Best Drama Manga of 2026

High schooler Miko, who thought he'd be inheriting his grandfather's mountain, has lost his crush to his friend and is at the bottom of his school's hierarchy. His one solace was the mountain, but now a mysterious masked man is building a small cabin there....

*“I want a wife as gentle as a rabbit and a daughter as cute as a mongoose.”* On Christmas Eve, on my way home after making a wish to the mysterious Santa. But when I opened my eyes, I found myself in another world...?!

*"I pray every day that this love dies, that I may love you only until today, and that tomorrow this love will be dead."* Thalia Roem Gürta, the ill-fated princess born of an affair. She grows up distorted amidst indifferent parents, hostile half-siblings, and servants who despise her. Thalia has protected herself by raising her thorns against everyone who approaches. Yet, even she becomes defenseless in the presence of one person. He is none other than the Prince of the East, Varkas Raedgo Sheerkan. Forced to be perfect as a retainer of the imperial court and the heir to the Grand Duke, he grew up with most of his emotions numb under discipline bordering on abuse. A man who exists solely for the honor and duty of his family. To keep a promise made to the late Empress, he enters into a marriage with Thalia's half-sister, Ayla, and Thalia, engulfed in despair, slowly falls apart. However, her love, destined for death, faces an unexpected turning point....

The fact that he was an illegitimate child came to light after his father's death. Ueda Naoomi, who fled from home in shock, meets Fujisaki Yuzu, a girl who has also run away from home due to family troubles. Yuzu asks Naomi to cooperate in a staged kidnapping to make her family worry about her. During the time they spend together, they gradually fall in love, but at the end of their journey, a shocking fact is revealed...!?

The dawn of the 20th century, a difficult period for women to realize their dreams. At an art academy in London, Lili, a Japanese art student chasing her dreams, meets Kit, an artistic prodigy from a family of aristocrats. Their meeting, transcending social status and their home countries, will set their fates in motion…! *Source: MANGA Plus*

A sweet and trembling love story begins.

After finishing the final round of the Liar Game, what is the new "game" that Shinichi and Nao will face?

University student Shiho stumbles into a lolita café, "Melty Lily." There, she befriends Kohaku, one of the boys working there, and is dazzled by the oodles of cute outfits. But something from Shiho's past is holding her back... Can she find love beyond the fairytale? Find out in this bittersweet tale of true love!

Known as the "Lone Ice Princess," Kitori is a stunning beauty revered by her classmates. Takumi, on the other hand, is a quiet loner, unnoticed by most. Though their paths never cross in the classroom, after school, in the privacy of Kitori's room, they engage in acts that go beyond mere lovers. With minimal disarray of clothing, their connection is mechanical—devoid of kisses or conversation. This act is Kitori's self-invented "Routine," a means to transform herself from the introverted girl she once was. One day, Kitori finds herself saved from a predicament by Eiji, a second-year senior. Charming, cheerful, and kind to everyone, Eiji embodies the ideal Kitori aspires to become. Determined to reinvent herself and emulate Eiji, Kitori doubles down on her routine with Takumi, taking bold steps toward a new version of herself— A story of two awkward souls fumbling their way toward youth, bound by a secret connection.

Koki is a big, burly high school student who fits in well with the boys. But deep down, he's confused by the topics of conversation and can't honestly talk about his knowledge of plants. One day, a transfer student named Misaki arrives in his class. But for some reason, Koki is the only one who can't see him... A story about living for tomorrow, drawn by up-and-coming artist Itono Kei.

Everyone is terrified of Han Serim thanks to rumors that she’s a gangster. Golden boy Kang Seungwoo ends up paired with her for a mentor-mentee program. Ever the perfectionist, he tries to get close to Serim to ensure everything goes off without a hitch. But… what is her deal? A high-stakes romance between Han Serim, who lives like there’s no tomorrow, and Kang Seungwoo, who has his entire life perfectly mapped out.

After her parents' death, Lady Vanessa is left with only two things—a mountain of debt and a marriage. Her greedy uncle is all too willing to sell her off as a fresh bride to an aging earl. To escape this arranged fate, she needs a scandal. A truly horrible, ruinous scandal.

The story is based on the Fashion Koshien (National High School Fashion Design Championship) held in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture. Ariake Momo, a gal who grew up in a snowy area, meets Ujyou Ren, a boy her age who aspires to be a designer, and they try their hand at making clothes to express the "cute" that only they can find inside of them. Momo and Ren then team up to aim to win the Fashion Koshien.

"Boy, I will devour your life." On a spring night when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, a beautiful demon named Princess Rasetsu appears before a boy named Madoka. This is a cute and slightly sad heartwarming slice-of-life story about a boy who has experienced major misfortune in his life and the demon who intends to eat him.

