Top Youkai Manga Recommendations

Jujutsu Kaisen

Also known as Jujutsu Kaisen.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Supernatural

Although Yuji Itadori looks like your average teenager, his immense physical strength is something to behold! Every sports club wants him to join, but Itadori would rather hang out with the school outcasts in the Occult Research Club. One day, the club manages to get their hands on a sealed cursed object. Little do they know the terror they’ll unleash when they break the seal…



Notes:
- Ranked 1st in Japan's Bookstore Employees Top Manga of 2018.
- Nominated for the 25th Annual Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2021.
- Nominated for the 65th Shogakukan Manga Award in the Shounen Category in 2019.
- Includes one extra chapter.

Tags: Urban Fantasy , Demons , Super Power , Shounen , Curses , Tragedy , Monster Boy , Male Protagonist , Youkai , Magic , Martial Arts , Body Horror , Dissociative Identities , Death Game , Gore , Primarily Teen Cast , Battle Royale , Urban , Exorcism , Ensemble Cast , Cosmic Horror , Sadism , Body Swapping , Cult , School , Anthropomorphism , Transgender , Assassins , Amnesia , Time Manipulation , Swordplay , Time Skip , Nudity , Slapstick

Kimetsu no Yaiba

Also known as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.

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

The setting is Taisho era Japan. Tanjirou is a kindhearted young boy who lived peacefully with his family as a coal seller. Their normal life changes completely when his family is slaughtered by demons. The only other survivor, Tanjirou's younger sister Nezuko, has become a ferocious demon. In order to return Nezuko to normal and get revenge on the demon that killed their family, the two of them depart on a journey. From a young talent, an adventure tale of blood and swords begins!



Notes:
- Includes two extra chapters.
- Nominated to the 24th and 25th Annual Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize.

Tags: Demons , Shounen , Swordplay , Tragedy , Male Protagonist , Revenge , Gore , Historical , Afterlife , Body Horror , Rural , Orphan , Time Skip , Coming of Age , Shapeshifting , Travel , Reincarnation , Oiran , Trains , Guns , Crossdressing , Age Regression , Disability , Bisexual , Polyamorous , Youkai , Animals , Religion , Food

Dandadan

Also known as Dandadan.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Romance , Sci-Fi , Supernatural

Momo Ayase strikes up an unusual friendship with her school’s UFO fanatic, whom she nicknames “Okarun” because he has a name that is not to be said aloud. While Momo believes in spirits, she thinks aliens are nothing but nonsense. Her new friend, meanwhile, thinks the exact opposite. To settle matters, the two set out to prove each other wrong—Momo to a UFO hotspot and Okarun to a haunted tunnel! What unfolds next is a beautiful story of young love…and oddly horny aliens and spirits?



Note: Nominated for the 15th Manga Taisho Award in 2022.

Tags: Youkai , Urban Fantasy , Ghost , Aliens , Super Power , Shounen , Female Protagonist , Surreal Comedy , Tokusatsu , Male Protagonist , Henshin , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Heterosexual , Gyaru , Shapeshifting , School , Body Horror , Love Triangle , Exorcism , Conspiracy , Kaiju , Curses , Gore , Tragedy , Terrorism , Super Robot , Chuunibyou , Amnesia , Circus , Nudity , Gods , Dissociative Identities , Tsundere , Cannibalism , Bullying , Acrobatics , Suicide

Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun

Also known as Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun.

Status: Hiatus
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Mystery , Romance , Supernatural

"Hanako-san, Hanako-san... are you there?" At Kamome Academy, rumors abound about the school's Seven Mysteries, one of which is Hanako-san. Said to occupy the third stall of the third floor girls' bathroom in the old school building, Hanako-san grants any wish when summoned. Nene Yashiro, an occult-loving high school girl who dreams of romance, ventures into this haunted bathroom... but the Hanako-san she meets there is nothing like she imagined! Kamome Academy's Hanako-san... is a boy!


Tags: Youkai , Mythology , Ghost , Urban Fantasy , School , Afterlife , Twins , Tragedy , Female Protagonist , Heterosexual , Shounen , Alternate Universe , Male Protagonist , Revenge , Gore , LGBTQ+ Themes , Exorcism , Magic , Time Manipulation , Slapstick , Suicide , Survival , Body Horror , Tsundere , Yandere , Shrine Maiden , Gods , Mermaid , Love Triangle , Body Swapping

GANTZ

Also known as Gantz.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Ecchi , Horror , Psychological , Sci-Fi , Supernatural

Tokyo teens Kei and Masaru are killed by a subway train but awaken in a room with an ominous black orb that gives them weapons, suits and orders. Fighting bizarre alien monstrosities in a deadly game, will they win their freedom or die for the final time?



