This Manga is Amazing! 2025: Top Picks Revealed for Men’s and Women’s Categories

For those who follow the manga industry closely, the release of This Manga is Amazing! is an annual highlight. Published by Takarajimasha, this guidebook ranks and spotlights notable manga from the past year, categorized into Men’s and Women’s demographics.

While the top picks have been revealed, the 2025 edition of This Manga is Amazing! guidebook will be released on December 13, 2024, and, as always, it provides a comprehensive overview of the most influential manga of the year.

Top Winners of This Manga is Amazing! 2025:

• Men’s Category: Walking the Universe with You (Kimi to Uchuu o Aruku Tame ni) by Inuhiro Doronota
• Women’s Category: Tamaki and Shu (Tamaki to Shu) by Fumi Yoshinaga

Since its inception, this guidebook has been regarded as a reliable barometer for manga trends. Rankings are based on surveys collected from industry professionals, manga enthusiasts, and critics. Its selections often set the stage for the next year’s biggest manga discussions and adaptations.

A historical note worth mentioning: nearly every Men’s Category winner from the past decade has gone on to receive an anime adaptation.

Men’s Category: Walking the Universe with You

Written by Inuhiro Doronota and serialized on Kodansha’s &Sofa platform, Walking the Universe with You ((Kimi to Uchuu o Aruku Tame ni)) tells the story of Yamato Kobayashi, a struggling delinquent, and Keisuke Uno, a socially awkward transfer student.

The manga explores themes of friendship, personal growth, and overcoming emotional barriers. As of now, three volumes have been published.

Uno, one of the protagonists, displays characteristics consistent with autism spectrum disorder, though this is never explicitly stated. His precise memorization skills contrast with his difficulty in multitasking and adapting to unfamiliar social situations.

This aspect of Uno’s character is central to the narrative, particularly in moments where he struggles with peer interactions and bullying.

For example, in an early chapter, Uno flees after a classmate pranks him by taking his precious memo. The emotional weight of this scene escalates when Uno, upon returning home, finally allows himself to cry—a coping mechanism he has established to avoid showing vulnerability in public.

This storyline highlights the universality of emotions like frustration and shame while also critiquing societal biases. Kobayashi’s growing understanding of Uno further emphasizes the importance of empathy and challenges assumptions about people who behave differently.

Unfortunately this story is not yet translated into English.

Women’s Category Winner: Tamaki and Shu

Fumi Yoshinaga, known for her nuanced character work, delivers a collection of interconnected stories in Tamaki and Shu. This series spans multiple timelines, exploring the lives of two souls, Tamaki and Shu, as they meet across different reincarnations.

In one story, set in the modern era, they are a married couple raising a child. In another, during the Meiji period, they are close friends who communicate through letters after life circumstances separate them. Across different time periods, their bond adapts to the cultural and historical contexts, but the theme of enduring love remains consistent.

This work captures Yoshinaga’s strength in depicting human relationships, focusing on emotional resonance rather than grandiose narratives. It’s a deep dive into how love and connection can transcend societal structures and time itself.

Historical Context

To emphasize the influence of Kono Manga ga Sugoi! winners, many past Men’s Category winners have gone on to receive anime adaptations. These are the top picks of the Men and Women category from the past decade:

For anyone seriously following the manga scene, Kono Manga ga Sugoi! remains a key resource for identifying standout titles.

Source: Comic Natalie