The top 2021 best manga list from Kono Manga Ga Sugoi (This Manga is Amazing) has been published, with both unsurprising and unexpected results.
If you've never heard of Kono Manga Ga Sugoi, it's a guidebook released each year by publishing company Takarajimasha. The book ranks manga by category. As pointed out by ANN, the 2022 edition was just released, detailing the best manga of 2021.
A similar ranking also exists for Light Novels, titled Kono Light Novel Ga Sugoi. These books are among the most popular rankings in Japan and are regularly referenced in pop culture. If you're a Genshin Impact lore player, for example, you might have noticed these rankings are referenced in Inazuma's lore. With the Yae Publishing competition "This Novel is Amazing".
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Kono Manga Ga Sugoi! 2022 book ranking 2021 series:
Top 20 best manga of 2021 for male readers
- 1.Look Back by Tatsuki Fujimoto
- 2.Chi: Chikyuu no Undou ni Tsuite by Uoto
- 3.Kaiju No. 8 by Naoya Matsumoto
- 4.Dandadan by Yukinobu Tatsu
- 5.Tokyo Higoro by Taiyou Matsumoto
- 6.Sousou no Frieren (Frieren: Beyond Journey's End) written by Kanehito Yamada and drawn by Tsukasa Abe
- 7.Oshi no Ko written by Aka Akasaka and drawn by Mengo Yokoyari
- 8.Trillion Game written by Riichiro Inagaki and drawn by Ryoichi Ikegami
- 9.Peleliu: Rakuen no Guernica (Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise) written by Kazuyuki Takeda and Masao Hiratsuka
- 10.Darwin Jihen by Shun Umezawa
- 11.Hyperinflation by Kyuu Sumiyoshi
- 12.Tokyo Revengers by Ken Wakui
- 13.Nara e by Kai Ohyama
- 14.Unreavealed manga as par the author's request
- 15.Sayonara Candle by Tooru Seino
- 16.Korogaru Kyoudai by Tsubumi Mori
- 17.Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama
- 18.Ashita, Watashi wa Dareka no Kanojo by Hinao Wono
- 19.Blue Period by Tsubasa Yamaguchi
- 20.Tsugumi Project by ippatu
Top 20 best manga of 2021 for female readers
- 1.Umi ga Hashiru End Roll by John Tarachine
- 2.Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna by Sakaomi Yuzaki
- 3.Oooku (Ōoku: The Inner Chambers) by Fumi Yoshinaga
- 4.Uruwashi no Yoi no Tsuki (In the Clear Moonlit Dusk) by Mika Yamamori
- 5.Onna no Sono no Hoshi by Yama Wayama
- 6.Blank Space by Kon Kumakura
- 7.Kageki Shoujo!! by Kumiko Saiki
- 8.Shiawase wa Tabete Nete Mate by Tori Mizunagi
- 9.Branch Line by Aoi Ikebe
- 10.Mystery to Iunakare by Yumi Tamura
- 11.Yuria-sensei no Akai Ito by Kiwa Irie
- 12.Watashi no Genre ni "Kami" ga Imasu by Tsuzuru Sanada
- 13.Jitenshaya-san no Takahashi-kun by Arare Matsumushi
- 14.Sanbyoushi no Musume by Melome Machida
- 15.Majo o Mamoru. by Ebishi Maki
- 16.Sexy Tanaka-san by Hinako Ashihara
- 17.Ibitte Konai Gibo to Gishi by Otsuji
- 18.Yubisaki to Renren (A Sign of Affection) by Suu Morishita
- 19.Heartstopper by Alice Oseman, translated in Japanese by Makino Kotoko
- 20.Muteki no Mirai Daisakusen by Fuyuko Kurosaki
Best manga of 2021 in Japan - Analysis
Titles in bold are manga licensed in the US. And as you can see, the vast majority of titles aren't released in America yet. This is mainly because they were started in 2020 or 2021.
However, this also reveals it's mainly the same genres (shounen) and mainstream themes getting licensed in USA. Series like Ashita, Watashi wa Dareka no Kanojo, publishing since 2019, still aren't localized. I'd also add things are more varied in France. Most of these titles aren't released yet, but several were licensed and coming soon. Oshi no Ko volumes 1&2 are being released on January 13, 2022, in France.
What do you guys think of the list? Is there some manga you're reading in there? Tell us in the comments.