Manga: Demon Slayer and One Piece sales champions in Japan

As every year since 2008, the Japanese media Oricon has just published the ranking of most popular manga in Japan. 2021 may not be quite over, the month of December promises not to change much on the final podium. With a ranking established by more than 3,967 bookstores spread over the Japanese archipelago between December 2020 and November 2021, this annual meeting for manga lovers is above all an opportunity to take advantage of a small retrospective of the year, which once is not custom, was marked by several titles particularly awaited among the fans.

Luffy is not king

Contrary to what we might expect from 2021, it is not One Piece which is at the top of the ranking. Although the cult title of Eiichirō Oda may have published its hundredth volume (and its 1000th chapter) this year, it only comes 11th in the final ranking, with 1,839,886 copies. In front of him, the volumes 98 and 99 of the series arrive respectively in 8th (1,863,574 copies) and 6th (2,018,042 copies) positions. Note however that in France, the 100th bound volume is expected in a few days at Glénat Manga.

In first position, and with a largely majority presence in the standings, this is the saga Demon Slayer who dominates. The Journey of Kamado Tanjirō, originally published in the Weekly Shonen Jump takes the first two places on the podium with its volumes 23 and 1 (5,171,440 and 2,374,621 copies).

Undoubtedly less popular in France, the series Jujutsu Kaisen also occupies a dominant position in the ranking Oricon. If Gege Akutami’s shonen does not come first, he finishes the podium with a third place and 2,312,250 copies sold for volume 14 of the saga. In total, the series represents more than half of the ranking, with all the same 18 entries, and nearly 33 million copies accumulated.

Two isolated cases

Alongside a largely majority trio, there are also two more isolated entries in the ranking Oricon : in 27th place (1,229,131 copies), Japanese readers seem to particularly appreciate the saga Spy x Family. Released in 2019, Tatsuya Endō’s humorous thriller chronicles the adventures of a spy forced to play the perfect father of families for the purposes of a mission.

Finally, in 26th place, we find the cult saga The attack of the Titans. If the phenomenon series of Hajime Isayama found its conclusion last April in the Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine, then a few months later in hardcover format, the 33rd and penultimate volume of Eren Jäger’s adventures alone has 1,256,922 copies, a fine score.

Oricon 2021 full ranking

1. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Vol. 23 – 5 171 440 ex.
2. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Gaiden – 2 374 621 ex.
3. Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 14 – 2 312 250 ex.
4. Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 15 – 2 306 950 ex.
5. Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 16 – 2 098 087 ex.
6. One Piece Vol 98 – 2 018 042 ex.
7. Jujutsu Kaisen 0: Tokyo Toritsu Jujutsu Koutou Senmon Gakkou – 1 930 831 ex.
8. One Piece Vol. 99 – 1 863 574 ex.
9. One Piece Vol. 100 – 1 839 886 ex.
10. Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 13 – 1 772 617 ex.
11. Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 9 – 1 772 331 ex.
12. Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 8 – 1 770 228 ex.
13. Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 1 – 1 765 995 ex.
14. Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 12 – 1 759 287 ex.
15. Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 10 – 1 749 558 ex.
16. Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 11 – 1 748 084 ex.
17. Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 2 – 1 732 361 ex.
18. Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 7 – 1 710 326 ex.
19. Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 4 – 1 705 266 ex.
20. Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 3 – 1 702 581 ex.
21. Demon Slayer Official Fanbook: Kisatsutai Kenbunroku 2 – 1 700 316 ex.
22. Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 6 – 1 694 028 ex.
23. Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 5 – 1 688 854 ex.
24. Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 17 – 1 628 943 ex.
25. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol. 22 – 1 340 233 ex.
26. Attack on Titan Vol. 33 – 1 256 922 ex.
27. Spy × Family Vol. 6 – 1 229 131 ex.
28. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol. 19 – 1 158 245 ex.
29. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol. 18 – 1 157 633 ex.
30. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol. 20 – 1 130 381 ex.