Da Vinci, one of Kadokawa Media Factory’s print media magazine, collaborated with NicoNico to hold an annual survey asking which manga series will make a big break for the year. This is the second year of the collaboration. The results for the survey was announced in its official website and in the May 2015 issue of the magazine which was released on February 6, 2015.
The criteria to be nominated is that the manga series should have compiled at least three manga volumes as of October 1, 2014. The voting duration is from November 6, 2014 until November 20, 2014.
Here are the results from 27,690 voters (53.5% men, 46.5% women):
#20 – Kuma Miko: Girl Meets Bear by Masume Yoshimoto
- Published: April 5, 2013
- Genre: Comedy, Seinen
- Synopsis:
In the deep regions of the Touhouku area, the comedic story of the miko of bears, 14-year-old Machi, and her childhood friend, the talking bear Nats takes place as Machi struggles to qualify for city-life with Natsu’s assistance.
#19 – Houseki no Kuni by Haruko Ichikawa
- Published: October 25, 2012
- Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Seinen
- Notes: Has a 1-minute ONA
- Synopsis:
In the distant future, a new life form called Houseki is born. The 28 Houseki must fight against the Tsukijin who want to attack them and turn them into decorations, thus each gem is assigned a role such as a fighter or a medic. Though she hopes to fight the moon people, Phos is a gem who is given no assignment until the gems’ manager Kongo asks her to edit a natural history magazine.
#18 – Inu Yashiki by Hiroya Oku
- Published: January 28, 2014
- Genre: Drama, Mature, Psychological, Sci-fi, Seinen, Slice of Life
- Notes: Licensed in English by Kodansha Comics, Volume 1 to ship on Fall 2015
- Synopsis:
A completely new protagonist! He’s not a handsome man, and he’s not a beautiful girl. He is not trusted at all in his own household. He has no success at his job. An aging salaryman who lives the life made up of “nothing.”
#17 – Takahashi-san ga Kiiteiru. by Yuu Hokuou
- Published: May 22, 2013
- Genre: Comedy, School, Shounen
- Synopsis:
Takahashi Ena is a high-school idol with a secret hobby. She often wears headphones, and people assume she is listening to music. In actuality, there is no music playing; she is eavesdropping! She prefers to listen to two of her male classmates, Nara and Mikage, because they have the most interesting conversations. She has to be careful to not be found out, though, because a creepy hobby like that could ruin her image!
#16 – Himouto! Umaru-chan by SankakuHead
- Published: March 14, 2013
- Genre: Comedy, School, Slice of Life
- Notes: An anime adaptation has been announced.
- Synopsis:
My little sister Umaru (age 16) is a renowned beautiful girl in the town. A perfect sister with a kind heart, high scores and popularity, who everybody admires… or at least that’s what people believe, but once she walks in her room, she becomes…
#15 – Shishunki Bitter Change by Masayoshi
- Published: October 25, 2012
- Genre: Drama, Romance, School, Shoujo, Psychological, Gender Bender
- Synopsis:
Yuuta and Yui had their body swapped when Yuuta fell down from a tree. How will they co-operate with dealing this as they grow up?
#14 – Amaama to Inazuma by Gido Amagakure
- Published: February 7, 2013
- Genre: Slice of Life, Seinen
- Synopsis:
Inudzuka is a teacher who has been caring on his own for his little daughter, Tsumugi, since his wife’s death. He’s no good at cooking, so they’ve been eating packaged meals from the convenience store. A series of events lead him one evening to a restaurant run by the mother of one of his students, Kotori. Her mother isn’t there, but Kotori does her best to feed them both. It turns out that Kotori is often alone, since her parents are divorced and her mother is frequently not around. The three of them begin to meet and cook tasty food together.
#13 – ib: Instant Bullet by Aka Akasaka
- Published: July 27, 2013
- Genre: Fantasy, Supernatural, Seinen
- Synopsis:
Fukase, an outcast, a loner, a yankee has had enough of this world. He wants nothing to do with it and silently wished for the world to end. Yet during Christmas Eve, a chance encounter with an unknown creature and a girl named Sera may change him and his fate.
#12 – Orange by Ichigo Takano
- Published: March 13, 2012
- Genre: Drama, Romance, School, Sci-Fi, Shoujo
- Notes: Licensed in English by Crunchyroll (Digital)
- Synopsis:
One day, Takamiya Naho receives a letter written to herself from ten years in the future. As Naho reads on, the letter recites the exact events of the day, including the transfer of a new student into her class named Naruse Kakeru.
The Naho from ten years later repeatedly states that she has many regrets, and she wants to fix these by making sure the Naho from the past can make the right decisions—especially regarding Kakeru. What’s more shocking is that she discovers that ten years later, Kakeru will no longer be with them. Future Naho asks her to watch over him closely.
#11 – Kuzu no Honkai by Mengo Yokoyari
- Published: September 25, 2012
- Genre: Drama, Romance, School, Seinen
- Synopsis:
17-year-old Awaya Mugi and Yasuraoka Hanabi appear to be the ideal couple. They are both pretty popular, and they seem to suit each other well. However, outsiders don’t know of the secret they share. Both Mugi and Hanabi have hopeless crushes on someone else, and they are only dating each other to soothe their loneliness. Mugi is in love with Minagawa Akane, a young teacher who used to be his home tutor. Hanabi is also in love with a teacher, a young man who has been a family friend since she was little. In each other, they find a place where they can grieve for the ones they cannot have, and they share a loneliness-driven physical intimacy. Will things stay like this for them forever?
