What is this genre all about? Anime that takes place in the past or clearly seems to take place in the past in case of an alternative universe. This category should almost always go together with one of its sub-categories, because the past can either be a depiction of a historical event(s) or not, in which case it would be alternative past.
We present you the list of Past manga you should read right now.
Try our anime quiz: Anime Characters Guessing Quiz/Game
Top 19 Past manga you should read right now. [2026 List]
- 19. Berserk
- 18. Vinland Saga
- 17. Claymore
- 16. Abandon the Old in Tokyo
- 15. Historié
- 14. Buddha
- 13. I and My Husband Sleep in a Coffin
- 12. Aegea-kai wo Wataru Hana-tachi
- 11. Assassin Beats
- 10. Dororo to Hyakkimaru-den
- 9. Pureun Yuri
- 8. Youhei Pierre
- 7. Regrets Of A Second Male Lead
- 6. Issak
- 5. Okan
- 4. Yu Wu
- 3. Jungle Taitei
- 2. Shin Chuuka Ichiban!
- 1. Qiang Jin Jiu
19. Berserk
His name is Guts, the Black Swordsman, a feared warrior spoken of only in whispers. Bearer of a gigantic sword, an iron hand, and the scars of countless battles and tortures, his flesh is also indelibly marked with The Brand, an unholy symbol that draws the forces of darkness to him and dooms him as their sacrifice. But Guts won't take his fate lying down; he'll cut a crimson swath of carnage through the ranks of the damned—and anyone else foolish enough to oppose him! Accompanied by Puck the Elf, more an annoyance than a companion, Guts relentlessly follows a dark, bloodstained path that leads only to death...or vengeance.
Notes:
- Volumes 1-5 contain the 16 prequel chapters 0A - 0P.
- Chapter 83 was omitted from Volume 13 due to the author’s request.
- Volume 14 includes “Berserk: The Prototype”.
- Due to the author's passing, starting from Chapter 365, the manga is illustrated by Studio Gaga (Miura's assistants) and supervised by Kouji Mori (a close friend of Miura's).
Berserk is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: ベルセルク, Berserk: The Prototype
18. Vinland Saga
As a child, Thorfinn sat at the feet of the great Leif Ericson and thrilled to wild tales of a land far to the west. But his youthful fantasies were shattered by a mercenary raid. Raised by the Vikings who murdered his father, Thorfinn became a terrifying warrior, forever seeking to kill the band's leader, Askeladd, and avenge his father. Sustaining Thorfinn through his ordeal are his pride in his family and his dreams of a fertile westward land, a land without war or slavery … the land Leif called Vinland.
Notes:
- Won the Grand Prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival in 2009.
- Winner of the 36th Kodansha Manga Award in the General category in 2012.
Vinland Saga has finished publishing and it has 220 Chapters. It is also Known as: ヴィンランド・サガ, Vinland Saga
17. Claymore
In a world constantly haunted by demonic predators known as "Youma", the everyday life of humans is full of fear and suspicion, as these monsters easily blend into human society to hunt their hapless prey. However, in this world, there is also a mysterious organization, employing half-human, half-Youma warriors to effectively track down and kill the demons. Called "silver eyed witches" or "Claymores" after the huge Claymore swords they carry, these female warriors are eyed with suspicion and distrust by most because of their inhuman powers.
But there are many currents flowing in the shadows, from the mysterious machinations of the Claymore "Organization" and the twisted ambitions of the powerful "Abyssal Ones" to the hopes and desires of each Claymore warrior. This story follows the fate of Clare, one of the Claymore operatives as she sails deeper and deeper down the currents of conspiracies and revenge.
Note: 4 Extra chapters are included in the chapter count on this page.
Claymore has finished publishing and it has 159 Chapters. It is also Known as: CLAYMORE [クレイモア], Claymore
16. Abandon the Old in Tokyo
The second in a series of short story anthologies by the seminal gekiga mangaka Yoshihiro Tatsumi; this volume contains eight stories originally published in 1970. Thematically, it is a continuation of The Push Man: working class male protagonists in gritty urban settings dealing with poverty, alienation, sexual dysfunction and a general disconnection from society.
Abandon the Old in Tokyo has finished publishing and it has 8 Chapters. It is also Known as: Tokyo Ubasuteyama, 東京うばすて山, Abandon the Old in Tokyo
15. Historié
After shocking the world with Parasyte, Hitoshi Iwaaki is back with a series he's been aching to tackle since even before his pro manga debut! A historical epic set in ancient times, Historie tells the story of Eumenes, a young man with quick wits and a vast destiny to fulfill. In time, he'll become a famed army commander and personal secretary to Alexander the Great—but the road to this glory is fraught with danger… "
Historié is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: ヒストリエ HISTORIĒ, Historié
14. Buddha
In ancient India, the lives of the people are plagued by drought, famine, constant warfare and the injustices of the strict caste system. The intertwining lives of many unhappy souls are drawn together by the birth of the young prince Siddhartha, who embarks on a spiritual journey, becomes Buddha, "the Enlightened One," and attempts to bring about a spiritual rebirth of the people in this desperate age.
