- Japanese Sports Manga Masterpieces
- Features of each works
- Commentary by Japanese webmaster
- Interested in Japanese culture
- Loving Sports !
- Loving Manga !
Criteria for Selection
- Popularity
- Well known among Japanese people
- Large sales in Japanese market
- One Masterpiece per one Sports
Please have a look at my selection !
#1 SLAM DUNK / Basketball
‘SLAM DUNK’ is most popular Manga about basketball in Japan. It was printed more than 120 millions of copies in total.
It was serialized on magazine, ‘weekly shonen jump’ in 1990-1996. The story is about high school basketball team, and growth of player as beginner, Mr. Hanamichi Sakuragi.
Hanamichi and his teammates are getting important things, efforts, friendship to the goal, through basketball.
- Subject : Basketball
- Author : Mr. Takehiko Inoue
- Number of copy : 120 million
- Drawing period : 1990-1996
- Number of volume: 31
#2 Touch / Baseball
‘Touch’ is most popular Manga about baseball in Japan. It was printed more than 100 millions of copies in total.
The story is about High school baseball team, and love story of Mr. Tatsuya Uesugi and Ms. Minami Asakura.
Tatsuya and his rival of baseball and love are working hard and encourage each other.
- Subject : Baseball
- Author : Mr. Mitsuru Adachi
- Number of copy : 100 million
- Drawing period : 1981-1986
- Number of volume: 26
# 3 Hajime no Ippo / Boxing
‘Hajime no Ippo’ is most popular Manga about Boxing, in Japan. It was printed more than 96 millions of copies in total.
The story is about growth of boxer, Mr. Ippo Makunouchi, who was born in poor family. Ippo is getting strong with efforts with his friends in same boxing gym.
- Subject : Boxing
- Author : Mr. Joji Morikawa
- Number of copy : 96 million
- Drawing period : 1989-
- Number of volume: 129 (Not completed)
# 4 Captain Tsubasa / Football
‘Captain Tsubasa’ is most popular Manga about football in Japan. It was printed more than 70 millions of copies in total.
The story is about growth of football player, Mr. Tsubasa Ozora. His challenge was started in elementary school age and still continue, after getting professional football player.
The animated cartoons are exported to other countries, which made positive impact to people there. Some of them became professional football players.
- Subject : Football
- Author : Mr. Yoichi Takahashi
- Number of copy : 70 million
- Drawing period : 1981 –
#5 Tennis no Oji sama / Tennis
‘Tennis no Oji sama’ is most popular Manga about Tennis, in Japan. It was printed more than 60 millions of copies in total.
The story is about Tennis club in junior high school, and growth of tennis player, Mr. Ryoma Echizen.
- Subject : Tennis
- Author : Mr. Takeshi Konomi
- Number of copy : 60 million
- Drawing period : 1999-2008
- Number of volume: 31
#6 Haikyu / Volleyball
‘Haikyu’ is most popular Manga about Volleyball, in Japan. It was printed more than 38 millions of copies in total.
The story is about Volleyball team in High school, and growth of small volleyball player, Mr. Shoyo Hinata.
- Subject : Volleyball
- Author : Mr. Haruichi Furudate
- Number of copy : 38 million
- Drawing period : 2012-2020
- Number of volume: 45
#7 Yawara / Judo
‘Yawara’ is most popular Manga about Judo, in Japan. It was printed more than 30 millions of copies in total.
The story is about growth of Judo player, Ms. Yawara Inokuma. She is making hard efforts to get gold medal in Olympic game.
- Subject : Judo
- Author : Mr. Naoki Urasawa
- Number of copy : 30 million
- Drawing period :1986-1993
- Number of volume: 29
Summary
This is the end of article. In the end, let me summarize my recommendation as follows. I hope you can find your favorite one from the list !
- SLUM DANK / Basketball
- Touch / Baseball
- Hajime no Ippo / Boxing
- Captain Tsubasa / Football
- Tennis no Oji sama / Tennis
- Haikyu / Volleyball
- Yawara / Judo
Thank you for your reading !
And See You Again !
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