Tags: Survival , Seinen , Aliens , Gore , Tragedy , Death Game , Urban , Guns , Cosmic Horror , Philosophy , Battle Royale , Nudity , Heterosexual , Ensemble Cast , Super Power , Terrorism , Vampire , Assassins , Clone , Female Harem , Youkai , Dinosaurs , CGI , Age Gap , Anti-Hero , Crime , Trains

CLAYMORE

Also known as Claymore.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy , Horror

In a world where monsters called Yoma prey on humans and live among them in disguise, humanity’s only hope is a new breed of warrior known as Claymores. Half-human, half-monster, these silver-eyed slayers possess supernatural strength but are condemned to fight their savage impulses—or lose their humanity completely.



Note: Includes four extra chapters.

Tags: Demons , Primarily Female Cast , Super Power , Female Protagonist , Monster Girl , Gore , Swordplay , Revenge , Dystopian , Youkai , Shapeshifting , Tragedy , Body Horror , Ensemble Cast , Orphan , Conspiracy , Time Skip , Adoption , Twins , Nudity , Shounen , Anti-Hero , Espionage , Medieval , Cannibalism , Amnesia , Gods , Fugitive , Tomboy , Nun , Desert

Noragami

Also known as Noragami: Stray God.

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

Yato is a homeless god. He doesn’t even have a shrine, not to mention worshippers! So to achieve his ambitious goals, he’s set up a service to help those in need (for a small fee), hoping he’ll eventually raise enough money to build himself the lavish temple of his dreams. Of course, he can’t afford to be picky, so Yato accepts all kinds of jobs, from finding lost kittens to helping a student overcome bullies at school.



Tags: Gods , Reincarnation , Male Protagonist , Youkai , Mythology , Tragedy , Exorcism , Female Protagonist , Urban Fantasy , Shounen , Ghost , Swordplay , Heterosexual , Afterlife , Religion , Revenge , Found Family , Nekomimi , Body Horror , Torture

Mob Psycho 100

Also known as Mob Psycho 100.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Psychological , Slice of Life , Supernatural

Do you or someone you know need an exorcist who works cheap? Reigen's your guy! What's his secret to busting ghosts while keeping prices low? Well, first, he's a fraud, and second, he pays the guy who's got the real psychic power—his student assistant Shigeo—less than minimum wage. Shigeo is an awkward but kind boy whose urge to help others and get along with them is bound up with the mental safety locks he's placed on his own emotions. Reigen knows he needs to exploit Shigeo to stay in business, yet for better or worse he's also his mentor and counselor. And he also knows whenever the normally repressed kid's emotions reach level 100, it may unleash more psychic energy than either of them can handle!



Note: Includes 12 extra chapters.

Tags: Coming of Age , Philosophy , Super Power , Urban Fantasy , Ghost , Dissociative Identities , Shounen , Male Protagonist , Satire , School , Demons , Primarily Teen Cast , Surreal Comedy , Aliens , Youkai , Parody , School Club , Delinquents , Cult , Body Horror , Curses

Akame ga Kill!

Also known as Akame ga KILL!.

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

Teenage country bumpkin Tatsumi dreams of earning enough money for his impoverished village by working in the Capital--but his short-lived plans go awry when he's robbed by a buxom beauty upon arrival! Penniless, Tatsumi is taken in by the lovely Miss Aria, but just when his Capital dreams seem in reach yet again, Miss Aria's mansion is besieged by Night Raid--a team of ruthless assassins who targets high-ranking members of the upper class! As Tatsumi is quick to learn, appearances can be deceiving in the Capital, and this team of assassins just might be...the good guys?!



Note: Volumes 5 and 8 each contain a bonus chapter.

Tags: Assassins , Shounen , Tragedy , War , Swordplay , Gore , Anti-Hero , Male Protagonist , Super Power , Heterosexual , Ensemble Cast , Female Protagonist , Kuudere , Yandere , Love Triangle , Henshin , Crime , Time Manipulation , Military , Conspiracy , Tsundere , Female Harem , Nekomimi , Guns , Dragons , Youkai , Alchemy , Transgender

Mieruko-chan

Also known as Mieruko-chan.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Comedy , Horror , Slice of Life , Supernatural

One day, she could see…everything. What’s a girl to do when hideous monsters appear no matter which way she turns? And on top of that, nobody else can see them! Obviously, there’s only one thing that makes sense—ignore them. Kinda hard to put theory into practice, though, when the ghosts know she’s watching…



Tags: Ghost , Female Protagonist , Body Horror , Youkai , Gods , Seinen , Mythology , Episodic , Primarily Female Cast , Urban Fantasy , School , Philosophy , Yandere , Yuri

Ao no Exorcist

Also known as Blue Exorcist.

