Hello, my fellow anime lovers; your otaku friend is back again with some worthy manga recommendations. “Historical” is a theme that sounds boring to some but has done wonders in the manga world. I hope you already know that the majority of the top-ranked manga are based on history.
Today, I am here to excite the lovers of this genre as I have brought the best Historical manga of all time. Trust me or not, but you would love to re-read them again and again. All of them offer extreme entertainment and would keep you spellbound effortlessly. So, if you are someone fond of captivating stories, give them a shot!
35. Basara
Credits: Wikipedia
There is absolutely nothing that Basara doesn’t offer. I mean, if you are fond of Drama, Adventure, Romance, and Fantasy, then Basara has it all. The story begins when we, the readers, are introduced to Japan, a country that lost its charm at the end of the 21st century.
Now, everything works under the command of the royal family. It’s believed that none can bring peace back to the land except the “Child Of Destiny.” All of the beliefs are true, and Sarasa, the female lead, is known as the Child Of Destiny.
The story becomes intriguing with the entry of the Red King in her village, leading to Sarasa losing her twin sister to death. The event infuriates her, and she vows to avenge her death. On her mission, she happens to encounter a handsome man named Shuri, and the boy’s heart starts to flutter. So my weebs, just trust me, read this masterpiece without a second thought. You won’t regret it since it’s one of the best historical manga of all time.
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34. Hana To Akuma
Credits: Wiki Fandom
This romantic fantasy-based historical manga follows the life of Vivi, a demon. He left his world and entered the human world. Vivi enjoyed living in the human world because life here was comparatively more serene.
One day, he found a young girl who was probably abandoned, so to keep himself busy, he adopted her. Little did he know that this girl would change his life forever. Fourteen years pass, and she grows up into a beautiful girl. With time, Vivi starts developing feelings for her, and the story continues to take interesting turns.
33. Tail Of The Moon
Credit: Wikipedia
The story revolves around Usagi, whose grandfather is a famous leader of her village. She belongs to a ninja village but lacks skills and talents. Thus, his grandfather decided to marry her to Lord Hanzo, a talented ninja, so that she could give birth to baby ninjas.
Unfortunately, the problem is that Lord Hanzo has no thoughts of getting married and despises spending time with a woman. Their love-hate relationship is what makes the story compelling and captivating.
32. Snow White With Red-Haired
Credit: Wikipedia
It’s another romantic and one of the best historical manga for shoujo lovers. Shirayuki is our female lead with exceptional talents when it comes to herbs. Her beauty captures the attention of Raji, the prince of Tanburn.
He is a selfish and mean guy who forcefully wants Shirayuki. Our heroine runs from Raji and is helped by Zen, who turns out to be the neighboring country’s prince. They face multiple challenges but decide to stand with each other. All these problems simply bring them together. It’s a simple and sweet manga, so read it as soon as possible.
31. Akatsuki No Yona
Credit: Wikipedia
Yona of the Dawn has it all, and it’s a good read for lovers of romance. Yona is a beautiful red-haired princess who knows nothing about the world’s harsh realities. She wants everything on her own terms and has lost her heart to her cousin Soo-won.
Unfortunately, he was the one who snatched her innocence away by murdering her father for the throne. Luckily, she had Hak, her childhood friend, by her side, who vowed his loyalty to her. Thus, the duo escape together and hide in Hak’s village. There, the story takes a fantastical turn when they learn about the legend of the four dragons.
30. Barefoot Gen
Credit: Wiki Fandom
The story focuses on a 6-year-old sweet boy named Gen Nakaoka. The year is 1945, the year of the Hiroshima war. Gen was happily spending his life with his loving family, but due to war problems, his life became a mess.
His family was one of the few daring ones who vowed to stand against oppression. Unfortunately, soon after, people labeled them traitors, worsening their tough lives.
Gen’s life takes a sharp turn when the US destroys their city with atomic bombs, leaving none alive but him. The rest of the story is all about how the sweet little Gen survives the poor conditions where he must struggle each second to breathe. Let me tell you a shocking fact: the story is not imaginative but based on true events.
