Best Comedy Manga of 2023

Hailing from a notable family, Arisu Yamabuki only accepts perfection. He constantly strives to maintain his flawless image, but there is more to him: Yamabuki used to tune in to the radio shows of a girl named Apollo and even confessed his love to her years ago. Ever since, he has been frantically searching for Apollo and her voice, but with little success. However, when Yamabuki's school merges with an all-girls school, things begin to change. As the Broadcasting Club makes an announcement during the very first day, he is shocked to hear Apollo's voice, but there is a problem—all four members of the club sound like her! While each of the girls, Rikka Inohana, Shinobu Uzuki, Nene Himekawa, and Iko Kirino want to pursue their own careers with their voices, Yamabuki joins the club in the hope of identifying Apollo. Alongside his close observation, Yamabuki vows to guide the girls to greater heights.

Sunao Akiyoshi thought he’d left heartbreak behind after swearing off love in junior high. His first love, Lemon Nishikawa, shattered his trust by admitting to cheating on him with multiple guys. Now in university, Sunao is finally ready to try again, thanks to his crush on the sweet and down-to-earth Natsumi Kogahara from his film club. But just as he’s about to take a chance on love, fate throws him a curveball: he runs into Lemon again, and one fateful night under a shooting star, he wakes up in her body! Now stuck in the ultimate awkward situation, Sunao has to navigate Lemon’s life—and his growing feelings for Natsumi—while figuring out how to switch back. To make matters worse, Lemon and Natsumi are roommates, leading to hilarious misunderstandings and shocking revelations. In this gender-bending, body-swap romcom, Sunao must face his past, survive his present, and somehow come out of it all with his heart intact.

Dweeby high schooler Yuuki Uehara has created the perfect romantic comedy heroine—she's bashful, airheaded, and completely chaste. When an editor at Uehara's dream publisher coldly dismisses his manga story as trite and lacking realism, it sends Uehara into a spiral of despair that pushes him into the path of his bubbly, gorgeous classmate, Niina Miyamoto—an aspiring manga artist herself! Having gotten similar feedback on her own manga, Miyamoto proposes she and Uehara engage in a fake relationship, since neither of them have any romantic experience. But Miyamoto is far from the perfect heroine Uehara's concocted, and he certainly isn't the cocky hero from her story either. Can their wacky relationship turn their manga dreams into reality, or will it lead to even more comic disasters?

Urumin is an idol, but she can't sing or dance well, and she's got a dishonest character. Kimiya is the only fan in the world who likes her. The relationship between the two of them is a little different from the usual relationships between idols and fans! This is a precious love comedy that depicts the daily life of a bad idol and the man who keeps on promoting her, and the way he loves her!

In search of a fourth member for the club, Mogari, Eugene, and new recruit Kaoru Kanzaki set their sights on Koutarou Tamon, a classmate who seems to be able to talk to ghosts. Unfortunately, Kotaro's got some major problems communicating with living humans! Will Kotaro be able to overcome his anxiety and join the Phantom Busters?

Fuyuki Tojyo is a flamboyant "gyaru" who is cool and competent at work. Taiyo Hara is an ordinary overworked engineer. They’re not just colleagues, they’re a married couple working at the same company, where office romance is strictly prohibited. Only in front of her husband does Fuyuki reveals her super sweet secret side that contrast completely with her workplace persona. Hiding their relationship from everyone, they struggle to shorten the distance between each other. A 100% pure love comedy about an unlikely but adorable couple!

As a child, Kotaro was humiliated by a group of bullies, Akira, a wrestling prodigy, Kanae, a basketball prodigy, and Sigure, a gamer prodigy, who would beat him at anything they tried. Now in high school, Kotaro is reunited with those three bullies, and he swears he will get back at them this time…!? It's a romantic comedy about taking revenge on bullies!

First-year class president, Otogi Katsura, assumes the role of a pristine and gracious girl with pride. Ever since she was a child, she knew what people expected of a beauty such as herself, and she upholds this virtuous image without fail. The only person to rival Katsura, both in appearance and charm, is her vice president, Toki Ninomae. On top of that, his impeccable manners make him the perfect match for her as the school's madonna—in her opinion at least. Though it appears impossible to prove, Katsura is confident that Ninomae wears a mask just like she does. Her suspicions are soon confirmed when she accidentally exposes her sharp-tongued side, and, encouraged by her boldness, Ninomae follows suit to reveal his brusque and cool nature. From then on, Katsura and Ninomae start to shed their false angel disguises and lower their guard around one another, without realizing how easy it is to fall in love.

