Top Jazz Music Manga Recommendations

BLUE GIANT

Also known as Blue Giant.

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

Dai lived a normal high school life in Sendai: a city of hot summer days and rainy nights. Between basketball, part time jobs, and an uncertain future, something was missing. And that thing was music. With his days in senior year running out, Dai swears a heartfelt vow: “I’m gonna be the best jazz player in the world.”

But what do you need to be the best? Talent? Effort? A lucky break? Or maybe just a deep, pure love for music, and too much stubbornness to know when to quit.



Note: Nominated for the 22nd Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize.

Tags: Seinen , Jazz Music , Band , Male Protagonist , Coming of Age , Bar , Primarily Male Cast , Primarily Adult Cast , Tragedy , Ensemble Cast

Sakamichi no Apollon

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

Nishimi Kaoru has moved from city to city and school to school because of his father’s job. So the first day at his new school was just routine for him. Being intellectual and the new transfer student, he has always been seen as an outcast and all Kaoru had to do was bear it until the next time he moved. But things were slightly different this time. First, he started to get close to the class president, Mukae Ritsuko, and, secondly, unlikely as it seemed, grew closer to Kawabuchi Sentaro. Sentaro was infamous for getting into fights, skipping class and was an overall bad boy. Strangely enough, the three of them find common ground in music, namely jazz, and Kaoru finds himself actually enjoying the new town.

Notes:
Includes 8 extra chapters.
Won the 57th Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga.

Tags: Band , Josei , Historical , Heterosexual , Coming of Age , Love Triangle , Male Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , Jazz Music , Rural , Age Gap , Time Skip , Religion , School , Tragedy

Jaejeucheoreom

Also known as Jazz for Two.

Status: Finished
Genres: Music , Romance

Taeyi hears a familiar melody fill the empty halls and makes his way to the old music room. He knows his brother is dead, but he can’t help but hope, maybe, just maybe...it’s his brother playing his favorite song. When he slams open the door, however, he finds Seheon, the new transfer student, at the piano. Disappointment comes crashing down and Taeyi can’t control his anger. How dare Seheon play his brother’s song? How dare he smile? How dare he say he loves jazz? “If I ever catch you playing the piano again...that’ll be the end of you.” And with that begins their story, as unpredictable and visceral as jazz.



Tags: Boys' Love , School , Tragedy , Male Protagonist , Full Color , LGBTQ+ Themes , Coming of Age , Suicide , Jazz Music , Musical Theater

BLUE GIANT SUPREME

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

The direct sequel to Blue Giant, a manga about the evolution of the young saxophonist Dai Miyamoto in the jazz world. Blue Giant Supreme sees the hero arrive in Europe! Freshly arrived in Munich without speaking a word of German and with an approximate English, he manages to find a roof over his head, a meal and a beer, but struggles to obtain the most important thing: a place where he can have his music heard!



Tags: Band , Foreign , Primarily Adult Cast , Jazz Music , Ensemble Cast , Seinen

Sakamichi no Apollon: Bonus Track

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

Once again, we join Sentarou, Kaoru and their friends in a short jam session of friendship, music and love.

1. Junichi and Yurika, after Junichi's move to Tokyo
2. A short story about Kouta, Ritsuko and the guy who answered the phone when Kaoru called Ritsuko
3. Tsutomu Murae (Ritsuko's dad) and how he finds his way into Jazz
4. Sentarou Kawabuchi and how he discovers his new resolve
5. After story...

Tags: Josei , Historical , Band , Rural , Male Protagonist , Heterosexual , Jazz Music , Female Protagonist , Tragedy

BLUE GIANT EXPLORER

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

All roads lead to jazz!

After passing his driver's license in Japan, Dai Miyamoto left for the United States with only his tenor saxophone. He learned that Yukinori, a member of his first band, was also there... Dai landed in Seattle, on the West Coast. An experimental adventure begins for the young man, who seeks to create a new sound by discovering the cities and regions of this immense country!



Tags: Seinen , Jazz Music

Koi Dekinai no wa Kimi no Sei

Also known as Loveless Momentum.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Music , Romance

Reiichi Miyoshi is a professional jazz musician who has a policy of never having a serious boyfriend or girlfriend. He prefers to keep his love life casual with a revolving door of hedonistic one-night stands.When he swoops in to rescue what appears to be a damsel in distress from a group of rowdy men one day, he soon finds out that his latest paramour is no damsel at all, but the crossdresser Sara Aogiri. Sara is determined to have the egotistical Miyoshi all to himself, but Miyoshi isn't going to date anyone seriously without some extreme convincing.



Tags: Boys' Love , Male Protagonist , Crossdressing , Band , Primarily Adult Cast , Bisexual , Jazz Music

Sayonara Nippon

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

The experiences of two Japanese people who move to the US; one a judo teacher, the other a guitarist.



Tags: Seinen , Jazz Music

BLUE GIANT MOMENTUM

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

New York... Dai arrives in the jazz capital of the world! However, life and especially rent are exorbitant there. Dai begins to take his place as leader of the quartet, but countless jazz musicians come to try their luck in New York! Slowly, his style begins to envelop the skyscrapers...



Tags: Jazz Music , Seinen

Swingin' Dragon & Tiger Boogie

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

One night in Fukui during an air raid in WW2, young Suwa Oto sees her jazz-loving older sister, Ineko, dance to bassist Odajima Tatsuji's music. Ineko later attempts suicide by drowning, and though rescued, is by war's end a shell of the sister who taught Oto to sing, and Odajima disappears. To reunite the two, Oto, now a student, carries her sister's bass across her back to Tokyo. When Oto's singing catches the attention of a troupe, she plays on a US military base and learns the troupe's bassist is Odajima himself, but without his memories.



