A good story can only become a masterpiece when it makes you feel some kind of strong emotion. Excitement, passion, fear, all of those feelings are easy to get. Real talent is when you manage to touch someone so deep, to the point where they might shed a tear.
This is not actually a surprise, but mangas are specialists in this domain, they know exactly how to hit you where it hurts, crying guaranteed.
Table of Contents
The quantity of touching and dramatic Japanese comics are uncountable, so here is a recommendation list with the best of the best manga that will certainly make you bawl your eyes out. So, prepare the tissues, and let’s get right into it.
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Table of Content
Sad Manga That Makes You Cry (Recommendations)
21. Sekine's Love
| Impact | Character Writing | Plot | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10/20 |
5/10 |
5/10 |
5/10 |
25/50 |
As the title of this manga suggests, the story will be following the life of Sekine. Sekine is an elite amongst the elites. Blessed as well as cursed by his qualities, he has been living a life that is completely blurred.
See, the guy is very stoic, but at the same time—submissive, and has the ability to adapt to many different types of work. However, even though he can do them right, he is unable to perfectly master any.
Without any specialty of his own, the title of Elite was waiting down on him instead of lifting him up.
20. Hanshin: Half-God
| Impact | Character Writing | Plot | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11/20 |
5/10 |
5/10 |
5/10 |
26/50 |
Yudy and Yucy are conjoined twins. The older one, Yudy, is a very bright individual however, she is unbelievably ugly. Her condition is due to the fact that her sister takes all the necessary nutrients for herself making her a rare beauty, a stupid beauty but a beauty nonetheless.
Yudy has lived all her life wanting to get rid of the parasite attached to her and when the opportunity arose she took it. The consequence was, however, terrible. Yucy didn’t survive the operation.
After her death, Yudy acquired all the things she envied from Yucy. She became more mesmerizing than a goddess and her life finally turned into a mundane one.
She thought she could be happy, yet it was not the case. Moving forward alone was more of a punishment than a blessing.
She cursed herself for the decision she took. She became disgusted by her looks and was left with a void in her heart, a void that will never be whole again.
19. Solanin
| Impact | Character Writing | Plot | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11/20 |
6/10 |
6/10 |
5/10 |
28/50 |
Meiko Inoue is 23 now, she just graduated college and all the dreams and aspirations she had at the time have already long disappeared.
Along with her boyfriend, Naruo Taneda, she lives a boring, aimless life with nothing to look forward to. That was true until she one day woke up and faced her sadness in the eyes.
It was time for a change. She quit her job, got a clean slate, and started anew. Surprisingly, Taneda followed in her footsteps, and hand in hand they decided to bring back their old band together.
Their old college dreams were resurfacing. The joy of playing music with dear friends was incomparable, for the first time in what felt like forever, real, genuine smiles appeared on their faces.
But was that temporary happiness worth the disaster that is soon to follow?
18. The Sickness Unto Death
| Impact | Character Writing | Plot | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11/20 |
6/10 |
6/10 |
6/10 |
29/50 |
Futaba Kazuma is studying to become a clinical psychologist. A harsh job that requires the doctor to invade the psyche of his patients and feel all their sadness and fears in order to help them.
Kazuma’s job took him to a very weird mansion, well, creepy would be more accurate. That mansion is inhabited by a peculiar young woman called Emiru.
Emiru is suffering from an incurable disease that will soon rob her of her life. That terrible disease is despair.
Her hair turned white, she was as cold as a vampire to the touch, her blood pressure was irregular and yet, no psychologist ever managed to determine the cause of her suffering.
Now, it’s Kazuma’s turn to give it a shot. With a very limited amount of time on his hands will he be able to cure the depressed Emiru before it’s too late?
17. Bitter Virgin
| Impact | Character Writing | Plot | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12/20 |
6/10 |
6/10 |
6/10 |
30/50 |
Daisuke Suwa is an extremely handsome playboy living alone with his single mother. At school, he is a famous girl magnet that goes after anything with long hair and a slim waist.
Well, there is one expectation. Hinako Aikawa can be considered one of the most beautiful girls in his class, yet he never made a move on her, he even kind of despised her, calling her a “sweet virgin.”
One day, two of his conquests were arguing over him. To escape the headache, he fled and took refuge in a church, in the confessional to be exact.
A few seconds later, Hinako arrives and mistook his voice for the priests. She asks him to listen to her confession and the despicable human that he accepts.
