I May Not Be a Manga Expert, but Let Me Tell You About the Manga That Mean the Most to Me: Staff Soul Picks by Sakura
Sakura
I’ve loved manga for as long as I can remember. I’ve spent hours talking with friends about our favorite characters, and I’ve definitely daydreamed about what it would be like to step into the worlds of the series I love.
That said, I don’t think I’ve actually read that many manga. There must be countless amazing series out there that I still know nothing about.
So this isn’t a “Top 5” chosen by someone who knows everything there is to know about manga. These are simply the series I’ve discovered over the years and returned to again and again.
I’d like to tell you, in my own words, what makes each one so special to me.
My All-Time Favorite—the Manga That Makes Me Cry Every Time
D.Gray-man
Set in a world reminiscent of late-19th-century Europe, D.Gray-man is a dark fantasy about Allen Walker and his fellow Exorcists, who battle weapons known as Akuma—creatures made from human souls—and their creator, the Millennium Earl.
Whenever someone asks me what my favorite manga is, this is the title I give without hesitation. I first discovered it in middle school, when a friend who owned the volumes told me, “It’s really good—you should read it.” I never imagined that nearly twenty years later, it would still be a series I treasure and continue to reread.
Back then, my friends and I would get worked up debating, “Are you Team Allen? Team Kanda? Or Team Lavi?” More than anything, I was obsessed with the characters and all the classic shonen manga elements.
Then, when I was in high school, I suddenly felt like reading it again, so this time I bought a whole bunch of the volumes for myself. Only a few years had passed since my first read, but I found myself moved by completely different things. The pain of losing someone precious. The fact that not everyone can simply overcome their grief. And the way the characters keep fighting anyway, hoping to honor the people they’ve lost. This time, those parts hit me much harder.
Now that I’m an adult, the characters’ losses—and the reasons they continue to fight despite them—carry even more weight than they did back then. Volume 20, the one with Allen and Kanda on the cover, gets me in particular. I know exactly what happens, but I still cry every single time I reread it.
I want you to read it and discover for yourself which part brings on the tears. Then come talk to me about it afterward.
The Manga That Started My Life as an Otaku
Black Butler
If I say, “There was a time when I was absolutely obsessed with Sebastian,” I’m sure plenty of otaku my age will nod and say, “I get it. I really do.”
I started reading the original manga after discovering the anime. Even now, twenty years after the series began, it remains just as entertaining—and I still love it.
The story is set in 19th-century Britain. Young Earl Ciel and his flawless butler, Sebastian, take on one mysterious case after another. At the same time, the larger mystery surrounding Ciel’s past is gradually revealed.
At first, simply following each case and seeing how it would be resolved was entertaining enough. But as I kept reading, seemingly unrelated incidents and casual little moments began connecting to the story’s central plot. I thought I was just enjoying the mystery right in front of me, only to realize that I’d been pulled into something much bigger. Every reread brings a new discovery: “Wait—that was foreshadowing?!” It never gets old.
Looking back, Black Butler was the first manga whose new releases I followed faithfully. When I was a student and still drawing my own illustrations, Yana Toboso’s art style had an extremely obvious influence on mine. It’s no exaggeration to say that this manga marked the beginning of my life as an otaku.
One last thing: If you’re about to read Black Butler for the first time, pay close attention to the characters’ outfits. Every detail is carefully designed to suit the scene and what’s happening in the story, making the costumes a joy to look at all on their own. Every time I read it, I find myself thinking, “Thank you for putting Ciel in so many adorable outfits.”
“I Want to Be Like Midori Saejima, Too”
I’m No Angel
“I want to be like Midori Saejima.”
The first time I read that line, I wanted to reach into the page and give Mamirin a hug.
I’m No Angel is a school manga about love and friendship, centered on a high school student council. Its heroine, Midori Saejima, celebrates with her whole body when she’s happy and lets herself cry when she’s sad. She’s a girl who expresses her feelings openly and honestly. Even as another woman, I can’t help but feel my heart skip a beat at her bright, innocent charm.
