Top Indigenous Cultures Manga Recommendations

Vinland Saga

Also known as Vinland Saga.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama

As a child, Thorfinn sat at the feet of the great Leif Ericson and thrilled to wild tales of a land far to the west. But his youthful fantasies were shattered by a mercenary raid. Raised by the Vikings who murdered his father, Thorfinn became a terrifying warrior, forever seeking to kill the band's leader, Askeladd, and avenge his father. Sustaining Thorfinn through his ordeal are his pride in his family and his dreams of a fertile westward land, a land without war or slavery … the land Leif called Vinland.



Notes:
- Won the Grand Prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival in 2009.
- Winner of the 36th Kodansha Manga Award in the General category in 2012.

Tags: Historical , Coming of Age , Vikings , Rehabilitation , Foreign , Male Protagonist , Philosophy , Seinen , War , Revenge , Tragedy , Travel , Found Family , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Slavery , Time Skip , Gore , Politics , Swordplay , Ships , Parenthood , Anti-Hero , Rural , Pirates , Agriculture , Environmental , Achronological Order , Religion , Language Barrier , Heterosexual , Adoption , Nudity , Tomboy , Medieval , Mythology , Archery , Transgender , LGBTQ+ Themes , Wilderness , Indigenous Cultures

Fumetsu no Anata e

Also known as To Your Eternity.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Psychological , Supernatural

A lonely boy wandering the Arctic regions of North America meets a wolf, and the two become fast friends, depending on each other to survive the harsh environment. But the boy has a history, and the wolf is more than meets the eye as well …



Tags: Tragedy , Shapeshifting , Philosophy , Coming of Age , Time Skip , Outdoor Activities , Ensemble Cast , Dissociative Identities , Survival , Urban Fantasy , Ghost , Cosmic Horror , Denpa , Shounen , Agender , Travel , Gore , Yandere , Bullying , Suicide , Urban , Age Regression , Male Protagonist , Language Barrier , Animals , Nudity , Dystopian , Indigenous Cultures , Historical , Cyberpunk , Female Protagonist

Golden Kamuy

Also known as Golden Kamuy.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Drama

In the early twentieth century, Russo-Japanese War veteran Saichi “Immortal” Sugimoto scratches out a meager existence during the postwar gold rush in the wilderness of Hokkaido. When he stumbles across a map to a fortune in hidden Ainu gold, he sets off on a treacherous quest to find it. But Sugimoto is not the only interested party, and everyone who knows about the gold will kill to possess it! Faced with the harsh conditions of the northern wilderness, ruthless criminals and rogue Japanese soldiers, Sugimoto will need all his skills and luck—and the help of an Ainu girl named Asirpa—to survive.



Note: Won the 9th Manga Taisho Award in 2016 and the 22nd Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2018. Nominated for the 20th and 21st Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize and the 40th Kodansha Manga Awards in 2016.

Tags: Historical , Conspiracy , Military , Outdoor Activities , Seinen , Politics , Ensemble Cast , Educational , Surreal Comedy , Food , Travel , Found Family , Gore , Primarily Male Cast , Primarily Adult Cast , Survival , Guns , Revenge , LGBTQ+ Themes , Language Barrier , Anti-Hero , Cute Boys Doing Cute Things , Slapstick , Crime , Male Harem , Snowscape , Trains , Prison , Animals , Male Protagonist , Nudity , Swordplay , Disability , Archery , Suicide , Tanned Skin , Transgender , Twins , Cannibalism , Zoophilia , Heterosexual , Yakuza , Time Skip , Dissociative Identities , Crossdressing , Wilderness , Indigenous Cultures , Gender Bending

Otoyomegatari

Also known as A Bride's Story.

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

A Bride’s Story tells the tale of a beautiful young bride in nineteenth-century Asia. At the age of twenty, Amir is sent to a neighboring town to be wed. But her surprise at learning her new husband, Karluk, is eight years younger than her is quickly replaced by a deep affection for the boy and his family. Though she hails from just beyond the mountains, Amir’s clan had very different customs, foods, and clothes from what Karluk is used to. As the two of them learn more about each other through their day-to-day lives, the bond of respect and love grows stronger.



