5 Most Popular Manhwa in Japan Right Now & Why You Should Read Them (2024)

Webtoon's sister platform, Line Manga has just been declared the most successful app in Japan and the platform's most successful series reveals the 5 most popular manhwa in the country right now. From historical romances to dramas and action fantasies, the most popular manhwa in Japan span various genres with some rather surprising favorites among them.

Line Manga's success is greatly due to these five series, each of which generates more than 100 million yen a month, proving that manhwa lovers in Japan are indeed eager to read these every week. Fortunately for fans outside of Japan, all of these manhwa are available on Webtoon.

5 Savior of Divine Blood is a Japanese Webtoon

Based on the Novel by Eto Shunji and Illustrated by silou

At first glance, Savior of Divine Blood seems to borrow greatly from Solo Leveling. The story takes place in a world where gates full of monsters, or in this case, infernal creatures have begun to spawn. The only ones who can defeat these creatures are the Players, who also began to spawn along with the gates. While the Players constantly protect humanity, a timer in the sky is counting down to what everyone assumes to be the apocalypse, adding another layer of tension to the story.

The protagonist of this story, Subaru was a normal human being until one day the so-called Door of Trials appeared before him, presenting him with the choice to become a Player and escape his wretched life full of bullying and abuse. However, while most Players emerge from bronze, silver, or gold gates, the gate that appears before Subara is in fact rainbow-colored, immediately setting him apart from the rest.

Savior of Divine Blood has finally been licensed by Webtoon, making its debut with 10 whole episodes, and while the story is still in its early stages, its popularity in Japan suggests the series holds great promise.

4 The Dragon King's Bride is a Simple Yet Enjoyable Fantasy Romance

Based on the Original Novel by Kanghee Jamae and Illustrated by SOY MEDIA

The Dragon King's Bride takes off when Lucina, the illegitimate daughter of Baron Velk one day comes across an injured dragon and heals him. Fate brings the two together ten years later when Lucina is about to be sold off to the King of Brion. However, her foolish half-brother steals her dowry from the enemy kingdom's graveyard.

Enraged by the desecration, the Tayar Kingdom attacks the estate, and the King of Tayar, Hakan decides to take Lucina as his wife. Little does Lucina know Hakan is the very dragon she helped when she was a child and nor does Hakan know that the fearless girl he met all those years ago is right before him, though it may not be long before he puts all the clues together.

Though the Draconians and the Tayar Kingdom are rumored to be barbarians, Lucina quickly finds out her new husband is anything but, and thus a romance between the two begins to blossom as they gradually cultivate trust and friendship. While the story is fairly simple and straightforward, it still manages to be quite charming with entertaining side characters, and perfect pacing that keeps readers engaged and constantly scrolling through.

3 A Man's Man is a Modern Regression Story

Based on the Novel by Lucas and Illustrated by Dogado

A Man's Man follows Han Yuheon, a man who has worked his entire life to become the CEO of Hansung Electronics. However, when he finally achieves his goal, Yuheon is left with nothing but emptiness and regrets. Having devoted his entire life to work, Yuheon has no one to celebrate his big victory with. His old friend is dead thanks to his decisions, his wife wants a divorce, and he finds himself incredibly lonely.

However, that night, Yuheon comes across a mysterious bar he has never seen before and after taking a shot and passing out, he finds himself waking up twenty years in the past as he was just beginning his career. One by one, Yuheon begins to right the wrongs and tries to avoid having as many regrets this time around as he reconnects with his parents and his old friend, all of whom he is determined to save.

Along the way, Yuheon discovers he wasn't always the joyless, isolated person he thought himself to be, though he cannot yet anticipate how changing the past will affect his future. As far as modern regression manhwa go, A Man's Man is a true hidden gem with a poignant message about toxic work culture and plenty of enthralling business drama.

2 The Remarried Empress is a Captivating Historical Drama

Based on the Novel by Alphatart and Illustrated by Sumpul

The Remarried Empress centers around Empress Navier Trovi, who after spending her entire life trying to become the perfect empress, finds her life turned upside down when her husband, Emperor Sovieshu brings in a new mistress. Although their marriage was one of convenience, Navier assumed there was an understanding and mutual respect between her and Soveishu, whom she had known since they were children.

However, Navier finds it hard to throw away everything she has worked for when the Emperor asks for a divorce and declares his intention to marry his new power-hunger, scheming mistress Rashta, who Navier believes will bring ruin to the Eastern Empire if made the empress.

Fortunately, Navier finds solace and friendship in Prince Heinrey of the Western Kingdom, and thus begins Navier's journey as she divorces her sorry excuse of a husband and discovers new long along the way. The Remarried Empress is full of melodrama, court politics, and everything one could wish for from a historical romance manhwa with gorgeous art to boot.

1 Teenage Mercenary Brings the Action to High School

Written by YC and Illustrated by Rakyeon

Teenage Mercenary centers around Yu Ijin, a Korean teenager who is anything but normal. After losing his parents in a plane crash as a child, Ijin found himself in a strange foreign land and was forced to become a mercenary to survive. For ten long years, Ijin had only known violence, but when he saves a troop of Korean soldiers, he finally gets the chance to go back home and live life as a normal high school student.

Armed with a crash course from the military major on pop culture and how to be a normal teenager, Ijin is reunited with his grandfather and his little sister. Despite having food, shelter, and seemingly no reason to fight anymore, Ijin's new high school life at JHS High proves to be anything but peaceful as he contends with stubborn bullies and even dangerous thugs.

Thus begins Ijin's new survival mission, which may be his hardest one yet. Teenage Mercenary is packed with action that is impossible to look away from thanks to its amazing art that only gets better as the story progresses. While an overpowered main character is nothing out of the ordinary among manhwa of its kind, Teenage Mercenary's Yu Ijin is perhaps among the few to hold that status without any special powers granted to him.