For decades, One Piece has been the standard by which blockbuster manga are measured, but Japan’s latest reader poll shows that even the industry’s biggest icon can be overshadowed. In Oricon’s newest “Overall Recommended Manga Ranking,” Eiichiro Oda’s legendary pirate epic landed outside the top five, highlighting just how much readers’ tastes have shifted in 2026.
The Oricon survey gathered responses from 10,564 participants between February 27 and March 4, 2026. Voters selected their favorite recommendations from 131 of 2025’s bestselling manga, producing a fascinating snapshot of what Japanese readers are enjoying right now. While established hits dominated the rankings, one series stood comfortably above every other contender.
The Apothecary Diaries Claims Japan’s Top Spot
The biggest winner was The Apothecary Diaries, which collected 1,200 votes to finish first. The franchise, created by Natsu Hyuga, has steadily expanded from its 2011 web novel origins into a multimedia phenomenon, helped by two separate manga adaptations and an enormously successful anime. Its growing popularity has now translated into Japan’s most recommended manga of 2026.
Much of the series’ appeal comes from Maomao, an unconventional heroine whose knowledge of herbs, poisons, and medicine allows her to solve palace conspiracies rather than relying on combat. Readers loved the story’s carefully constructed mysteries, unexpected twists, and the evolving relationship between Maomao and Jinshi, whose layered personalities continue to drive the narrative forward.
The voting breakdown also revealed a very interesting demographic trend. Around 81.2% of The Apothecary Diaries’ votes came from women, suggesting the series has built an exceptionally loyal female audience. Many participants highlighted the emotional depth of its characters, noting that their internal struggles and motivations make the story especially compelling alongside its political intrigue.
Familiar Manga Giants Follow Close Behind While One Piece Slips
Although The Apothecary Diaries took first place, the remainder of the rankings featured many of manga’s biggest names. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End earned 1,118 votes to secure second, followed by Spy x Family with 831. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba remained remarkably popular in fourth with 685 votes, while Don’t Call It a Mystery rounded out the top five with 653.
- The Apothecary Diaries
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Spy x Family
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- Don’t Call It a Mystery
- Jujutsu Kaisen
- One Piece
- Detective Conan
- Anata no Oshiro no Kobito-san (Tie)
- Kingdom (Tie)
That left Jujutsu Kaisen in sixth with 587 votes, narrowly ahead of One Piece, which received 557. Even after more than 25 years of serialization, Oda’s masterpiece still ranks among Japan’s favorites, but falling to seventh proves how newer and recently concluded series are capturing readers’ attention. Detective Conan finished eighth with 535 votes, while Anata no Oshiro no Kobito-san and Kingdom shared ninth place after each received 514 votes.
The runner-up, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, continued to stick with fans thanks to its unique perspective on fantasy stories. Rather than beginning with an epic quest, the manga explores life after the Demon King has already been defeated. Readers loved its thoughtful exploration of memory, loss, and the passage of time, with many describing its reflective themes as meaningful for both younger audiences and longtime manga fans. Together, the rankings show that Japan’s favorite manga in 2026 are not simply action-heavy bestsellers, they are stories driven by memorable characters, emotional depth, and inventive storytelling.