Note: Won the Prix Intergénérations ("Intergenerational Award") at the Angoulême International Comics Festival in 2012 and the 7th Manga Taishou award in 2014.

Tags: Ensemble Cast , Marriage , Historical , Female Protagonist , Heterosexual , Travel , Seinen , Foreign , Arranged Marriage , Iyashikei , Desert , Indigenous Cultures , Family Life , Rural , Matchmaking , Age Gap , Educational , Cohabitation , War , Food , Religion , Unrequited Love , Language Barrier , Twins , Archery , Nudity , Animals , Military , Female Harem , LGBTQ+ Themes , Large Breasts

Samurai Champloo

Also known as Samurai Champloo.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy

Mugen is a rough-around-the-edges mercenary with a killer technique and nothing left to lose. Jin is a disciplined samurai who's as deadly as he is reserved. Fuu is a young waitress with a good heart and a resourcefulness that emerges when you least expect it. These three unlikely companions are about to begin a journey that will change all of their lives.

It's a dangerous quest for a mysterious samurai that will see our squabbling group of heroes get into and out of trouble more times than they can count (which admittedly, isn't very high). From the cynical gentility of the nobles to the backstabbing of the Japanese underworld, Mugen, Jin and Fuu will face threats from without and within as they hurl insults and throwing stars alike. Ancient Japan is about to get a lethal dose of street justice -- Champloo style. And it will never be the same.



Tags: Samurai , Swordplay , Historical , Shounen , Primarily Adult Cast , Episodic , Anachronism , Ninja , Assassins , Indigenous Cultures

Tenju no Kuni

Also known as Blissful Land.

Status: Finished
Genres: Romance , Slice of Life

Khang Zhipa is a 13-year-old doctor’s apprentice living in a mountain village in 18th-century Tibet. One day, when he gets back from collecting medicinal herbs, he finds a bride-to-be and her wedding party will be resting at his home for the night. The bride’s name is Moshi Rati and it turns out she’s actually Khang Zhipa’s fiancee from another land, here to stay! Enjoy this heartwarming slice-of-life tale woven by a kind-hearted boy and his mysterious bride.



Tags: Medicine , Rural , Iyashikei , Arranged Marriage , Foreign , Historical , Family Life , Marriage , Primarily Child Cast , Male Protagonist , Heterosexual , Educational , Animals , Indigenous Cultures , Shounen , Food , Nudity

Shutohel

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama

Beginning of the 13th century.

In the days of old existed a woman warrior named Shutohel, the Evil One, feared even by the Mongols, said to be the strongest army in history.

At first, she was just a normal Tangut's soldier frightened by the mongol threat, but after coming close to death so many times, she found in herself a superhuman strength.

On the other side, a young mongol prince, Yurul, is fascinated by the Tangut's, his enemies' writings, and is worried for the future....

Tags: Historical , War , Dissociative Identities , Seinen , Gore , Swordplay , Male Protagonist , Isekai , Indigenous Cultures , Foreign , Revenge , Female Protagonist , Urban Fantasy , Animals , Military , Gender Bending , Archery , Amnesia , Lost Civilization , Nudity , Age Gap , Time Manipulation , Super Power , Religion , Medieval , Yuri , LGBTQ+ Themes

Red

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama

Set in nineteenth-century America, Red is the last living survivor of a Native American tribe that was slaughtered by white men. On a long journey in search of revenge, he travels with Iero Ito, a samurai who ran away to America after being defeated in the Seinan civil war, and Ann, a mysterious prostitute. The bonds of friendship between the three are touching. Although it is all fiction, the story seems very real as it is based on actual battles between US troops, Apaches and other tribes.

