What sports did you play in middle school, high school, and college? Reading sports manga likely brings back memories of your youth. This time, we'll be introducing some sports-themed manga. We've ranked them, featuring titles that are enjoyable even if you don't know much about the sport, and some that even include bittersweet romance.
Completed Sports Manga #10: Hold Your Belt Tight!
Five people who meet by chance during a promotion exam go on to a high school that doesn't have a judo club. From there, they build one and aim to win the national championship. There is also a girls' judo club, and the story features individual women's matches at the Inter-High School Championships, which didn't exist at the time. The story features many cute girls, and the girls' playful yet serious approach to judo is well-portrayed, giving the sport a more sporty image at the time.
Completed Sports Manga #9: Shoot!
This soccer manga was serialized in a boys' magazine for approximately 13 years. Admiring Kubo, Tanaka enrolled at Kakegawa High School. Kubo made a legendary run past 11 players, but sadly passed away. The series began in 1990, and the J.League was founded in 1992. Many children likely started playing soccer after watching this series. The setting gradually changes in Part 4, with two main characters and other changes, but it's still a fun read.
Completed Sports Manga #8: Eyeshield 21
Sena, a bullied boy, joins the American football team through a series of unexpected events. He hides his true identity and plays as Eyeshield 21. Despite his frailty, Sena's feet are unusually fast, and he quickly learns new moves. The series thoroughly explains the detailed rules of American football, which were not widely known at the time. The illustrations are beautiful, and the characters, drawn with a unique touch, are thrilling just to look at.
Completed Sports Manga #7: Ping Pong
This table tennis manga creates a unique worldview with its mysterious illustrations. The film adaptation, starring Yosuke Kubozuka as the main character Peko, is also famous. The relationship between Peko and Smile, the portrayal of their personal growth through table tennis, and the match scenes, created a sense of realism and tension through repeated depictions that seem to stand still. The final episode was also amazing.
Completed Sports Manga #6: Touch
This is a well-known, incredibly famous work. I used to hear someone singing this at karaoke. The protagonist, the younger twin brother, Kazuya. The death of his twin brother, Tatsuya, who was said to be a genius. Take Minami to Koshien. Everything about it is famous. If you haven't read it yet, it's a must-read masterpiece. The final phone confession scene is always worth watching!
Completed Sports Manga #5: Gamba! Fly High
This manga is about gymnastics. The story follows the protagonist, Shun, as he dreams of competing in the Olympics and devotes himself to training. The horizontal bar trick that Shun performs at the end of the series is still a new technique that has not yet been announced. I was on the gymnastics team, so this is a work that left a lasting impression on me. I couldn't help but envy the girls for how quickly they learned the moves.
Completed Sports Manga #4: Captain Tsubasa
This is an incredibly famous soccer manga read all over the world. It seems like even a lot of famous players, like those in Serie A, read it. The main character Tsubasa and the special moves of Misaki, Hinata, and Ishizaki are incredibly nostalgic. My favorite special move is the Sky Love Hurricane.
Completed Sports Manga #3: Monkey Turn
Whether or not it's appropriate to call motorboat racing a sport is a bit of a stretch, but this is a fascinating story. It begins with a school for motorboat racers and follows the protagonist's journey to winning the annual prize money race. As is the case with many other races, the story ends with a confession, but the human drama leading up to that is also fantastic. Some of the characters are inspired by real-life motorboat racers. With motorboat racing's popularity on the rise these days, you can also learn a lot of background knowledge.
Completed Sports Manga #2: Kaze Hikaru
The protagonist, Yutaka Nonaka, is a perennial substitute. His special talent is impersonations. Meanwhile, the new manager, Kimijima, shows interest in Kimijima's impersonations and begins the story by hiring him as a starting pitcher. The story features Kimijima impersonating various players, and he's even revealed to be left-handed. I like the art style, and while it has a similar atmosphere to a hot-blooded manga, it's a fun read.
Completed Sports Manga #1: SLAM DUNK
When it comes to sports, this is the one. Each illustration is incredibly cool, but the story, characters, and basketball game scenes are all outstanding. Each Shohoku starter has their own story, and every chapter is sure to move you. The ending is good, but personally, I loved Mitchie's return. If you haven't read it yet, it's a must-read!
Completed Sports Manga: Final Thoughts
Actually, there are many more works I'd like to introduce. Hajime no Ippo, Yawara, Takeru, and even Rough. But... 10 might not be enough... Please give it a read!
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