Top Sports Manga Recommendations

Blue Lock

Also known as Blue Lock.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Drama , Sports

After a disastrous defeat at the 2018 World Cup, Japan's team struggles to regroup. But what's missing? An absolute Ace Striker, who can guide them to the win. The Japan Football Union is hell-bent on creating a striker who hungers for goals and thirsts for victory, and who can be the decisive instrument in turning around a losing match...and to do so, they've gathered 300 of Japan's best and brightest youth players. Who will emerge to lead the team...and will they be able to out-muscle and out-ego everyone who stands in their way?



Note: Winner of the 45th Kodansha Manga Award in the Shounen Category in 2021.

Tags: Football , Male Protagonist , Battle Royale , Athletics , Primarily Male Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Ensemble Cast , Shounen , Anti-Hero , Fitness , Super Power , Foreign , Augmented Reality , Tragedy , Language Barrier , Suicide , Revenge

Haikyuu!!

Also known as Haikyu!!.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Sports

Shouyou Hinata is out to prove that in volleyball you don’t need to be tall to fly!

After losing his first and last volleyball match against Tobio Kageyama, “the King of the Court,” Shouyou 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 two extra chapters.

Tags: Volleyball , Shounen , Male Protagonist , Coming of Age , School Club , Primarily Male Cast , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Time Skip , Philosophy , School , Twins

SLAM DUNK

Also known as Slam Dunk.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Sports

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...



Tags: Basketball , Male Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast , Ensemble Cast , Shounen , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Delinquents , Heterosexual , Rehabilitation , School Club , Tragedy , Philosophy , Unrequited Love

Kokou no Hito

Also known as The Climber.

Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Psychological , Sports

Transfer student Buntaro Mori starts his first day at his new school already on the administration’s radar. He’s withdrawn and sullen, and the teachers are just waiting for him to explode. When his annoying classmate Miyamoto promises to leave him alone forever if he climbs to the top of the school, Mori eagerly takes up the challenge and shocks everyone when he makes it all the way to the roof. Flushed with the victory of his first successful climb, Mori can’t resist the lure of the local peak, despite warnings from more experienced climbers about the risks of climbing alone. But Mori doesn’t care. A little danger is nothing in the face of his new obsession.

Tags: Mountaineering , Coming of Age , Travel , Seinen , Outdoor Activities , Tragedy , Male Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast , Primarily Adult Cast , Survival , Hikikomori , Wilderness , Classic Literature , Philosophy , Snowscape , Time Skip , Fitness , Suicide , Anti-Hero , Dissociative Identities , Foreign , Delinquents , School , Nudity , School Club , Pregnancy , Marriage

Grand Blue

Also known as Grand Blue Dreaming.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life , Sports

After moving out on his own to a seaside town, Iori Kitahara makes a college debut he never anticipated. A new chapter of his life unfolds, full of diving with beautiful girls and shenanigans with a gaggle of lovable bastards! Idiot-expert Kenji Inoue and au naturel authority Kimitake Yoshioka bring you a glorious college tale filled with booze-fueled antics!



Tags: Slapstick , Surreal Comedy , Male Protagonist , Seinen , College , Primarily Adult Cast , Nudity , Coastal , Bar , Scuba Diving , Love Triangle , Heterosexual , Otaku Culture , Kuudere , Meta , Tsundere , Bisexual , Gore , Yandere , LGBTQ+ Themes , Gyaru

Ao no Hako

Also known as Blue Box.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Romance , Slice of Life , Sports

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!



Tags: School Club , School , Athletics , Primarily Teen Cast , Heterosexual , Male Protagonist , Coming of Age , Badminton , Love Triangle , Shounen , Female Protagonist , Basketball , Cohabitation

Real

Also known as Real.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Psychological , Sports

A motorcycle accident, bone cancer, a speeding truck crashing into a boy on a stolen bicycle--tragic life-changing events turn the worlds of three young men upside down. These three very different personalities have only one thing in common--their passion for basketball.



Note: Won an Excellence Prize for manga at the 2001 Japan Media Arts Festival.

Tags: Coming of Age , Ensemble Cast , Disability , Male Protagonist , Seinen , Rehabilitation , Basketball , Tragedy , Primarily Male Cast , Delinquents , Athletics , Fitness , Philosophy , Wrestling , Bullying , Meta

The Boxer

Also known as The Boxer.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Sports

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!