29. Inuyasha
Credit: Wiki Fandom
You got that right! Not only is its anime worth watching and popular, but its manga, too, enjoys the same love. If romance, fantasy, and adventure are your thing, dude, consider yourself lucky to read InuYasha!
Kagome Higurashi is the female lead who has never respected how her life will unfold after her 15th birthday. She loses the peace in her life after falling into a well, thanks to a demon. The twist begins when she realizes that passing through the well has actually sent her to the past. In reality, she’s in an era where humans coexist with DEMONS.
The reason behind Demons’ attraction to her? Well, our female lead has a precious gem that holds the power to make the owner super powerful. Thus, she finds herself in a mess. The story takes a romantic turn with the entry of our male lead, Inuyasaha. The half-demon MC decides to help the damsel in distress!
28. Anatolia Story
Credit: Wikipedia
Yuri, an adorable teenager, is the story’s center. Her life bombarded her with unexpected turns of events, and she found herself in a mess. A queen wanted to sacrifice Yuri for her own benefit. If the heroine of the story dies even before the story begins, there is no fun, right?
So, Yuri survives thanks to our handsome hero, Prince Kail. The duo develop feelings for each other over time but find themselves entangled in continuous troubles. You can expect drama, romance, and supernatural. Enjoy reading one of the best historical manga of all time.
27. Ouke no Monshou
Credit: MAL
Carol is our female lead whose once-happy life gets disturbed after her family discovers a tomb. This discovery makes the family cursed, and thus, their downfall begins. Surprisingly, the story takes an unexpected turn when Carol finds herself in the past almost three thousand years back.
Her life changes after she crosses paths with Pharoah, a handsome guy. The story continues, and we follow Carol in changing history by helping Egypt through different problems. Thanks to her excellent knowledge of Egyptian times.
26. The Rose Of Versailles
Credit: Wikipedia
To maintain a healthy relationship between France and Austria. The empress of Austria decides to force her spoiled daughter, Marie, into a marriage of convenience with Louis, the prince of France.
The story takes an unexpected turn when Marie crosses paths with Oscar, captain of the royal guards. However, Oscar is actually a girl disguised as a man. Oscar belongs to a noble family, but she was trained as a boy since the family lacked an heir. Her encounter with Marie changes her life.
Oscar finds herself trapped between the issues of the two countries. However, she has no choice except to wait and see what life has stored for her.
25. In This Corner Of The World
Credit: Wikipedia
We follow the struggles of a girl named Suzu during the challenging times of Hiroshima. Her life changes after she gets married to a Navy officer. No matter how eager she is to protect her happy life, the circumstances always put her in dire situations.
The manga has a lot of drama, so you can expect many ups and downs in Suzu’s life. This is indeed one of the best historical manga and best suited for the lovers of Seinen. If you like reading about the struggling lives of war victims, then this one is a must-watch.
24. The Elusive Samurai
Credit: Wiki Fandom
Tokiyuki Houjou is our 8-year-old male lead and the story’s main focus. The manga highlights his challenging life as the successor of the Kamakura Shogunate. Apparently, he doesn’t have any special talents that will make him successful in the future, but that’s the kick.
The sweet boy’s life changes when his family’s authority and powers are taken away by Takauji Ashikaga. His life gets in danger, and luckily, the boy is helped by a priest. Having no other way out, Tokiyuki vows to win the challenges. He tries to find people to help him in this toughest life trial. If you are here for the best historical manga, then give this one a go!
23. Lone Wolf
Credit: MAL
Ittou Ogami is our male lead whose life is a complete mess. He was framed for treason, and the framers were the Yagyuu Clan, who did this to attain Ittou’s position. Ittou was actually a chief executioner of the Shogunate.
To top it all off, the villains murdered his wife, and he was left alone with his sweet kid. All the mishaps infuriate him, and he vows to avenge his loved one’s brutal murder. Ittou becomes an assassin and starts a new chapter of his life.
Follow him in his journey of revenge, as you will enjoy every bit of it. The story, the characters, and the ups and downs in the MC’s life make it the best historical manga.
22. The Case Study Of Vanitas
Credit: MAL
The story is about Vanitas, an overpowered vampire who didn’t live a happy life. This is all thanks to others of his kind who hated him for being different. He ended up creating a cursed magic book called the Book Of Vanitas, which will make things challenging for the other vampires.