Tags: Historical , Foreign , Seinen , Revenge , Anti-Hero , Tragedy , Male Protagonist , Fugitive , Primarily Adult Cast , Samurai , Nudity , Time Skip , Guns , Cowboys , Indigenous Cultures

Fushigi no Kuni no Bird

Also known as Isabella Bird in Wonderland: Unbeaten Tracks in Japan.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Adventure , Slice of Life

British adventuress Isabella Bird journeys to Japan in 1878 and becomes the first Westerner to travel to many remote locations, heading northward towards Hokkaido to study the aboriginal Ainu people.

A true story based on the book "Unbeaten Tracks in Japan".

Tags: Historical , Educational , Travel , Foreign , Language Barrier , Episodic , Indigenous Cultures , Female Protagonist , Seinen , Primarily Adult Cast , Rural , Inn , Ships , Coastal , Biographical , Disability , Horticulture , Nudity

Mazumeshi Elf to Yuuboku Gurashi

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Slice of Life

Reborn in another world! But there's too much rice! The elves are cute and have a nice atmosphere, but I can't live as they do! With the cooking skills of a professional, I'll surprise the elves!!
Cutting-edge!! Of a different world gourmet.

Note: Includes 6 extra chapters.

Tags: Food , Shounen , Educational , Monster Girl , Indigenous Cultures , Elf , Primarily Female Cast , Isekai , Male Protagonist , Heterosexual , Female Harem , Kemonomimi , Cosmic Horror , Time Manipulation , Economics

Okinawa de Suki ni Natta Ko ga Hougen Sugite Tsura Sugiru

Status: Releasing
Genres: Comedy , Romance

I, Teruaki Nakamura, transferred to a school in Okinawa and developed a crush on a girl named Kiyan-san, but I don't understand her dialect. Higa-san is always helping me by translating the dialect. A slightly different cultural love starts on the southern island.



Tags: Educational , Primarily Teen Cast , Heterosexual , Seinen , Coastal , Love Triangle , Male Protagonist , Iyashikei , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Yuri , Indigenous Cultures , Tanned Skin

Sui Youbi

Status: Finished
Genres: Slice of Life

Meet Sui, a native from an unspecified foreign country. She has moved to Japan to get married and this story revolves around her adapting to Japanese culture and life…

Tags: Indigenous Cultures , Travel , Foreign , Seinen , Age Gap

Silver Kamuy

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy

Silver Kamuy is Golden Kamuy with the characters reimagined as elderly people.

Tags: Seinen , Parody , Historical , Ensemble Cast , Indigenous Cultures , Food , Military , Primarily Adult Cast , Guns , Elderly Protagonist

Ten no Taka

Also known as Sky Hawk.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama

Exiled from Japan during the Boshin War in 1868 as the new Meiji government took hold, two defeated samurai, Hikosaburô and Manzô, eventually settle in Crow territory in North America.

One day out hunting, Hikosaburô encounters a young native female who has just given birth hidden in the scrub. Called Running Deer, she tells of how she escaped from white traders who had ‘bought’ her. They soon come looking for their possession!

Saved from the murderous deceit of the traders by the chief of the Oglalas, Crazy Horse, they soon form a profound friendship and respect for each other’s cultures to the extent of Hikosaburô and Manzô being renamed ‘Sky Hawk’ and ‘Winds Wolf’ and fighting alongside their new brothers in their struggle against the invaders.

Taniguchi gives an accurate portrayal of the Indian Wars of the period culminating in the infamous Little Bighorn encounter.



Tags: Foreign , Seinen , Historical , War , Cowboys , Indigenous Cultures

Fenrir

Also known as Fenrir.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Romance

Somewhere among the violent and chaotic grasslands of 12th century Mongolia, lives a boy named Temujin. One day, while on the brink of death, he has a fateful encounter with a beautiful and mysterious woman that will affect history. This is the story of a boy who will shake the earth.



