What is this genre all about?
We present you the list of Samurai manga you should read right now.
Try our anime quiz: Anime Characters Guessing Quiz/Game
Top 20 Samurai manga you should read right now. [2026 List]
- 20. Vagabond
- 19. MookHyang - Dark Lady
- 18. Jigoku Raku
- 17. Gintama
- 16. Taiyou to Tsuki no Hagane
- 15. Isekai Samurai
- 14. Nige Jouzu no Wakagimi
- 13. Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan
- 12. Totsuide kita Yome Aisouwarai bakari shiteru
- 11. Tenkaichi: Nihon Saikyou Bugeisha Ketteisen
- 10. "Hitokiri" Shoujo, Koushaku Reijou no Goei ni Naru
- 9. Drifters
- 8. Kazemakase Tsukikage Ran
- 7. Mugen no Juunin
- 6. Vagabond: Saigo no Manga-ten
- 5. Deadpool: Samurai
- 4. Honegoe Monogatari
- 3. Sengoku Basara 2
- 2. Sengoku
- 1. Peace Maker Kurogane
20. Vagabond
In 16th century Japan, Shinmen Takezou is a wild, rough young man, in both his appearance and his actions. His aggressive nature has won him the collective reproach and fear of his village, leading him and his best friend, Matahachi Honiden, to run away in search of something grander than provincial life. The pair enlist in the Toyotomi army, yearning for glory—but when the Toyotomi suffer a crushing defeat at the hands of the Tokugawa Clan at the Battle of Sekigahara, the friends barely make it out alive.
After the two are separated, Shinmen returns home on a self-appointed mission to notify the Hon'iden family of Matahachi's survival. He instead finds himself a wanted criminal, framed for his friend's supposed murder based on his history of violence. Upon being captured, he is strung up on a tree and left to die. An itinerant monk, the distinguished Takuan Soho, takes pity on the "devil child," secretly freeing Shinmen and christening him with a new name to avoid pursuit by the authorities: Musashi Miyamoto.
Vagabond is the fictitious retelling of the life of one of Japan's most renowned swordsmen, the "Sword Saint" Musashi Miyamoto—his rise from a swordsman with no desire other than to become "Invincible Under the Heavens" to an enlightened warrior who slowly learns of the importance of close friends, self-reflection, and life itself.
Vagabond has finished publishing and it has 327 Chapters. It is also Known as: バガボンド, Vagabond
19. MookHyang - Dark Lady
As the master of the School of Unholy Arts and as the undefeated Unmasked Demon, MookHyang unfortunately falls to a strange fantasy world by the magic of his enemies (School of Blood Arts). In the new world of elf, sorcerer, knight, and dragon, MookHyang’s adventure of finding a way back to his old world (Murim) unfolds.
Mookhyang: Dark Lady is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Muk-Hyang: Dark Lady, Mukhyang Dakeureidi
18. Jigoku Raku
Gabimaru the Hollow is one of the most vicious assassins ever to come out of the ninja village of Iwagakure. He’s ruthlessly efficient, but a betrayal results in him being handed a death sentence. He has only one hope—in order to earn his freedom, he must travel to a long-hidden island and recover an elixir that will make the shogun immortal. Failure is not an option. On this island, heaven and hell are just a hair’s breadth away.
Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku has finished publishing and it has 127 Chapters. It is also Known as: 地獄楽, Jigokuraku, Paradition, Heavenhell, Jigoku Raku (KAKU Yuuji)
17. Gintama
The samurai didn't stand a chance. First, the aliens invaded Japan. Next, they took all the jobs. And then they confiscated everyone's swords. So what does a hotheaded former samurai like Sakata "Gin" Gintoki do to make ends meet? Take any odd job that comes his way, even if it means losing his dignity.
Included one-shots:
Volume 1: Dandelion
Volume 2: Shirokuro
Volume 24: 13
Volume 38: Bankara-san ga Tooru
Volume 41: Special Lesson.
Gin Tama has finished publishing and it has 709 Chapters. It is also Known as: 銀魂, Dandelion, Shiro Kuro, Black and White, Shirokuro, 13, Thirteen, Bankara-san ga Tooru, Here Comes Mr. Uncivilised, Silver Soul
16. Taiyou to Tsuki no Hagane
Kounosuke Ryuudo is a samurai who is stuck in perpetual poverty. Looking for a job is fruitless, as he cannot wield a blade. Quite literally, in fact. One day, after being accosted by some criminals and wishing to only reach the sweet embrace of death, he receives a marriage proposal from a mysterious woman...
