For decades,Weekly Shonen Jumphas been the beating heart of the manga industry, setting trends and introducing readers to some of the most iconic characters and stories in Japanese pop culture. Known for publishing thrilling action series, heartfelt coming-of-age tales, and unforgettable adventures,Shueisha’s flagship magazine has been home to many of the best-selling manga in history. With each passing year, the magazine’s bestsellers have not only captivated millions of readers but also defined entire eras of manga.
While the magazine has plenty offorgotten gems that deserve more recognition, it’s the best-sellers that are most remembered for making waves around the world. Except for five years, the best-selling manga in Japan between 1980 and 2024 was always a series published onWeekly Shonen Jump.
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Jujutsu Kaisen
Spanning over four decades, these series show howShonen Jumphas evolved while still pumping out groundbreaking stories. Looking at this data is not only a way to learn which manga series are the most popular in history, but also what type of manga, or what authors, were more successful in a specific era, thus providing a fun historical look at the evolution of shonen manga.
1980s: The Foundation of an Era
A New Wave of Action and Adventure
The 1980s marked the early rise ofShonen Jumpwith series likeAkira Toriyama’sDr. SlumpandKinnikumandominating its pages. Manga like this defined what readers came to expect from the magazine and that was creative world-building, complex characters, and action-packed stories.
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By 1984,Kinnikumanhad become a phenomenon, its enjoyable story and combat sequences redefining the action genre. Meanwhile, comedy and adventure manga likeDragon Ball, which debuted in 1984, revolutionized storytelling with Akira Toriyama’s unique humor and memorable fight scenes. It’s clear thatToriyama’s art style brought a revolution to manga, thoroughly dominating the decade. By the end of the decade,Dragon Ballhad cemented itself as the best-selling series, setting records and paving the way for a new generation of manga.
1990s: A Golden Age of Manga
The Reign of Dragon Ball and Sports Manga
The 1990s was what many fans consider the golden age of manga, asShonen Jumpbecame known for consistently publishing titles that would reach legendary status.Dragon Ballremained a huge success through the early ’90s, selling millions of volumes around the world and getting an anime adaptation that was also extremely successful.
But the mid-’90s saw a shift withthe publication ofSlam Dunk,a basketball manga that broke sales records and appealed to readers other than traditional action manga fans. Takehiko Inoue’s gripping story and realistic characters madeSlam Dunka bestseller from 1994 through the late ’90s. By the end of the decade,One Piecedebuted in 1997 and quickly rose to become one of the most popular series inShonen Jumphistory. Its whimsical world, lovable characters, and fun story captivated fans worldwide and set the stage for a new era of manga.
2000s to 2024: The Age of Titans
One Piece, the Big Three, and a New Generation
From the 2000s onward,One PiecedominatedShonen Jumplike no series before it. Eiichiro Oda’s pirate epic has consistently topped sales charts for over two decades, creating an unprecedented legacy that solidified its place as the best-selling manga of all time.
Alongside it,NarutoandBleachformed the “Big Three,”attracting massive global audiences and bringing shōnen manga into the mainstream. These series pushed the boundaries of storytelling and manga art, makingShonen Jumpan even larger global influence.
In the 2020s, newer titles likeDemon SlayerandJujutsu Kaisenhave taken the spotlight, bringing back some of that nostalgicShonen Jumppopularity. Both series' emotional stories and high-stakes action have gained a new generation of fans.My Hero Academiaalso became a really popular series, even if it never reached the top spot of the selling charts.
Shonen Jump’sbestsellers show its ability to evolve with the times while staying true to its roots as a platform for thrilling and emotional stories. From the explosive battles of the 1980s to the more nuanced storytelling of today’s hits,Shonen Jumphas proven itself to be the gold standard of manga publishing. If history continues to repeat itself,Shonen Jumpwill continue to define and redefine the manga industry for generations to come.
Shonen Jump
Shonen Jumpis one of Japan’s most successful manga anthology franchises, published by Shueisha. Launched in 1968, it is the source of some of the most beloved and popular anime and manga series, such asOne Piece,Dragon Ball, andNaruto. The franchise has extended into multiple adaptations across various media, including anime, films, video games, and merchandise.