Status: Hiatus
Genres: Action , Supernatural

Raised by Father Fujimoto, a famous exorcist, Rin Okumura never knew his real father. One day a fateful argument with Father Fujimoto forces Rin to face a terrible truth—the blood of the demon lord Satan runs in Rin's veins! Rin swears to defeat Satan, but doing that means entering the mysterious True Cross Academy and becoming an exorcist himself. Can Rin fight demons and keep his infernal bloodline a secret? It won't be easy, especially when drawing his father's sword releases the demonic power within him!



Note: Includes three extra chapters.

Tags: Demons , Male Protagonist , Shounen , Conspiracy , Urban Fantasy , Twins , Swordplay , Primarily Teen Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Exorcism , School , Tragedy , Religion , Youkai , Clone , Anthropomorphism , Gore , Body Horror , Chimera , Espionage , Curses , Magic , Orphan , Ensemble Cast , Mythology , Guns , Kemonomimi , Time Manipulation , Heterosexual , Kaiju , Memory Manipulation , Suicide , Zombie , Nudity

Fruits Basket

Also known as Fruits Basket.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Psychological , Romance , Supernatural

After a family tragedy turns her life upside down, plucky high schooler Tohru Honda takes matters into her own hands and moves out...into a tent! Unfortunately for her, she pitches her new home on private land belonging to the mysterious Sohma clan, and it isn't long before the owners discover her secret. But, as Tohru quickly finds out when the family offers to take her in, the Sohmas have a secret of their own--when touched by the opposite sex, they turn into the animals of the Chinese Zodiac!



Note: Volume 9 includes the bonus chapter "Rain Shelter of Terror".

Tags: Shoujo , Mythology , Animals , Ensemble Cast , Tragedy , Shapeshifting , Philosophy , Rehabilitation , Heterosexual , Reincarnation , Found Family , Female Protagonist , Urban Fantasy , Primarily Male Cast , School , Family Life , Primarily Teen Cast , Coming of Age , Age Gap , Tsundere , Estranged Family , Youkai , Curses , Love Triangle , Memory Manipulation , Disability , Orphan , Unrequited Love , Incest , Crossdressing , Henshin , Delinquents , Cohabitation , Monster Boy , Iyashikei , Revenge , Dissociative Identities , Teacher , Marriage , Transgender

Mushishi

Also known as Mushishi.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Mystery , Slice of Life , Supernatural

Some live in the deep darkness behind your eyelids. Some eat silence. Some thoughtlessly kill. Some simply drive men mad. They are known as mushi—creatures that came into being shortly after life emerged from the primordial ooze. They still exist parallel to our own lives and can only be seen by a select few. As a mushishi, Ginko is one of the few who are aware of their existence, and this young man with a sardonic smile roams from place to place with the knowledge and skill to aid those unwittingly affected by mushi.



Note: Won the Excellence Prize for Manga at the 7th Japan Media Arts Festival in 2003 and the Kodansha Manga Award for General Manga in 2006.

Tags: Travel , Episodic , Environmental , Youkai , Seinen , Mythology , Rural , Eco-Horror , Iyashikei , Philosophy , Male Protagonist , Tragedy , Urban Fantasy , Historical , Work , Demons

Yuu☆Yuu☆Hakusho

Also known as Yu Yu Hakusho.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Romance , Supernatural

Yusuke Urameshi was a tough teen delinquent until one selfless act changed his life...by ending it. When he died saving a little kid from a speeding car, the afterlife didn't know what to do with him, so it gave him a second chance at life. Now, Yusuke is a ghost with a mission, performing good deeds at the behest of Botan, the ferrywoman of the River Styx, and Koenma, the pacifier-sucking judge of the dead.



Note: Includes the one-shot "Yuu☆Yuu☆Hakusho Gaiden: TWO SHOTS (Yu Yu Hakusho Tales: Two Shots)".

Tags: Shounen , Super Power , Demons , Primarily Male Cast , Cultivation , Male Protagonist , Martial Arts , Coming of Age , Dissociative Identities , Delinquents , Urban Fantasy , Philosophy , Boxing , Youkai , Ghost , Heterosexual , Conspiracy

Kamisama Hajimemashita

Also known as Kamisama Kiss.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Romance , Supernatural

Nanami Momozono is alone and homeless after her dad skips town to evade his gambling debts and the debt collectors kick her out of her apartment. So when a man she's just saved from a dog offers her his home, she jumps at the opportunity. But it turns out that his place is a shrine, and Nanami has unwittingly taken over his job as a local deity!