She revealed that her step-father took advantage of her. As a consequence, she became pregnant, gave birth, and was forced to abandon her little boy. It broke her heart and it is still in a million pieces until now.
After hearing her story, Suwa immediately regretted his action. Confessions are private for a reason. However, he is now deeply sympathizing with the young girl and was determined to make things right.
He got closer to her, and whenever he would spend time with Hinako, he revealed that his heart would sometimes skip a beat or two.
16. Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit
| Impact | Character Writing | Plot | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12/20 |
6/10 |
6/10 |
6/10 |
30/50 |
In the universe of this Japanese Comic, the government wanted to spread the importance of life. To do so, they came up with The National Welfare Act.
That Act declared that people between the ages of 18 and 24 years old will be randomly chosen to give up their lives for their country.
The unlucky ones get a notification called “Ikigami” and 24 hours later a nanocapsule will rob them of their existence.
Unfair cruelty or a necessary evil, it is really impossible to determine what that Act actually is. Kengo Fujimoto who just became an Ikigami messenger is facing the same dilemma.
Unable to come to terms with his emotions, he decided to carry out his job and see what is the conclusion he can come up with after witnessing first-hand the fear and despair that that notification brings.
If you knew that you still have a day to live, how would you spend it? Spreading one last act of kindness or settling your grudges before it’s too late?
15. Half and Half
| Impact | Character Writing | Plot | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
13/20 |
7/10 |
7/10 |
6/10 |
33/50 |
When Hina-chan was young, she was constantly bullied by her classmates. Labelling her as the ugliest girl of the school, Hina-chan only managed to get through this tough time because Itsuki was by her side.
He always gave her words of encouragement and it always picked her up. He even became her first boyfriend and her first love. She couldn’t have been happier. However, every good thing has an end and Itsuki had to move for family reasons.
Now, Hina-chan is not ugly anymore, she also got herself a new very handsome boyfriend but she never forgot Itsuki. She even stayed in contact with his grandma in order to have some kind of connection with him.
One day, she was very nostalgic and missed Itsuki a lot. She went to visit his grandma so she could talk with her about it. When she was there, a very tall and beautiful woman came through the door. Wait! That’s not a woman, that’s Itsuki!
Itsuki was finally back but he had rediscovered himself and the thing is he was not a “he” anymore. But Hina really didn’t care and fell in love with him all over again. Thing is, he became a woman from the outside as well as the inside and only has eyes for men.
Guess Hina will be left with a broken heart once again.
14. Datte, Kimi wa Warau kara
| Impact | Character Writing | Plot | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
13/20 |
7/10 |
7/10 |
7/10 |
34/50 |
Yui is suffering from an incurable illness. She has approximately three months left to live and is determined to make them memorable ones.
First, she transfers into a new school where she meets Ryo. Ryo knows all about her condition and he knows that there is a wish that Yui wants to be granted, however, she is refusing to tell him what it is.
As stubborn as he is, he got it out of her. The wish turned into an eternal promise, a promise that will eventually become a perpetual curse after the death of Yui.
13. Our Happy Time
| Impact | Character Writing | Plot | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
14/20 |
7/10 |
7/10 |
7/10 |
35/50 |
Eternal slumber can sometimes become a gift, a way to escape your perpetual sadness, your unbearable emotions.
Juri Mutou was the daughter of a famous pianist who abandoned her promising career because of her. Not only is she suffocating from the guilt, but she also had to go through a traumatic experience that pushed her to despise her mother and attempt to take her own life three times.
It was her aunt, Monica, who extended a helping hand by asking her to go visit an inmate on death row. That inmate was named Yuu.
Yuu was incarcerated for killing three people. Disgusted by himself, he already attempted suicide multiple times before his time on the chair arrives.
However, the day those two individuals met was the day their lives transformed forever.
12. Your Lie In April
| Impact | Character Writing | Plot | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15/20 |
7/10 |
7/10 |
7/10 |
36/50 |
Kousei is a genius pianist with a promising career ahead of him. He is young and yet he already has admirers and devoted fans.
He was happy until his mother suddenly passed away—leaving him with a trauma that made him despise his faithful partner.
2 years passed and sadness turned into despair, despair became depression. The one who freed him from his dark cage was Kaori.
Kaori was a violinist detached from all the rules and techniques. She played according to her heart’s desire. Upon hearing her play, Kousei’s eyes lit up for the first time in forever and she promised herself to get him back up on his feet.
She succeeded, the world got to hear Kousei play once again and Kousei managed to smile again. However, that smile didn’t last long as he was about to lose his light for the second time.