Buddha has finished publishing and it has 66 Chapters. It is also Known as: ブッダ, Buddha
13. I and My Husband Sleep in a Coffin
My name is Wang Xiao Mie. I’m online asking for help.
If you wake up and find yourself sleeping in a coffin inside a tomb and wearing a red wedding gown, and lying next to you is a real devil husband. What should I do if he wants to have a wedding night? Can I faint? After fainting will I be able to transmigrate back?
Waiting online. It’s very urgent.
I and My Husband Sleep in a Coffin has finished publishing and it has 93 Chapters. It is also Known as: IHSC,, I and My Husband Sleep in a Coffin, Tôi ngủ cùng chồng trong quan tài
12. Aegea-kai wo Wataru Hana-tachi
It is the mid 15th century in the Italian town of Ferrara. Lisa dreams of traveling the world, when she meets a girl from Qirm (now Crimea) named Olha. Olha wishes to travel to the island of Crete and then return to Qirm in order to search for her missing sister. Upon hearing this, Lisa asks to travel with her, and their journey begins.
Flowers crossing the Aegean Sea has finished publishing and it has 15 Chapters. It is also Known as: エーゲ海を渡る花たち, Aege-kai wo Wataru Hanatachi, Aegea-kai wo Wataru Hana-tachi, Ege-kai wo Wataru Hana-tachi, Ege-kai wo Wataru Hanatachi
11. Assassin Beats
The story follows Assassin Beats and his group of allies, who once lived peaceful lives until the appearance of a mysterious enemy known as the Fallen Angel. This threat forces them into conflict and unveils secrets buried in the past, tied to Assassin Beats’ own history and collective memories referred to as the “Flashbacks.” Alongside the emergence of a young musical artist called Baby Assassin, the team must confront both internal and external challenges that blur the lines between destiny and free will.
Assassin Beats is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: アサシンビーツマンガ, Assassin Beats
10. Dororo to Hyakkimaru-den
During Japan’s tumultuous Sengoku period, one man sells his son to a pack of devils in exchange for the power to rule. Forty-eight devils take forty-eight pieces of young Hyakkimaru, and the boy is left for dead. But through the assistance of a sage and a series of inventive prosthetics, Hyakkimaru survives. Together with the young thief Dororo, the now-grown Hyakkimaru embarks upon a quest to slay all the demons and retrieve the stolen pieces of his body. This classic story from Osamu Tezuka, the father of modern manga, is now reimagined in this gorgeous new adaptation by Satoshi Shiki.
The Legend of Dororo and Hyakkimaru is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: どろろと百鬼丸伝, Bio of Dororo x Hyakkimaru, Сказание о Дороро и Хяккимару, 多羅羅與百鬼丸傳, 多罗罗与百鬼丸传
9. Pureun Yuri
You may know the story of Princess of Nakrang, but behind the scenes of the ancient Nakrang Kingdom’s royal palace, unfolds the story of a different princess.
The youngest princess of the Nakrang Kingdom, Seol is determined to pursue a different life from her sister Ran, who by unlucky fate, was persecuted by her father and brothers.
The slave boy she rescued Miru, the odd-eyed Jamalta, and the one we know very well… The three men are in her fate.
Blue Glass has finished publishing and it has 49 Chapters. It is also Known as: Pureun Yuri
8. Youhei Pierre
In the fifteenth century, when the French and English were at war, there appeared a woman claiming to be a visionary of God. She was Joan of Arc.
Mercenary Pierre has finished publishing and it has 26 Chapters. It is also Known as: 傭兵ピエール, Youhei Pierre
7. Regrets Of A Second Male Lead
Chloe found a letter from her husband’s first love in her study.
[I wish your partner was Chloe.
If you would stay by Chloe’s side, I would be so relieved.
P.s. Did you notice that the child likes you too?]
Chloe, who spent happy days with her sweet husband and lovely son.
The day she found her old letter from her husband’s first love, Leila, in the library.
Her happiness is shattered.
It turns out that Leyla had persuaded her husband, Gerard, to marry Chloe.
Chloe, who deeply loves her husband, is desperate for her truth, which she has learned after 8 years.
In the end, to find out the full story of her case, she heads to the north where Leila lives…
“Madam, I was wrong. I was really wrong…”
The late Marquis Gerard Blanchett prayed to his wife on her knees.
The experience of being driven to the very end of grief had already left him out of his mind.
He doesn’t know what he’s talking about, he just clings to his wife and asks for forgiveness.
“So… Don’t throw it away, okay? Chloe, please…”
This man cries and cries.
What the hell is his truth?
