Fans Vote the Most Interesting Manga of All Time (and Neither One Piece nor Naruto Made the Top 3)

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A recent fan poll in Japan aimed to find the most captivating manga of all time, and the results surprised many Western fans. Conducted on the Ranking.net website, which has a section for popular votes, the poll gathered over 38,000 votes across hundreds of manga series. Many anticipated that One Piece, a long-running series spanning almost three decades, would rank among the top three, but that wasn’t the case.

Surprisingly, One Piece didn’t rank as high as many expected, landing in fifth place. Similarly, Naruto, a manga considered iconic by many fans in Japan, barely made the top 10, coming in ninth. As of now, over 2,000 fans have rated One Piece, giving it a score of 77.1 out of 100. Naruto has received around 1,000 ratings, with a score of 75.2. The number one spot went to a shonen manga that surprised a lot of people, and the other top three entries all have interesting stories behind their high rankings.

Japanese Fans Chose a Shonen Sports Manga as the Most Interesting of All Time

Currently, Slam Dunk is number one, with a score of 80.8 based on ratings from over 1,500 fans. It’s a notable pick, as it’s the only sports manga in the top 10, demonstrating how much Japanese fans continue to love the series for its realistic stories and well-developed characters. Right behind it is Attack on Titan, scoring 80.4 from nearly 2,000 fans. This manga is known for its complex plot and unexpected turns, so its high ranking isn’t surprising – fans worldwide would likely place it among their favorites.

Coming in at number three is Hunter x Hunter, scoring 79.8 points based on votes from over 1,500 fans. It’s a well-loved manga with a complex story and interesting psychological themes, so it’s no surprise it ranked so high. Right behind it is the classic Dragon Ball at number four, even beating out One Piece. Other popular series like Naruto were also further down the list, with Assassination Classroom at sixth, Fullmetal Alchemist at seventh, and Gintama rounding out the top eight.

Rounding out the top 10 was Spy x Family, following Naruto. While the list generally aligns with fan expectations, it’s still notable that One Piece and Naruto—two incredibly popular series worldwide—didn’t land in the top three when Japanese fans ranked the most captivating manga of all time. This highlights that sales figures aren’t the only thing that determines a manga’s appeal; many other factors play a role in what makes a series interesting.

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2026-04-30 19:12