The moment she awakens, Lady Cassandra Wendel realizes she has been reincarnated as the villainess from "The Tale of the Saint of Light's Salvation," a book she read in her previous life. If things continue as they are, she is destined to be condemned by the summoned saint and the men who flock to her. The villainess, who rose to power through wicked means in her previous life, decides to defy the script and condemn them. "I'll show you what a true villain is!" The villainess's reversal of fortune begins here

Fifteen years ago, his father, fighting against unfair dismissal, took his own life amidst the indifference of a conglomerate. Before the shock had even subsided, his younger brother vanished without a trace. Faced with a series of tragedies, his parents ultimately passed away, leaving Do-jun alone. Since that day, when everything was taken from him, Do-jun has lived for revenge and truth. Realizing that he could not change anything without standing at the center of power, He endured his lonely days with the sole goal of becoming a politician. And on the day he finally received his diploma, he swore before his parents' urns: *"I will find Yu-ri and bring her here to this very place." "And those bastards...I will make them shed tears of blood."* That night, Do-jun had his first "dream of the future." A vision too vivid to be a coincidence. And that dream foreshadowed the brutal path he would take in politics.

Kim Yu-jin, in the second chapter of her life, retracing to the 1910s, conquers history with her future knowledge. A Korean company commander died trying to save a child from Letona, who was rolling down the hill. When I came to my senses, I had reverted to being Kim Yu-jin, a Korean-American in the 1900s, with knowledge of the future. Will those who know the future become chaebols, or will they?

*Tatsumaki* tells the story of a novelist who is so much in a writing slump that he is actually thinking about selling his life and soul. He meets a mysterious man and discusses creative writing with him; how things such as reality and existing established conventions stop him from writing. A strange chain of events will draw in together a test knitter working under a harsh environment, a frivolous man on an online dating app, and a woman carrying a corpse.

Thirty-year-old Tae-Gyu Lee has been drifting through life, numb and unable to feel the highs and lows of emotion. Everything changes when a mysterious old man gives him the power to copy other people’s feelings through a strange spirit flame. But what begins as an unusual new ability soon pulls Tae-Gyu into the orbit of drama writer In-Ho Gwak , sending his life in a direction he never expected. As his world begins to shift, Tae-Gyu finds himself stepping toward an entirely new path as an actor.

Wasurerare Hime is the story of Anne Antoine, a girl who leaves no trace in anyone's memory. In Fuzan-Croix, a port town striving to rebuild after a great disaster, Laurent lives with his ailing wife Marie. Into their home comes a young girl by the name of Anne Antoine. Her route onward having been blocked, she is taken in for a while as a maid. However...

A barbarian from the South washes up on the shore of a rural, seaside village... Found and taken care of by a long-grieving father, how will their unique relationship develop? A Taiyō Matsumoto manga set in the Muromachi period, with aid and planning from French comic book artist Cyril Pedrosa.

The seventh prince in the kingdom of Emanuele, Prince Noel, is a bit of an oddball who he has become a shut-in due to his obsessiveness in his hobbies. However, a major incident revolving around his childhood friend, Claire, the daughter of a baron, had her engagement broken off…! Infuriated by the horrible treatment towards Claire, Noel rises. Using the vast knowledge he had gained from his hobbies, he magnificently defeats the villains in his tale as a shut-in prince who's going to reform the society.

Gloria, the daughter of a duke, was betrayed by her fiancé and family and executed for a crime she never committed. But when she awakens, time has turned back to when she was ten years old!? Given a second chance at life, she smiles coldly. "I’ll make those fools taste hell." Her unfaithful fiancé. The father who sold out his own daughter. The self-righteous saint… She will forgive none of them. With her status, her reputation, and the memories of her previous life, along with the knowledge of the reincarnator that once clung to her soul, she will expose their true natures and make them atone for every sin. A merciless tale of revenge by a true villainess begins!

Ji-Yun is a perfect high school student who has always lived in the shadow of second place. After discovering a mysterious notebook that grants her unbelievable luck, she finally becomes the top-ranked student she always dreamed of being. But her newfound fortune comes at a terrifying cost when her friend Saera suddenly disappears from everyone’s memories. With the help of fellow student Do-Hun, Ji-Yun must uncover the truth behind her cursed luck before more people vanish forever.

Her beloved mom was an AI. It's 2026—Shizuku, a high school girl. A Gen Z girl who excels at both her studies and part-time job. On the first day of her fun summer vacation, filled with plans with friends, she's confronted with a hypothesis after her father's death: "Mom might be an AI." When the certainty of the person who raised her, entrusted her to her, and stayed by her side is questioned, does she begin to lose her own sense of self? In the disconnected Reiwa era, this story asks: What is a mother? What is a daughter? And what is family? This is no longer about the future. This is a mother-daughter story unfolding in the present.

