Updated August 14, 2022 by Ernie
Are you interested in learning Japanese in the most enjoyable way—by reading manga? Here are 22 Manga with Furigana, which not only indulge you in exciting stories but you’ll also run through the pages with knowledge or two.
Table of Contents
Tutorials and courses are the prominent methods of learning Japanese for non-native speakers/readers, but it’s a given that it’s better to expand our knowledge with something that has a tighter grip on our attention.
This list is for those Animanga fans that are willing to read Japanese without the inconvenience of constantly looking up kanji on the internet or dictionary. Learning through manga does not immediately make you fluent in the language but it is the best stepping stone for beginners if I should say so myself.
We’re about to start the list so pay close attention, it’s great practice when you want to learn from reading these manga, trust me. But if you want to stick to kanji, you may opt with the Best Manga list.
JAPANESE COMICS THAT HAS FURIGANA
22. Your Name
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
Kimi no Nawa (君の名は) |
Author: |
Makoto Shinkai |
Chapters (as of 03/07/2022): |
3 Volumes, 9 Chapters |
Status: |
Completed |
Ah, the classic Makoto Shinkai film that tore through our hearts and gave us unsolicited feels. But we’re talking about the manga for now, it is set in modern Japanese culture with useful vocabulary that are commonly used in modern Japan.
If you’ve seen the film, you might already know about Taki and Mitsuha, whose wish didn’t come the way she asked for. And now they had to go through the trouble of living with exchanged bodies.
You can further practice with your vocabulary by watching the film right after reading the manga, of course we cater to all types of learning methods.
21. Yotsuba To!
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
Yotsuba (よつばと！) |
Author: |
Kiyohiko Azuma |
Volumes: |
9 Volumes |
Status: |
Completed |
A simple hearty manga about a young lady living with her father, exploring the neighborhood along with her newly made friends. Basically, a slice of life story where you get to learn more about conversations and day to day lingo.
The Furigana in this manga is rather simple to learn and understand, highly recommended for beginners.
20. A Town Where You Live
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
A Town Where You Live (君のいる町) |
Author: |
Kōji Seo |
Volumes: |
27 Volumes |
Status: |
Completed |
Romance manga that revolves around the high school boy Haruto and a girl who is just starting to live in their home, inside the town where he lives. The title is kind of cute though, it’s giving a calm slice of life/romance vibes just by reading it.
Like those I’ve previously mentioned, this manga is set in modern Japan which means this will likely help you in striking up casual conversations, if used correctly of course.
20. Shirokuma Cafe
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
Shirokuma Cafe (しろくまカフェ) |
Author: |
Aloha Higa |
Volumes: |
5 Volumes |
Status: |
Ongoing |
Shirokuma café is a hearty place run by a polar bear named Shirokuma. Whether you’re a human or an animal, you surely have a table to settle down at this cool place.
Our local café experiences are far different from Shirokuma’s—there is never a dull moment especially with the presence of a hilarious penguin and a rather clumsy panda going around. If you’re looking for him, Grizz is busy running his own bar in this manga.
Entertaining and funny, it centers around everyday issues and adds a variety of adventures for an entertaining read.
19. Chi’s Sweet Home
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
Chi’s Sweet Home (チーズスイートホーム) |
Author: |
Kanata Konami |
Volumes: |
12 Volumes |
Status: |
Completed |
We’ll be continuing our list with one adorable manga after another. Chi’s Sweet Home is a story about a small cat searching for a new home, and if you’re a cat lover like me you’d be reading this manga with a puppy-eyed emoji face. You know what I’m talking about.
The vocabulary in this manga is very easy to understand and the illustrations are sure to have a tight grip on your eyes. An absolutely perfect manga to start learning Japanese, and well because… cat.
18. School Rumble
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
School Rumble (スクールランブル) |
Author: |
Jin Kobayashi |
Volumes: |
22 Volumes |
Status: |
Completed |
Ah School Rumble, this takes me all the way back to 2014, watching it in portable DVD players with friends back then, wishing we had a life like this anime. Anyway, it’s a story about a highschool student, Tenma, finding his way to her crush’s heart.
We also have a male protagonist named Harima, who somehow caught feelings for our MC but found himself having troubles with confessing to her. Hold up, we did live a high school life like this….
School Rumble manga is pretty entertaining and simple, with so many casual vocabularies to learn after reading, I’d recommend this one for both Furigana and the story.
17. Sailor Moon
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
Sailor Moon (美少女戦士セーラームーン) |
Author: |
Naoko Takeuchi |
Volumes: |
18 Volumes (first edition)12 Volumes (second edition)10 Volumes (third edition) |
Status: |
Complete |
Another one of the classics, Sailor Moon follows the story of Usagi Tsukino, girl blessed with cosmic powers and defends the planet from outlandish villains.
On top of her guardian responsibilities, Usagi also has her academic life but thankfully she’s not alone. With the company of other sailors, they can effectively protect the planet without abandoning their normal lives.
