10 Manga Like Bakuman — Data-Driven Picks (2026)

If you finished Bakuman and want your next read, these recommendations are not someone's opinion — they are computed from comic-lab's database of every manga published in Japan since 1968, combining three similarity axes (art style, setting, story) with real reader-behavior data.

1. Death Note (DEATH NOTE)

by 大場つぐみ · since 2004 · 21 volumes in Japan · publication status unknown

Why it matches: readers who look up this series often move on to it; close in story & tone and setting & themes.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

2. Kaguya-sama: Love Is War (かぐや様は告らせたい : 天才たちの恋愛頭脳戦)

by 赤坂アカ · since 2016 · 27 volumes in Japan · publication status unknown

Why it matches: close in setting & themes and story & tone.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

3. Platinum End (プラチナエンド)

by 大場つぐみ · since 2016 · 13 volumes in Japan · publication status unknown

Why it matches: close in story & tone and setting & themes.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

4. March Comes in Like a Lion (3月のライオン)

by 先崎学 · since 2008 · 23 volumes in Japan · ongoing

Why it matches: close in setting & themes and story & tone.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

5. Captain (キャプテン)

by ちばあきお · since 1986 · 54 volumes in Japan · publication status unknown

Why it matches: close in story & tone and setting & themes.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

6. Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare (思い、思われ、ふり、ふられ)

by 咲坂伊緒 · since 2015 · 11 volumes in Japan · publication status unknown

Why it matches: close in setting & themes and story & tone.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

7. Space Brothers (宇宙兄弟)

by 小山宙哉 · since 2008 · 65 volumes in Japan · ongoing

Why it matches: close in setting & themes and story & tone.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

8. Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma (食戟のソーマ)

by 佐伯俊 · since 2013 · 42 volumes in Japan · publication status unknown

Why it matches: close in story & tone and setting & themes.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

9. Baban Baban Ban Vampire (ババンババンバンバンパイア)

by 奥嶋ひろまさ · since 2022 · 13 volumes in Japan · ongoing

Why it matches: close in setting & themes and story & tone.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

10. Devilman (デビルマン)

by ダイナミックプロ · since 1972 · 51 volumes in Japan · publication status unknown

Why it matches: close in story & tone and setting & themes.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)
Method: similarity is computed over cover-art embeddings, thematic categories and plot descriptions of 133,000+ works, blended with co-reading behavior. Volume counts and dates reflect Japanese editions and update automatically.

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