the most, and join in the rare chance to make manga history. The top 5 series with the most votes will be serialized in English too!

John’s Reason: It’s hard to say what the future of print magazines is in 2026 and beyond. Sure, it’s far cheaper to post articles online, and there’s an ease of access that can’t be met by the need to print and ship physical items. However, websites go down. Between the sale or shuttering of different publishers or a lack of continued support can mean losing an upload via hosting going down. The allure of print is in its stability. If you have the item and treat it well, you will have it for life, perhaps longer if you’re diligent. That was what made Kodansha’s choice to print a special edition of their manga magazine, Young Magazine, for US audiences in celebration of the book’s 45th anniversary so appealing. Kodansha stuffed the magazine with twenty unique chapters of manga, via both lesser known names and veterans like Initial D mangaka Shuichi Shigeno. Readers could vote for which story they wanted to see continued, which gave American readers unheard of power over a normally Japanese-focused market. The stories were of vastly varying quality and topic, but that’s what made it so exciting. Getting to experience so many different voices and being introduced to things you normally wouldn’t is what makes serialized print magazines so fun, and it’s a shame that this was both a one-off and was only available physically at Anime NYC and Kinokuniya stores for a limited time.

Tony’s Thoughts: I remember seeing Kodansha hand out copies at Anime NYC and got myself a copy there. This is a very assertive push for seinen manga to be more popular overseas. I really appreciate the variety of stories being told. From BL to fantasy action to horror to drama, there’s something for everyone who wants to read beyond mainstream titles. It’s also nice to see fans being able to vote for which titles to be serialized and every title that made it through the process deserves recognition. Originally, 5 titles were supposed to be chosen, but the community response was so strong that an additional 4 titles made it through. I think this is the start of something bigger for Kodansha, so I’m excited to see what’s next.

The Ayakashi Hunter’s Tainted Bride

• Story: Midori Yuma
• Art: Mamenosuke Fujimaru
• Vibes: Supernatural gothic horror with a side order of Taisho era romance
• Publisher: Kodansha

Synopsis: Nanao has the most spiritual power that the Byakurenji clan has ever known, and is due to become the wife of the next clan head. But after being attacked by an orangutan ayakashi all that changes. Now seen as tainted, she is shunned from the family and forced to wear a mask. Years later, she meets the beautiful and dangerous head of the Benitsubaki clan. Captain Yako promises her an escape from the hell she lives in, and whisks her away to be his bride. But Yako has his own secret; the firstborn men of the Benitsubaki Clan are cursed. They must feed on the blood of a woman with high spiritual power. And as far as Yako is concerned, nobody has ever tasted better than Nanao.

AJ’s thoughts: This manga has everything you could ever want from a Shojo. There’s heart-pounding historical romance, sexy vampires who cannot live without your blood, awesome yokai designs from across the fantasy spectrum, amazing artwork that goes from classic shojo bubbles to true gothic horror at a flip of a page. There’s also a guinea pig Yokai named Hifumi who can always find you when you’re feeling sad and need a cuddle. Fans of Fruits Basket and My Happy Marriage are sure to love it as much as I do!

Snegurochka of the Spring Breeze

• Story and Art: Hiroka Samura
• Vibes: 20th-century historical drama with great disabled representation
• Publisher: Kodansha

Synopsis: The year is 1933; fifteen years after the deaths of the Romanovs and six years before World War Two. Bielka and Shchenok are two young people, forced to grow up in interesting times. To the outside world, they look like a formerly-rich, disabled woman and her servant out to explore what this brave new world has to offer. But there’s far more than meets the eye here. The duo are chasing the truth of their past, whilst at the same time they try to outrun it. This game of cat and mouse is sure to end in disaster. But just how large of a disaster will it be?

AJ’s Thoughts: Whilst this is far from historically accurate, that’s par for the course for fiction set in post-revolutionary Russia. I can tell that Samura has at least done his research in deciding what to include and what to leave out, creating a fun mystery that neither romanticises the era nor completely condemns it. It’s also rare to have two disabled protagonists in a manga. Bielka and Shchenok’s complex relationship dynamic is incredibly enticing. I also really liked Bielka’s wheelchair design, and the careful thought that went into it. The design is a vital part of her characterisation and her story, and not just an after thought drawn as a carbon copy of a cheap hospital wheelchair.

10 Things I Want To Do Before I Turn 40

• Story and Art: Mamita
• Vibes: Workplace, age gap, BL, RomCom, adult romance
• Publisher: Seven Seas Entertainment

Synopsis: Tōjo Suzume has spent the last ten years chronically single, and instead put all his focus on office work, and collecting his favourite sparrow plushies. But now he’s only three months away from his fortieth birthday, he’s decided that it’s time to make some changes in his life! So he makes a list of attainable goals of ten things to do before he turns forty. What he doesn’t expect to happen though, is his junior at work to find the list and immediately offer to help complete it! And he really doesn’t expect Tanaka to be most keen to tick off the last item on the list … “Spend my birthday with a lover”.

