Forum Settings
Forums

Japanese fans voted on, "What manga is a masterpiece?" - 13000 votes

New
Oct 15, 2019 11:05 PM
#1

Online
Jan 2009
92247
1. ONE PIECE
2. DRAGON BALL
3. Doraemon
4. FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST
5. Jojo series
6. Detective Conan
7. Black Jack
8. Space Brothers
9. Kingdom
10. The Rose of Versailles
11. Parasite / Kiseijuu
12. HUNTER×HUNTER
13. Nodame cantabile
14. Natsume Yuujinchou
15. Phoenix / Hi no tori
16. Shingeki no Kyojin
17. March Comes in Like a Lion
18. Kimi ni Todoke / From Me to You
19. NARUTO
20. Ushio to Tora

21. Captain Tsubasa
22. Hana yori Dango
23. Cardcaptor Sakura
24. Gin no Saji / Sliver Spoon
25. Kochira Katsushikaku Kameari Kouenmae Hashutsujo (Kochikame)
26. Rorouni Kenshin
27. Chihayafuru
28. City Hunter
29. Akachan to Boku
30. Urusei Yatsura
31. Ginga Tetsudou 999
32. SLAM DUNK
33. Yuu Yuu Hakusho
34. Maison Ikkoku
35. Hokuto no Ken
36. Tokyo Ghoul
37. Akatsuki no Yona
38. Boku no Chikyuu wo Mamotte
39. Ao Haru Ride
40. DEATH NOTE
41. Fruits Basket
42. Initial D
43. Chibi Maruko-chan
44. Hikaru no Go
45. Crayon Shin-chan
46. Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori
47. Tokimeki Tonight
48. BANANA FISH
49. BASARA
50. Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin
51. Koukaku Kidoutai: The Ghost in the Shell
52. Ore Monogatari
53. Koe no Katachi
54. Kinnikuman
55. Tetsuwan Atom (Astro Boy)
56. InuYasha
57. Tenshi Nanka ja Nai
58. Golgo 13
59. Ranma 1/2
60. Atashin'chi
61. Ouke no Monshou
62. Oooku
63. Neon Genesis Evangelion
64. Eyeshield 21
65. Kounodori
66. Berserk
67. Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni
68. Jin
69. Poe no Ichizoku
70. Otoyomegatari
71. Konjiki no Gash Bell!!
72. Houshin Engi
73. Umimachi Diary
74. Aa! Megami-sama!
75. Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou
76. NANA
77. Diamond no Ace
78. Karakuri Circus
79. Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibouken
80. Piano no Mori
81. MAJOR
82. Iryuu: Team Medical Dragon
83. Tennis no Ouji-sama
84. Kanata kara
85. Chinmoku no Kantai
86. Gaku
87. Kaze to Ki no Uta
88. ×××HOLiC
89. I”s
90. Marmalade Boy
91. Cyborg 009
92. Buddha
93. 7SEEDS
94. Bakuman
95. Saint Seiya
96. GIANT KILLING
97. Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo
98. Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu
99. Mahoujin Guruguru
100. Thomas no Shinzou

https://booklive.jp/feature/index/id/manga100
https://www.reddit.com/r/manga/comments/diix9l/misc_japanese_fans_voted_on_what_manga_is_a/
https://twitter.com/killleogonpika/status/1184053302196965381

no Vinland Saga? Berserk missing too?
degOct 20, 2019 12:36 PM
Oct 16, 2019 1:53 PM
#2

Offline
Jul 2019
810
There's a lot missing lol, this list definitively has some biases but that's how it is with polls. Glad that Parasyte is so highly voted though.
Oct 16, 2019 1:56 PM
#3

Offline
May 2019
1850
popular stuff got more votes
hyuge surprise
Oct 16, 2019 11:18 PM
#4

Offline
Jul 2013
74
nice seeing doraemon up there
trust me, I'm a moon expert
Oct 17, 2019 4:28 AM
#5
Offline
Jul 2018
564612
I'm happy that Shingeki no Kyojin and Natsume Yuujinchou are there
Oct 17, 2019 4:32 AM
#6
Offline
Jul 2018
564612
Might watch the beloved shoujo Kimi no Todoke anime because of this.
Oct 17, 2019 4:35 AM
#7
Offline
May 2019
3567
It looks like Japanese unsurprisingly have a good taste in manga as well lol.
Oct 17, 2019 6:56 AM
#8

Offline
May 2018
3183
One Piece at top kinda expected. Happy to see Space Brothers and Kingdom there. When are these two getting sequels?
Oct 17, 2019 7:01 AM
#9

Offline
Feb 2019
1454
Parasyte is my favorite Manga so I'm kinda glad to see it up there. It also warms my heart to see Nodame cantabile & Natsume Yuujinchou.



