Summary
The joy of art is its variety. People go into various genres for different reasons. Some might use it as a means of escape from the harsh realities of life, while others go into it to have more understanding and introspect, and some just venture into various aspects for fun.
The beauty of it all is how manga could change one’s life. Thought-provoking manga can move a person out of their shell to do greater things. Conversely, there are many notable manga with philosophical themes that have the power to touch readers' lives by helping them find their passion. Some includeBlue PeriodandBerserk,emphasizing the different sides of human nature.
Updated July 01, 2025, by Oluwatokiloba Folami:Unlike most genres that focus mainly on plot and action, philosophical manga goes beyond that. It uses its characters and their struggles to go intoexistential themes, causing readers to reflect on their beliefs and perceptions. It dives deep into profound themes like the search for purpose, the nature of power, the human mind, free will, and so on,challenging readers to reflect on life, existence, and the human condition. This genre of manga not only provokes thought and evokes introspection, but it offers a unique perspective on what it means to be human, leaving a lasting impression onthose who seek more than just entertainment.
17Saltiness
Navigates The Harsh Realities Of Modern Society
Life is so unexpected that no individual can be fully prepared for whatever life throws at them.Confined to the four corners of his room,Takehiko thought he had what it took to overcome whatever life throws at him, but little did he know. Takehiko runs away to Tokyo, thinking he has life all figured out, but soon realizes that life is not as he imagined and people are not as kind as he expected. Broke, hungry, and far away from home, Takehiko tries to navigate through the harsh realities of life.
This manga is considered philosophical because it explores the struggles of Takehiko as he navigates the complexities of modern life.Saltinessdeals with issues such asalienation, self-identity, and societal expectations.
16Sanctuary
Nature Of Power
Change starts from within, and Akira and Chiaki are determined to change Japan from within. These two young men want to create a Japan free from corruption and apathy. Conquering the country is not going to be an easy task, but these men are up for it, and they set out on two different paths to achieve their plans. Akira plans to dominate the criminal world while Chiaki pursuesa career in politics, contesting for the position of Prime Minister. Their plan is that with these two worlds under their control, they can seek reform and make Japan a sanctuary for every citizen.
The manga has many philosophical themes. The main one is the nature of power, how power is gained, and its potential to bring aboutchange or perpetuate corruption. Akira and Chiaki’s relentless pursuit of power raises questions about the ethics of their methods and whether the ends justify the means.
15Homunculus
Hidden Depth Of The Human Mind
Nakoshi’s story can be described as a grace-to-grass tale. This middle-aged man went from a career as a salaryman to being homeless, living out of his car. Disappointed about his situation and looking for a means to earn money, Nakoshi accepts an offer from someone named Manabu, after initially rejecting it. Manabu is ayoung medical studentlooking for human subjects willing to submit themselves to him for a price to perform a risky medical procedure called trepanation. This procedure involves drilling a hole in the skull to bring out a person’s sixth sense.
Because of the hefty monetary reward attached to it, Nakoshi accepts, and Manabu performs the procedure on him. Soon after the procedure,Nakoshi bears the painful consequences, as he can now see distorted humans, also known as Homoncunli. This manga is philosophical in nature because of how Nakoshi questions what he can now see. He questions the nature of his perceptions, and the manga delves into themes of the human subconscious, challenging the reader to reflect on the nature of consciousness and the hidden depths of the mind.
14No Longer Human
Social Alienation
This manga delves deep into the life of Ōba Yōzō as he journeys through life. Ōba finds it difficult to fit in and to make friends. Because of this, he resorts to clowning around to establish and maintain relationships with those around him. This facade can only go on for so long, and after befriending Takeichi, whointroduces him to art, Ōba leaves being the funny guy to being an artist, communicating his feelings through art.
Without getting the help he needs to navigate through his feelings, his trauma from sexual abuse, and asevere case of loneliness, Ōba’s life keeps going in a downward spiral. He gets involved in drugs, adultery, alcohol, and other bad vices. After his second failed suicide attempt, Ōba finds himself in a facility, but without the support of friends and family, he falls yet again into his pattern of seeking solace in drugs, this time in morphine. The manga poignantly explores themes of social alienation, depression, and addiction.