Noe is the protagonist who has one mission: to find the same book. Different incidents made him cross paths with a doctor named Vanitas. There is everything mysterious about the doctor who has deep knowledge about the text of the book. The story impressively engages the readers with suspense.
21. The Apothecary Diaries
Credit: MAL
The story is set in Ancient China, where we follow the life of a talented girl named Maomao. She is extremely talented when it comes to medicine and health. Her life became a mess when she was abducted and forced to live a forced life.
She started working as a low-level servant. Maomao performs her duties well; one day, her will to help the emperor’s ill kid changes her life. His efforts and talents captured the attention of Jinshi, an eunuch. That was the beginning of a new chapter as she soon after was appointed in the emperor’s inner court and started working there.
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20. Moriarty The Patriot
Credit: MAL
We are introduced to the 19th century, where power prevails and the weak suffer. Thus, people from noble families live peacefully while the poor struggle to reach the top. James Moriarity is a genius mathematician bestowed with skills.
He belongs to a noble family and is a very good man, always ready to help others. The story continues, and we see this genus solving crime mysteries. Do read it, as this one is written by none other than legendary Mr. Arthur Conan Doyle.
19. Golden Kamuy
Golden Kamuy is a must-read and the best historical manga of all time. The story centers around Sugimoto, who was once a military man. Unfortunately, he was released from the army for his actions and now wanders here and there.
He is on a mission to find Gold, a hidden treasure, and the purpose behind it is to aid the family of his late friend. The Gold belongs to the Ainu that was stolen by a criminal. The location is secret, and the map of it is found on the bodies of prisoners.
So, he continues his struggles to find the map and get to the location. Meanwhile, he meets a girl from the Ainu clan named Asirpa, who accompanies him on his journey on the same mission.
18. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
Credit: Wikipedia
If you are an otaku, then you must have heard of this epic masterpiece. This is the story of the Joester Family and how their lives change. Jonathan, aka Jojo, was enjoying a happy life before Dio Brando was taken in by his family, making him the stepbrother of Jojo.
Dio’s entry was just like a silent storm that disrupted the Joester’s happy lives. Dio started scheming for his evil motives of inheriting the fortune. This creates a clash between Jojo and Dio, which makes the story exciting. Trust me or not, the story keeps improving, so don’t forget to read it.
17. Black Butler
Credit: Wikipedia
Black Butler is a complete package offering fantasy, Mystery, Action, and a lot more. Ciel, a cute little boy, is the story’s center. After losing his family, the boy experiences abuse from some evil people. After living as a slave, he vowed to change his destiny, and thus, he ended up making a deal with Sebastian, a demon.
Sebastian started living as a butler for Ciel and vowed to protect his master. Each day of their lives is filled with something surprising and exciting. So expect some action and mystery that make it one of the best historical manga.
16. Arslan Senki
Credit: Wikipedia
Arslan Senki follows the life of the Prince of Pars Arslan Senki. His life starts to change after the conflict between the Kingdom of Pars and Lusitania. Pars is brutally defeated by Lusitania, leaving Arslan in a tight spot.
The winning party takes over Pars, and Arslan is looking for ways to make things normal again. He is on a mission to find people who will help him get his Kingdom into the right hands. Arslan Senki offers drama, action, politics, and adventure, so it’s safe to say it’s a complete package. If you love historical-themed manga, then trust me, you won’t regret reading it!
15. Laughing Under The Clouds
Credit: Wikipedia
This is the story of the Kumou Brothers, Soramaru, Chuutaro, and Tenka. They live their happy and peaceful lives in Oumi town. However, little do they know that the town holds many secrets.
There is a famous legend popular in the town that highlights Orochi. Orochi isn’t an ordinary man but actually a beast residing in a human vessel. Above all, he comes to his senses after every three hundred years.
Except for Tenka, none of the brothers know that they are responsible for stopping the beast from awakening. To know whether the beast will be revived or not, start reading it ASAP!
