Top 19 Samurai manga you should read right now. [2025 List]

Samurai manga you should read right now.

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We present you the list of Samurai manga you should read right now.

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19. Vagabond

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

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18. Gintama

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

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17. Jigoku Raku

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)

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16. MookHyang - Dark Lady

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

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15. Tenkaichi: Nihon Saikyou Bugeisha Ketteisen

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

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14. Nige Jouzu no Wakagimi

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 is currently publishing and has 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

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13. Mugen no Juunin

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

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12. Isekai Samurai

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

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11. Gantz:E

Gantz:E

A peasant named Hanbei asks a girl named O-haru for her hand in marriage, but O-haru confesses that she is already thinking of another man named Masakichi from a neighboring village. When Hanbei seeks out Masakichi, he finds that Masakichi possesses a sword and the skills to use it, despite being a peasant.

Gantz:E is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: GANTZ:E, Gantz:Edo

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10. Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan

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

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9. Hyouge Mono

Hyouge Mono

It was the Sengoku-era, when the warlords usurped each other. There was a man whose soul was overtaken by the ways of tea and material greed, as he worked his way up toward greater power and status. His name was Sasuke Furuta, a subordinate warrior of Nobunaga Oda. With his world broadened by Nobunaga the Genius, and his spiritual insight learned from Senno Soueki the Master of Tea, Sasuke drove the road to Hyouge Mono. To live or not to live. For the power of the art. That is the question!

Odd Things has finished publishing and it has 273 Chapters. It is also Known as: へうげもの, Hyougemono, Heugemono, Odd Things

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8. Totsuide kita Yome Aisouwarai bakari shiteru

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

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7. Gamaran: Shura

Gamaran: Shura

A sequel/spin-off to the original Gamaran manga focusing on Gama Kurogane's former rival, mentor and friend, Iori Sengoku.

Gamaran: Shura is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 我間乱―修羅―, Gamaran: Shura

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6. Argate Online

Argate Online

Izu Takashi was just playing the online game -Argate Online- like usual, but he suddenly noticed something strange, his level is now....!! Also he can not log out and the pain reduced funtion does not work.....

Argate Online is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: アルゲートオンライン, Argate Online

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5. Sidooh

Sidooh

During the political upheavals and social strife at the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan (1855), two parent-less brothers Yukimura Shoutarou and Yukimura Gentarou struggles to survive in these turbulent times. With their only possession being their deceased father's sword and clinging onto the wisdom of their mother's final words, the brothers seek to embark on the Path of the Warrior: Sidooh.

Sidooh has finished publishing and it has 266 Chapters. It is also Known as: SIDOOH―士道―, Sidooh

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4. Ichigeki

Ichigeki

A martial arts historical series about a peasant turned samurai and caught in the turmoil of the final year of the Edo Period (1868).



Included one-shot:
Volume 1: Inu no Seikatsu (A Dog's Life)

Ichigeki is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: いちげき, Blow, Inu no Seikatsu, A Dog's Life

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3. Puchimon

Puchimon

Adventures of Melty and friends that attend an academy in order to become questers!

Puchimon has finished publishing and it has 81 Chapters. It is also Known as: ぷちモン, Petit Monster

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2. Gifuu Doudou!!: Kaze no Gunshi Kuroda Kanbee

Gifuu Doudou!!: Kaze no Gunshi Kuroda Kanbee

"If you hadn't unified the country, who would have?"
"It would have been the best strategist in the Sengoku Period, Josui Ensei. Also known as Kuroda Kanbee Yoshitaka, a man who was like the wind."

Ieyasu Tokugawa, at the end of his life, tells to his grandson the tale of the man he saw as one of the greatest. A free spirit that rivaled Oda's foolishness, Kuroda Kanbee read the wind to make his decisions.

Gifuu Doudou!!: Kaze no Gunshi Kuroda Kanbee has finished publishing and it has 39 Chapters. It is also Known as: 義風堂々!! 疾風の軍師 黒田官兵衛, Gifu Do-Do!! The Tactician of Wind Kuroda Kanbei

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1. Seirei Gensouki

Seirei Gensouki

Meet Rio: a callous orphaned boy living in the slums. At only 7-years-old, he realizes he’s actually the reincarnation of Haruto Amakawa, a Japanese university student with a tragic past. While still reeling from this shocking epiphany, Rio also comes to learn that he possesses extremely potent magical abilities and uses his new powers to solve the kidnapping case of a little girl. His good deed is acknowledged, and he’s rewarded by being enrolled into… a prestigious academy for noble children...?

Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 精霊幻想記, Seigenso

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