It’s okay to look back at the past, just don’t stare too long

Oct 17, 2019 7:55 AM
Offline
Dec 2009
15
Even though I defiently don't agree with a lot of this list (One Piece, Naruto, DB and Kingdom), I still think it's cool to see what other people find interesting, especially in the country of origin.

I have always wondered what my own top 20 would be like, but there's soooo many manga's that it would take ages to figure out the nominees alone.
Oct 18, 2019 10:03 AM

Offline
Nov 2015
34
I like how Nodame Cantabile is on the list. I really loved that one, but I don't hear many people talk about it.
Oct 18, 2019 10:57 AM

Offline
Oct 2013
12258
Freshell said:
popular stuff got more votes
hyuge surprise


Its a mixture of popular and none popular, and some less popular series are rated higher than some popular series.

I guess you wanted no popular series at all in it?
Oct 18, 2019 1:48 PM
Offline
May 2019
111
That's a quite good poll, surely there would be a lot missing, just too bad I don't see any of Naoki Urasawa in top 100
Oct 18, 2019 2:37 PM

Offline
Jul 2014
2806
I'm glad DB is 2nd, honestly should be 1st but I can let it go.
That being said where the fuck are Gintama, GTO, YYH and Slam Dunk!!!!?
Oct 18, 2019 3:57 PM
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Offline
Aug 2018
74
what's so special about One Piece?
Oct 19, 2019 11:06 AM

Offline
Feb 2019
3432
No gintama? that's surprising considering how popular it is in japan. At least it's nice to see 3-gatsu in there. I am not surprised about doraemon considering how much it has influenced the industry and how popular it is across the asia.
Oct 20, 2019 6:25 AM
Offline
Jul 2018
564612
Valdemore said:
what's so special about One Piece?


It didn't finish when it had to like DB, Naruto and Bleach
Oct 20, 2019 7:23 AM

Offline
Jun 2017
3151
@deg that tweet link doesn't work at least for me

Also this is top 100 if you like edit your first post:


It's weird, really weird when there is no Gintama in even top 100. And I'm probably wrong but feeling like majority of voters were female...
mhkrOct 21, 2019 6:12 AM
Oct 20, 2019 7:52 AM

Offline
Feb 2019
3432
Wow! Akachan to boku in top 30. That's a pleasant surprise.

@mhkr you are probably right about gintama. Anime made it into top 20 of nhk poll so it seems weird to not have gintama there.
cythraulOct 20, 2019 7:58 AM
Oct 20, 2019 12:37 PM

Online
Jan 2009
92247
@mhkr

thanks i added it now
Oct 21, 2019 10:36 AM

Offline
Aug 2016
320
these kind of polls are always predictable
of course there are a handful of suprising placements and missing works but the list is not interesting nonetheless
Oct 21, 2019 11:51 AM

Offline
Jan 2019
715
None of my favorite mangas are on the list, the Japanese have such plebeian taste in manga.
Oct 21, 2019 11:52 AM
Offline
Apr 2018
1488
Surprised to see Ore Monogatari there
Oct 21, 2019 3:42 PM
ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴅ★ʀᴇᴀᴘᴇʀ

Offline
Dec 2018
8331
No mention of Sailor Moon? I guess Japanese otaku don't care about it anymore...?
Oct 21, 2019 4:38 PM

Offline
Nov 2008
10508
I'm annoyed that Marmalade Boy is on there when there is WAAAAAAAAAY BETTER shoujo romance. Shame on you, Japan.

....at least Fruits and Yona are above it. xD



Oct 22, 2019 10:35 AM
Offline
May 2018
85
Valdemore said:
what's so special about One Piece?

If you are close-minded to action shonen then don't watch the following videos. If not, it's a free world ,your choice for your time.