Note: Won the New Face Award at the 24th Japan Media Arts Festival Awards in 2021.

Tags: Age Gap , Primarily Adult Cast , Historical , Seinen , Band , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Jazz Music

Straight No Chaser

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Music

Shuuhei is an endlessly enthusiastic pizza deliveryman with almost no ambitions or skills, and he's determined to date Hitomi, a high school girl who made the mistake of kissing him once. Her disinterest can't stop him from loving her, though! When he asks her what she likes in a man, one of the things she mentions was the ability to play a musical instrument. In response, he decides to learn to play the trumpet. But learning about the trumpet and jazz music is going to change his life in more ways than he imagined...
[by tethysdust]

Tags: Seinen , Jazz Music

Ojamajo Doremi 17

Status: Finished
Genres: Mahou Shoujo , Slice of Life

My 2nd year at High School has begun. Hana-chan is back at Maho-dou and is more lively than ever. Meanwhile, it appears that Onpu-chan is being harassed by an enthusiast fan. Who could be the culprit? In addition to that, I've got some happy news; Momo-chan has been chosen to participate in a pastry competition. I'll be sure to cheer for Momo-chan alongside everyone. And what will happen to my relationship with Kotake? I, Doremi Harukaze, who am now 17 years old, will be deciding the path of my dreams and giving an all-out pitching in love as well.

Tags: School , Coming of Age , Witch , Urban Fantasy , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Work , School Club , Magic , Food , Football , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Acting , Primarily Teen Cast , Fairy , Cheerleading , Athletics , Band , Heterosexual , Travel , Classical Music , Jazz Music

My Sweet Honey?

Status: Finished
Genres: Romance

Story 1: My Sweet Honey?
Use our rental to get yourself a boyfriend. You don’t have to return him, so you can have him for as long as you want.
Story 2: Manatsu no Penguin
She accidentally calls her ex-boyfriend instead. Nostalgia's overwhelming her ... could she still have feelings for the guy she broke up with?
Story 3: Lovely Switch!
Story 4: Himitsu no Koibito



Tags: Shoujo , Jazz Music

Aechak Inhyeong

Also known as The Cellist.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance

Kim Hayeon was just covering for a friend at their day job when she unexpectedly ends up inside cellist Ji Sehun’s private waiting room. Despite his immense musical talent, Sehun is aloof and cold-hearted, and doesn’t take kindly to Hayeon’s intrusion. Though he accuses her of attempted theft, he cannot get her out of his mind, and attempts to court her. But while Hayeon may be timid, she is not easily won over. If this cellist isn’t careful, he may end up being the one getting played.



Tags: Heterosexual , Full Color , Musical Theater , Classical Music , Jazz Music , Travel , Marriage

Silver Rock

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music

Former jazz drummer Fukumoto Takefumi is living a quiet life in retirement. His granddaughter Anju tells him that she has decided to go to a general university instead of the music college, but Takefumi senses the "loss of music" behind her words... Convey your feelings and follow your path with that sound! To the last big stage show of his life! A white-haired music story!

Tags: Male Protagonist , Band , Shounen , Jazz Music

Boku to Bob Dylan (to Chichi)

Also known as ME AND BOB DYLAN (AND MY FATHER).

Status: Finished
Genres: Slice of Life

A reminiscent essay about Bob Dylan and his father by the author of Flowers of Evil and Blood on the Tracks.

Tags: Seinen , Autobiographical , Male Protagonist , Coming of Age , Drawing , Family Life , Estranged Family , Jazz Music , Time Skip

Kantai Collection: KanColle Miiro no Alto Sax

Status: Finished
Genres: Music , Slice of Life

Music like the color of the sea, as played by the Ayanami-class destroyer Shikinami. Enjoy the warm and lovely sounds of "miiro" jazz from Shikinami and her fleet girl friends.

Tags: Band , Primarily Female Cast , Military , Jazz Music

12-gatsu ni wa Jazz wo Kiku

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance

A collection of three stories:

1. 12-gatsu ni wa Jazz wo Kiku
2. Dakara Anata wo Aishiteru
3. Nin Niki Ninjin Story


Tags: Shoujo , Anthology , Jazz Music

Aoi Akuma no Serenade

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance

From the moment Rachel Carradine hears the dark, rich tones of Blackie Madigan's alto saxophone, she knows her heart and her hard-fought, well-ordered life are in danger. As the daughter of a jazz musician, she knows the seductive power of the music just as she is familiar with the insecure, irregular, bohemian existence of the musicians. She escaped that lifestyle once and promised herself that nothing on earth could induce her to embrace it ever again. Yet hearing Blackie's Orpheus-like melodies, she is faced with the greatest temptation of her life.

But Blackie makes some dangerous assumptions about Rachel that threaten to derail their relationship before it even gets going. Unbeknownst to Rachel, Blackie is Blackstone J. Madigan, the entrepreneur behind the powerful conglomerate that owns Exotica, the company threatening Rachel's professional livelihood.

Mistaken identities, secrets, deception—hardly a harmonious beginning. Rachel and Blackie must see if their relationship can overcome these major obstacles and decide how much they're willing to risk and if it will be enough.



Tags: Josei , Foreign , Jazz Music