The manga market in Japan already has its first highlights of 2026. According to the semi-annual sales ranking, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End took the lead with over 1.6 million copies sold, surpassing traditional names in the industry such as One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen.
Ranking shows the strength of current titles
Besides the tight race at the top, the list reinforces the growth of recent series in the Japanese market. Blue Lock maintained impressive numbers after the success of the anime, while Chainsaw Man remains among the most consumed titles of the year. Spy x Family continues to be stable even after consecutive years among the best-sellers.
Another highlight was The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity, a school romance novel published by Kodansha that appeared in the semi-annual Top 10 for the first time. The work gained even more visibility after the announcement of an anime adaptation.
Veteran manga series continue to dominate
Even with new series on the rise, classic franchises remain strong in Japanese bookstores. One Piece, created by Eiichiro Oda, came very close to the overall lead, while Sakamoto Days and The Apothecary Diaries maintained a consistent presence in the rankings.
Check out the complete Top 10 manga sales in Japan in 2026:
| Position | Manga | Sales in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frieren | 1.618.600 |
| 2 | One Piece | 1.598.500 |
| 3 | Jujutsu Kaisen | 1.433.600 |
| 4 | Blue Lock | 1.266.000 |
| 5 | Chainsaw Man | 1.147.600 |
| 6 | Jujutsu Kaisen Module | 1.137.700 |
| 7 | Spy vs. Family | 913.700 |
| 8 | The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity | 908.700 |
| 9 | Sakamoto Days | 876.900 |
| 10 | The Apothecary Diaries | 859.900 |
The performance confirms how anime adaptations continue to directly influence sales in Japanese bookstores. To keep up with other news about manga, anime, and rankings in the Japanese market, stay tuned to AnimeNews.