Sailor Moon is the standard for all superheroine manga and is loved by both male and female readers. The manga is jam-packed with content from action, romance, or even comedy, for sure it will make your Japanese learning a lot more exciting.
16. Fruits Basket
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
Fruits Basket (フルーツバスケット) |
Author: |
Natsuki Tayaka |
Volumes |
23 Volumes |
Status: |
Completed |
Fruits Basket manga fits right for beginners. It’s a story of a girl named Toru Honda, who wound up staying with another family after losing her own mother. Unexpectedly, her two companions, Yuki and Kyo, can turn into animals.
This is but another heartwarming story that will have you learn Japanese at a decent pace.
P.S: If you’re planning to watch this and is wondering how much fillers it has, check out Fruits Basket Filler List!
15. Demon Slayer
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
Demon Slayer (鬼滅の刃) |
Author: |
Koyoharu Gotogue |
Volumes: |
23 Volumes |
Status: |
Completed |
For mainstream anime fans, this is no doubt something you’re already familiar with. Kimetsu no Yaiba, commonly known as Demon Slayer, is very popular worldwide and has already amassed huge sales!
For those who don’t know, the story is set in ancient Japan and revolves around slaying demons as the title suggests.
I’m telling you; this manga is a wonderful foundation for learning Japanese, it captures your attention by its mesmerizing art and storytelling, making learning a very magical experience.
14. Whistle!
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
Whistle! (ホイッスル!) |
Author: |
Daisuke Higuchi |
Volumes: |
24 Volumes |
Status: |
Completed |
We all have at least 1 favorite sports manga, and nothing can go wrong with Whistle! It is a story of a high school lad moving to a new school. He’s interested in joining the soccer team but is regarded as too short for the sport.
What makes this sports manga immersive is that we all had these moments, whether you are an athlete or not. It’s the feeling of being “unqualified” for something you’re passionate about, but what’s important is how we can show our potential to others.
Whistle! is indeed the perfect manga to learn Japanese from, it is immersive, relatable, and fun. I wasn’t trippin’ when I said nothing can go wrong with it.
13. Naruto
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
Naruto (うずまきナルト) |
Author: |
Masashi Kishimoto |
Volumes: |
72 Volumes |
Status: |
Completed |
One of the most popular manga of all time, whether you are a fan or not, we all know Naruto. That golden-haired boy with a demon fox inside him, mostly seen with a blue orb in his hand and yelling “Rasengan!”.
Because of its familiarity, it is easy to learn from Naruto. Not only the Japanese language but especially of life lessons and the act of not giving up on your dreams.
12. Cowa!
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
Cowa! |
Author: |
Akira Toriyama |
Volumes: |
1 Volume |
Status: |
Complete |
Cowa! is a manga set in a world with both humans and monsters, and both factions are treated equally. It follows the story of the human, Jose, and the half-vampire, Paifu.
Having only a single volume, the manga is short and lovely. Despite its length, Cowa! does not lack in helping you learn Japanese.
11. Eyeshield 21
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
Eyeshield 21 (アイシールド21) |
Author: |
Riichiro Inagaki |
Volumes: |
37 Volumes |
Status: |
Complete |
Classic sports anime about American Football set in Japan, here we have a small and terrific MC who has dreams of playing along with the big shots of Japan!
The manga is very wonderful and has amazing art and visual effects that will help you get hooked on the story, with Furigana to help you learn Japanese as you enjoy the splendid story the manga has to offer.
10. Bleach
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
Bleach (ブリーチ) |
Author: |
Tite Kubo |
Volumes |
74 Volumes |
Status: |
Complete |
No questions asked, Bleach is one of the most iconic anime of the early 2000s. I mean, there ain’t an anime fan out there who has never heard of “Bankai”. The manga by Tite Kubo inspired a lot of new gen manga we enjoy today.
For those who don’t know, the story revolves around Ichigo Kurosaki. A high school student, part-time substitute Shinigami thanks to his encounter with the Death God, Kuchiki Rukia.
Bleach is overloaded with action and adventure. Unlike the other manga in this list, the Japanese vocabulary you’re going to learn from Bleach is rather unique, it includes various chants and spells that the characters use in combat.
9. Shaman King
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
Shaman King (シャーマンキング) |
Author: |
Hiroyuki Takei |
Volumes |
32 Volumes (original tankōbon edition)35 Volumes (Kodansha edition) |
Status: |
Complete |
Shaman King follows the story of a 13-year-old shaman and his team of fellow kids with superpowers, whose goal is to partake in a tournament to become the next Shaman King.
Overall, the story is a classic adventure with loads of magic and spiritual beings, there is never a dull moment in this manga which will further inspire your urge to learn Japanese as you flip through the pages.
8. Detective Conan
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
Detective Conan (名探偵コナン) |
Author: |
Gosho Aoyama |
Volumes: |
101 Volumes |
Status: |
Ongoing |
Another all-time favorite, Detective Conan is one of the longest Japanese Manga to ever exist and it is still ongoing! It follows the adventures of Shinichi Kudo, a detective prodigy shrunk into a child’s body but still retains his talents in the field.