Tags: Indigenous Cultures , Historical , Animals , Nudity , Foreign , Male Protagonist , Heterosexual , Seinen , Aliens , Time Manipulation , Urban Fantasy , Samurai

Kenjuu Tenshi

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure

"Angel Gunfighter" is a thrilling Western Manga filled with love stories and gunfights. The setting for the story is a small town in the American Wild West.

In a small town of the border region between New Mexico and Arizona, a rogue cop called Ham Egg is conspiring with the mayor to dominate the town. But Ham Egg has an obstacle to his plot. It is "Monster," an Indian youngster. Monster stands up to save the town from corruption and bring it back to normal, fighting against the Ham Egg group together with a boy named Jim and a female gun expert, Anna.



Tags: Shounen , Historical , Foreign , Guns , Cowboys , Indigenous Cultures

Yuusha Dan

Also known as Brave Dan.

Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama

Hidden within the rural countryside lies the mysterious treasure of the ancient Ainu people. A few people know of it and hold the keys to unlocking it, but only Kotan, a child of Ainu descent, is the chosen one who can locate and inherit the treasure. When Kotan suddenly befriends a man-eating tiger named Dan, the unexpected pair find themselves tangled up in the most epic and dangerous treasure hunt of their lives. Their strength is tested as they battle criminals, murderers, and other unsavory characters who seek the treasure for themselves—but their friendship is tested when a crow warns Dan that Kotan will be the one to end his life. Can brave Dan and his best friend Kotan survive the trials that await them?



Tags: Shounen , Animals , Indigenous Cultures , Aliens

Ookami wo Karu Housoku

Status: Finished
Genres: Romance , Supernatural

Based on a Novel "Without Reservations" ("With or Without" series vol1.):

Sometimes love just catches you by the tail.

Chayton Winston is a veterinarian. He is also a werewolf. Much to his Native American parent's chagrin, he has always dreamed of a fair-haired, Caucasian mate. However, he never imagined his mate would be male. As a heterosexual man, he's not quite sure what to do with a male mate, but more than willing to find out.

Keaton Reynolds wakes up, in wolf form, and finds himself with a mate. He's instantly attracted, but not so thrilled to find out the man is straight. Having been in a relationship once before where his partner professed to be "Not gay" left a bad taste in his mouth. Keaton wants to make a break for it and pretend he never set eyes on Chay-but Chay is not ready to let him go.

Together the two work to solidify their shaky relationship and battle the prejudices against homosexuals. Chay must deal with not only his mother's prejudices against gay men but also her hatred of white people.

When Keaton's life is threatened, the two men learn to depend on one another and their relationship to get them through it.

Tags: Boys' Love , Male Protagonist , LGBTQ+ Themes , Werewolf , Primarily Adult Cast , Indigenous Cultures

Kouya no Shounen Isamu

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama

Isamu was born under a rough sign – a Japanese father, an American Indian mother, both killed by a group of racist thugs in the old west, and rescued by one of the most wanted men of the era. The son of a samurai and an Indian tracker he could become the most powerful gunslinger in the west – if can only survive one of the roughest childhoods anyone has ever seen…



Tags: Historical , Shounen , Foreign , Cowboys , Indigenous Cultures

Mohicans Zoku no Saigo

Also known as The Last of the Mohicans.

Status: Finished
Genres:

Sugiura Shigeru (1908-2000) is widely regarded as one of the masters of Japanese comics. His 1953 adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans sold over 60,000 copies, quickly establishing him as one of the most sought-after children's manga artists of the 50s. His popularity had faded by the mid-60s, but he made a comeback later in the decade with a number of highly surrealistic, collage-like works, and he chose to rework Mohicans in this new style in 1974. Considered a masterpiece of postwar manga, The Last of the Mohicans is as beautiful to look at as it is a delight to read. This PictureBox edition--the first book-length publication of Sugiera in English--is edited and translated by Ryan Holmberg, who also provides an introduction, and is the inaugural volume in PictureBox's Ten Cent Manga series, focusing on mass-produced genre works in Japanese postwar comics.



Tags: Historical , Foreign , Indigenous Cultures