Top 19 Music manga you should read right now. [2026 List]

19. Kininatteru Hito ga Otoko ja Nakatta

Kininatteru Hito ga Otoko ja Nakatta depicts the love story between a high school girl and her classmate who she mistakes as a guy outside of school. They eventually bond over their shared taste in rock music.



Note: Kininatteru Hito ga Otoko ja Nakatta began as a web comic released on the author's Twitter account since April 10, 2022, and published in print by Kadokawa since April 19, 2023.

The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy At All is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 気になってる人が男じゃなかった, The Person She Fell For Wasn't A Boy, Ki ni Natteru Hito ga Otoko Janakatta, Kinninaru Hito ga Otoko Jyanakatta, Green Yuri

18. [Oshi no Ko]

"In the world of showbiz, lies are weapons." Goro works as an OB-GYN in the countryside, a life far removed from the entertainment industry. Meanwhile, his favorite idol, Ai Hoshino, has begun her climb to stardom. The two meet in the "worst possible way," setting the gears of fate in motion! The amazing Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari team up to depict the world of showbiz from a completely new perspective in this shocking series!

【OSHI NO KO】 has finished publishing and it has 168 Chapters. It is also Known as: 【推しの子】, My Favorite's Child, Favorite Girl, My Idol's Child, Oshi no Ko, [Mein*Star], เกิดใหม่เป็นลูกโอชิ

17. The Artistic Genius of Music Is the Reincarnation of Paganini

The Rebirth of Paganini, Joo-won Moon. He was once a gifted violinist, but due to an injury, he gradually distanced himself from music and lived the life of a regular high school student. “I don’t pursue music.” However, perhaps the irony of fate… Joo-won Moon accidentally transferred to the music class of an arts high school, he picked up the violin… Will Joo-won Moon be able to overcome his psychological trauma? And is there a chance for him to be reborn as a true violinist?

The Artistic Genius of Music Is the Reincarnation of Paganini is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: High School Musical Genius Is Paganini Reincarnated, El Genio Musical del Instituto es Paganini reencarnado

16. Debut Mot Hamyeon Jungneun Byeong Geollim

After a night of drinking, aspiring civil servant Ryu Gunwoo passes out, only to awaken three years in the past in the body of a young man named Park Moondae. Before he can even assess the situation, he's given a mission: Debut or Die! Now, Moondae has one year to debut as an idol or face his doom. Luckily, he's able to snag a spot on the famous survival program "Idol Inc.", but with his skills so low and the competition so high, does Moondae stand a chance at becoming a shining star?

Debut or Die! is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Debut or Death, If You Don't Debut, You'll Die of Sickness, デビューできないと死ぬ病気にかかってしまいました, 得了不出道就会死的病

15. Futsuu no Keionbu

With a passion for richly textured Japanese rock, first-year high school student Chihiro Hatono steps into the world of the light music club, new guitar in tow. But what awaits her behind those doors...? A drama of unfiltered youth and musical ambition takes the stage!

Girl Meets Rock! is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: ふつうの軽音部, Futsu no Keionbu

14. My Superstar Uncle

"We'll make your dreams come true."

Forced to give up on his dreams of being a singer to look after his mom and niece, Woojin finds himself in a slump. Then one day, he receives an AI robot that claims it will help him realize his dreams. From struggling carpenter to worldwide superstar — will Woojin finally get his shot?

My Superstar Uncle has finished publishing and it has 186 Chapters. It is also Known as: My Superstar Uncle

13. Yoimiya Nagi ga Manager ni Yashoku wo Tsukuru Wake

Yoimiya Nagi ga Manager ni Yashoku wo Tsukuru Wake is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 宵宮凪がマネに夜食を作る理由, Yoimiya Nagi ga Manager ni Yashoku wo Tsukuru Wake

12. Hello, Melancholic!

Asano Minato is hiding in plain sight. She’s tall, but she’s very quiet, and very withdrawn. She keeps her hair over her face and her head down. It’s not hard to see that she’s avoiding being seen. While eating lunch alone in her secret spot, she hears what is obviously an instrument. She immediately wonders why, since this high school doesn’t have a band. She knows that… because that’s why she transferred here.



Note: Chapter count includes 4 bonus chapters

Hello, Melancholic! has finished publishing and it has 18 Chapters. It is also Known as: ハロー、メランコリック！, Hello, Melancholic!

11. Girl Crush

Momose Tenka is a first year high school student who can sing, dance, and has a killer body. She's good at everything... except love. She meets a K-pop obsessed girl named Satou Erina, and is dazzled by her earnest nature.

This is the story of two young girls dreaming of becoming K-pop idols! A heart-throbbing story about pure love!

Girl Crush is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: ガールクラッシュ, Girl Crush

10. Ri-chan

Due to work, Tatsu moves back into his parents' house; soon after that, he encounters a young woman who turns out to be Ri-chan, the little girl he used to play together with in his childhood. However, this girl he reunited with has somehow become very different from the cheerful childhood friend in his memories...