14. Demon Slayer
Credit: Wiki Fandom
I am sure you must have watched the anime, but Demon Slayer manga is also a must-read. Well, especially if you are here for the best historical manga of all time. The story follows Tanjiro Kamado, an ordinary boy whose life is the epitome of Challenges and problems.
He lives in a world where demons lurk here and there. One day, he loses his family in the hands of bloodthirsty demons, which shatter his small, peaceful, and happy world. With all his family members dead, his sister Nezuko was still breathing as a demon.
Surprisingly, she was not aiming for humans, as she could control her thirst for blood. Thus, we follow the boy in his journey of becoming a Demon Slayer to take revenge on the murderers of his beautiful family.
13. Shigurui
Credit: Wikipedia
It’s a must-read for those who enjoy martial arts manga with historical themes. The interesting part of the story is the martial arts competition. Seigen and Gennosuke begin the first match. Viewers are surprised to see the opponents, as Seigen is blind; however, both the opponents hold nothing but hatred for each other.
The manga then highlights their lives and circumstances that forced the duo to take part in the competition. Both were struggling to achieve the same goal, which makes them perfect rivals for each other. Read it to know what happens next!
12. Emma
Credit: Wikipedia
If you like shoujo stories with a touch of history, then trust me, Emma is the best historical manga. As the name suggests, the story is about a girl named Emma. She is a maid who has lost her heart to William, an aristocrat.
The good part is the feelings are mutual, as William feels the same. Unfortunately, their love life isn’t easy and is full of hardships as they need to cope with constant struggles. In fact, due to societal pressure and different reasons, they tried to stay away from each other, but all of their efforts went in vain.
11. Spice and Wolf
Credit: Wiki Fandom
Spice and Wolf is popular and one of the best historical manga. People read it for many reasons, and the best part is it offers economic knowledge alongside romance. Kraft Larence dreams of someday starting his own business and vows to become successful.
For now, he is living as a mergent who moves from one place to the other. He crosses paths with a beautiful wolf girl named Holo during his journey. She was not an ordinary woman but actually a wolf deity. The girl says she will only help him fulfill his dream if he takes her to her hometown. Kraft agrees, and the duo starts their journey together.
Each chapter entertains the reader with something refreshing as the duo begins to develop feelings for each other.
10. Innocent
Credit: Wikipedia
This is the best historical manga for the lovers of Seinen. The story is set in the 18th century and focuses on the life of Henri Sanson. He belongs to the family of Royal Executioners. Henri’s life is not easy; he faces many challenges to become like his father.
He has all the qualities that a good hero has, which makes his character likable. His life as the executioner of Paris brought him very difficult challenges. However, all he could do was to keep going with the flow. The story continues, and he is introduced to his sister, who wishes to become the executioner.
9. Blade Of The Immortal
Credit: Wikipedia
Manji is our tough protagonist who enjoys a fearsome reputation. He has killed 100 innocent people brutally, and the fact that he can’t die makes him even scarier. The reason behind his immortality is his curse.
However, after living a long life filled with sins, he has decided to atone for all of his sins. Now he must kill 1000 evil men, and only then would he be able to die. On his journey, he crosses paths with a girl and decides to help her avenge her parent’s death.
8. Gintama
Credit: Wikipedia
If you wanna laugh uncontrollably, then start reading it as soon as possible. Gintama offers everything that can intrigue an otaku, as it’s filled with adventure and action. The comedy is simply icing on the top.
Gintama’s character is everything as he is the soul and heart of the story, as one can guess by the title. The higher-ups have banned the use of swords, but nothing can stop this guy, and he freely wanders with his wooden sword.
His financial conditions force him to do odd jobs here and there. Apart from them, he goes around places and helps people in solving their problems.
7. 20th Century Boys
Credit: Wikipedia
We follow Kenji, who is living in the 20th century. The world is changing, and with time, people are adapting to these changes, some positively and some negatively. Kenji Endo is one of the main characters who lives his life as a convenience store manager.
His life starts to change after the sudden demise of his friend, Donkey. After his death by suicide, Kenji learns about a mysterious organization called” Friend.” It’s hinted that “Friend” is behind the deaths of people. Above all, the organization’s main target is Kenji and his friends. Thus, he starts his journey to solve the mystery and to end the dangers lurking here and there once and for all. If you enjoy mystery and sci-fi, then this is the best historical manga to read.
