What is this genre all about? Sports anime revolves around a recreational physical activity or skill. In addition they often adhere to certain genre conventions, the emphasis on training and practice in preparation for competition, characters desire for self improvement, and pursuit of a specific goal.
We present you the list of Sports manga you should read right now.
Try our anime quiz: Anime Characters Guessing Quiz/Game
Top 20 Sports manga you should read right now. [2026 List]
- 20. Blue Lock
- 19. SKET Dance
- 18. Ao no Hako
- 17. Grappler Baki
- 16. Hajime no Ippo
- 15. Baki: New Grappler Baki
- 14. Haikyuu!!
- 13. Tetsunabe no Jan
- 12. Slam Dunk
- 11. Naruto Ninden Series
- 10. Rokudenashi Blues
- 9. Haebinggokseon
- 8. Cheonjae Midfield-ui Pass-neun Teukbyeolhada
- 7. I'm Being Mistaken for a Soccer Genius
- 6. Isshou Senkin
- 5. The Boxer
- 4. Initial D
- 3. Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibouken
- 2. Ao Ashi
- 1. Ashita no Joe
20. Blue Lock
After failing to win the World Cup, there's unrest in the Japanese Soccer community. Many of the older patrons of the sport aren't too disturbed by the lack of trophies, but newcomer Anri Teiri is furious – and she's determined to fix what she sees as the problem with Japanese players. To that end she hires maverick trainer Jinpachi Ego, who devises a strange yet rigorous plan: he takes the three hundred best young soccer players in the country, sends them to a state-of-the-art training facility, and whittles them down until he has the absolute best striker in the nation. Yoichi Isagi is one of the boys chosen for the camp. He may be number 299 out of 300, but nothing – and no one – is going to stand in his way of coming out on top.
Blue Lock is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: ブルーロック, Blue Lock
19. SKET Dance
The manga focuses on the misadventures of the "Campus Support Group" or "Sket-Dan", of Kaimei Gakuen, a club devoted to solving any and all problems brought to it by the staff or student body for the general improvement of campus life. Due to its general lack of meaningful assignments and unglamorous 'group of handymen' reputation the organization is treated with widespread contempt and it is composed of only three members.
SKET Dance has finished publishing and it has 288 Chapters. It is also Known as: SKET DANCE, SKET Dance
18. Ao no Hako
Taiki Inomata is on the boys' badminton team at sports powerhouse Eimei Junior and Senior High. He's in love with basketball player Chinatsu Kano, the older girl he trains alongside every morning in the gym. One Spring day, their relationship takes a sharp turn ... And thus begins this brand-new series of love, sports and youth!
Blue Box has finished publishing and it has 250 Chapters. It is also Known as: アオのハコ, Ao no Hako
17. Grappler Baki
The story revolves around Baki Hanma and his quest to proclaim himself as the strongest grappler in the world, thus taking the title from his father. Baki also fights to gain the trust of his overly psychotic mother.
Baki the Grappler has finished publishing and it has 371 Chapters. It is also Known as: グラップラー刃牙, Grappler Baki
16. Hajime no Ippo
Makunouchi Ippo has been bullied his entire life. Constantly running errands and being beaten up by his classmates, Ippo has always dreamed of changing himself, but never has the passion to act upon it. One day, in the midst of yet another bullying, Ippo is saved by Takamura Mamoru, who happens to be a boxer. Ippo faints from his injuries and is brought to Takamura boxing gym to recover. As he regains consciousness, he is awed and amazed at his new surroundings in the gym, though lacks confidence to attempt anything. Takamura places a photo of Ippo’s classmate on a punching bag and forces him to punch it. It is only then that Ippo feels something stir inside him and eventually asks Takamura to train him in boxing. Thinking that Ippo does not have what it takes, Takamura gives him a task deemed impossible and gives him a one week time limit. With a sudden desire to get stronger, for himself and his hard working mother, Ippo trains relentlessly to accomplish the task within the time limit. Thus Ippo’s journey to the top of the boxing world begins.
Hajime no Ippo is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: はじめの一歩, The Fighting!, Fighting Spirit, The Fighting! Ippo, Hajime no Ippo Gaiden: Naniwa Tiger
15. Baki: New Grappler Baki
BAKI: THE SEARCH OF OUR STRONGEST HERO is the official name of the 4th saga in which Baki will find strongest enemies in his path, and the way to challenge his dad once again, and this time… To lose is to die.
Hanma Baki (named “Wild Fang” by his father) is a boy born under an unlucky star. Since the day of his birth, Baki has been rigorously training at all kinds of martial arts, strengthening himself at his father’s command. For he must obey his father’s rule that at his “coming of age” Baki surpass his own father, Hanma Yuujiro, “the most powerful creature walking on earth.” Baki’s life has been nothing but trouble. This has given Baki a wild nature and convinced him that “to be the most powerful” is his way of life. Tenacious and fearless under all adverse conditions, Baki continues his training looking for new masters and new challenges to strengthen his personality and become “the strongest man on earth.” That road is a lonely one and Baki experienced the cruelty of his sick dad in a move that would change his life forever.
