The world of manga is constantly evolving, captivating readers with its diverse storytelling and engaging characters. In this blog post, we will delve into the exciting realm of Japanese pop culture and explore the best-selling manga of 2023 (so far). Thanks to Oricon we can see which manga have accumulated the most sales in the first half of this year (November 21st to May 21st). Let's take a closer look at the top titles that have captured the hearts of readers in Japan.
1. Blue Lock: ~8 Million Copies Sold
After an anime debut in October 2022 that coincided with the World Cup, Blue Lock has exploded onto the scene. In my opinion, this can go down as one of the greatest sports manga series of all time. We're slated to get a second season and a blue lock movie so one can only imagine the numbers growing for this highly touted sports series.
2. Chainsaw Man: ~4.5 Million Copies Sold
Once again the "new anime effect" helps bolster a manga to sell... and sell a ton. The anime came out in October 2022 which yet again, will boost sales for the manga. Although the anime doesn't have the best reputation with manga readers, it's no secret that Chainsaw Man has been a very popular manga series, after all it's nearly leading all manga on the Manga+ app as #1 every week.
3. Slam Dunk: ~4.19 Million Copies Sold
A huge surprise here! This series came out in the 90's and hasn't been anywhere near a top 10 in the past few years. Of course we just got a movie for it, which by the way, hasn't even released in the US or Canada yet. That movie has exploded as a top 10 grossing anime film of all time which in turn has Slam Dunk sitting at the #3 ranking. One could say this series has rebounded really well thanks to the movie...
4. Jujutsu Kaisen: ~3.75 Million Copies Sold
2022's #1 in the ranking is starting this year off as #4. Still amazing numbers but that's just where we're at with this one. The anime is coming back with a second series in July this year, and it's going to be a consecutive 2-cour!! So yeah, this one could definitely rise by the end of the year.
5. One Piece: ~ 3.5 Million Copies Sold
No shocker seeing this series here. Fans like our diehard d-riding host of Anime+, Aunn, will always run to grab new copies of One Piece. There's really not much to say here other than this was expected to be in the top 10, especially with what Oda has been cooking.
6. Spy x Family: ~2.68 Million Copies Sold
One of the anime of the year candidates, and in my opinion this should definitely be the winner. I'm actually surprised this one is lower on the list, however we're getting a season 2 this year and a movie. So it won't be surprising if this one sells more in the second half of the year than the first.
7. Tokyo Revengers: ~2.62 Million Copies Sold
This series wrapped up last year, so to see it still sitting in the top 10 is a good sign. Although the ending had a ton of mixed reviews, it's selling. This one might not be in the top 10 by the end of the year, just my prediction, but it's doing it's thing.
8. My Hero Academia: ~1.87 Million Copies Sold
This one was a lot higher last year but it's dropped since then, no fault to the series. Kohei Horikoshi, the mangaka of MHA, has been through a lot this year in terms of physical health. Long story short, less chapters = less volumes = less copies in circulation = less sales. According to one of our own, Ysa, and many MHA fans out there, the manga is getting really good. Prayers out to Kohei and we'll see where this one is at later in the year.
9. Oshi No Ko: ~ 1.69 Million Copies Sold
Told y'all the anime effect is real. This series recently got an anime adaptation this year and is currently still airing. The first episode made headlines as it surpassed Full Metal Alchemist on the ranks of MAL as the highest rated episode ever. So when you factor in those points, it's not shocking to see it debut in the top 10.
10. Kingdom: ~1.56 Million Copies Sold
This is a great story, not just the manga. Although Kingdom has an anime adaptation it's not highly rated nor is it popular. To see it sell in the top 10 last year and this year speaks volumes (I need to stop with the puns) on how good the story is.
The manga industry continues to thrive, captivating readers with its rich storytelling and unforgettable characters. In the first half of 2023, a sports manga has claimed the top-selling spot... who would've seen that coming? These top selling manga serve as a testament to the enduring popularity of manga, and the ongoing creativity of talented authors and artists within the industry. As the year progresses, we eagerly anticipate more captivating stories and unforgettable adventures to come from the world of Japanese pop culture.
-Aray
Blue lock on top 🔝