6. Hell’s Paradise
Credit: Wikipedia
It’s one of the most loved and extremely popular historical manga of all time. Gabimaru is the main character, and the story begins with him about to be executed. The executioners use different deadly ways to take his life, but all in vain.
Nothing works, and it’s later revealed that deep down, Gabimaru wishes to live and spend his life with his beloved wife. Next, we see him meeting a famous executioner who gives him a mission, and that is to bring the elixir of life.
He is not the only one after it, as there are a number of dangerous and ruthless guys on the same mission. Above all, the place is Hell’s Paradise, and to survive, there isn’t a piece of cake.
5. Rurouni Kenshin
Credit: Wikipedia
We are introduced to a terrible era where everything is going wrong. People are losing their lives in murders, and there is no one to take care of the orphans, whereas the higher-ups are corrupt. This is the story of Kenshin Homura, a samurai who has a fearsome past.
Kenshin is actually his new name, as he changed his identity completely. Before, he was living as Battousai, a killer with no mercy in his heart. Thus, people feared even thinking about him in their heads.
Well, Battousai decided to start a new life as Kenshin to atone for his sins, but little did he know that it wouldn’t be easy. Since he stopped taking lives, an imposter entered the scene claiming to be Battousai. Now Kenshin decides to help people feared by the fake Battousai.
4. Kingdom
Credit: Wikipedia
Guys, if you are interested in reading the best historical manga, then please read Kingdom. It’s the best manga, and it’s one of the top-ranked Manga on MAL. The story highlights the lives of two friends, Xin and Piao, who share the same dream to be great generals. Unfortunately, things take a different turn when Piao joins Qin’s Royal Palace after being presented with an opportunity. He stays there for some time and returns on the verge of death. Watching his friend in critical condition infuriates the boy, and he decides to meet Zheng Qin, the next King. His encounter with Zheng gives a new turn to the story, and the duo doesn’t start their journey on good terms. However, eventually, their relationship improves, and they end up helping each other through different ups and downs. The story intrigues the audience with mystery, suspense, and a lot more.
3. Vinland Saga
Credit: Wikipedia
Vinland Saga anime brought a huge storm in the anime world, and otaku is loving every bit of it. Thus, reading the manga won’t leave you with regrets. The story’s center is Thorfin and his thrilling adventures. He wishes to go against Askelad, a Viking and the commander of the band of mercenary Vikings.
Vinland Saga is known for its outstanding story, and the clash between Askelad and Thorfinn simply makes everything fantastic. There is politics, action, drama, and adventure. The plot is very complex and intricate; thus, make sure you actively read it.
2. Vagabond
Credit: Wikipedia
Vagabond is a masterpiece and is ranked number three on MAL, so read it as soon as you can. Shinmen Takezou is our male lead who enjoys a fearsome reputation among people. No one dares to cross his path or to make him angry.
He, along with his friend Matahachi, enrolls in the army, but unfortunately, they are taken aback the army loses against the Tougawa clan. This incident separates the two friends, and certain things lead Shinmen to be trapped in a deadly situation.
He was framed for the murder of his friend and was left to die a brutal death. Luckily, he survived thanks to a monk, and thus, Shinmen started his journey by taking a new identity.
1. Berserk
Credit: Wikipedia
Guts is our protagonist whose life has never been easy, which in turn made him a warrior. He grew up training and getting stronger. His life changed when he met Griffith, and this encounter left him completely shattered.
Though he continued to face the odds, heads high became even stronger to one day face Griffith again. He vowed to take revenge and get everything back that was once his own. We follow Guts in his journey, and the way he bravely copes with different hardships is commendable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is manga for older audiences called?
The manga for the older audience is called Seinen.
Which manga should I start with?
Well, it totally depends on your taste and liking. However, I would recommend reading Berserk, Hell’s Paradise, and Vinland Saga.
Conclusion
There you go! I believe that these recommendations will keep you busy with their intriguing stories. Give them all a go, and update me about your experiences reading the manga. Have a good read!