Baki: New Grappler Baki has finished publishing and it has 276 Chapters. It is also Known as: バキ―NEW GRAPPLER BAKI, Baki: In Search of Our Strongest Hero
14. Haikyuu!!
Ever since he saw the legendary player known as the "Little Giant" compete at the national volleyball finals, Shoyo Hinata has been aiming to be the best volleyball player ever! He decides to join the team at the high school the Little Giant went to-and then surpass him. Who says you need to be tall to play volleyball when you can jump higher than anyone else?
After losing his first and last volleyball match against Tobio Kageyama, "the King of the Court," Shoyo Hinata swears to become his rival after graduating middle school. But what happens when the guy he wants to defeat ends up being his teammate?!
Notes:
Winner of the 61st Shogakukan Manga Award in the Shounen Category in 2017.
Includes 2 extra chapters.
Haikyu!! has finished publishing and it has 404 Chapters. It is also Known as: ハイキュー!!, Haikjú!!, Haikyu!! Chàng khổng lồ tí hon, Haikyu!! Fly High! Volleyball!, Haikyuu!!, Haikyû!! - Les As du Volley, Haikyū!!, Haikyū!! - L'asso del Volley, High Kyuu!!, HQ!!, Volleyball!!, Волейбол!, Хайкю:!!, هايكيو!!, هایکیو, ഹൈക്ക്യു!!, ไฮคิว!! คู่ตบฟ้าประทาน (SIC), ハイキュー!!, 排球!!, 排球少年!!, 하이큐!!
13. Tetsunabe no Jan
Jan Akiyama, a teenage jerk of a Chinese cuisine chef who believes "cooking is about winning" battles the world iron chef style.
Tetsunabe no Jan has finished publishing and it has 249 Chapters. It is also Known as: 鉄鍋のジャン, Tetsunabe no Jan
12. Slam Dunk
Winning isn't everything in the game of basketball, but who wants to come in second? It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that. They have one last year to make their captain's dream of reaching the finals come true--will they do it? Takehiko Inoue's legendary beloved basketball manga is finally here and the tale of a lifetime is in your hands.
Hanamichi Sakuragi's got no game with girls--none at all! It doesn't help that he's known for throwing down at a moment's notice and always coming out on top. A hopeless bruiser, he's been rejected by 50 girls in a row! All that changes when he meets the girl of his dreams, Haruko, and she's actually not afraid of him! When she introduces him to the game of basketball, his life is changed forever...
Included one-shot:
Volume 31: Slam Dunk: 10 Days After
Slam Dunk has finished publishing and it has 276 Chapters. It is also Known as: SLAM DUNK, Slam Dunk
11. Naruto Ninden Series
A whole village has suddenly disappeared and in its place, there is the mountain Hyatsuki. Can the story of the "Jutsu of the moving mountains" really be true? And where is Narutos old rival Renge? Naruto's job is it to find the answers to all these questions.
Note: The novel is presented as if it were written by Jiraiya.
Naruto Ninden Series has finished publishing and it has 5 Chapters. It is also Known as: NARUTO -ナルト- 忍伝シリーズ, Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi, Naruto Dokonjou Ninden, Naruto Dojunjou Ninden, The Tale of the Utterly Purehearted Shinobi
10. Rokudenashi Blues
Maeda is a new student in the Teiken High School. He stutters when he's nervous and he's rather clumsy. He gets noted immediately because he hits a teacher during the entrance ceremony. Some clubs search to enlist him as they see in him a force they can use to get even with other clubs. But Maeda is a loner and has only one dream: becoming boxing champion. His first objective is to beat the leader of the boxing club. "Rokudenashi" translates as "good for nothing".
Good-For-Nothing Blues has finished publishing and it has 422 Chapters. It is also Known as: ろくでなしBLUES, Rokudenashi Blues
9. Haebinggokseon
After twelve years, a former teammate—no, a thorn in his side—suddenly reappears. Eunsan isn’t thrilled to be working with Ian again, having long buried both his ice hockey past and any memories of him.
Unlike Eunsan, who hopes their meeting will be a one-time thing, Ian insists on keeping him around with an offer he can’t refuse. With his beloved younger sibling caught in the middle, Eunsan reluctantly agrees, but he can't shake the feeling that Ian has an ulterior motive.
Why does Ian keep pulling him closer? There’s no way this guy actually has feelings for him…right?