11. Story That A Girl Dies
| Impact | Character Writing | Plot | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15/20 |
8/10 |
7/10 |
7/10 |
37/50 |
The stunning Seto Haruka just became a high school student when she received unfortunate news. She just had a new beginning when she learned that she only had 6 months left on this Earth.
She had always kept her distance from others, but now she decided to change, to make the best of her last days. This is how she met the tomboy, Mochizuki Chiho.
Chiho also desired a fresh start, she wanted to change her ways, to become a Lady. Who better than Haruka to help her on that endeavor.
The two opposite young girls became inseparable. Each took the best qualities from the other and at some point, they weren’t just friends, they became family.
They both knew how much they cared for each other. Haruka couldn’t help but feel unbearable guilt knowing that she will soon leave Chiho to deal with her death alone.
In the end, it’s the people we leave behind who have to endure the pain, the grief, and the sorrow.
10. A Silent Voice
| Impact | Character Writing | Plot | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
16/20 |
8/10 |
7/10 |
7/10 |
38/50 |
What goes around comes around. Shouya Ishida was a disgusting bully. For no specific reason, he always picked on the deaf girl of the class, Shouko Nishimiya. Pushing her to the brink of depression, the girl finally gave in and changed school.
After her departure, the entire class, who at first didn’t mind Shouya’s attitude, turned on him and he became Shouko’s substitute as the punching bag of the school. His strong and dignified self transformed into a reclusive loner.
Now, let’s travel 5 years into the future. Both protagonists are now high school students and meet once more. Shouya, still traumatized by his past gathered all his courage to make amends to the girl he ruined.
9. Bokurano
| Impact | Character Writing | Plot | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
17/20 |
8/10 |
7/10 |
7/10 |
39/50 |
A group of 15 friends went together to a summer camp by the beach. There they came across a mysterious cave and ventured into it.
Inside, they found a man surrounded by computers. The man afforded the children to play a game. The game is easy, they will be the pilots of gigantic robots and their mission is to save the Earth.
Sounds fun! The children were on board and sealed a contract by touching an object that resembled a shield. When they did, their psyche was transported into the game and the adventure began.
Little did they know that if they die in the game, they will die in real life as well.
8. Banana Fish
| Impact | Character Writing | Plot | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
17/20 |
8/10 |
8/10 |
7/10 |
40/50 |
Ash Lynx is of a rare beauty. Extremely handsome, he is also super smart, and can even be considered a genius. There is just one little problem with him, he’s a ruthless killer.
He was turned into a murderer by a renowned mafia boss called, Dino “Papa” Golzine. In the beginning, Dino kept him by his side only as a “companion”. However, the second he left his guard down, the 17 years old brat became the boss of his own personal gang.
Eiji Okumura, a reporter doing an article on kids left on the street came across Ash. He was mesmerized by the boy and Ash was curious about his lifestyle that was so opposite to his.
Right after their meeting, a series of gruesome murders started popping out with one word liking them together “Banana Fish“.
Ash, who had personal stakes in this mystery, was forced into battle and drew Eiji in it with him. Together, they are looking for the culprit hoping they can find him before the whole town is thrown into chaos.
7. To Your Eternity
| Impact | Character Writing | Plot | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
18/20 |
8/10 |
8/10 |
8/10 |
42/50 |
If you know the manga Mushishi, this Japanese Comic may feel a bit familiar. An unknown being was sent to Earth. That “Thing” has no emotion, no will, and no identity of its own. However, it can take the shape of any object alive or dead.
It first took on the appearance of a rock, then it became an injured wolf, this is when he acquired consciousness. As a wolf, he came back to his owner and met his first human.
The young boy was the only one left in his village. He lived in a ghost town where it snowed all year long. Unable to bear the solitude anymore, he started searching for the legendary Rakuen that exists beyond the sea.
Unfortunately, he injured himself along the way. The injury got infected and he slowly awaited his death. The boy died alone and terrified. The wolf took on his appearance and experienced his first emotion: Grief.
With nothing left for him in this village, the “Thing” left and started searching for new experiences, new emotions, new places, and new people.
6. Dawn of the Arcana
| Impact | Character Writing | Plot | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
18/20 |
9/10 |
9/10 |
9/10 |
44/50 |
Nakaba is the princess of her country. She was offered as a peace offering to the enemy prince in order to keep a good relationship between the two neighbors. Without even consulting her, she was forced into an arranged marriage and ultimately became the enemy’s mere possession.
