6 Must-Read Manga Recommended by Eiichiro Oda

In the manga world, Eiichiro Oda is known for creating one of the biggest adventure stories ever told. But the One Piece creator is also an active manga reader who has found plenty of other stories worth praising.

Some of Oda’s recommendations have appeared on the obi wrapped around manga volumes, giving readers a direct look at the works that caught his attention. With that said, these six recommendations show just how wide Oda’s manga tastes can be.

1 Hanakaku Brings a Former One Piece Assistant Into Focus

Katsunori Matsui’s Hanakaku: The Last Girl Standing follows Hanaka Ando, a high school girl who gets drawn into the world of mixed martial arts. The manga focuses on her training, fights, and gradual growth rather than making her powerful overnight. That grounded approach gives its action a different feel from the larger-than-life battles usually found in shonen manga.

There is also a nice One Piece connection here. Matsui previously worked as one of Oda’s assistants, and Oda recommended Hanakaku on the obi of Volume 3 in February 2015. That extra connection makes the recommendation more interesting, especially for One Piece readers who enjoy seeing how a creator’s former assistants develop their own style.

2 The Promised Neverland Shows Oda’s Love for Dark Stories

The Promised Neverland wastes almost no time showing what makes it special. Chapter 1 introduces Emma, Norman, and Ray as happy children living at Grace Field House, but the discovery involving Conny quickly turns their peaceful home into something far more frightening. The early Grace Field storyline then becomes a tense battle of planning and survival.

That is where the series feels especially different from a normal action manga. Meanwhile, Oda’s recommendation appeared on the obi of Volume 4 in July 2017. The early chapters alone make it easy to see why the series could stand out to a creator who also loves mysteries and long-running secrets.

3 Tsurumoku Dokushin Ryō Reveals Oda’s Softer Side

Tsurumoku Dokushin Ryō is probably the biggest change of pace on this list. Eisaku Kubonouchi’s manga follows Shota Miyagawa after he starts working at Tsurumoku Furniture and moves into the company dormitory. Instead of giant battles or supernatural powers, the story builds its charm around work, friendships, romance, and the awkward parts of growing up.

Oda recommended the Collector’s Edition Volume 1 in October 2021. That makes this recommendation particularly fun because it shows that Oda’s interests are not limited to action-heavy manga. Sometimes the smaller, everyday moments can have just as much charm.

4 Akane-banashi Has the Kind of Story Oda Couldn’t Ignore

Akane-banashi takes an unusual subject for a shonen manga and makes it feel surprisingly intense. In Chapter 1, we meet Akane Osaki and her father, Shinta, whose dream of being a pro rakugo performer gets shattered when he is kicked out of the Arakawa School by Issho Arakawa. From then on, Akane decides to follow the way of rakugo and prove what her father was capable of.

What makes this manga unique is its focus on making stories compete. Oda recommended the first volume in June 2022. The artist, Takamasa Moue, is also connected to One Piece as one of its former assistants. For those who like it when characters succeed with their wits and not strength, Akane’s journey is easy to get invested in.

5 2.5 Dimensional Seduction Mixes Manga and Cosplay

2.5 Dimensional Seduction starts with Masamune Okumura, an otaku who is far more comfortable with his favorite fictional character than with real girls. His routine changes when Lilysa Amano joins the manga club and asks him to help with her cosplay of Liliel, his favorite character. What begins as a simple cosplay setup slowly becomes a story about friendship, confidence, and the people behind the costumes.

Volume 8, which Oda recommended in November 2023, centers on that emotional Comiket storyline. Beneath all the cosplay comedy, the manga understands why people become attached to fictional worlds, which makes its appeal much broader than its title suggests.

6 Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi Gets Oda’s Seal of Approval

Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi follows Kiyoshi Harai, a teenager described as the strongest exorcist in history. The funny part is that Kiyoshi is also extremely shy and afraid of demons. Chapter 1 immediately plays with that contrast, while the early chapters build his strange new life through missions, classmates, and characters such as Jack Joe.

Oda recommended Volume 1 in November 2024, and the connection is even closer because creator Shoichi Usui previously worked as an assistant on One Piece. The mix of supernatural action, silly character moments, and expressive comedy makes it a fitting recommendation for longtime One Piece readers.

Now the big question: Which of these Eiichiro Oda-recommended manga would you read first? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.