Ri-chan has finished publishing and it has 167 Chapters. It is also Known as: りーちゃん, Ri-chan

9. Bocchi the Rock!

Gotou Hitori is a high school girl who starting learning to playing the guitar because she dreams of being in a band, but she's so shy that she hasn't made a single friend. However, her dream might come true after she meets Ijichi Nijika, a girl who plays drums and is looking for a new guitarist for her band.

Bocchi the Rock! is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！, Одинокий Рокер, 愛好·扎·搖滾！, 爱好·扎·摇滚！

8. Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso

Kosei Arima was a piano prodigy until his cruel taskmaster of a mother died suddenly, changing his life forever. Driven by his pain to abandon piano, Kosei now lives in a monotonous, colorless world. Having resigned himself to a bland life, he is surprised when he meets Kaori Miyazono, a violinist with an unorthodox style. Can she teach Kosei not just how to play, but how to start living again?

Your Lie in April has finished publishing and it has 44 Chapters. It is also Known as: 四月は君の嘘, Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso

7. Kimi ga Hoeru Tame no Uta wo,

A girl who is troubled by her voice that doesn't match her appearance, and a girl who feels she has reached her limits in songwriting. The story of two young musicians.

Howling Song for Husky Girl is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: キミが吠えるための歌を、, Kimihoe, キミ吠え

6. Paripi Koumei

The Tokyo Party Scene isn’t NEAR ready for the star general of the Three Kingdoms era, but he sure is ready for it! Get down, shake your thing, and prepare to laugh out loud with this historical fantasy timeslip comedy, Ya Boy Kongming!

Paripi Koumei is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: パリピ孔明, Party People Kongming, Paripi Kongming, ขงเบ้งเจาะเวลามาปั้นดาว

5. Nana

Nana Komatsu is a young woman who's endured an unending string of boyfriend problems. Moving to Tokyo, she's hoping to take control of her life and put all those messy misadventures behind her. She's looking for love and she's hoping to find it in the big city.
Nana Osaki, on the other hand, is cool, confident and focused. She swaggers into town and proceeds to kick down the doors to Tokyo's underground punk scene. She's got a dream and won't give up until she becomes Japan's No. 1 rock'n'roll superstar.
This is the story of two 20-year-old women who share the same name. Even though they come from completely different backgrounds, they somehow meet and become best friends. The world of Nana is a world exploding with sex, music, fashion, gossip and all-night parties.

Nana has finished publishing and it has 84 Chapters. It is also Known as: NANA, Nana

4. Ore to Akuma no Blues

Legend has it that if you take your guitar and stand at a crossroads at the witching hour, the devil will appear. He’ll grab your instrument, play a song, and hand it back to you. You’ll walk away an expert bluesman, but you’ll have to pay the price: your immortal soul.

The year is 1929. Deep in the Mississippi Delta, a young man named RJ dreams of becoming a bluesman. RJ is a simple farmer who can barely play guitar, but when he takes a midnight stroll, his life is forever changed. A phantasmagoric reimagining of the life of legendary blues great Robert Johnson, Me and the Devil Blues follows the journey of a man who really did sell his soul to the devil. Why not come along for the ride?



Note: Won the 2009 Glyph Comics Awards in the Best Reprint Publication category.

Me and the Devil Blues: The Unreal Life of Robert Johnson has finished publishing and it has 34 Chapters. It is also Known as: 俺と悪魔のブルーズ, Me & the Devil Blues

3. Together With the Gods of Music

A producer who had no talent but wanted to be a successful singer. Death came on the day he thought it was his last chance, but the music immortals did not turn their backs on him.
"If the music immortals don't forsake you, will you really be able to do it? With the music immortals, change began."

Together With the Gods of Music is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: I Am With the Music Immortals, ゴッド・オブ・ミュージック～音楽の神々と共に～

2. Nishi Tokyo Metal Brothers

Haruo is a high schooler from Biei, Hokkaido. When he was younger, expressing his emotions wasn't easy, but one day metal set him free. Since then, he's been honing his skills day in and day out, but now it's for him to decide on his next stage in life…?!

West Tokyo Metal Bros has finished publishing and it has 23 Chapters. It is also Known as: ニシトーキョーメタルブラザーズ, Nishi Tokyo Metal Brothers

1. Sakamichi no Apollon

Nishimi Kaoru has moved from city to city and school to school because of his father’s job. So the first day at his new school was just routine for him. Being intellectual and the new transfer student, he has always been seen as an outcast and all Kaoru had to do was bear it until the next time he moved. But things were slightly different this time. First, he started to get close to the class president, Mukae Ritsuko, and, secondly, unlikely as it seemed, grew closer to Kawabuchi Sentaro. Sentaro was infamous for getting into fights, skipping class and was an overall bad boy. Strangely enough, the three of them find common ground in music, namely jazz, and Kaoru finds himself actually enjoying the new town.

Kids on the Slope has finished publishing and it has 45 Chapters. It is also Known as: 坂道のアポロン, Sakamichi no Aporon