Favorite Sports Manga!
Today on the blog, I’m delving into the wonderful world of Sports Manga! If you’re interested in seeing my previous post on Historical Manga click here!
I’ve read a few over the years, but here are some picks of stories that I’ve read and continue to stick with me. Enjoy!
Synopsis: Third-year middle school student Tatara Fujita is a guy who has no plans for his future or dreams, but tries to find something he can pursue with his whole life. With him being bullied and extorted, he is saved from delinquents by a man named Kaname Sengoku, a motorcycle-riding dance instructor. Tatara is entered into the Ogasawara Dance Studio in which he is shown the ropes of the world of Competitive Ballroom Dancing.
I love the world of Competitive Ballroom Dancing so much and that’s what drew me to this series! But this manga is not all about glittery ball gowns and tuxedos, it’s more so focused on the hard-work that these dancers put into their art. The main character, Fujita learns to fall in love with dancing and is determined to show that he’s got what it takes to compete.
Synopsis: 12-year-old Shindou Hikaru is just your average 6th grader. One day, while searching through his grandfather’s attic, he comes across an old Go board. Upon touching the Go board, Hikaru is possessed by the spirit of Fujiwara no Sai, and continues to be haunted by him soon after.Finally bending to Sai’s pleas, Hikaru allows Sai to play Go through himself, unknowingly attempting the first game with the young prodigy Touya Akira. Time has finally started moving, as Sai’s quest for the perfect game, “The Hand of God”, is set underway.
Even though Hikaru No Go is not your typical “sports manga” it still doesn’t make it any less interesting than others in Sorts genre. It takes a in-depth look at the Japanese game of Go and it’s history in the country of Japan. The tournaments grow intense as Hikaru levels up with each game he plays. I enjoyed reading this manga back in the day since the story is so unique.
Synopsis: 13 years old tennis genius, Ryoma Echizen, returns from America after winning Junior Championships. He returns to his home country, Japan and attends the Seigaku High School, which is famous for its tennis club. Being a freshman and being able to beat even the 2nd and 3rd years at tennis, Ryoma get in troubles with bullies. However, Ryoma’s skill is rewarded when Team Captain Tezuka allows him to join the team and enter national tournaments.
I’m not the biggest Sports fan, but one of my favorite games to watch and play is tennis. I was so obsessed with this manga back in junior high. The main character is a Tennis prodigy and I was constantly rooting for him to win each game. The matches were so intense that they were nail-biting and and even though it’s a manga the action scenes were depicted so well!
Synopsis: The series follows Nobara Sumiyoshi, a 15-year-old tomboy with a passion for volleyball. Her love of the sport is disapproved by her mother, who wishes Nobara to become the next hostess for the ryotei (old-fashioned Japanese restaurant) run by the family. Frustrated by her mother’s constant pressure and frequent comparisons between herself and her sister, Nobara finally decides one day to move out and make it on her own.What follows is a drama of a girl’s dream of making it into volleyball, and her difficult journey in fulfilling that dream.
When I was a Shojo Beat magazine subscriber this was a manga that was one of my top favorites. Up till reading this manga, I had never seen/read Sports manga that was female-centric. I learned a lot about the rules of volleyball through this manga and came away from the story with more understanding about the game. I also liked the coming-of-age aspect of Nobara’s journey as a athlete and as a teenager going through life’s obstacles. Highly recommended!
Synopsis: After a crushing defeat in the Grand Prix Final and other competition losses, 23-year-old Japanese figure skater Yuri Katsuki develops mixed feelings about skating and puts his career on hold; returning to his hometown of Hasetsu in Kyushu. Yuri visits his childhood friend, Yuko, at an ice rink (Ice Castle Hasetsu) and perfectly mimics an advanced skating routine performed by his idol: Russian figure skating champion Victor Nikiforov. When secretly recorded footage of Yuri’s performance is uploaded to the internet, it catches Victor’s attention, and he travels to Kyushu with an offer to coach Yuri and revive his figure-skating career.
I love the art of figure skating which is what originally drew me to the show/manga (that and it’s ever rising popularity in the US). The artwork is beautiful and striking! I loved how smooth the skate sequences are and I can see how hard the mangaka worked to bring this manga to life. If you’re looking for a Sports manga with heart, this is one for you!
That concludes my favorite Sports manga list! What are your favorites or recommendations?
