2022 proved to be another outstanding year for all the people in the anime/manga community. Many new anime series, such as Chainsaw Man, Bleach, and Stone Ocean finally came out. Needless to say, fans thoroughly enjoyed all the new anime series.
The manga community was also blessed with the introduction of new series and the return of some, such as Hunter x Hunter. As the year comes to a close, it is time to look at the best-selling manga of the year. These rankings are based on the number of copies sold by each manga series, according to Oricon, and have been compiled into a tweet by the Twitter account @WSJ_manga.
10 Kaiju No.8 (3,139,803 Copies Sold)
Kaiju No. 8 is a manga series written by Naoya Matsumoto. It has been serialized in the Shonen Jump+ app since July 2020. Due to its popularity, the chapters of the manga have been compiled into several volumes. Kaiju no. 8 sold 3,139,803 copies in 2022, which is extremely impressive.
An anime adaptation of the series is also in development and is set to come out in 2024. Kaiju No. 8 is set in Japan, where creatures known as kaiju continuously attack humans. The responsibility of saving people falls on the shoulders of the Japanese Defense Force. Two friends who lose their hometown in a kaiju attack vow to join the force and defeat the monsters.
9 Do Not Say Mystery (3,140,861 Copies Sold)
Do Not Say Mystery has been a part of Shogakukan's Monthly Flowers magazine for several years. The manga written by Yumi Tamura won an award earlier this year. Surprisingly, the manga managed to finish in the top 10 without even having an anime adaptation.
Do Not Say Mystery follows the story of a college student, Totonou Kunou, who all of a sudden finds himself involved in a murder mystery. Totonou is taken in as the prime suspect in the murder of his classmate.
8 Chainsaw Man (3,438,930 Copies Sold)
2022 was a big year for Chainsaw Man fans, as the much-awaited anime adaptation was finally released. The fans have fallen in love with the quality of the animation and the stunning visuals. Considering that the anime came out this year, it is a bit odd to see Chainsaw Man finish so low in terms of sales.
Chainsaw Man follows the story of Denji, a young boy, who lives with his pet demon, Pochita. Together, the two of them fight against other demons to earn money. Despite being extremely poor, Denji and Pochita somehow get by.
7 Blue Lock (3,548,238 Copies Sold)
Blue Lock is a new-gen soccer manga that has been written by Muneyuki Kaneshiro. 2022 proved to be a successful year for Blue Lock, as it managed to sell over 3 million copies and the release of the anime only boosted its popularity further.
The manga is set after the events of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Due to Japan's poor performance, the Japanese Football Union is forced to take a different approach. They hire a man named Ego Jinpachi, who promises to deliver the next big football/soccer star.
6 Kingdom (3,832,688 Copies Sold)
Yasuhisa Hara's Kingdom is one of the greatest manga series in the world. It started serializing in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump in 2006, and over the years, the popularity of the series has continued to increase.
The manga closely follows the Warring States Period in China while adding its own twists to the story. At the center of the story is an orphan boy named Xin, who wants to be the greatest general under the sky.
5 My Hero Academia (5,353,782 Copies Sold)
Horikoshi Kohei's My Hero Academia has been one of the go-to manga series for any new fan of the medium. The series is extremely popular, and it has already received several anime and movie adaptations.
My Hero Academia is set in a world where everyone possesses powers known as "Quirks." Each Quirk is unique and provides different abilities. Midoriya Izuku dreams of becoming a pro-hero, but his dream takes a massive hit when he finds out that he does not have a Quirk.
4 One Piece (10,364,102 Copies Sold)
One Piece is heralded by many as the greatest manga series of all time. Written by Eiichiro Oda, the series started serializing in 1997, and since then it has become the best-selling manga of all time.
One Piece follows the story of Monkey D. Luffy as he sets out to fulfill his dream of becoming the Pirate King. After accidentally consuming a mysterious fruit, Luffy gains the power to turn into rubber. A few years later, Luffy begins his journey, where he meets many new friends and foes.
3 Spy x Family (10,600,571 Copies Sold)
Spy x Family surprised the manga community with its quality. The anime adaptation of the series began airing earlier this year, and it has gained a lot of critical acclaim. During the Jump Festa, it was announced that the anime will be returning for a second season.
Spy x Family is an action-comedy manga that focuses on the life of Twilight, who is considered the best spy in the world. Usually, he operates by himself, but when the peace of the world is at stake, he has to find a fake family.
2 Tokyo Revengers (11,048,067 Copies Sold)
Tokyo Revengers released its final chapter in November 2022. The manga was serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine. Considering the manga was in its final arc, it isn't surprising to see the sales numbers increase so much. In 2022, Tokyo Revengers sold over 11 million copies, which is definitely a huge accomplishment.
The story follows a 26-year-old man, Hanagaki Takemichi, who has nothing going for him. One day, he learns that his ex-girlfriend and her brother have been killed by a gang. With nothing else to do, Takemichi heads to the station, where he is pushed onto the platform. This triggers a strange phenomenon where he is sent back in time.
1 Jujutsu Kaisen (12,282,260 Copies Sold)
At the top of the list is Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen. The series has taken the entire world by storm. The first season of the anime was well-received by the anime community. The anime release was followed by a movie that shattered numerous records.
The series follows the adventures of Itadori Yuuji, a high schooler whose life changes after he eats a cursed object. Yuuji is forced to join an institution that fights curses.