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

19. 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

18. 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

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. 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

15. 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

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. 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

12. 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)

11. 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

10. Oooku

In an alternative timeline of feudal Japan, a strange disease that only affects men caused a massive reduction of male population, thus females have to pick up men's jobs, changing the social structure. Now, after 80 years of the initial outbreak and current man:woman ratio of 1:4, Japan has become completely matriarchal, with women holding important political positions and men being their consort. Only the most powerful woman -- head of Tokugawa shogunate -- can keep a harem of handsome yet unproductive men, known as "Oooku."

Ōoku: The Inner Chambers has finished publishing and it has 79 Chapters. It is also Known as: 大奥, Oooku

9. "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

8. Yaiba

The light-hearted manga is about an adventuring samurai named Yaiba Kurogane (鉄 刃, Kurogane Yaiba?) who knows how to be a samurai, and little else. Yaiba lives with his father, Kenjurou, in the forest. One day, while Yaiba was eating, a troop of gorillas came to attack. Yaiba and his father escaped and hid inside a box, but they didn't know that the box was full of pineapples and was going to be transported into the city. In the city, Yaiba finds out that he is a legendary warrior and has to fight the evil of a demonic looking high-school student named Takeshi.
Yaiba adapted as an anime series that ran over 50 episodes, and encompassed the adventures Yaiba had in the first few runs of the manga. The show begins with Yaiba training to become a samurai in the jungle with his father and his two animal friends, Kagetora and Shonosuke. At a pivotal point, Yaiba's father announces that he is ready to return to Japan, and instructs him to find his old friend and rival, who just happens to be Sayaka's father.
The people that Yaiba meets along his journey to become a true samurai encourage him, train him, or inspire him to greatness, though at heart he is still a child, and his incredible skill with a sword is matched only by his kindness towards his friends. Though, he tends to leap before he looks, and his thick-headedness tends to turn potential allies into enemies, though his friends soon clobber him, and salvage the situation. This unlikely group embarks on a host of incredible adventures where they meet legendary figures from Japanese history, and finally overcome impossible odds, and put everything on the line, to save the entire planet from a threat not of this world. It's a story of love, friendship, hard work, and never giving up.

Yaiba has finished publishing and it has 255 Chapters. It is also Known as: Kenyuu Densetsu Yaiba

7. 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

6. 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

5. Tokugawa no Mashira

Tokugawa Monkeys has finished publishing and it has 22 Chapters. It is also Known as: 徳川の猿〈ましら〉, Tokugawa no Saru

4. 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 has finished publishing and it has 57 Chapters. It is also Known as: アルゲートオンライン, Argate Online

3. 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

2. Blade & Bastard

Deep in the unexplored reaches of the dungeon, a corpse is discovered—one that shouldn’t exist. After Iarumas is resurrected, his memories of life before death are gone, and he spends his days delving into the dungeon to retrieve the bodies of dead adventurers. Can they be revived as well? Or will God reduce them to piles of ash on the altar? Either way, Iarumas collects his finder’s fee. And though his skills earn him some grudging respect, he’s also scorned for this cold, utilitarian attitude. The living keep their distance—Iarumas consorts primarily with the dead. That is, until he meets Garbage, a feral young swordswoman who’s the sole survivor of a massacred party. With Garbage by his side, Iarumas ventures deeper, scouring the dungeon for clues to his past, avoiding monsters, traps, and the inevitability of a permanent ashen demise.

Blade & Bastard is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: ブレイド＆バスタード, Blade & Bastard

1. Angolmois: Genkou Kassenki

Nanahiko Takagi's manga about a samurai defending Japan against Mongol invaders.

Angolmois: Genkou Kassenki has finished publishing and it has 40 Chapters. It is also Known as: アンゴルモア 元寇合戦記, Angolmois: Genkou Kassenki