Detective Conan is full of mystery, thrill, and comedy. Though the progression of each case can be quite redundant, it is a great representation of how the crime can occur and get solved.
Despite its length, the manga will never get you bored as each chapter has something new to offer, expanding your vocabulary on various aspects of the Japanese language.
7. Tama-san
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
Tama-San (たまさん) |
Author: |
MORI Yukinatsu |
Volumes: |
6 Volumes |
Status: |
Complete |
Tama-san has an authentic drawing style that offers you something new, plus the furigana is easy to read so there wouldn’t be any problems when you’re studying Japanese.
It is easy to build confidence in your Japanese learning in this manga, as it is refreshing, simple, and straightforward. This manga stands as one of the best for beginners, it’s simply comfortable to read and the story is quite heartwarming on its own.
6. Natsuko’s Sake
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
Natsuko’s Sake (夏子の酒) |
Author: |
Akira Oze |
Volumes: |
12 Volumes |
Status: |
Completed |
Natsuko no Sake is a story of a young girl whose goal is to make the greatest Japanese rice wine, this includes searching for the optimal rice seed for her to achieve her dream. In the male-dominated sake industry in Japan, Natsuko does have to overcome various challenges to reach her dream.
There are so many words and phrases in this manga that you can use when having casual conversations, say, making friends and stuff like that. You can also add variety to your Japanese vocabulary, given that the manga is focused entirely on the sake industry.
5. Slam Dunk
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
Slam Dunk (スラムダンク) |
Author: |
Takehiko Inoue |
Volumes: |
31 Volumes |
Status: |
Completed |
Slam Dunk, as a sports manga, is in a whole different league. From storytelling, art, character development, not to mention it even has Furigana! I swear there is nothing in this manga but peak.
High school student, Hanamichi Sakuragi is a delinquent who wishes to impress his crush, Haruko. And with that, he found himself in the world of Basketball as he entered the Shohoku team.
The Japanese in this manga is rather easy to learn as well, and you will get a lot of sports terminology especially if you are a basketball player yourself. That being said, I recommend this manga to all readers out there, Slam Dunk… It never misses.
4. Kuruneko
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
Kuruneko (くるねこ) |
Author: |
Yamato Kuruneko |
Volumes: |
7 Volumes |
Status: |
Completed |
Kuruneko is a manga with multiple stories that will aid you in learning Japanese at a better pace. There might be features here and there such as the writing style which may be confusing to some, but it’s part of the manga’s authenticity and you’ll get used to it for sure.
Unlike the other entries in this list, Kuruneko is more helpful when you want to read handwritten Japanese characters. That skill is definitely useful in real life, plus the manga is all about a cat. How could you say no to that?
3. K-On!
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
K-On! (けいおん!) |
Author: |
Kakifly |
Volumes: |
6 Volumes |
Status: |
Completed |
K-On, a Japanese manga which follows the story of four schoolgirls, all having unique traits and personalities with unified passion in music and performing arts.
Reading this manga, you’ll gain basic vocabulary related to music and performance, adding a little bit of variety to your Japanese learning. You might also want to check out the anime if you haven’t yet, for sure it’ll help a lot!
2. Doraemon
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
Doraemon (ドラえもん) |
Author: |
Fujiko F. Fujio |
Volumes: |
45 Volumes |
Status: |
Completed |
Oh, how I love this one, Doraemon is a Japanese manga that revolves on a robot cat. Yes, he is a cat and not a raccoon, don’t even dare say it. His mission is to accompany the boy Nobita and help him change the future.
A very exciting and hearty story that leaves a lesson for every time they come up with solutions to their problems. Doraemon is aimed for kids but as an adult, I guarantee that this manga can help our inner child understand a lot of things as well.
You know where to go when searching for the best manga to study Japanese, Doraemon has simple and straightforward dialogues that help you learn Japanese a lot easier.
1. Pokemon
INFORMATION |
|
Title: |
Pokemon (ポケットモンスター) |
Author: |
Hidenori Kusaka |
Volumes: |
61 Volumes |
Status: |
Ongoing |
A childhood classic for many generations, all of us may already be familiar with Pokemon, whether it be the series, games or the collection of rare Pokemon cards. The Pokemon Adventures manga is filled with simple words to learn, which makes it a recommendable manga for beginners.
What made this even better is that the manga is still ongoing, with so many generations and regions to explore. I’m telling you, the adventure with Pokemon is endless. You might even find yourself fluent in Japanese right before it runs out of stories to tell.
Conclusion
Learning Japanese will never be easy especially if you are not a native speaker, but the best we can do is to make it extra fun and enjoyable. And that is why we have these mangas by our side to encourage us in learning the language in the most exciting way.
Whether you are flipping through manga pages or scrolling through a website, manga is very accessible nowadays so read to your heart’s content. After all, there is no limit to how much we can learn if we have the dedication. Go for it!
If you’re done with this list, why not check out our Best Shoujo Manga list? It’d be awesome!