Regrets Of A Second Male Lead has finished publishing and it has 111 Chapters. It is also Known as: Regrets Of A Second Male Lead
6. Issak
Anno Domini 1620. Europe is riven with the conflagrations that will grow into the Thirty Years War. Catholic and Protestant forces clash across battlefields ruled by sword and gunpowder alike, and mercenaries of every stripe ply their trade. Among them is Issak, a lone Japanese warrior bearing a matchlock of strange design, and fighting in service to his sworn mission—to find and kill the man who murdered his master and fled Japan for the other side of the world. Meticulously researched and gorgeously illustrated, Issak is the next character-driven, historical action epic that fans of Vinland Saga can sink their teeth into.
Issak has finished publishing and it has 100 Chapters. It is also Known as: イサック, Isack, Isaac, วีรบุรุษสมรภูมิเดือด
5. Okan
A mother leave her alcoholic and gambler husband. Without money or housing, she can no longer rely on herself to raise alone her six year old son. Harsh but fair, proud and brave, she has one life goal: to make his son a man balanced and right! But between poverty, the Yakuza, the judgments of others and lack of father figure, his task will be far from easy. Ode to women, of their courage and unconditional love that they can devote to their children.
Okan has finished publishing and it has 9 Chapters. It is also Known as: おかん, A Bowlful of Happiness, A Bowl full of Happiness, おかん (もりやまつる)
4. Yu Wu
The traitor Gu Mang returned to his home kingdom again. Everyone rejoiced in his banishment. It was said the one who hated him most was his closest friend – the cold and stoic Young Master Mo.
A rumour: Young Master Mo prepared three hundred and sixty-five methods of torture to try on Gu Mang, enough to play with him for a year without repetition.
But what’s the truth then?
Well the truth is even more unspeakable–
Mo Xi’s identity: the most abstinent commander of the empire.
His relationship with the traitor Gu Mang: they’d slept together before.
Remnants of Filth has finished publishing and it has 214 Chapters. It is also Known as: Stains of Filth, Yuwu, Yú Wū
3. Jungle Taitei
Africa, mid-20th century: In the face of the encroachment of mankind, a white lion, Caesar, seeks to give all wild animals a safe haven, free from fear. And, to a very large degree, he is successful. His mistake is to liberate the cattle from nearby villages.
A professional hunter, Viper Snakely, known as Ham Egg in the original Japanese, is called in to stop these raids. He avoids directly attacking Caesar — instead, Snakely records the sounds of Caesar and uses that as bait to trap his mate, Snowene, who then becomes bait in a trap for Caesar. Caesar is killed, and the pregnant Snowene is shipped overseas, destined for a zoo.
Kimba is born on the ship. Snowene teaches him his father's ideals. As a huge storm approaches, she urges Kimba out to leave through the bars of her cage. The storm wrecks the ship, leaving Kimba floundering in the ocean. The fish help him to survive and learn to swim. As he begins to despair, the stars in the sky form his mother, and she encourages him with loving guidance. Guided by butterflies, Kimba makes it back to land.
Kimba lands far from his ancestral home and is found and cared for by some people. Kimba learns the advantages of human culture, and he makes up his mind that when he returns to his wild home he will bring civilized culture to the jungle and stand for peace like his father.
The show follows Kimba's life after he returns to the wild (still a young cub) and shows his learning and growing during the next year. One thing Kimba soon learns is that true peace will require communication and mutual understanding between the animals and humans.
Kimba, the white Lion has finished publishing and it has 23 Chapters. It is also Known as: ジャングル大帝, Jungle Emperor
2. Shin Chuuka Ichiban!
After the death of Mao's mother, who was called the "Fairy of Cuisine", Mao must strive to become a legendary chef himself, in order to take the title as head chef at his mother's restaurant. To do this, he must travel across China to learn the many ways of cooking. During his journey, he meets great friends and also fierce rivals.
Shin Chuuka Ichiban! has finished publishing and it has 108 Chapters. It is also Known as: 真・中華一番！, Shin Chuuka Ichiban!
1. Qiang Jin Jiu
The Six Prefectures of Zhongbo were ceded away in surrender to the external enemies, and Shen Zechuan was taken into custody in the capital, reduced to a drowning dog loathed and condemned by all. Xiao Chiye followed the scent of the furor and made his way over. But instead of setting others on him, he kicked Shen Zechuan with his very own leg that rendered the latter an invalid. Who would expect this invalid to turn around and bite him in a counterattack until he was all drenched in blood? That was the start of an epic feud between both men who tear at each other every time they come face-to-face with one another.
“Fate wants to bind me here for life, but this is not the path I choose. The yellow dust submerged my brothers deep under. I have no wish to bow in submission to an illusory fate. The imperial edict couldn’t save my troops, and the imperial court couldn’t fill the stomachs of my mounts. I’m no longer willing to lay down my life for this purpose. I want to overturn that mountain. I am going to fight for myself.”
Qiang Jin Jiu has finished publishing and it has 282 Chapters. It is also Known as: Jiang Jin Jiu, QJJ
