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. [2025 List]
- 19. Berserk
- 18. Vinland Saga
- 17. Claymore
- 16. Buddha
- 15. Issak
- 14. Historie
- 13. Chuuka Ichiban!
- 12. Yu Wu
- 11. Yuukoku no Rasputin
- 10. Emma to Hakushaku
- 9. Abandon the Old in Tokyo
- 8. Jungle Taitei
- 7. Genshijin Kareshi
- 6. Beetle Hands
- 5. Dororo to Hyakkimaru-den
- 4. Shin Chuuka Ichiban!
- 3. Nihonshi Tantei Conan
- 2. Pureun Yuri
- 1. Sha Po Lang
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
Thorfinn is the son to one of the Viking's greatest warriors, but when his father is killed in battle by the mercenary leader Askeladd, he swears his intent to have revenge. Thorfinn joins Askeladd's group in order to challenge him to a duel and ends up caught in the middle of a war for the crown of England.
Vinland Saga is currently publishing and has 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. 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
15. Issak
In the 17th century, the Holy Roman Empire was ravaged by the Thirty Years' War. In the middle of this chaos appeared a Japanese mercenary named Isaac. His fierce battle begins!
Issak is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: イサック, Isack, Isaac
14. Historie
Historie takes place in ancient Greece and follows the life and childhood of Eumenes, who historically was the secretary and general to Alexander the Great. Historie includes characters such as Aristotle and King Philip II of Macedon and begins around 343 BC, which was a time of Macedonian expansion.
Historie is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: ヒストリエ HISTORIĒ, Historie
13. Chuuka Ichiban!
The story takes place in 19th century China during the Qing Dynasty, where the Emperor was weakened and the country was close to chaos. It is also during a fictitious era called "The Era of the Cooking Wars". It was an era in which top chefs with different cooking styles tried their best to improve their skills and to become the best chef in China. It is a country where insulting a high-grade chef or fooling around with cooking could land a person in a jail, and impersonating a top-chef is as good as usurpation of authority. Chefs compete with each other in order to gain respect and even power, but also with the risks of losing everything.
After the death of Mao's mother, Pai, who was called the 'Fairy of Cuisine', Mao becomes a Super Chef in order to take the title as Master Chef of his mother's restaurant. However, before he takes his mother's place as Master Chef, he continues to travel China in order to learn more of the many ways of cooking, in the hopes of becoming a legendary chef, just like his mother. During his journey, he meets great friends and fierce rivals who wish to challenge him in the field of cooking.
Cooking Master Boy has finished publishing and it has 36 Chapters. It is also Known as: 中華一番！, King of Tower
12. 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
11. Yuukoku no Rasputin
The Kafkaesque autobiography of a diplomat who compares himself to Rasputin, as he gets caught up in a political purge during the early 2000s.
A legal thriller with a dash of geopolitics.
Note: Despite the title, this manga is not a chronicle of Grigori Rasputin's life.
Rasputin the Patriot has finished publishing and it has 53 Chapters. It is also Known as: 憂国のラスプーチン, Yuukoku no Rasputin
10. Emma to Hakushaku
Emilia, the only daughter of a wealthy commoner, falls in love with the charismatic aristocratic Dominique. The homely Emilia, understanding the purpose of property, rejects his advances. A stoke of misfortune then forces her to withdrawal from society and change her name to Emma. No longer a woman of means, Emma becomes a governess for the Earl of Chard's progeny.
Emma to Hakushaku has finished publishing and it has 10 Chapters. It is also Known as: エマと伯爵, Emma and the Earl
9. 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
8. 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
7. Genshijin Kareshi
Regular high school girl Mito Kamigome wants to fall in love. She gets some interest from good-looking guys, but they're all a bit...weedy. One day, the goddess of agriculture, Spica, appears to her and sends Mito back through time so she can find her kind of guy. Will Mito really meet her soulmate in the prehistoric era? Only time will tell...
Included one-shot:
Volume 1: Senkou no Giselle
Genshijin Kareshi has finished publishing and it has 14 Chapters. It is also Known as: 原始人彼氏, Senkou no Giselle, Primitive Boy Friend
6. Beetle Hands
Welcome to the Heartland, a nightmarish realm where your own memories come back to hunt you -- literally. Dragged into the Heartland by the terrifying Beast that lives inside it, Matthew must survive long enough to free himself and his best friend Kenma before the Beast consumes them both. Better run fast, Matthew, before the Beast can catch you.
Beetle Hands is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Beetle Hands
5. 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
4. 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!
3. Nihonshi Tantei Conan
Conan Edogawa and friends help "Time Drifter" children who travel back in time.
Nihonshi Tantei Conan is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 日本史探偵コナン, Japanese History Detective Conan
2. 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
1. Sha Po Lang
In the age of the Great Liang Dynasty, the lives of the people were made convenient with steam-powered machines that run on a fuel named Violetstream Gold. Chang Geng, who lived in a small countryside village, shared a distant relationship with his mother while his stepfather was away most of the year round, and the only people he was close to were two little kids, the village teacher, and his yi fu – adoptive father. But his life was flipped upside down one day following the barbaric Man tribes’ invasion, and it turned out that his entire identity had been an illusion – not only was Chang Geng himself not the country boy he thought he was, but also his mother, his teacher, and even his beloved yi fu…
Sha Po Lang has finished publishing and it has 143 Chapters. It is also Known as: SPL