These videos are over 2 years old but convey the intended message.

Now, I'd rather list various things about One Piece that're special but unless you read the manga,everything I rant will be meaningless so you can watch those videos or Watch One Piece: Episode of East Blue . A special 100 min long adapting first 100 chapter of the series.(Not alternative for the series but rather a test point)


Sorry for butchering the english language.
Signature removed. Please follow the signature rules, as defined in the Site & Forum Guidelines.
Oct 22, 2019 10:50 AM

Offline
Jun 2011
13727
Uneessh said:
Valdemore said:
what's so special about One Piece?

If you are close-minded to action shonen then don't watch the following videos. If not, it's a free world ,your choice for your time.


These videos are over 2 years old but convey the intended message.

Now, I'd rather list various things about One Piece that're special but unless you read the manga,everything I rant will be meaningless so you can watch those videos or Watch One Piece: Episode of East Blue . A special 100 min long adapting first 100 chapter of the series.(Not alternative for the series but rather a test point)


Sorry for butchering the english language.
+10000 this!

I highly suggest watching the videos above if anyone's wondering why One Piece is so great, especially the second one.

I wouldn't recommend watching those "Episodes of ____" though because those are paced very poorly and it doesn't linger long enough for you to feel anything.. plus newer animation just sucks.
Honobono Log - best slice of life short
--------------------------------------------
most kawaii loli overlord
----------------------------
Donquixote Doflamingo AMV - Control
Oct 22, 2019 8:14 PM
Offline
Oct 2019
50
x_Articuno_x said:
That's a quite good poll, surely there would be a lot missing, just too bad I don't see any of Naoki Urasawa in top 100


Exactly what I thought. Even weirder considering he has some pretty popular works and he has some serious reputation around there. And I don't think is because of lack of popularity, Twenty Century Boys even got into the top ten of most selling manga of the year once.

Well, I guess is just like that sometimes. Maybe is just a thing of where they asked or something.
Oct 28, 2019 1:04 PM

Offline
Nov 2015
1541
This list is shit because Akira and battle Angela alita is not here, yet Tokyo ghoul is here? What?? 0_o
HACKs! 🤢🤮
Oct 28, 2019 4:37 PM

Offline
May 2012
435
^Heh, why not. Not a fan of either one, but both are well executed with a lot of interesting themes. I was personally hoping that the last third of FMA was handled a bit more maturely instead of falling into the way of battle manga tropes it did. Still decent experience.

Too bad you can find Berserk on the list. Should be around 10k+ as the most, I hate the word but it's true, overrated crap that it is. Especially considering that the series is dead because of 2 decades of idle pacing and massive quality loss. For twenty+ years, there is almost no progress. Other series would've been axed tenfold already.
My Rereads | My Favorite Mangaka | Soylent Green

Buy stuff, or buy at least your favorites if you can afford it - Don't be lame.

D W-W&N 🤍


MAL is a far cry from being my main literature site, that's why I won't be doing mere single chapter updates anymore. Manga- aka Baka-Updates + 2 French ones are miles better and more thorough/complete + less restricting. The latter are perfectly suited for Manga/Light Novel/Books collectors such as myself. Less stressful/tiring this way. -g-
Oct 29, 2019 6:23 AM
Offline
Aug 2019
170
Suprised to see Ushio to Tora and Dai no Daiboken there as they are great series, but rarely talked about
Oct 30, 2019 1:37 PM
Offline
Jul 2018
564612
The popularity of Hana yori dango is so much in Asia, the manga ranking 22 and also having so many good live action dramas, how come the hype around this cliched romance manga still hasn't died
Oct 31, 2019 5:29 AM

Offline
Dec 2018
2154
Democracy empowers the majority, just like how this list consists of virtually every of the most popular ones. This industry should have a poll like the Western's Critics Poll. Well no, on second thought, no one would ever dig shit so obscure in this industry that much to even have a full idea to properly vote.
. . .
Oct 31, 2019 5:58 AM

Offline
Apr 2013
251
Interesting, but I hope some people don't get the wrong idea and think that their (Japan) opinion on what's a masterpiece is law because it's certainly just opinion and culture at work here. It isn't a stretch for some people to think Japanese people have a superior opinion. However, it is neat to consider 'why' results may be what they are in comparison to, let's say, a poll from the West.
TheHentaiKingOct 31, 2019 6:02 AM
Oct 31, 2019 10:04 AM