Source: MU
Steel of the Celestial Shadows is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 太陽と月の鋼, The Steel of Sun and Moon
15. Isekai Samurai
The time is the Warring States period. The strongest samurai in history wanders the land, in search of a good place to die — until suddenly she is transported to another world!?
An invincible samurai cuts her way through another world!!! An isekai samurai fantasy spun by Keigo Saito, in his brilliant, overwhelming style!
Samurai in Another World is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 異世界サムライ, Isekai Samurai
14. Nige Jouzu no Wakagimi
Yusei Matsui, creator of Assassination Classroom and Neuro: Supernatural Detective, is back! Set in feudal Japan in between the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, our hero Hojo Takatoki is a boy on the run that history all but forgot! When the Kamakura shogunate is overthrown by Ashikaga Takauji, Takatoki's family and standing are visciously taken away from him, and he must flee to the far reaches of the land to survive and seek out his revenge!
The Elusive Samurai has finished publishing and it has 238 Chapters. It is also Known as: 逃げ上手の若君, Héroe fugitivo, Nige Jōzu no Wakagimi, Nigejouzu no Wakagimi, Nigejozu no Wakagimi, The Young Lord Who Is Skilled at Escaping
13. Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan
The story of Rurouni Kenshin takes place during the early Meiji period in Japan. It tells the story of a peaceful wanderer named Himura Kenshin, formerly known as the assassin Hitokiri Battōsai. After participating during the Bakumatsu war, Kenshin wanders the countryside of Japan offering protection and aid to those in need as atonement for the murders he once committed as an assassin. When arriving in Tokyo, he meets a young woman named Kamiya Kaoru, who was in the middle of a fight with a murderer who claims to be the Hitokiri Battōsai from her swordmanship school. Kenshin decides to help her and defeats the fake Battōsai. After discovering that Kenshin is the real Battōsai, she offers him a place stay at her dojo as she notes Kenshin is a gentle person instead. Kenshin accepts and begins to establish lifelong relationships with many people, including ex-enemies, while dealing with his fair share of enemies, new and old. (Wikipedia)
Also includes the one-shot: Crescent Moon Over A Country At War (Vol.6)
Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story has finished publishing and it has 259 Chapters. It is also Known as: るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚-, Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan
12. Totsuide kita Yome Aisouwarai bakari shiteru
A Samurai is worried about the fact that his wife always seems to wear a forced smile whenever she's with him.
My New Wife is Forcing Herself to Smile has finished publishing and it has 100 Chapters. It is also Known as: 嫁いできた嫁が愛想笑いばかりしてる, Totsuide kita Yome Aisouwarai bakari shiteru
11. Tenkaichi: Nihon Saikyou Bugeisha Ketteisen
Battle tournament manga set in the Sengoku Era.
The year is 1600. Ten years have passed since Oda Nobunaga unified Japan. When Nobunaga realized that he was dying, he announced that he would hand over the country to the one who produced the strongest warriors. The warlords, whose dreams of unifying the country had been dashed, set up their own strongest warriors and set their sights on becoming the ruler of Japan
Tenkaichi: Battle to Decide Japan's Strongest Martial Artist is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: テンカイチ 日本最強武芸者決定戦, テンカイチ -日本最強武芸者決定戦-, 天下第一日本最强武士选拔赛
10. "Hitokiri" Shoujo, Koushaku Reijou no Goei ni Naru
Shurine has mastered the sword as a girl raised to serve as a bodyguard. However, she has been falsely accused of assassinating a client and is forced to go on the lam. Driven out of her homeland to a foreign land, Shurine meets Lutecia, a duke's daughter whose life is in danger, because she is embroiled in a dispute over the succession to the throne. Lutecia is attacked by an assassin, and Shurine makes a proposal.
"Hitokiri" Girl Becomes Bodyguard for Duke's Daughter is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 『人斬り』少女、公爵令嬢の護衛になる, "Hitokiri" Shoujo, Koushaku Reijou no Goei ni Naru
9. Drifters
Shimazu Toyohisa, whilst involved at the Battle of Sekigahara, manages to mortally wound Ii Naomasa, but is critically wounded in the process. As he walks from the field broken and bleeding, Toyohisa finds himself transported to a corridor of doors, where a bespectacled man at a desk waits for him. This man, Murasaki, sends Toyohisa into the nearest door where he wakes up in another world. There, Toyohisa meets other great warriors like him who have been transported as well, to be part of a group known as "Drifters".