#10 – Kasane by Daruma Matsuura
- Published: April 23, 2013
- Genre: Drama, Horror, Psychological, Seinen, Supernatural, Tragedy
- Synopsis:
Beautiful people are loved and revered. They have everything they desire right at their fingertips…
Even if that beauty is a complete illusion.Before Kasane’s mother died, she was given a special tube of lipstick from her mother. She was told that if times ever got really really hard, she should wear the lipstick and kiss whatever she really desires.
But is this keepsake a blessing? Or a curse?
#9 – Choueki 339-nen by Tomaka Ise
- Published: May 2, 2014
- Genre: Supernatural, Shounen
- Synopsis:
Reincarnation is believed to be awaited. A sinner named Hello spent his life for 339 years in prison for disobeying the teachings of God was reincarnated as a baby boy. With no memory of previous life, without any guilt, earnestly living his day-to-day life, will this second generation Hello atone his sin justly!? Will he be sent to the same prison as his predecessor?
#8 – Helck by Nanaki Nanao
- Published: May 5, 2014
- Genre: Action, Fantasy
- Synopsis:
Helck, the hero who betrayed humanity, is set out on a journal to the demon realm to impress the demons by participating in an arena. One of the four demon lords is not impressed.
#7 – Green Worldz by Yuusuke Oosawa
- Published: December 8, 2013
- Genre: Action, Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi, Supernatural
- Synopsis:
Plants have taken over the planet. In 2017, the vegetation in Tokyo rose up and toppled human society in moments. The few survivors are forced to live in the relative safety of a subway network, but supplies are running low. Join an average high school student named Akira as he challenges the plants in a struggle for survival!
#6 – ReLIFE by Sou Yayoi
- Published: October 12, 2013
- Genre: Romance, School, Slice of Life, Seinen
- Synopsis:
The story follows Kaizaki Arata, a 27-year-old jobless man, who fails at every job interview he had after quitting his last company. His life changes after he met Yoake Ryou of the ReLife Research Institute, who offered him a drug that can change his appearance to 17-years-old and to become a subject in an experiment for one year. Thus, he begins his life as a high school student once more.
#5 – Hinomaru-Zumou by Kawada
- Published: May 26, 2014
- Genre: Martial Arts, Shounen, Sports
- Synopsis:
It is a divine ritual, a martial art, a combat sport—it’s sumo!!
A “small” new student, Ushio Hinomaru, appears before the weak little sumo club of Oodachi High School! The words “big” and “heavy” are the rules to this sport, which does not fit this newbie any inch, but this guy goes and does what…!?
Ushio and the small sumo club climbs its way to the top!
The goal is *Hinoshita Kaisan!
A fired up high school sumo tale—no retakes allowed!!Hinoshita Kaisan – A title for the highest rank in professional sumo, equivalent of Yokozuna.
#4 – Nietzsche-sensei – Konbini ni, Satori Sedai no Shinjin ga Maiorita by Koma Matsu and Hashimoto
- Published: August 12, 2013
- Genre: Comedy, Shoujo, Slice of Life
- Synopsis:
A new part-timer in a convenience store started working. There have been a ruckus going on one night. The customer said to him, “Customer are Gods” but he replied with a straight face that “God is dead.” What will happen to him and his everyday life working in the convenience store? Will he ever be convenient?
#3 – Isobe Isobee Monogatari: Ukiyo wa Tsurai yo by Ryo Nakama
- Published: May 27, 2013
- Genre: Comedy, Historical, Shounen
- Notes: Has a currently airing 3-minute flash ONA
- Synopsis:
In this ukiyoe-style manga, Isobe Isobee is a lazy, slacker samurai with big dreams. He lives with his mother, who thinks highly of him. He lays around the house, sneakily looks at Edo-period pornography without his mother noticing, naps at school… but he plans to become a respectable samurai one day!
#2 – Mahoutsukai no Yome by Kore Yamazaki
- Published: November 30, 2013
- Genre: Fantasy, Magic, Shounen
- Notes: Licensed in English by Seven Seas Entertainment
- Synopsis:
Hatori Chise is only 16, but she has lost far more than most. With neither family nor hope, it seems all doors are closed to her. But, a chance encounter began to turn the rusted wheels of fate. In her darkest hour, a mysterious magus appears before Chitose, offering a chance she couldn’t turn down. This magus who seems closer to demon than human, will he bring her the light she desperately seeks, or drown her in ever deeper shadows?
#1 – Boku no Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi
- Published: July 7, 2014
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Shounen, Supernatural
- Notes: Licensed in English by Viz’s Shonen Jump Digital Magazine
- Synopsis:
People are not born equal, a realization that 4-year-old Midoriya Izuku faced when bullied by his classmates who had unique special powers. Izuku was one of the rare cases where he was born with absolutely no unique powers. This did not stop Izuku from pursuing his dream, a dream of becoming a great hero like the legendary All-Might. To become the great hero he hopelessly wants to become, he now will join the ranks of one of the highest rated “Hero Academies” in the country: Yueiko. With the help of his idol All-Might, will he be able to claim the ranks and become a true hero?
These manga series look interesting! Which titles do you now want to read?
Source – Natalie