Offline
Dec 2015
6449
"2. DRAGON BALL"
Seriously? I love (part of) this manga and Toriyama's work in general. I'm the first to claim that even after it outstayed its welcome, there were some pretty good designs (characters or other) as well as great action depiction, and that the comic timing was always on point in the early gag adventure tomes. In short, it's exemplary on various points.
But... how can this be number two when there is no place for Otomo (despite his drawings, writing, mise-en-scène/layout) ? Maybe Taniguchi ? And several other big names. There are so many purely commercial entertainment titles (DB is a good example), this list is essentially a "what is your favourite manga" and not "masterpiece" list.

I will still use DB as a way to question this survey: 10 years ago, a survey showed that a majority of young people up to 20-22years (students) had only a vague idea of what DB was and never read the manga. Consequently, I'm forced to ask: WHO the hell answered THIS survey?
Samewise, I'm amazed to find Hôshin Engi at the 72nd rank. It's a mostly forgotten long series from the 90s second half, popular enough in its time but that's all. Yes, it's pretty well build (thanks to it being an adaptation of an adaptation probably) and it has some interesting historical elements and offers a pretty good blend of past and future (thanks to the mangaka), but I don't see it as fit enough to be one of the 100 japanese comics masterworks.

I could go ona dn on so I'll leave here.
Rei_IIIOct 31, 2019 10:17 AM
Nov 17, 2019 1:44 PM

Offline
Mar 2014
900
Dragon Ball second...

Nostalgia is one hell of a bad trip drug.

Glad DBS killed any of my love for the franchise.


But hey, there is a lot of good sh*t there I did not expected to see, like Parasite, Dai no Dabouken, NANA...
FGO NA Code: 482.072.599

(F2P thug life of savings...)

Ben-to! best nonsensical action anime. Ever.
Nov 17, 2019 4:49 PM

Offline
Oct 2008
500
How is Dragon Ball Second?! This must be some sort of conspiracy!!

Fabris said:
Dragon Ball second...

Nostalgia is one hell of a bad trip drug.

Glad DBS killed any of my love for the franchise.


But hey, there is a lot of good sh*t there I did not expected to see, like Parasite, Dai no Dabouken, NANA...


Dragon Ball Super started pretty weak but it got pretty strong later on. Universe 7 VS 6, Future Trunks Arc, and finally Universe Survival Arc! You just gotta love Autonomous Ultra Instinct Goku VS Super Full Power Jiren! Best battle animation ever, even surpass battle animation from Cell Arc! It's hard to hate on last half of DBS, especially Universe Survival arc that definitely set the bar. Even old fans who hated DBS was going crazy when they saw the final fight where Goku and Frieza teamed up together to fight Jiren! That was classic... You should definitely give DBS a chance if you haven't watched it. I promise you, after watching the whole thing, you opinion of DBS will be changed!
Nov 17, 2019 7:01 PM

Offline
Aug 2019
1695
Surprised to see Berserk down at 66 on that list. Thought it would be top 10 easy.

No Vinland Saga either. Pikachu face.

Glad to see Attack on Titan at least make the top 20. Would have been a travesty had it not been on there.
Nov 17, 2019 8:38 PM

Offline
Oct 2019
239
I'm glad to see Space Brothers so high up there. I've only read the first chapter of the manga, but I love the anime.

More topics from this board

» How many chapters do you read a month?

Rissio - Apr 4

16 by kihel »»
11 hours ago

» Do you ever skim through your Manga?

zaganGao - Jan 23

25 by cody »»
11 hours ago

» Top 10 most iconic manga creators objectively ranked

AlphaMaleScotty - Apr 15

22 by Lucifrost »»
Yesterday, 8:38 AM

» Recently Bought Manga, Mahnwa, Manhua, or Light Novels. ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page )

Maora - Oct 24, 2008

5931 by malvarez1 »»
Apr 16, 8:26 PM

» Have an amazing art in manga but not in anime

kirA_-_ - Apr 15

7 by malvarez1 »»
Apr 16, 8:24 PM
It’s time to ditch the text file.
Keep track of your anime easily by creating your own list.
Sign Up Login