AJ’s Thoughts: Mamita was my standout creator from last year. All her BL is a delight to read, with wonderful artwork throughout. 10 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 40 stood out to me. For one, it’s not the usual quest to lose your virginity. Tōjō simply realises that there are lots of small things he can do to make his life happier if he’s only proactive about it. Starting with buying a new luxury pillow, eating a parfait at a fancy café, and spending his birthday with a lover. It’s also the first BL I’ve read to feature Erectile Dysfunction! So if my Tumblr is anything to go by, it’s sure to be a hit with The Terror fujoshis.

Tamaki & Amane

• Story & Art: Fumi Yoshinaga
• Vibes: Collection of one-shot stories about all kinds of love, plot twist, slow build, one-shot
• Publisher: Yen Press

Synopsis: Family, romance, friendship—love takes many shapes. Modern Day Tamaki is shocked to see her only daughter kissing a female classmate. But as it turns out, her husband, Amane, once had a crush on a boy in middle school… Meiji Period Tamaki and Amane, two students at an all-girls school, become close friends. But when Amane gets engaged, the pair are separated… 1970s Tamaki’s illness has left her without much longer to live. As she tries to make the most of the days she has left, she meets a little boy who seems to be having a rough time, too… Postwar Era Amane, a discharged soldier, reunites with Tamaki, his former squad leader, and joins in on his black market operations. However, Tamaki has a secret… Edo Period Tamaki has slain his childhood friend Amane’s husband. When she seeks him out again to take her revenge, the wheel of fate begins to turn in a new direction…

Katy’s thoughts: Fumi Yoshinaga has written a beautiful masterpiece of star-crossed lovers and their stories. Each tale, while short, manages to pull you in and sweep you away until you find yourself cheering and crying with the characters as you watch their stories unfold.

Tony’s Thoughts: I decided to pick this manga up after seeing it being nominated for the Best New Manga Award at the 2025 American Manga Awards. Boy, was I not disappointed. What I really appreciate is that Yoshinaga goes beyond telling romantic stories as there are stories about familial love and friendship love. It’s also nice to see stories told from multiple periods of time as early as the Edo Period to the 1970s’. Times may change, but what doesn’t change is the human need for love and connection. Tamaki & Amane is a timely 1-volume collection with universal themes that will touch readers’ hearts.

Adam’s Thoughts: Reading Fumi Yoshinaga is sometimes more like watching a television drama than reading a manga, but it’s hard to care when her scriptwriting is so good. The final reveal brings it all together with a twist of the knife.

Read Adam’s Review: https://yattatachi.com/tamaki-and-amane-manga-review

Cosmos

• Story & Art: Ryuhei Tamura
• Vibes: Alien, insurance agent, action, comedy
• Publisher: Viz Media

Synopsis: Kaede’s search for a missing classmate leads to the shocking discovery that his friend is actually an alien in a human flesh suit. Grateful for Kaede’s help with her case, cute and ruthless insurance investigator Rin headhunts him. Kaede’s job interview leads to an epic battle on a commuter train, alien treachery, and a hidden spaceship. But before he can decide whether to accept the position or not, Kaede discovers another alien hidden in plain sight—one with a tragic story to share.

Tony’s Thoughts: This is a very underrated action title. I’m impressed by the idea of an insurance investigation agency that handles cases involving extraterrestrial aliens. I also got somewhat of a BLEACH vibe as Cosmos is about a boy with unique abilities meeting a super-powerful girl and his life changing forever as a result. There’s one mini-arc in the end of the first volume that made me sad in a good way and highlights the complexity of human/alien relationships in its universe. It left me wanting more. Cosmos is highly recommended by some notable shonen mangaka (including Tite Kubo, Rumiko Takahashi, and Hiromu Arakawa) and I will agree with them that the manga is a must-read.

RuriDragon

• Story & Art: Masaoki Shindo
• Vibes: Slice-of-life about a modern-day high school dragon girl
• Publisher: Viz Media

Synopsis: Well, a half dragon. Her mom admits Ruri inherited her draconic traits from her father, who, yes, is actually a dragon. As if dealing with curious classmates wasn’t already challenging enough, Ruri and her dragon genes literally turn up the heat in the middle of a lecture. Her ordinary life is about to be anything but!

Tony’s Thoughts: This is a very good manga for those who are looking for Shonen Jump titles that aren’t action-oriented. RuriDragon takes fantasy elements that normally suit a battle manga plot (i.e. a girl who realizes that she’s a half-dragon/half-human hybrid and has to learn how to control her powers) and puts them in a wholesome plot about living your life the best you can with peers who support you. What I really appreciate about this manga is that the supporting cast is actually very supporting. RuriDragon is about preaching unconditional love and kindness. It’s something I don’t see in a whole lot of manga. I hope Kyoto Animation’s upcoming anime adaptation brings more eyes to this series.

Featured Sponsor - JAST

The sweetest romance and the darkest corruption, the biggest titles and the indie darlings; for visual novels and eroge, there's nowhere better.

Visit JAST's Website