Hakurou, a werewolf tormented by his rampaging “desire.” Unable to die even if he wishes to, he encounters Ria, a cursed elf who is heading toward her own death. Her life is being consumed by the tattoo carved into her body, and what she seeks is Hakurou’s “desire.” “Will you give me everything you have?” The two, each carrying their own loneliness, meet and, bearing opposing wishes of life and death, set out on a journey in search of a “witch.” A fantasy travel story of love and longing, woven by two lonely beings of different races.

Han So-Eun finds herself preparing a photo exhibition ahead of the school festival. As she takes photos with Yun Ji-Hu, a boy she met by chance, her ordinary daily life gradually begins to feel special. But behind her smiling face lay a secret she couldn’t share with anyone. A story about our first love and coming of age at the age of eighteen, the most radiant time of our lives.

“Shall I write the history of my desires?” The awakening of sexuality… and its loss… an experience common to all. This is the recollection of desires of a single human being. An autobiographical and experimental work by the literary master Mori Ōgai, now adapted into manga through an overwhelming aesthetic sensibility. Note: Certain expressions in this work may be considered inappropriate by modern standards. However, in respect for the original text, they have been preserved in their original form wherever possible.

In a world where only nobles possess magic, Eltriede, the daughter of a duke, was born without any magical power. Branded “magicless,” she endured a life of ridicule and scorn from those around her. Determined to prove everyone wrong, she set her sights on becoming the crown prince’s consort. But her ruthless schemes and unscrupulous methods were eventually exposed, and her life ended at the executioner’s block. Yet when she opened her eyes, she found herself returned to the body of her eight years old self. Haunted by the mistakes of her previous life, Eltriede resolves to walk an entirely different path this time. But for some reason, the very crown prince who once sentenced her to death, Kistohart, has begun taking an unusual interest in her…?! Original Web Serialization

Two years have passed since Harumi quit her job. At some point, she and her boyfriend, Wataru, began to drift apart, and Harumi's life has become stagnant. She tries to change this situation, but it doesn't go well. Then, a mysterious man with a camera appears before her.

The region of Parsa in the state of Karana is jointly governed by two great houses: the Fullranet family, masters of magical power, and the Romano family, unrivaled in martial might. Each house has a daughter whose breathtaking beauty and extraordinary abilities mark her as the future countess. Annamaria Fullranet, known as “the Black-Magic Lady.” Rosaria Romano, known as “the Silver-Knight Lady.” Though childhood friends, a trivial incident in their youth shattered their bond, turning them into sworn rivals who clash at every turn. Then, Duke Jeremiah arrives in Karana. A royal with prodigious magic, he had served as a general in the capital’s Sorcerous Kingdom Army—only to abruptly resign and relocate to Karana. Rumors swirl: he’s here to find a bride. "Marry him, and I’ll rise as duchess, lifting Parsa to new heights!" both ladies think. As the two reignite their feud, Jeremiah reveals a secret. “My source of magic—the gem Smeraldo—has been stolen. I can no longer cast spells. Whoever recovers Smeraldo… I will marry.” And so begins the coldly calculating courtship battle between two noble daughters—purely for power, prestige, and Parsa’s future?!

Konta was a promising swimmer until he rescued a girl drowning in the ocean. Although she survived, she remained in a coma, and Konta, burdened by guilt, quit swimming. Five years later. Konta had become a shut-in, a shadow of his former self. Concerned by his state, his sister suggested he become the coach of the strong Shikinomori High School swim team. Reluctantly, he went to the pool, where he encountered the girl he had saved that day... Now, a new chapter in women's sports youth drama begins! _Source: Comic Walker, translated_

Romance Drama about a father with a son who has just entered an elite university and is married to a beautiful wife. But despite being the breadmaker, his family is looking down on him. All he wants is love and when he has a weak moment and spends the night with a stranger woman, he soon after finds out she's in fact... his son's girlfriend?!

On entering high school and looking at the class roster, Yuito Arisaka suffers a shock when he spots the name of the girl who used to bully him. However, the girl he sees there is someone else entirely, someone completely unrecognizable! A coming-of-age suspense story concerning "the girl whose existence evaporated."

The dream she longs to fulfill, is there on the dojo mat— Natori Fukami is a girl still in mourning, after losing her older sister, a fellow judoka, in an accident. She finally finds a spark in her life once more in the winter of her third year of junior high, when she meets Shizuha, a girl who idolizes her deceased sister. A gentile and fleeting girl-meets-girl story depicting the strength of young women.

