Manga Titles Including Jujutsu Kaisen Rank on NYT Bestseller List

Several Japanese manga titles, including Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen, Kei Urana's Gachiakuta and Yukinobu Tatsu's DAN DA DAN, appeared on The New York Times' monthly Graphic Books and Manga bestseller list between December 2025 and March 2026, according to data published by the newspaper. Their consistent placement over four months signals steady demand for translated manga in the American publishing market.

The NYT's Graphic Books and Manga list, launched in October 2019, tracks the commercial performance of graphic literature, including Western comics and Japanese manga, based on sales reported by thousands of retail outlets, independent bookstores and online retailers across the United States.

Jujutsu Kaisen Manga’s Sustained Demand in US

Jujutsu Kaisen, a supernatural action series licensed in English by Viz Media, has been the most consistent manga title on the list during this period. In December 2025, the 28th volume ranked at No. 6. In January, only one manga title made the list: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 1, which ranked at No. 13. February saw two JJK entries, with Vol. 28 at No. 10 and Vol. 1 at No. 12. In March, Vol. 29 climbed to No. 2, while Vol. 1 held at No. 12.

That pattern tracks with broader industry data. According to Anime News Network, the JJK franchise surpassed 150 million copies in circulation worldwide, including digital editions, as announced by Shueisha in December 2025. The figure, which also counts related titles like Jujutsu Kaisen 0, makes it the ninth-highest manga franchise by circulation.

The series' main manga run ended in September 2024, but a third anime season covering the Culling Game arc began airing in January 2026, likely feeding continued print demand.

Newer titles break through

Gachiakuta, a dark fantasy manga by Kei Urana serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine since February 2022, also appeared across multiple months. Kodansha USA published the first English volume on January 16, 2024. That volume ranked at No. 5 on the February list and at No. 10 in March. An anime adaptation by Studio Bones aired from July to December 2025, with a second season announced. The franchise is also expanding into console and PC gaming with an RPG adaptation.

Manga on NYT Graphic Books and Manga list, Dec 2025 - Mar 2026

In February, Mokumokuren's The Summer Hikaru Died Vol. 1 placed at No. 13. DAN DA DAN Vol. 17, published in English by Viz Media on February 3, 2026, entered the March list at No. 13. The series, written by former Chainsaw Man assistant Yukinobu Tatsu, had two anime seasons air in 2024 and 2025 but was not broadcasting at the time of the March ranking. Its placement during a gap between seasons points to the manga's ability to sustain reader interest independent of an active anime broadcast window.

In December, the list also included My Hero Academia Vol. 42 at No. 9 and One Piece Vol. 110 at No. 10, both long-running Shueisha franchises with established North American readerships.

What the data suggests

A few years ago, Japanese manga and Western graphic novels occupied largely separate retail lanes. The NYT's combined Graphic Books and Manga category places them on the same playing field, and manga titles have been claiming a growing share of the chart's slots. In December 2025, three of the top 10 entries were manga. By March, four manga titles appeared on the 15-position list.

The trend lines up with broader bookstore data. Circana BookScan figures throughout 2025 showed Jujutsu Kaisen volumes regularly charting in the top 20 adult graphic novels. Gachiakuta volumes have similarly appeared on Circana's monthly lists since July 2025. North American publishers, principally Viz Media and Kodansha USA, have shortened the gap between Japanese and English release dates, giving translated manga quicker access to the retail market.

The recurring presence of catalog titles like JJK Vol. 1 alongside new releases like Vol. 29 is a telling data point for publishers. It indicates an active pipeline of first-time readers entering the series, rather than sales driven only by existing fans buying the latest volume. For manga licensors, that kind of dual demand, backlist paired with frontlist, is the foundation for sustained shelf space at major retailers.