Makoto Hitsujiya transfers to a new high school and meets a strange classmate named Takehiro Kokudou. Kokudou introduces him to Bugs, a variety of phenomena that produce certain outcomes only if specific sequential actions are performed. The phenomena can range from bird droppings appearing on a sidewalk after pressing a certain combination of vending machine buttons to being able to lift weights beyond one's normal physical limits. Gradually, Hisujiya and Kokudou's friendship grows as they take advantage of the handy—and sometimes outrageous—conditions to activate Bugs that transcend the laws of science and humanity. Following Kokudou's footsteps, Hitsujiya becomes addicted to triggering these anomalies. But when he discovers a bizarre set of conditions required for a ridiculous Bug that can change his future, his curiosity may have serious consequences.

*Sometimes, when life is hard, you just need a "friend."* Working at a game company, Rihito Otsuka (23), is a "normal" guy who is a steady presence on and off the job. Noa Saotome (27) is a "hard-core" woman who likes to go all out at everything she does. Two people who usually wouldn't get along become "friends" by chance...? The is the start of an workplace "friendship" comedy that's a little sweet but also a little heavy!

Koki Sakieda is an assistant for Akira Akanebe, a manga artist he admires, who always tries to praise him in some way. Sakieda is worried that he will end up falling in love with her if this situation continues. Then Akanebe unexpectedly asks him to go out with her....... The story depicts the daily life of Akanebe-sensei, who lavishes praise on Sakieda without embarrassment, and Sakieda, who tries to accept it all gracefully.

Living in Ataraxia, a world of swords and magic, a reincarnated individual decided to make a living out of streaming. Living in a world where such a thing did not exist despite the many forms of entertainment, he quickly made a name for himself. This is not the tale of just a streamer… but of a boy who becomes a legend as a haishinsha.

The cool, lone-wolf girl and her precious, unrequited crush!

Hiromi Sonoda has no girlfriend, no job, and no home, until he finds a shared-house with very cheap rent and goes to check it out. However, the share-house has a certain condition... Kei Sasuga presents a new "Share House Romantic Comedy"!

Izumi, a university student part-timing at a manga cafe, got curious about a regular customer. Her name is Honami, a high school girl who comes to the manga cafe regularly, and he can't take his eyes off her. But this seemingly cute and innocent girl has a secret...!? A slightly naughty but pure romantic comedy where a gentle couple will get to "enjoy" their youth to the fullest!!

**One tomboy is determined to win the heart of her childhood best friend–but will it take more than a makeover to win him over?** Wakaba is cocky, condescending, foul-mouthed, and absolutely in love with her childhood friend, Daiki. For as long as they’ve known each other, Wakaba’s been the very image of a roughhousing tomboy, but all that’s about to change. When she shows up in front of him, wearing a cutesy, feminine outfit, will she get the hopeless late bloomer’s heart racing? When you can’t put your feelings into words, an image change might just be the right gambit! *Source: Seven Seas Entertainment, Vol. 1*

The stage is the proud land of the north--Hokkaido. The year is 2010. Rou Shirakawa has just received the highest score in history at the All-Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships! But suddenly, he loses control and starts destroying the stage. He is quickly disqualified and banned from the skating world for life. Now nicknamed "the Rabid Prince," Rou ends up in Tamakomai, an ice hockey town in northern Japan. And on a hockey rink on a frozen lake, he meets the ruthless Genma brothers! Rou will soon learn of the famous Oino-kami high school and their quest to win an unprecedented 20th straight national hockey championship. And also the strong, yet beautiful battle sport--ice hockey! Change, grow, evolve! Turn defeat into victory in this red-hot redemption story!

