19. RIN-NE - Rumiko Takahashi ( who did Inuyasha) one of her recent series about girl who can see ghosts and a poor boy from the beyond who is a grim reaper. I just looooove how she draws all these cute boys 😭 Anime ( 75 episodes ) is also hilarious and it’s on Crunchyroll 💖

18. The poem of wind and trees - Keiko Takemiya. This was one of first shojo comic that focused on romantic homosexual themes. It took 9 years for her publishers to agree to publish it. Dealing both with lighter subjects of adolescence and coming of age and with darker themes.

17. Satoko to Nada - Yupechika. A charming tale of friendship between a Japanese woman and her Muslim roommate who both came to study abroad in US. It’s so good 😭😭 I loved it so much I wish it continued longer ... ( it only has 4 volumes )

16. Hori san to Miyamura Kun - HERO. Both original webcomic version and manga version is good! Anime coming up next year. Slice of life of high schoolers. HERO’s other short stories are great too. Even though the drawing is very casual and comical, it also includes dark emotions.

15. Goodnight Pun Pun - Inio Asano. I don’t prefer dark stories but this one is exception. The author uses 3D modeling for the bg, the technique to do so and details is just so great. Perfect read when you want to feel more down or see fucked up people’s mind.

14. Ristorante Paradiso - Natsume Ono. About daily restaurant life in Rome. I’ve been following her work for long time and her dry pen touch is just appealing and elegant. Also “GENTE“ ( ↑’s sequel ) “COPPERS” (🗽👮‍♂️) and “ACCA” ( anime is so gooood too ) is also my favorite 💖

13. Antique Bakery / Flower of Life - Fumi Yoshinaga. I really love all of her comics and her deep analysis on life cycles ←Story about 4 mens working at a bakery → Follows life around cheerful boy, enrolling at his new school as he has been recovering from leukemia treatment.

Nausicaa Valley of the wind - Hayao Miyazaki. I’m still surprised that people don’t know about the original comic. It’s so good! The movie only covers 1/3 of the comic so if you haven’t read it, your mind gonna be blown away 🤯 ( My perspective on movie changed afterwards )

10. Genius Family Company - Tomoko Ninomiya. ( who did Nodame Cantabile ) another underrated comic of hers. About a gifted, petty and egocentric high schooler, intends to work in the high financial world but with his mom’s remarriage, his life turn into jeopardy 😂 It’s sooo good

9. Bananafish - Akimi Yoshida. Anime was great too but manga has way more intimacy and style change transition through out the series is just beautiful. It’s about a war with mafia boss and young gang leader + Japanese boy in NY. Make sure to read “ Garden of Light” afterwards.

8. Osen - Shota Kikuchi. I’m sad I never met anyone who read his work before. But his line works and a passion for Japanese culinary is so fascinating. His recent series “ Ruri and King of Cooking” is such a gem too ✨ If anyone is interested in Japanese food history, this is it.

6. The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window - Yamashita Tomoko. Supernatural buddy mystery (+ slightly yaoish) Uhh but I mean I love all of her comics so it’s hard to choice ( HER, Butter!! is also great too )... She’s just so good with portraying human’s core feeling.