Twisted Romance about a woman who's been together with her husband for 10 years now. They love each other dearly, a true destined love. She is convinced that not only will they spend their whole lives together, eventually they will even share a grave. Oh yes... she absolutely wants to die with him.

I'm the one who decides the "end." Change the world together with your rival! A passionate idol story about two people in their 60s!

It's the spring of my second year of high school. I meet my childhood friend, a boy and a girl, and a transfer student. Our story, which is still colorless, begins to take on a gentle tone. A new coming-of-age story written by Hagino Makoto, the author of *Nettaigyo wa Yuki ni Kogareru*!

Transfer student Shion Nina's dream is to become a "Goddess Gal"! With the power of a mysterious lipstick brought by Pack, the hamster fairy, she transforms into a magical girl!?

High school student Tokita Natsumi cherished his girlfriend, Momose Ai, above all else. However, one day, Ai is stabbed to death by Yomiyagi Nozomi, who had previously attended the same juvenile detention center as Natsumi. Stunned by the sudden turn of events, Natsumi is called by Nozomi's name, but her voice sounds strangely familiar and gentle ?! From then on, Ai and Nozomi's personalities begin to switch places within Nozomi's body. Caught between his beloved girlfriend and the murderer who harbors a deep hatred for him, can Natsumi still continue to love her ?

Natsume Sōseki reincarnates!! The great literary master races through the splendid Imperial Capital as a beautiful female teacher!! In an alternate Meiji era where the conflict between socialists and the Meiji government has intensified into harsh suppression of free speech, the freedom of writers is under threat. To resist all violence that seeks to oppress freedom, Natsume Sōseki forms an armed organization called the “Thursday Society” together with his disciples. However, in the year 19X0, he is assassinated by unknown killers who see the group’s growing influence as dangerous Yet Sōseki is secretly revived through the forbidden medical techniques of the mysterious doctor Hideyo Noguchi. His brain is transplanted into the body of a woman, and under the false identity of “Natsuko Higuchi,” he is given the bizarre mission of infiltrating a girls’ high school as a female teacher. Why was Sōseki brought back to life? Who was responsible for his murder? Set in a Meiji era where history and fiction intertwine, Sōseki seeks the truth behind the conspiracy surrounding him. Along the way, through encounters with various literary giants and extraordinary figures, he becomes entangled in a massive plot that threatens to overturn the entire Meiji world— (Sana Scans)

Seon-U, a 29-year-old who has struggled to find a job, uses running to confront his inner turmoil, and, overcoming frustration and injury, sets out to take on a marathon and give life another shot.

A corporate drama story centering on a resignation agent who will either open up freedom or a new hell to their clients.

An unpredictable suspense drama between a killer and a bird.

3 Shiroumecho Shopping Street. On a stormy night, Kaede, a troubled young boy, is welcomed into a small downtown movie theater called "Cinema Choyoza." Unable to put his feelings into words, he is lost both in mind and body, but after experiencing one film, he resolves to confront "himself."

A boy living in Hokkaido whose family runs a piano woodworking business receives news that his pianist idol is holding an unprecedented competition. This is an exciting coming-of-age piano story about a boy with small hands who can barely reach the octave, taking on the world stage!

Kaho, having entered her dream high school, is filled with anticipation for a fun-filled high school life. But she has a unique condition—she cannot distinguish people's faces or expressions—prosopagnosia (face blindness). A new class, club activities, friendships, and romance. She can't recognize the faces or expressions of her classmates, but Kaho faces forward with all her might to enjoy her sparkling youth! "People are more than just their faces, after all."

At twenty-nine, I find myself thinking a lot as I approach thirty and the start of my thirties. Compared to friends enjoying happy marriages or those who’ve achieved their dreams, I feel so insignificant. At work, I’m looked down upon because I’m a contract worker, and at home, I’m pressured about marriage. I try to tell myself, “This is fine. Everyone lives like this,” but overnight, my plans for marriage and my hopes for a permanent position vanish into thin air. Spring, entering her 30s with empty hands.

"Influencer" is a brilliant job that feeds off the public’s attention! Contrary to what it appears, the famous Rekka YouTube channel "Celebrity Garbage Bin" exposes their hidden ugly secrets. The story of the two women who run the channel, Sunmi and Joowon. “It’s the same for you and us who make money by lying.”

The 21st-century Korean Empire, where absolute monarchy persists. After the Crown Prince and Princess were assassinated, the royal family concealed the princess's existence completely. Then, thirteen years later, a transfer student named Do-Yeong appears before ordinary high schooler Hyeon-U, claiming to be the princess. Is Do-Yeong truly the princess? Or is this yet another deception? The royal family, the resistance, and the hidden heir. The truth surrounding the throne begins to unfold.