In the massively multiplayer online role-playing game Illusion, players reap extra benefits and profit from special events if they are in an in-game relationship. So when Lee Yeo-woon, under the pseudonym "neutaaaa," has a terrible experience with a rude player named "Ji6Star," he decides to simply give up on joining his guild, Poseidon. However, the incident lands Ji6Star in hot water with the guild master, and to force Yeo-woon to accept his apology, Ji6Star ends up spending real-life money to propose to Yeo-woon! Feeling guilty because of the spent money, Yeo-woon accepts, though he refuses to suddenly be friendly with Ji6Star, who now follows him everywhere. But there is some charm to Ji6Star, and it is difficult to completely ignore him or his help with leveling up. Meanwhile, in the real world, Yeo-woon moves into a new apartment—and meets a skittish new neighbor, Yoon Ji-gu, who mistakes him for a stalker. With Ji-gu popping up everywhere and Ji6Star relentlessly asking for a meet-up, Yeo-woon must wonder if he will ever have peace—real or virtual.

Sumire Ichigaya’s got it tough. She’s drowning in debt, surrounded by noisy neighbors, fighting for discount supermarket meals, and working a dead-end job exterminating space vermin left over from a failed alien invasion. It seems like things just can’t get any worse—until she’s abducted by aliens and wakes up with a monstrous new arm and a voice in her head urging her to kill all of humanity!

"Appears Out of Nowhere", focusing on the protagonists' life after the two got married. Unlike the previous work, it's a very ordinary story of an utterly ordinary couple. Haru, a huge fan of his husband's sweat smell, and Aki, who loves his wife dearly, will now enjoy relaxed and intimate moments together they couldn't have before. In addition to the full-length manga and illustrations about the protagonists' college days that has been already published on Twitter(X), this book also includes an exclusive 3-page manga that has not yet been published on socials!

Rintaro Shido, a high school boy who aspires to become a full-time house-husband, is in the same class with Rei Otosaki, a popular and well-known idol. The two have no relationship other than being classmates, but that changes drastically when Rintaro serves Rei a home-cooked meal after she nearly collapses from hunger! The food was so delicious that Rei asks him, "Can I come and eat with you every day?"

Our protagonist, the RTA speedrunning king of the game "Another Verse", suddenly starts feeling sleepy in the middle of practice. When he wakes up, he hears the familiar opening of "Another Verse" playing right before his eyes!? In this god-mode environment where everybody is moving quicker than usual, you have to speedrun! Clear the game world faster than everyone else! Use every trick and abuse every bug to fight, in this "fastest" Isekai fantasy!!

Kikuri Hiroi—genius bassist of Sick Hack, terror of concert venues, eternal deadbeat, and all-around poor role model—has long held that there's no problem you can't drink your way out of. Whether it's the failing economy, overdue rent bills, or just plain ol' social anxiety, a quick trip on the spiral of happiness will help everything work itself out in the end...right? Surely her personal life isn't a total disaster, right?!

Amai-san, the beautiful JK girl next door, may seem cool, but in fact - there is a sweet side of her that only I know...!

**Where there’s smoke, there’s a catgirl chainsmoking in this comedy manga! A look at the daily troubles of one catgirl and her attempts to get her life together.** Welcome to Yani’s apartment. Please don’t mind the smell. Yani is a catgirl with a seriously bad smoking habit. Every time she tries to quit, she becomes weak to the cravings and gives in almost instantly. Behind on her rent and unable to hold down a job, her friends and sister rally around to help her out. But when she’s using her pee to put out cigarette fires, they may just have their work cut out for them. Will she ever get her life together, or is she doomed to live as a chainsmoking slob forever? *Source: Seven Seas Entertainment, Vol. 1*

"What if we became friends with benefits...?" Suuna, a gloomy high school student, leaves home to live in a dorm. But when she nervously enters her room, she finds her roommate, Ruka, feeling up another girl! She finds out Ruka needs a "friend with benefits," so Suuna takes charge and proposes they form a "(semi) friends with benefits" contract...? *Note: Originally a three-chapter limited run, it was picked up for full serialization starting 2023-05-09.*

A reincarnated boy, Allen, gets bequeathed by a goddess the cheat skill, "Restoration." Even though he can heal all and any injuries and illnesses, there aren't a lot of places where he can use that skill to the fullest, so he planned to "regenerate" the slaves he bought and lead a slow-paced life. But the healed slaves' cheats turned out so out of the ordinary that the crops they tend to and their living conditions turned for the better in a blink of an eye. The protagonist, Allen, who slowly but surely is robbed of opportunities to shine, tried to counter that with his modern knowledge, and yet, those talented slaves absorbed it all and brought success to any and all businesses. The protagonist is becoming irrelevant with each passing day?!

