When most people guess what the most popular manga in Japan are, franchises such as One Piece and the surging Jujutsu Kaisen will likely come to mind. However, there's another hugely popular manga that many Western fans might not even know about. Yaushisa Hara's Kingdom was Japan's second best-selling manga in 2020, but that popularity is belied by being completely obscure elsewhere.
Though the series' still-continuing anime series has reached international viewers, the manga has yet to be published outside of Japan. Here's a look at Kingdom's fantastic manga sales, and why it's so popular despite having such minimal international presence.
Kingdom Is The Greatest Story Never Told
As shown in the Oricon sales chart, the best-selling manga series of the past year (tracked from November 2019 to November 2020) include expected books such as Demon Slayer (by a landslide), One Piece, Haikyu!! and Jujutsu Kaisen. In second place, however, is Kingdom, with sales of over 8 million manga volumes. This surpasses One Piece by over half a million units, though it still pales in comparison to Demon Slayer's sales of over 80 million manga volumes!
The historical series takes place during China's Warring States period and is based around the life of orphan Xin. When Xin's friend returns mortally wounded after having mysteriously gone missing, Xin discovers that he had met the current ruler of their kingdom. Determined to fulfill their mutual childhood promise of becoming a great military general, Xin devotes himself to the king and the task of ending China's incessant wars.
Many of the characters in the series are at least partially based on historical figures, including Xin himself. Beginning back in 2005, the series has 59 volumes published so far. The series also got an anime adaptation in 2012, which began its third season earlier this year (it will resume broadcast after COVID-related delays in April 2021). Its lack of an English release could stem from its historical nature, as well as the fact that it's already so far along in the story. When it first came out, it's more realistic premise likely wouldn't have interested the same crowd as One Piece, Naruto or Bleach. Whatever the reason for the ambivalence in bringing it abroad, it remains a major franchise in the land of the Rising Sun.
Why Kingdom Remains Popular
The strength of the series' world-building and pacing has been perhaps the biggest reason for why it's so huge in Japan. Many have described it as sort of a cross between One Piece and Berserk!, with the historical setting adding an extra layer of gravitas to the drama. This more realistic premise is also a stark contrast to most of today's popular manga, which are decidedly supernatural in nature. In fact, the biggest trend in recent manga is supernatural horror, but Kingdom showcases how more realistic problems such as the horrors of war can be just as gripping.
Likewise, while the grim realities of war ever-present throughout the series make the comparisons to Berserk! more than apt, the series is never as gratuitous with graphic violence. This has likely helped it gain a wider mainstream audience. The continued success of the anime has likely also helped things in this regard. Hopefully, this will eventually see the now incredibly long-running manga reach the West, where its popularity can grow even further.
