As we celebrate International Women’s Day this 2023, here are 10 of the best manga written by women!

 Manga is a really popular medium of entertainment in Japan and it also took over the world by storm. It is known that the industry is dominated by men however, women also excel in the manga industry and more women writers are emerging with beautiful stories. The genre that these women mangakas write and illustrate does not only revolve around shoujo and josei manga, they have branched out into a wider demographic; bringing in fresh ideas and perspectives. Interested in reading manga written and illustrated by women? Here are 10 of the best manga written by women that you should definitely read!

Shoujo Manga Written by Women

A Sign of Affection (Yubisaki to Renren)

Genre: Romance, School life, Drama

Completed: No

Anime Adaptation: No

A Sign of Affection is written and illustrated by the duo, Suu Morishita. This shoujo manga follows a female protagonist who is deaf and mute as she navigates through the ups and downs of college life. As she slowly opens up and explores the world around her, she finds love, friendship, and new experiences.

This manga tugs into your heartstrings and makes you realize how different their lives are and how difficult it is for them to deal with a lot of things. It is definitely beautifully illustrated and written.

Banana Fish

Genre: Drama, Suspense

Completed: Yes

Anime Adaptation: Yes

This manga written and illustrated by Akimi Yoshida is a masterpiece in its own right. Set in crime-noir New York, the protagonist, street gang leader Ash Lynx, as he undercovers the secret behind “banana fish”, a drug that brainwashes its user. He meets Eiji Okumura, a Japanese photographer visiting New York, and together they unravel the mystery of the drug. The two easily form a close bond and deal with the happiness and dangers set out by the choices they made together. Prepare your buckets for you are expected to cry by the end of this series. This is one of the most popular shoujo manga out there and for a good reason! Banana fish is a must-read!

Josei Manga with Female Mangakas

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku

Genre: Romantic, Comedy, Office Life

Completed: Yes

Anime Adaptation: Yes

Looking for something lighthearted after reading Banana fish? Fujita’s masterpiece is perfect for you. Wotakoi: Love is hard for otaku is a romantic comedy revolving around three couples. However, it focuses mainly on Momose Narumi, an office worker and a secret fujoshi, and her boyfriend, Nifuji Hirotaka, an otaku gamer. It is an episodic manga showing their domestic life as they navigate through their otaku tendencies. It is basically about otakus dealing with their romantic and daily life. This is super adorable and a must read for romcom lovers out there!

Something’s Wrong with Us

Genre: Drama, Psychological Thriller, Romance

Completed: Yes

Anime Adaptation: No

Natsumi Ando is well-known for her shoujo and josei manga works with dark undertones. With her most recent work, Something’s Wrong With Us, she takes us to the world of Japanese pastries with a spine-chilling and steamy manga following Nao, a Japanese sweets maker, and her husband, Tsubaki, her childhood friend and the man who framed her mother for murder. Join Nao as she undercovers the truth behind the murder 15 years ago and the reason why her mother was framed. This manga takes you into twists and turns you will never forget. If you love a manga that keeps you on the edge of your seat, then this is a must-read!

Shounen Manga

Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba)

Genre: Adventure, Dark Fantasy, Martial Arts

Completed: Yes

Anime Adaptation: Yes

Koyoharu Gotouge’s manga brings us to Japan’s Taisho era with a fantasy twist. The world was divided between demons and humans with a long ongoing war between the two. The manga starts off strong, introducing the protagonist, Kamado Tanjiro, in a very heavy scene that starts off his adventure to help his sister. Becoming a demon, his sister, Nezuko becomes a danger to everyone. However, she is different from the rest as she still shows human emotions and thoughts. This action-packed shounen manga is definitely a must-read! It gives us a breath of fresh air in action manga.

D.Gray-man

Genre: Adventure, Dark Fantasy, Science Fantasy, Tragedy

Completed: No

Anime Adaptation: Yes

Hoshino Katsura’s masterpiece is set in an alternate 19th century universe where the protagonist, Allen, joins Black Order, a group of exorcists. Allen is looking for Innocence, an ancient substance that will help them combat demons known as Akuma. Then, they have to gather Innocence scattered all over the world and the one who will obtain the Master Innocence will win the war. If you love creative and intricate worldbuilding, then D.Gray-man is the perfect manga to read!

Blue Exorcist (Ao No Exorcist)

Genre: Dark Fantasy, Action, Adventure

Completed: No

Anime Adaptation: Yes

The story revolves around Rin Okumura, a teenager who discovers he is the son of Satan born from a human woman and is the inheritor of Satan’s powers. Thus, in order to defeat his father after Satan kills his guardian, Rin decides to train as an exorcist. A brilliant woman named Katou Kazue wrote this amazing manga. 

Seinen Manga

Witch Hat Atelier

Genre: Fantasy, Magic

Completed: No

Anime Adaptation: No

Written by Kamome Shirahama, the series follows Coco, a young girl who aspires to be a witch, but in her world, only those born with magical abilities can become witches. However, after meeting a witch named Qifrey, it seems like there may be hope for Coco after all. The plot will follow Coco’s apprenticeship as she discovers the secret world of magic, encounters dangers, and unravels the mysteries surrounding the forbidden group of brimmed hat witches who have taken an unidentified interest in her.

Dorohedoro

Genre: Action, Dark Fantasy, Science Fantasy

Completed: Yes

Anime Adaptation: Yes

Q Hayashida’s manga is about a clan of sorcerers who uses the people of a depressed town to experiment with the dark arts. They have been picking people off the streets in a city known only as “the Hole” to use as guinea pigs for atrocious “experiments” in the black arts. Humans despise them, but have adapted to living in a society irreversibly altered by their intervention, believing themselves to be completely at their mercy. Caiman, a man with a reptilian head and amnesia, has taken to the streets with his partner Nikaido, brutally murdering sorcerers. The pair patrol the Hole, shoving the head of every sorcerer they find into Caiman’s mouth and asking them each the same simple question before putting them down: “What did the man inside say?”

My Dress-Up Darling

Genre: Romance, Comedy, School Life, Slice of life

Completed: No

Anime Adaptation: Yes

In this sweet and spicy rom-com, a loner boy and a flashy girl find common ground through cosplay! Wakana Gojou, a doll-artisan hopeful, lives as a loner, finding solace in his high school’s home ec room after being traumatized by a childhood incident with a friend who objected to his love of traditional dolls. Shinichi Fukuda’s manga is a must-read manga if you want a light and funny read!

Reading these women’s written manga would not be possible without high-quality translation and localization! In order to properly convey the story without stripping it off of its artistry and beautiful storymaking, translators must be able to interpret it while taking into account its context and literary devices.

Creative Connections & Commons Inc. has been in the translation and localization industry for 11 years now. In these years, CCC has proven itself to provide high-quality and accurate manga translation and other manga-related services in over 30 languages worldwide. As a trusted company, CCC will ensure that the quality it provides will continue to improve. CCC is a one-stop-shop for all your needs!