Sato Itto is an ordinary salaryman who has been shy about love due to past trauma. One day, a school reunion is held for the first time in several years. While they are having a good time talking about the good old days, Hebo, a recently retired idol, suddenly shows up! Sato is upset to see Hebo, who was his first love in school. He tries to get over his feelings with the help of alcohol, even though he doesn't normally drink. But when he wakes up the next morning, he finds himself naked in the same bed with Hebo. As Sato desperately tries to recall what happened, Hebo-san shocked him even more by saying... *"Marry me!"* What will happen to this marriage between two people are absolute zeros at love?

For some reason, the powerful and popular Hero won't leave me (an unmotivated wizard) alone!!!! The adventures of the strongest hero's party, where everyone has their own slightly unusual romantic (love) problems.

Highschooler Amane Fujimiya just started living alone but already has a strange neighbor. Right next door to him lives the most beautiful girl at school, the "Angel" known as Mahiru Shiina. Their curious relationship blossomed when Amane lends Mahiru an umbrella on a fateful rainy day. Once complete strangers, now neighbors, these teens find themselves gradually drawn to each other. A collection of sweet, impatient moments of everyday life between a blunt boy and his cute neighbor.

The story is about Serena, a former assassin who was reincarnated as a duke's daughter after failing her mission. She initially thought that pretending to be a noble would be easy, but she struggled with the gap in perception between herself and her mother, who had a flighty personality, and her adoptive sister, who deceived those around her in an attempt to push Serena out of the picture. Despite skillfully dodging the harassment she faced at the tea parties full of rivalry and navigating the complex social life of a school embroiled in love and hate, Serena's cold demeanor resulted in her being ostracized and isolated. One day, she discovers that her adoptive sister is engaged to the second prince, which leads her to run away from home. However, it is at this point that the first prince, Evan, appears in front of her... Follow Serena, a former assassin who knows nothing of love, as she charges forward into the aristocratic society of another world in this comedic, occasionally romantic tale.

One day, Sumeragi Yuuto was suddenly transferred to a new world. This world resembles a world from a novel that Yuuto recently read. It is a world where beauty and ugliness are reversed. Yuuto fell and was carried to a safe place. The girl who carried him was considered ugly by the people of this world. This is the story of making a harem with her and her other party members.

His more-than-friends, less-than-lovers cousin is so cute that he could die? Nozomu is a boy staying at his uncle's house over summer vacation. In the countryside, where there are no convenience stores, or any busses even, the boy has a problem. That problem is his younger cousin, Sou. He's being led around by this tanned energetic girl day after day and can't show her the dignity befitting his older age. On top of that, whether intentional or not, he's getting flustered by Sou's inviting demeanor. Eventually, Nozomu couldn't take his eyes off Sou and is falling more and more under her spell? With a "cousin" like this, his reason is having a hard time hanging on. This is a romcom with a guy who's going under from all his tanned cousin's teasing.

A brave hero set out to defeat the Demon Lord for the sake of world peace. When he arrives at the Demon Lord's castle, he is greeted by the Demon Lord herself, waiting for him with a marriage certificate in hand! "Please marry me!" the Demon Lord asked eagerly, which only made the hero more suspicious―? A romantic comedy between a Demon Lord in love and a salty Hero, with the fate of the world at stake!

Two high schoolers, Suzuki-kun and Takagi-san, met in a time loop on August 31st. They are the only ones who can retain their memories when the day repeats itself. A possible cause of the time loop is Suzuki-kun's unfinished business for the summer, a guy's greatest objective... A time loop comedy of youth that tackles love head-on!