Nanami has all kinda of new responsibilities she doesn't understand, dangers she's unaware of, and a cranky ex-familiar who's...actually pretty hot. What's a new-fledged godling to do?



Tags: Shoujo , Female Protagonist , Kemonomimi , Youkai , Demons , Coming of Age , Gods , Urban Fantasy , Monster Boy , School , Yandere , Heterosexual , Male Harem , Time Manipulation , Amnesia , Love Triangle , Historical , Found Family , Cohabitation , Age Regression , Idol , Afterlife , Marriage , Curses

xxxHolic

Also known as xxxHOLiC.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Mystery , Supernatural

Kimihiro Watanuki is haunted by visions of ghosts and spirits. He seeks help from a mysterious woman named Yuko, who claims she can help. However, Watanuki must work for Yuko in order to pay for her aid. Soon Watanuki finds himself employed in Yuko’s shop where he sees things and meets customers that are stranger than anything he could have ever imagined.



Notes:
- The series was re-named to xxxHolic•Rou on chapter title pages of chapter 186 and on, but not on their volume's front covers, spines and indicia.
- The chapter count contains a one-shot published in May 2010 to commemorate the switch, which was later collected into Volume 18.
- The chapter count also reflects the magazine releases; the chapters plus the one-shot were re-arranged into 109 chapters across 19 volumes.

Tags: Magic , Youkai , Mythology , Ghost , Seinen , Crossover , Clone , Male Protagonist , Curses , Witch , Philosophy , Time Manipulation , Denpa , Urban Fantasy , Episodic , Memory Manipulation , Tragedy , School , Heterosexual , Boys' Love , Yuri

Ayashimon

Also known as Ayashimon.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Supernatural

Maruo, a boy starved for battle, meets Urara, a girl trying to escape from underworld thugs...



Tags: Youkai , Yakuza , Male Protagonist , Shounen , Female Protagonist , Urban Fantasy , Meta , Surreal Comedy , Parody , Motorcycles , Dragons , Crossdressing

Rosario to Vampire

Also known as Rosario+Vampire.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Ecchi , Romance , Supernatural

All-around average student Tsukune can't get accepted to any high school save one...but on his first day, he finds the rest of the student body doesn't appear average in the least. Best of all, the cutest girl on campus can't wait to fling her arms around his neck! Wait a sec'--are those her teeth around his neck too...? Tsukune's going to have one heck of a hickey when he gets home from Monster High! But does he have a chance in H-E-double-hockey-sticks of raising his grades at a school where the turf war isn't between the jocks and the nerds but the vampires and the werewolves?



Tags: Vampire , Monster Girl , Magic , Female Harem , Male Protagonist , Shounen , Witch , Demons , School Club , Mythology , Primarily Female Cast , Youkai , Boarding School , Female Protagonist , Body Horror , Memory Manipulation , Unrequited Love , School , Succubus , Urban Fantasy , Dissociative Identities , Heterosexual , Mermaid , Love Triangle , Monster Boy , Delinquents , Gore , Chimera , Kemonomimi , Nekomimi , Tragedy , Bisexual , Estranged Family , Martial Arts , Zombie , Tanned Skin , Clone , Terrorism , Triads

Tougen Anki

Also known as Tougen Anki: Legend of the Cursed Blood.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Mystery , Supernatural

Shiki Ichinose's blood is Oni, and his father's is Momotarou. Normally, those with Momotarou blood hunt the Oni—but Shiki's father refused to kill him as an infant. Instead, he adopted Shiki and raised him despite the rebellious attitude and dangerous temper that come with Oni blood. When a member of the Momotarou Agency kills Shiki's father, Shiki vows to avenge him. But as he hones his abilities and learns to control his Oni blood, will he be strong enough to survive the dangers waiting for him…?



Tags: Shounen , Demons , Tragedy , Male Protagonist , Youkai , Super Power , War , Urban Fantasy , Guns , Anti-Hero , Found Family , Gore , Revenge , Shapeshifting , Adoption

Bakemonogatari

Also known as Bakemonogatari.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Mystery , Romance , Supernatural

One day, high-school student Koyomi Araragi catches a girl named Hitagi Senjougahara when she trips. But—much to his surprise—she doesn’t weigh anything. At all. She says an encounter with a so-called “crab” took away all her weight …

Monsters have been here since the beginning.
Always.
Everywhere.



Tags: Urban Fantasy , Youkai , Vampire , Male Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Philosophy , Heterosexual , Meta , Gods , Female Harem , Ghost , Tragedy , Denpa , Surreal Comedy , Nekomimi , Nudity , Tomboy , Love Triangle , Dissociative Identities , Gore , Shounen , Monster Girl , Body Horror , School , Age Regression