At the prince’s palace, she was treated like trash. Discriminated against because of her red hair and for the fact that she is half-human half-animal, her life looked a lot like hell.
The tables turned when she got wind of a piece of information that is related to the prince’s fate. Two choices are now in front of her. Save the prince from certain death or get her revenge for all the hardships he put her through.
5. My Girl
| Impact | Character Writing | Plot | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
19/20 |
9/10 |
9/10 |
9/10 |
46/50 |
Masamune Kazama is 23 years old, single, and a completely normal office worker. An office worker that still hasn’t moved on from a relationship that already ended 5 years ago.
Out of nowhere, he learned that the love of his life is no longer among the living and she left behind a daughter.
Overwhelmed with grief, he decides to adopt the girl and raise her as his own. He is now a single father with no clue on how to fulfill that crucial job.
4. Into the Forest of Fireflies Light
| Impact | Character Writing | Plot | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
20/20 |
9/10 |
9/10 |
9/10 |
47/50 |
Hotaru Takegawa is only six, yet she wandered alone in the ancient forest to visit her grandpa. As expected, she got lost. The night was falling and she was terrified, so when a spirit of the forest appeared before her, her heart immediately lit up.
Out of habit, she immediately tried to make physical contact with the spirit named Gin only to learn the hard way that if she does, he will immediately disappear.
Despite the risk, the spirit leads her home. However, Hotaru still wanted to express her gratitude and told him she’d be back with a gift. Her offer was coldly rejected as Gin asked her to never set foot in his forest again.
Well, the thing is, the girl is quite stubborn and made it a tradition to come to visit Gin every chance she got the chance. The spirit and the human became friends and Hotaru turned into a woman.
When feelings and emotions deeper than friendship started developing in Gin’s heart, only sadness invaded his soul as love between him and Hotaru couldn’t even be dreamed of.
3. Voices of a Distant Star
| Impact | Character Writing | Plot | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
20/20 |
9/10 |
10/10 |
9/10 |
48/50 |
They say that love has no age, but is that in fact the truth? In a world torn by war between humans and aliens, a young girl named Mikako joins the resistance. She was sent into space, to a place where time is distorted.
She left behind the love of her life and their only way of communication was via text messages. Their distant relationship lasted for years. While Mikako stayed as she was, young and beautiful, living in a timeless environment, her lover was growing older by the second.
When she gets back…if she ever gets back, will her love—her feelings for him, survive?
2. Fujimi Lovers
| Impact | Character Writing | Plot | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
20/20 |
10/10 |
10/10 |
9/10 |
49/50 |
Kouno Jun is the kind of person that embraces life to the fullest and never leaves a place for regret, so when he fell in love in kindergarten, he immediately confessed.
Now all of you would’ve thought that he was rejected, but it’s the exact opposite, Hasebe Rino accepted his feeling with a smile on her face only to vanish the second after.
Kouno, completely confused, started asking his classmates about her, however, no one seems to remember her.
Now, Kouno is in high school and he’s not really having the time of his life. The table turned when Hasebe made her return as a transfer student, however, she’s no longer the girl he once knew.
1. Oyasumi Punpun
| Impact | Character Writing | Plot | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
20/20 |
10/10 |
10/10 |
10/10 |
50/50 |
Becoming an adult is no walk in the park and the optimist and passionate Punpun Onodera have to learn this the hard way.
First, he learned how difficult it is to maintain a serious relationship with the girl you cherish. Then he realized how difficult it is to transition from a naïve ignorant boy into a full-fledged adult.
Finally, the most difficult lesson he had to take in was the fact that the people you once looked up to can sometimes greatly disappoint you. This hit him hard when his father began to abuse his mother.
Time passed and the harsh lessons kept increasing. So, instead of constantly getting hurt, distancing himself from society seemed like the logical solution. However, putting a bandaid on a bullet wound is only making things worse for Punpun.
Did you cry a lot?
Crying cleanses the soul, it’s the perfect way to lash out and let go and I hope that this recommendation list did the trick for you.
As you might have realized, we distance ourselves from the cliché love stories to focus on real traumatic issues, issues that we might have gone through. The fear of death, bullying, heartbreaks, long-distance relationships, and grief, through those hard times some had people around to lean on while others were left completely alone.
By following the stories of characters that managed to move one, you might get a hint on how to get up on your two feet again. Or you can just enjoy the read for the kick of it, no need to have a specific reason to enjoy drama, right?