Despite her image as a hard-working and intimidating boss at work, Masaki Tsuruse is a young lady in her twenties who enjoys collecting cute things in her spare time. She has a crush on Shu Tsukinawa, a mid-career new hire at her company...? A thrilling love comedy between boss and subordinate! *Note: Originally self-published, it was collected into a volume for commercial publication by Kadokawa starting 2023-08-25.*

I thought I would be reincarnated into another world as a mighty warrior and build a happy harem of women...! The guild I created on a whim became the most powerful guild with all the strongest members who are all good-looking guys and beautiful girls. Except for me. I'm the weakest member in my own guild. Can I quit now? It is a dark fantasy featuring a lethargic hero and his guild members who adore and worship him…

An unknown skill turns into unlimited power with divine knowledge \[Internet\]! *"To manifest an SSS rank with the weakest skill is a disgrace!"* Rona is a girl who was expelled from her home due to her lack of money, food, and power. Lost and hopeless, she suddenly hears the words... *"Would you like some guidance?"* She discovers how to utilize her unique SSS rank skill: \[Internet\], which she alone possesses. The true nature of this skill is the ability to access this world's 'guide sites' - an extraordinary cheat skill! Endless production of valuable items! Acquiring ultra-rare equipment! Thanks to her skill, she can do as she pleases...!

A boyish childhood friend grows up to be a super handsome girl!

On a Halloween night, a boy and a girl wearing high school uniforms meet, facing a similar predicament: they feel as if the magic of high school days has slipped through their fingers. Kayano Wakaba was preoccupied with studying, while Tachibana Fumito regrets devoting his teenage years solely to basketball. Having never experienced movie-like dates, they agree to indulge themselves for this one night. However, neither Wakaba nor Fumito are high school students—they are both 20-year-olds lamenting the lost time. They continue meeting, always in their uniforms, trying to live out for the youth that escaped them and realizing that a belated romance can be just as sweet.

Kenjiro, a first-year high school boy, has had a crush on his classmate Tozaki-san ever since the start of school. Tozaki-san is usually nice to everyone, but for some reason, she has a cold attitude only towards Kenjiro....... A romantic comedy between two innocent high school kids!

College student Tendo Souma had two favorite "oshi," he popular Vtuber Henrietta and the idol voice-actress Yasumi Hiyori. His typical "oshi activity" changes dramatically when his "oshi" moves into the apartment next door! And it seems like she's not alone!? Souma is excited about his dream come true at first, but then he is confronted with an "unfortunate reality."

Inuyama, facing life's precipice with no job and no savings, got an opportunity become a street-promoter and play "pretend-boyfriend" for a gravure idol! A harem love-comedy with girls fighting to get to the top of the gravure world!

J is a lone assassin feared as "untouchable" in the underworld. Megumi is a lonely girl who has no place at home or school. When the two meet, an unexpected story begins.

Itsuki is a high school boy totally dedicated to his studies. The reason for his effort and dedication is so he can reunite with his first love, a girl named Amane, and go on a date with her. But even as he's trying to concentrate on studying, by a twist of fate, he ends up living together with Amane and her sisters, Shion and Mone..!?

The highly popular one-shot is finally back!! A newly built 1LDK apartment with rent of 4,800 yen! The reason is the "earthbound spirit of a Shiba Inu"...!? A heartwarming comedy about a cool and sightly awkward high school girl, Kori, and a quirky Shiba Inu spirit, Mu-chan, begins! *Note: Originally published as a one-shot, serialization began on 2024-06-27 by re-publishing the one-shot as chapter 1 along with a new chapter 2.*

Youth = friendship, effort, and seeing the future!? The very ordinary daily life of an invincible gal with the strongest supernatural abilities.

Kanisuke Akigai is just your average high school student, but when a demi-human girl named Yuuko Mizuda (nicknamed Mizudako-chan) transfers into his class, his life is turned upside down! She's cute, mysterious...and a little scary? The pressure is on as Kanisuke tries to understand his strange new classmate!

Bonsuke Hirano, an exceptionally ordinary high school boy, returns to his homeroom after school to pick something up, only to find the school’s number-one serene beauty, Kokuru Goinda, fidgeting around in his desk… “Huh? Does she…like me? Wait, maybe not?” A young man’s naivety meets the full force of a gal’s allure in this tantalizing tale of teen love! *Source: Manga UP! Global*

A beautiful high school girl suddenly shows up at the door of Yuya Amae, a tired salaryman! It is Aoi Shiratori, his childhood friend, who has come to ask Yuya to marry her… again! And so begins their life of living together! Yuya tries to act like a responsible guardian, but Aoi's aggressive approach is causing his resolve to waver…? A JK childhood friend with a marriage proposal! A sweet ideal romantic comedy!