13Solanin
Search For Purpose
Meiko and Taneda are still clueless about life and have no goals or ambitions for themselves even after graduating from university. Although it is perfectly normal to not have a clue about life and explore multiple available options, society does not allow for that, as there are bills that need to be paid. Meiko and Taneda are forced to take jobs they have no interest in so that they can pay their bills. Both unhappy with their predicament, they decide to take matters into their own hands. Taneda quits his job to pursue his dreams of being in a band, and Meiko follows suit to support him.
As these two try to pursue what seems to be their purpose, they meet failure and disappointment in the process. Life is all about trial and error, but there is not much trial one can do when bills are piling up, and after a month of trying to pursue a music career, Taneda decides to go back to his old job. Trying to desperately make himself believe that he made the right choice, Taneda, completely in his thoughts,ends up in a tragic accident, leaving Meiko to navigate life still without a purpose and with grief.
12Holyland
Search For Identity
After being a victim of bullying for so long and without any friends,Yuu Kamishiro decides to drop out of schoolin search of a place where he will fit in and be accepted. Roaming through the streets, he realizes that he might just have found a place for himself in the world of street fighting.
They sayviolence is never the answer, but it is Yuu’s answer to finding a place for himself. He trains his fists, and when well-trained, he becomes a street fighter. After fighting so many street thugs and claiming victory, he builds a reputation and is known by many as the Thug Hunter. The more he fights, the more he becomes stronger, learning about the world he finds himself in and, more importantly, himself.
11Vagabond
This manga tellsthe fictional version of the real-life tales of Mushashi Miyamoto, a legendary samurai on a quest to find unwavering strength beyond the physical. Mushashi, born Shinmen Takezo, wanders off to become a vagabond after surviving the battle of Sekigahara, fighting strong opponents and becoming stronger with each passing day.
As Mushashi embarks on this journey, he is exposed to life, death, strength, weakness, and much more. His journey focuses on self-improvement and finding purpose. Mushashi seeks to find meaning in his existence. Through his life, readers are exposed to the lengths and desires of a man to find purpose and grow in life.
10Pluto
Humans & Robots
With the help of robots, this manga strives to question the reader’s understanding of humanity. This manga showcases a futuristic world where humans and robots exist. Gesicht is a robot detective tasked with the difficult case of finding a serial killer who has eyes on the seven greatest robots in the world, humans connected to them, and the International Robots Law.
Plutopresents robots as objects capable of moral thinking and emotions, as Gesicht, a robot, is a detective looking for a dangerous killer who turns out to be a robot. This manga questions what life is and shows that life is not limited to humans alone, as objects and artificial intelligence can feel what it means to be alive.
9Yokohama Shopping Log
Passage Of Time
This manga takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where Alpha, an android, is in charge of running a coffee shop in the absence of her boss. The coffee shop barely has customers, which means Alpha has a lot of free time, which she uses to explore her surroundings and the people around her.
Alpha spends her time finding joy in the simple things—the ordinary aspects of life—even though her world is in decline. Humans are not in despair or focused on survival in this manga; rather, they are adapting to the change their world has been through, finding beauty in its damaged state. Due to the environmental disaster, the seasons, winter and summer, have changed and are less cold and hot.
8Mada, Ikiteru
Sheds Light On The Challenges Of Life
Mada, Ikiteruis a manga about survival, but it appears to be much deeper than that. This manga sheds light on the meaning of life itself and the challenges one unavoidably has to face. This manga tries to ignite hope in readers' minds as it shows the transformation of Kenzou Okada, a tired man in his 60s looking for a permanent way to end his daily struggles and current predicament.
A failed suicide attempt led him toa more fulfilling lifein the forest. Using his second chance more wisely, Kenzou becomes more hardened, the opposite of who he was in the city.
