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".

  • MORE - Did Angel Beats get a new sequel?

Kono Manga Ga Sugoi! 2022 book ranking 2021 series:

Top 20 best manga of 2021 for male readers

  1. 1.Look Back by Tatsuki Fujimoto
  2. 2.Chi: Chikyuu no Undou ni Tsuite by Uoto
  3. 3.Kaiju No. 8 by Naoya Matsumoto
  4. 4.Dandadan by Yukinobu Tatsu
  5. 5.Tokyo Higoro by Taiyou Matsumoto
  6. 6.Sousou no Frieren (Frieren: Beyond Journey's End) written by Kanehito Yamada and drawn by Tsukasa Abe
  7. 7.Oshi no Ko written by Aka Akasaka and drawn by Mengo Yokoyari
  8. 8.Trillion Game written by Riichiro Inagaki and drawn by Ryoichi Ikegami
  9. 9.Peleliu: Rakuen no Guernica (Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise) written by Kazuyuki Takeda and Masao Hiratsuka
  10. 10.Darwin Jihen by Shun Umezawa
  11. 11.Hyperinflation by Kyuu Sumiyoshi
  12. 12.Tokyo Revengers by Ken Wakui
  13. 13.Nara e by Kai Ohyama
  14. 14.Unreavealed manga as par the author's request
  15. 15.Sayonara Candle by Tooru Seino
  16. 16.Korogaru Kyoudai by Tsubumi Mori
  17. 17.Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama
  18. 18.Ashita, Watashi wa Dareka no Kanojo by Hinao Wono
  19. 19.Blue Period by Tsubasa Yamaguchi
  20. 20.Tsugumi Project by ippatu

Top 20 best manga of 2021 for female readers

  1. 1.Umi ga Hashiru End Roll by John Tarachine
  2. 2.Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna by Sakaomi Yuzaki
  3. 3.Oooku (Ōoku: The Inner Chambers) by Fumi Yoshinaga
  4. 4.Uruwashi no Yoi no Tsuki (In the Clear Moonlit Dusk) by Mika Yamamori
  5. 5.Onna no Sono no Hoshi by Yama Wayama
  6. 6.Blank Space by Kon Kumakura
  7. 7.Kageki Shoujo!! by Kumiko Saiki
  8. 8.Shiawase wa Tabete Nete Mate by Tori Mizunagi
  9. 9.Branch Line by Aoi Ikebe
  10. 10.Mystery to Iunakare by Yumi Tamura
  11. 11.Yuria-sensei no Akai Ito by Kiwa Irie
  12. 12.Watashi no Genre ni "Kami" ga Imasu by Tsuzuru Sanada
  13. 13.Jitenshaya-san no Takahashi-kun by Arare Matsumushi
  14. 14.Sanbyoushi no Musume by Melome Machida
  15. 15.Majo o Mamoru. by Ebishi Maki
  16. 16.Sexy Tanaka-san by Hinako Ashihara
  17. 17.Ibitte Konai Gibo to Gishi by Otsuji
  18. 18.Yubisaki to Renren (A Sign of Affection) by Suu Morishita
  19. 19.Heartstopper by Alice Oseman, translated in Japanese by Makino Kotoko
  20. 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.