Note: Includes 30 extra chapters.

Tags: Boxing , Philosophy , Martial Arts , Athletics , Male Protagonist , Full Color , Primarily Male Cast , Tragedy , Religion , Bullying , Time Skip , Meta , Military , School , Heterosexual , Ensemble Cast , Long Strip

Wind Breaker

Also known as Wind Breaker.

Status: Cancelled
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Romance , Sports

Jay's the perfect student. He's got straight As and he's the student body president. But after being coerced into joining the school's biking team, the Hummingbird Crew, he discovers a whole new world outside of studying. What new adventures will he face outside the comfort of his textbooks?



Notes:
- Includes two extra chapters.
- The work was cancelled after it was discovered that the artist had been tracing other people's art.

Tags: Cycling , Coming of Age , School , Full Color , Kuudere , Heterosexual , Delinquents , Tragedy , Male Protagonist , Fitness , Bullying , Slapstick , Meta , Gambling , Mafia , Suicide , Love Triangle , Female Harem , Foreign , Drugs , Long Strip

Hajime no Ippo

Also known as Hajime no Ippo: Fighting Spirit!.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Sports

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.



Tags: Boxing , Shounen , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Ensemble Cast , Disability , Coming of Age , Heterosexual , Bullying , Delinquents

Ashita no Joe

Also known as Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life , Sports

A young drifter named Joe Yabuki wanders through the slums of Tokyo, but when the local ruffians try to give him a hard time he teaches them a rough lesson with his fists. The spectacle sparks a gleam in the eye of an old drunk who happens to be watching—Danpei Tange, a failed boxer and former coach who sees something special in the boy. He pleads with Joe to train with him off, but the cocky young fighter brushes him. Later, though, when Joe is arrested and put in a juvenile detention facility, he realizes that he’s going to need to hone his raw fighting skills if he wants to survive. Thus is born a partnership that might just take Joe all the way to the top…



Tags: Tragedy , Boxing , Coming of Age , Male Protagonist , Rehabilitation , Urban , Orphan , Class Struggle , Anti-Hero , Disability , Athletics , Shounen , Primarily Male Cast , Delinquents , Prison , Foreign , Historical , War , Yakuza

Kengan Ashura

Also known as Kengan Ashura.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Sports

Since the Edo periods of Japan, gladiator arenas exist in certain areas. In these arenas, wealthy business owners and merchants hire gladiators to fight in unarmed combat where winner takes all. Tokita Ohma, nicknamed "Ashura", joins these arenas and devastates his opponents. His spectacular ability to crush his enemies catches the attention of the big business owners, including the Nogi Group chairman, Nogi Hideki.



Note: Includes 24 extra chapters.

Tags: Martial Arts , Ensemble Cast , Wrestling , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Boxing , Tragedy , Athletics , Shounen , Revenge , Gore , Yandere , Gambling , 4-koma , Historical

Namaiki Zakari.

Also known as Cheeky Brat.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Sports

Basketball club manager Yuki has a secret—she’s in love with the team captain! But when Naruse discovers her secret, she’s in trouble! Just how long is he going to keep teasing her about it? Stupid pretty playboy…



Note: Includes one extra chapter.

Tags: Shoujo , Basketball , Female Protagonist , Tsundere , Heterosexual , Coming of Age , School Club , School , Love Triangle , College , Age Gap , Kuudere , Crossdressing

Aoashi

Also known as Aoashi.

Status: Finished
Genres: Sports

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 try-outs 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 "Best General Manga" category in 2019.

Tags: Football , Male Protagonist , School Club , Primarily Male Cast , Coming of Age , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Seinen , Heterosexual , School , Bullying , Love Triangle

Chihayafuru

Also known as Chihayafuru.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Sports

Chihaya is a girl in the sixth grade, still not old enough to even know the meaning of the word zeal. But one day, she meets Arata, a transfer student from rural Fukui prefecture. Though docile and quiet, he has an unexpected skill: his ability to play competitive karuta, a traditional Japanese card game.

Chihaya is struck by his obsession with the game, along with his ability to pick out the right card and swipe it away before any of his opponents. However, Arata is transfixed by her as well, all because of her unbelievable natural talent for the game. Don't miss this story of adolescent lives and emotions playing out in the most dramatic of ways!



Notes:
- It won the 2nd Manga Taisho Award and the 35th annual Kodansha Manga Award for Best Shoujo.
- It was nominated for the 20th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2016.