Melting Point is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 解氷曲線〜君の氷が解けたら〜, 融冰曲線, Punto de Fusión, Briser la Glace, Schmelzpunkt, The Melting Season
8. Cheonjae Midfield-ui Pass-neun Teukbyeolhada
I see it. The flow of the game, invisible to others!
Song Yu-Jun, who loved soccer more than anyone, suddenly becomes colorblind and quits the game. Fifteen years pass, and his life ends unjustly.
"Just once... If only I could play on the field just once...!"
In that moment, he returns to 15 years ago, when he could see colors. As he prepares to kick the ball, overjoyed at being able to play again, he suddenly begins to see a strange light.
A modern sports fantasy where he transforms into a genius midfielder, seeing the various colors that reveal the flow of the game!
The Genius Midfielder's Passes Are Special is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: A Prodigy Midfielder's Pass Is Special
7. I'm Being Mistaken for a Soccer Genius
Lying seems simple… until the day you’re confronted with it. The lie I once told returned to haunt me. It was the point where the misunderstandings began. But, could it be that it wasn’t a misunderstanding after all?
I'm Being Mistaken for a Soccer Genius is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: I'm Mistaken for a Soccer Genius
6. Isshou Senkin
After retiring from public fighting and getting fired from underground fighting, 27 year old Tenma Nozomi's zest for life is gradually dwindling away. It's hard to be at the bottom with nowhere to go, and that's exactly where she and her two friends are. However, Nozomi hits upon an idea that may just solve all of their problems: they could make their own underground fighting circuit for women, and tap into an underexplored market. As good as that sounds, her insistence on including the unknown quantity Hongou Hina may prove to be more than she bargained for...
ST✰R: Strike it Rich is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 一勝千金, ISSK, The Priceless Victory, Isshō Senkin, Issho Senkin, STAR: Strike it Rich
5. The Boxer
You’ve got the raw talent. Or you’re the underdog. But do you have the heart? Do you have what it takes? Let’s see what you’re made of. The real fight starts now!
The Boxer has finished publishing and it has 133 Chapters. It is also Known as: ザ・ボクサー, Boksör
4. Initial D
Only the fearless survive in the white-hot world of street racing, as teams take on dangerous roads in the shadow of Mt. Akina. Behind the wheel of the mysterious "Ghost of Akina" is Takumi, on his way to becoming the greatest racer ever.
Initial D has finished publishing and it has 719 Chapters. It is also Known as: 頭文字D, Kashiramoji D
3. Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibouken
After the defeat of the demon lord Hadlar all of the monsters were unleashed from his evil will and moved to the island of Delmurin to live in peace. Dai is the only human living on the island. Having been raised by the kindly monster Brass, Dai's dream is to grow up to be a hero. He gets to become one when Hadlar is resurrected and the previous hero, Avan, comes to train Dai to help in the battle. But Hadlar, announcing that he now works for an even more powerful demon lord, comes to kill Avan. To save his students Avan uses a Self-Sacrifice spell to attack, but is unable to defeat Hadlar. When it seems that Dai and Avan's other student Pop are doomed a mark appears on Dai's forehead and he suddenly gains super powers and is able to fend off Hadlar. The two students then go off on a journey to avenge Avan and bring peace back to the world.
Dragon Quest: Dai's Great Adventure has finished publishing and it has 349 Chapters. It is also Known as: DRAGON QUEST -ダイの大冒険-, Dragon Quest: Dai no Daiboken, Dragon Quest: Dai's Adventure, Dragon Quest: Great Adventure of Dai, Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai
2. Ao Ashi
Ashito Aoi, a third-year middle school student from Ehime, meets Fukuda Tatsuya, a J Youth League coach. Even though he's still rough around the edges, Ashito has such amazing potential that he gets invited by coach Fukuda to participate in his team's tryouts in Tokyo. The story of a boy who will revolutionize Japanese football begins to unfold.
Notes:
- Nominated for the 2017 Manga Taishou Award.
- Winner of the 65th Shogakukan Manga Award for the "Best General Manga" category in 2019.
Ao Ashi has finished publishing and it has 410 Chapters. It is also Known as: アオアシ, Ao Ashi
1. Ashita no Joe
Joe Yabuki is a troubled young man who runs away from an orphanage. Wandering through the Tokyo slums, he meets former boxing trainer Danpei. Joe is later arrested and goes to a temporary jail where he fights Nishi, his future best friend and leader of a group of hooligans. He and Nishi then go to a juvenile prison miles away from Tokyo. There Joe meets Rikiishi, a former boxing prodigy, and a rivalry develops between them. They face each other in a match in which Rikiishi dominates Joe until the latter hits him with a cross-counter, resulting in both being knocked out. This inspires the other prison inmates to take up boxing. Joe and Rikiishi vow to fight again.
Ashita no Joe has finished publishing and it has 171 Chapters. It is also Known as: あしたのジョー, Rocky Joe, Tomorrow's Joe