is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: ドリフターズ, Drifters
8. Kazemakase Tsukikage Ran
"Tsukikage Ran is comprised of thirteen self-contained stories. The series follows Ran into a new town, where she encounters some kind of wrongdoing. Every episode climaxes with a swordfight featuring the protagonist, sometimes aided by Meow's martial arts prowess." - Wikipedia
Carried by the Wind: Tsukikage Ran has finished publishing and it has Chapters. It is also Known as: 風まかせ月影蘭, Carried by the Wind: Tsukikage Ran, Ran, the Samurai Girl
7. Mugen no Juunin
Manji is an immortal swordsman, who has been cursed with eternal life. He has grown tired of living with all the death he has created. He has no skills other then those of killing, thus he forms a plan to regain his mortality: he shall kill one hundred evil men for each good one he has killed. The old witch who afflicted Manji with immortality agrees to Manji's proposition and Manji is set on his path to kill one thousand evil men. On his journey he meets a young girl, Rin, who has her own vengeance to seek against the sword school whose members slaughtered Rin's family. Rin and Manji journey together, each hoping to find some kind of peace. In their way are many varied enemies. Rin and Manji are almost constantly under attack and must learn to live their lives, avoiding being consumed by revenge.
Note: Originally published with 219 chapters, which were then recollected into 207 chapters in the tankoubons.
Blade of the Immortal has finished publishing and it has 207 Chapters. It is also Known as: 無限の住人, Mugen no Juunin, Inhabitant of Infinity
6. Vagabond: Saigo no Manga-ten
Telling the later life of Vagabond's Musashi Miyamoto, it was depicted through 140 hand-drawn drawings with ink and brush. It was released at the Ueno Royal Museum in Tokyo in May 2008, and since then it has been displayed at three other venues, Kumamoto City Museum, Suntory Museum in Osaka, and Sendai Mediatheque, with new paintings and productions.
Note: The comic was compiled in two books: "Inoueno: Mikazuki-hen" (いのうえの 三日月篇) and "Inoueno: Mangetsu-hen" (いのうえの 満月篇).
Vagabond: Saigo no Manga-ten has finished publishing and it has 2 Chapters. It is also Known as: バガボンド 最後のマンガ展, Vagabond: The Last Manga Exhibition, いのうえの 三日月篇, いのうえの 満月篇
5. Deadpool: Samurai
Marvel raids Shonen Jump + ?! The irresponsible hero "Deadpool," an extreme outlier even amongst American comic heroes, is finally serialized !!!! A super collaboration manga that involves both the Avengers and Shonen Jump characters!
Anyway, Deadpool lands in Tokyo with a bang! What could possibly go wrong when Iron Man invites Deadpool join the Avengers' new Samurai Squad? After all, Deadpool is just in it for the money…and the trip to Japan. This is fine, right?
Note: Includes 2 extra chapters.
Deadpool: Samurai has finished publishing and it has 17 Chapters. It is also Known as: デッドプール: SAMURAI, Deadpool: Samurai
4. Honegoe Monogatari
Tokimaru is a dokuro-houshi (skull monk), a monk with the special skill to speak with the bones of the deceased. Although he reluctantly helps some lost spirits along the way, Tokimaru is on a mission to find out what happened to his younger brother Fujinari, who has disappeared from his assigned post under a powerful oyakata...
Honegoe Monogatari has finished publishing and it has 5 Chapters. It is also Known as: 骨声物語, Hone Goe Monogatari, Bone Voice Tale, Dokuro Bouzu
3. Sengoku Basara 2
With the death of Nobunaga, Japan is thrown into a mist of battle once again as the many warlords of the nation try to unite it as one. But can any succeed when faced against Nobunaga's sucessor, Toyotomi and his lust for power thats sets the flame for war as he try to take over the world fulfilling his ambitions of absolute power?
Sengoku Basara 2 has finished publishing and it has 23 Chapters. It is also Known as: 戦国BASARA2, Sengoku Basara 2
2. Sengoku
Mounted warriors line up and rush to the assault. Brandishing swords on horseback, the warriors slash at each other... This kind of image of feudal combat is all a lie. Well, then, how did Samurai really fight? A declaration of war has now been made against the lie of combat that was forged during the Edo period, and continued uncontested to this very day.
has finished publishing and it has 149 Chapters. It is also Known as: センゴク, Sengoku
1. Peace Maker Kurogane
The sword-slashing sequel to Peace Maker is here! Three months have passed since the Ikedaya Incident that crushed the anti-shogunate rebellion--and propelled the Shinsengumi, Kyoto's now-official police, into history as Kyoto's premium peacekeeping force. But there is no rest for the peaceful: An unexpected threat to the Shinsengumi arises, and it's going to take more than mere swords to defeat this new terror on the horizon.
Peacemaker Kurogane has finished publishing and it has Chapters. It is also Known as: PEACE MAKER 鐵, Peace Maker Kurogane