Mamirin, on the other hand, comes across as cool and somewhat unapproachable. She struggles to be honest about her feelings, making her a sharp contrast to the cheerful and straightforward Midori. To be completely honest, at the beginning of the series, I thought Mamirin was kind of mean.
But then Mamirin acknowledges the admiration and envy inside her and tells Midori herself, “I want to be like Midori Saejima.” The moment she says it, she completely won me over. M-Mamirin!!!
Midori is a little too dazzling for me, too. Sometimes, when I look at her, I get a little discouraged and think, “I could never be like that.” I’m contrary by nature, I have trouble being honest about my feelings, and I can never seem to say anything cute. That’s why I understand Mamirin’s feelings so painfully well.
If you read I’m No Angel, I hope you’ll pay attention not only to Midori’s radiance, but also to the way Mamirin changes as she watches her. Mamirin recognizes that she and Midori are different, yet still finds the courage to tell her, “I want to be like you.” That alone proves she’s far more honest—and far more wonderful—than she gives herself credit for.
What If I Had My Own Shugo Chara?
Shugo Chara!
A girl everyone admires for being “cool and stylish.” Tiny Guardian Characters who embody the person she wishes she could become. A special organization called the Guardians that practically runs the school—this series is packed with everything designed to capture a young girl’s imagination. Naturally, I was completely hooked.
The heroine, Amu, has a reputation for being mysterious and cool, but she’s actually shy and bad at expressing herself. Her desire to change gives birth to three Shugo Chara, or Guardian Characters.
With their help, Amu can attempt things she would never normally be able to do. But transforming into another version of herself doesn’t magically make everything work out. There’s the person others see, the person she really is, and the person she wants to become. None of them are exactly the same, and she finds herself wavering between them. The premise may be pure fantasy, but Amu’s struggles feel surprisingly relatable.
After reading Shugo Chara!, I can’t even count how many times I imagined my own Guardian Character suddenly appearing one day. How much fun would it be to take on a personality completely different from my usual self? If I had a Shugo Chara of my own, I’d want her to be a little mysterious and cool—just like Amu.
Even rereading it as an adult, I can’t stop myself from daydreaming about it.
If a Shugo Chara appeared for you, what do you think they would be like?
Sometimes I Want a Story Without Easy Answers
Land of the Lustrous
I usually gravitate toward action stories and mysteries with fairly straightforward plots. But every now and then, I want to read something whose answers aren’t immediately clear—something I can turn over in my mind as I read. When I’m in that mood, I reach for Land of the Lustrous.
The story takes place in the distant future, long after humanity has disappeared. In this world live the Gems, beings who can be repaired as long as their fragments are recovered after they shatter. The youngest of them, Phosphophyllite—Phos—is searching for a role only they can fulfill.
At first, Phos is clumsy and seemingly useless. But after discovering a purpose, they gradually begin to change. The strange thing is that even as Phos becomes capable of more and appears to move forward, I can’t simply feel happy and say, “I’m glad they grew.”
Is this really growth—or is Phos losing something along the way?
My feelings toward Phos shift every time I read the series. Even now, I still don’t know exactly how to understand their transformation.
Just when I think I’ve figured it out, I get the sense that I’m still overlooking something—and that makes me want to read it all over again.
The artwork is also breathtaking. Even though it’s a black-and-white manga, you can feel the Gems’ brilliance, fragility, and fleeting beauty. I definitely don’t have that level of artistic skill, but I can’t stop turning the pages while thinking, “It must be incredible to be able to draw like this.”
What Kind of Manga Will I Discover Next?
Writing about my favorite manga has made me realize that I love each of these series for completely different reasons. But every one of them made me want to pick it up and read it again—and made me want to talk about it with someone else.
There must still be more manga I’ve never heard of than I could possibly count. I wonder what kind of story I’ll fall in love with next.
If you’d like, tell me about the one manga that speaks to your soul.
About the Author
Sakura
A thirtysomething beginner otaku who is both nervous and excited to be writing an article for the first time. Whenever the conversation turns to a favorite series, she tends to lose all ability to form coherent sentences and can only say, “I know, I know exactly what you mean!” Still, she did her best to put those feelings into words.