Japan already has its must-read manga of 2026. The news site Oricon has unveiled the results of its “Overall Recommended Manga Ranking,” a wide-ranging survey designed to identify the series most appreciated by the Japanese public since the beginning of the year. Held from February 27 to March 4, 2026, the poll collected responses from 10,564 participants, who were invited to choose from among 131 titles that ranked among 2025’s best-selling manga. Despite the growing popularity of recent Shonen Jump titles such as Dandadan and Kagurabachi, it was ultimately The Apothecary Diaries that took the top spot with 1,200 votes. The manga outperformed Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, which received 1,118 votes, as well as Spy x Family, which came third with 831 votes. The rest of the ranking includes several other manga, including Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, One Piece, Detective Conan and Kingdom.

Initially published in 2011 as a web novel written by Natsu Hyuga, The Apothecary Diaries was subsequently republished as a light novel beginning in 2014, with illustrations by Touko Shino. The work now has two separate manga adaptations. The first, drawn by Nekokurage, has been published since May 2017 in Square Enix’s Monthly Big Gangan magazine. The second, created by Minoji Kurata under the title The Apothecary Diaries: Maomao’s Notes on the Inner Palace, has been serialized since August 2017 in Shogakukan’s Monthly Sunday Gene-X. The story follows Maomao, a brilliant young woman specializing in medicinal plants, poisons and remedies. Thanks to her keen powers of observation, she becomes involved in attempted assassinations, mysterious illnesses and political conspiracies at the heart of the imperial palace, under the watchful eye of Jinshi, a mysterious eunuch fascinated by her intelligence and unconventional temperament.

The data published by Oricon reveal that 81.2% of the votes received by The Apothecary Diaries came from female readers. Several participants notably praised the particularly careful construction of the plot, the handling of suspense and the effectiveness of its twists. Maomao and Jinshi’s psychology is also one of the series’ main strengths. One female reader in her thirties said that the characters and their thoughts are described with great precision, allowing the audience to identify with them or see parts of themselves in their reactions. Beyond its medical mysteries and court intrigues, the manga therefore appeals through its blend of mystery, historical drama, subtle romance and humor. This balanced formula has allowed the franchise to move beyond the circle of light novel fans and become one of the major phenomena in contemporary manga culture.

Ranked second, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End also confirms its immense popularity among several generations of readers. Written by Kanehito Yamada and illustrated by Tsukasa Abe, the manga, which has been published since April 2020, overturns traditional fantasy conventions by beginning after the heroes’ victory over the Demon King. Its protagonist, Frieren, is an almost immortal elf who has lived for more than 1,000 years. Fifty years after the end of her first adventure, she must face the disappearance of her former companions and reconsider the value of the time she spent alongside them. She then embarks on a new journey with Fern and Stark, amid memories, encounters and existential reflections. Survey participants particularly appreciated this philosophical approach, which is accessible to both younger readers and an older audience. In the West, the manga The Apothecary Diaries and Frieren are already available in English, while the first volume of the Maomao’s Notes on the Inner Palace adaptation is due to be released in North America on October 20, 2026, by VIZ Media.