Japan Just Named Its Favorite Manga — And One Piece and Demon Slayer Didn’t Make the Cut
Japan’s latest Oricon charts signal a shake-up, with World Trigger surging to No. 1 in weekly manga sales and underscoring how fast the anime and manga landscape is changing.
Japan's weekly manga chart just did a little reshuffle, and the results say a lot about where things are headed. Short version: World Trigger is suddenly king of the hill, and the usual heavyweights are nowhere to be seen.
How the week shook out (Oricon, Japan-only, week ending December 19, 2025)
- 1: World Trigger — 70,139 copies
- 2: Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun — 63,378
- 3: The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity — 62,379
- 5: The Apothecary Diaries
- 9: Sakamoto Days
- 10: Tougen Anki
Yes, you read that right: One Piece and Demon Slayer did not crack the top 10 this week. That is rare air.
Why World Trigger just spiked
World Trigger has always had a loyal audience, but topping a 2025 sales chart is still a surprise. There is a pretty clear catalyst: a brand-new anime reboot was announced in early December, complete with a teaser visual and a freshened-up official site.
"Reboot project begins. Teaser visual out. Official site renewed." — World Trigger anime account, December 3, 2025
The timing lines up. The series first hit print on February 9, 2013, then got an anime in 2014. That rollout ran into a wall because the manga stopped being weekly and shifted to monthly — and sometimes irregular — as creator Daisuke Ashihara dealt with health issues. After seasons 2 and 3, the anime went quiet.
Fans have long complained that the earlier adaptation rushed arcs and stumbled on pacing. A do-over gives the team a chance to stick closer to the manga. Also worth noting: 28 volumes were already on shelves, and the arrival of Volume 29 in Japan likely juiced this week's numbers. Reboot buzz plus a new book is a strong one-two punch.
About those missing giants
There is no doom and gloom here. If anything, a top 10 without One Piece or Demon Slayer is healthy. The big shonen juggernauts usually vacuum up all the attention, which makes it harder for other series to get traction. This chart is only a snapshot of Japan's weekly sales, but it is nice to see space for a broader mix — from World Trigger to The Apothecary Diaries to this year's best romance manga pick, The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity.
Quick World Trigger primer, if you are curious
Created by Daisuke Ashihara, the manga launched on February 9, 2013, and currently carries a MyAnimeList rating of 7.81/10. If you want to jump in, the manga is available to read on Viz Media.