Uichiro, a junior high boy, has a secret that he cannot tell his childhood friend Tama-chan. He has been dressing up as a girl for her sake because of her phobia of men. A thrilling and agonizing romantic comedy about a coming-of-age boy who continues to cross-dress for the girl he loves!

In this world, maids go about their everyday lives dressed in long black dresses, frilly aprons—and skate shoes?! Whether they’re running errands or hitting the half-pipe, these maids shred the town. Like witches have their brooms, these ladies have their boards. If one thing’s certain, these maids are totally *Maid to Skate*.

Mizuno, your average high-school guy, finds himself sitting next to the mysterious Wakao after a seat change. While everyone else in class sees her as a perfectly beautiful, ordinary girl… To Mizuno alone, she appears as a Noppera-bo, the faceless yokai of Japanese folklore! Yet… every so often, he’s actually able to catch rare, fleeting glimpses of her features. In this romantic, often comedic coming-of-age tale, we follow this endearing couple as they navigate through the tribulations of high-school and first love! *Source: Manga UP! Global*

On the last day before a guy who can't sense any spirits at all moves out from his supposedly haunted house, Kinako-sama, the self-proclaimed strongest earth-bound spirit, will try her best to scare the living hell out of the guy before he leaves for good. *Note: Originally a web manga released on the author's Twitter and pixiv accounts since November 30, 2019, it was picked up for commercial print publication by Kadokawa on January 26, 2023.*

Fujiyama Shinobu aka Sexy Fujiyama, is a general working for the evil Flowerbad Gang who are trying to take over the city. Standing in her way is the masked magical girl, Princess Mamu, who wouldn't you know it, has just moved in next door to Fujiyama's place...

Yanagi, a second-year high school student, has a faint crush on Mizuki, the younger sister of her childhood friend Momo. One day, while rummaging through Mizuki's personal belongings in her room, Yanagi discovers the truth about Mizuki...?

Two university students struggling with money, one day they get inspired after watching a couple earn big through adult content streaming. Despite not being in a relationship, they end up caught in the flow of making videos.

Sagino Seiichi, a con artist, is tasked with stopping Koi Karasuma, a police officer with a keen sense for crime. When Sagino tries to approach her, she tells him right away that he "smelled like a criminal." In desperation, Sagino tries to placate Karasuma with flattery. One thing leads to another, and the mission starts heading in an unexpected direction…?

Sasaki is a boy who is madly in love with his senpai, a known delinquent, which only makes Sasaki love him even more! Shiina changes girlfriends more often than his pants, but that doesn't stop Sasaki from confessing 160 times and counting. While Shiina tries to get Sasaki to give up, Sasaki is in love with this bad boy and won't give up until he wins him over.

“The girl sitting next to me, Kakoi Yuzuru, has the cutest face. Alas, she also has an absolute stunner of a boyfriend, Kawai Chihiro. And me? Well, I’m just their biggest shipper, Otonari Wataru, living out a happy-go-lucky high school life!” A school-life romcom revolving around an avid shipper otaku who has been blessed with killer looks for no good reason! *Source: Manga UP! Global* --- **A hilarious slice-of-life rom-com about one high school’s gorgeous power couple and the romance otaku who stan them!** Life has its simple joys, and for geeky fanboy Wataru Otonari, that’s admiring his gorgeous classmate Yuzuru Kakoi and her equally gorgeous boyfriend, Chihiro Kawai Luckily for Wataru, his classroom seat next to Yuzuru gives him a perfect view of his OTP. But this self-professed NPC doesn’t seem to know he’s just as beautiful himself! As Wataru encounters other students who stan his favs just as much as he does—although some have very, very different takes on their dynamic—every day turns into a rollercoaster of emotions for this obliviously beautiful boyfailure! *Source: Square Enix Manga, Vol. 1*