Tags: Karuta , Josei , Female Protagonist , Coming of Age , School Club , Unrequited Love , Card Battle , Love Triangle , POV , Primarily Teen Cast , Educational , Ensemble Cast , School , Tomboy , Heterosexual , Bullying , Slapstick

Eyeshield 21

Also known as Eyeshield 21.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Sports

Wimpy Sena Kobayakawa has been running away from bullies all his life. But when the football gear comes on, things change—Sena's speed and uncanny ability to elude big bullies just might give him what it takes to become a great high school football hero! Enjoy all the bone-crushing action and slapstick comedy that this heartwarming coming-of-age story has to offer.



Tags: American Football , Shounen , Male Protagonist , School Club , Coming of Age , Guns , Primarily Male Cast , Gambling , Primarily Teen Cast , School , Foreign , Bullying

Air Gear

Also known as Air Gear.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Ecchi , Romance , Sci-Fi , Sports

Ikki Minami is a junior high school student with a dream—to become the best Air Trek rider in town. It won’t be easy, as he faces a lot of competition from boys and girls alike. What is Air Trek? Just the latest craze that involves taking a two-wheel inline skate and adding a motor, suspension, and a shock absorber to enable the wearer to execute the wildest, wackiest, most aggressive moves you can imagine. Ikki has a lot to learn as he fights his way to the top in this wild, sexy manga from the creator of Tenjho Tenge!



Tags: Urban , Gangs , Heterosexual , Nudity , Conspiracy , Love Triangle , Military , Primarily Teen Cast , Tragedy , Unrequited Love , Coming of Age , Parkour , Shounen , School , Male Protagonist , Dissociative Identities , Ensemble Cast , Crime , Delinquents , Torture , Augmented Reality , Body Swapping , Disability , Slapstick , Tsundere , Female Harem , Bullying , LGBTQ+ Themes , Meta , Police , Politics , Advertisement , Femboy , Guns , Kemonomimi , Maids , Wrestling , Yakuza , Crossdressing

Kuroko no Basket

Also known as Kuroko's Basketball.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Sports

When incoming first-year student Taiga Kagami joins the Seirin High basketball team, he meets Tetsuya Kuroko, a mysterious boy who’s plain beyond words. But Kagami’s in for the shock of his life when he learns that the practically invisible Kuroko was once a member of “the Miracle Generation”— the undefeated legendary team—and he wants Kagami’s help taking down each of his old teammates!



Note: Includes one extra chapter.

Tags: School , Basketball , Shounen , Super Power , School Club , Primarily Teen Cast , Male Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast , Tomboy , Tragedy , Found Family

Ballroom e Youkoso

Also known as Welcome to the Ballroom.

Status: Hiatus
Genres: Drama , Romance , Sports

Fujita has drifted through middle school aimlessly, unable to find friends or anything that can hold his attention. Then, one day, he's attacked by a gang and saved by a mysterious man. But this isn't a karate master; it's a ballroom dance instructor! Reluctantly, Fujita takes a few beginner's classes, only to find his inspiration... an entrancing, teenage dance prodigy named Shizuku. It's Fujita's first step into the high-octane world of competitive dance!



Note: Nominated for the 6th and 8th Manga Taisho Award.

Tags: Dancing , Coming of Age , Male Protagonist , Heterosexual , Shounen , Ensemble Cast , School

Shamo

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Psychological , Sports

At the age of sixteen Ryo Narushima was a genius and looked to have no trouble of getting into Tokyo University and joining the elite of society. However, that summer something cracked inside Ryo's head. With a small knife he brutally murdered both of his parents only leaving his sister alive and cowering in a corner. It is at this grotesque incident that our story begins.

Note: At volume 20, the series changed publishers, which created a restart of the chapter numbers. Starting from chapter 61 in volume 26, the first chapter from when the series returned from a long hiatus, the series has been completely written & drawn by Tanaka Akio. While Hashimoto Izou did write the series in the beginning, he had been doing less and less work starting from volume 4. Tanaka and Hashimoto reached a settlement and Shamo continued.

Tags: Martial Arts , Male Protagonist , Anti-Hero , Rehabilitation , Seinen , Tragedy , Survival , Gore , Boxing , Triads , Drugs , Nudity , Yakuza , Delinquents , Gangs , Swordplay , Coming of Age , Prison , Bullying