Never Ending Stories
Some manga creators just refuse to quit. Japan's longest-running series have entertained readers for generations, proving that good storytelling never gets old. These enduring tales cover decades of publication, reflecting changing trends and evolving tastes. So, let’s look at the 20 longest-running manga series of all time!
Every One Piece Manga Edition Compared: What's Worth Your Berries? By Anime Collective
1. Golgo 13
What began as a simple assassination story in 1968 has grown into Japan's most enduring manga phenomenon. Created by Takao Saito, this masterpiece chronicles Duke Togo, a mysterious sniper. Golgo 13 currently holds the record as the longest-running manga series in history.
Unboxing ~ Golgo 13 Manga Haul by Andrew Tsundoku
2. Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo (KochiKame)
Officer Kankichi Ryotsu's money-making schemes entertained Weekly Shonen Jump readers for an unprecedented 40 years. Running from 1976 to 2016, Akimoto's beloved comedy accumulated 1,960 chapters across 201 volumes. It even earned a Guinness World Record for most volumes published for a single manga series.
KochiKame - Planeta Comic [Manga First Date] by Fermentwo
3. Sazae-san
The progressive housewife Sazae challenged traditional gender roles while tackling family life in Tokyo. Born in post-war Japan's newspapers in 1946, this four-panel comic strip by Hasegawa became a cultural institution spanning 28 years. Its animated adaptation continues today, with 7,000 episodes broadcast.
Sazae-san - ep 01 part 2(1969-10-05) by Sazae San
4. GeGeGe No Kitarō
Shigeru Mizuki's supernatural folklore started its journey in 1967. The one-eyed yokai boy Kitarō bridges the spirit and human worlds through multiple series for over six decades. Beyond its 60+ year legacy, this manga is believed to have revolutionized how Japanese culture viewed traditional monsters.
Gegege no Kitaro Manga Perfect Reproduction Series by Shigeru Mizuki by Japan Book Hunter
5. Lupin III
The gentleman thief's 1967 adventures under Monkey Punch's pen established a crime caper that would influence generations of creators. Through various iterations and publishers, Lupin III pioneered the anti-hero protagonist in manga. It is a blend of sophisticated heist plots and slapstick comedy.
Manga Review: Lupin III Greatest Heists by ThatMangaKid
6. Doraemon
A 22nd-century blue robotic cat became Japan's most beloved children's character through Fujiko Fujio's 27-year journey. Its chapters dealt with friendship, technology, and moral growth. Besides, those gadgets sparked real-world technological innovation, with engineers citing Doraemon's inventions as inspiration for modern devices.
Unboxing and Review Doraemon Movie Story Manga by aotaka
7. Glass Mask
Theater's demanding world rarely receives manga treatment, yet this dramatic creation has thrilled readers since 1976. Maya Kitajima's pursuit of acting perfection spans nearly five decades, focusing on artistic passion over typical manga action. The series's research into psychological character development established new standards for sophisticated storytelling.
8. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Generational storytelling reached its pinnacle with Araki's 1987 masterpiece, a 133-volume work that defies conventional narrative limitations. Each story arc follows different Joestar family members across various periods, allowing for complete creative reinvention every few years while retaining the thematic DNA.
9. Detective Conan
Another of Aoyama's mystery series was introduced in 1994, comprising 1,136 chapters. The shrunken detective Shinichi Kudo, trapped in a child's body, solves complex crimes. Predating One Piece by three years, Detective Conan reached its 1,000th chapter milestone before its more famous contemporaries.
Detective Conan Comedy Book Test by Michael O'Brien by OBrienMagic
10. Hajime No Ippo
Boxing's brutal beauty found its perfect chronicler in George Morikawa. Ippo Makunouchi's transformation from bullied teenager to champion boxer established sports manga's emotional template. It treats opponents as protagonists of their own stories, crafting interconnected narratives that delve into the psychological depths of competition.
Hajime no Ippo tomo 1 | Manga Review | Planeta Comic Mx by Shonen Junk
11. One Piece
Twenty-eight years after Monkey D. Luffy first set sail, Eiichiro Oda's pirate epic continues to break records with 1,135+ chapters. The Grand Line's treasure hunt officially began in 1997. However, Oda's world-building mastery lies in planting story seeds years before they bear fruit.
Manga Nostalgia - One Piece Volume 1 Eiichiro Oda by Unqualified Commentary
12. Baki
Unlike typical fighting manga, Baki views violence as an art form, featuring fighters whose techniques border on the supernatural while remaining grounded in anatomical reality. The series' 34-year evolution showcases how creators can reinvent familiar concepts through increasingly extreme interpretations of human physical limits.
Baki Manga Review by Harut Estevao
13. Captain Tsubasa
Football fever consumed Japan through Yoichi Takahashi's soccer phenomenon that launched in 1981. Tsubasa Ozora's journey from elementary school prodigy to professional athlete inspired an entire nation to fall in love with football. Professional players even cite Captain Tsubasa as their inspiration.
I finished the soccer manga Captain Tsubasa! by tokyochemist
14. Crayon Shin-chan
Five-year-old Shinnosuke Nohara's crude antics mask sophisticated satire of Japanese family life and social expectations. Crayon Shin-chan uniquely balances children's entertainment with adult humor. It creates content that simultaneously amuses kids and provides parents with knowing winks about domestic reality's absurdities.
Crayon Shin-Chan tomo 1 | Manga Review | MangaLine Mx by Shonen Junk
15. Kindaichi Case Files
Multiple creative teams have sustained this detective franchise, weaving more than 30 years of mystery through various series iterations. High school detective Hajime Kindaichi's cases mix traditional locked-room mysteries with contemporary settings, giving rise to accessible entry points for younger mystery fans.
Kindaichi Case Files: The Best Underrated Detective Anime and Manga by Warudo Chaos
16. Tsuribaka Nisshi
Fishing obsession became comedy gold through Juzou Yamasaki and Kenichi Kitami's collaboration. Salaryman Densuke Hamasaki's dedication to fishing brings to life workplace chaos and unexpected friendships, particularly with his unknowing CEO companion. This slice-of-life series captures Japan's fishing culture with anthropological precision.
PlayStation - Tsuri Baka Nisshi (1996) by The VideoGames Museum
17. Kinnikuman
Professional wrestling's absurd glory found expression through Yudetamago's muscle-bound heroes. Spanning 40 years across multiple series, this franchise went from a gag manga to a serious superhero action while retaining its ridiculous charm. Those character designs and wrestling moves even influenced actual professional wrestling.
Taking a look at Kinnikuman Muscle Gallery (part 2) *Warning! Spoilers!* by Overlord Figmori
18. Cooking Papa
Here comes a piece that served up 41 years of recipes wrapped in domestic comedy. Araiwa's secret cooking skills foster household harmony while exploring the evolution of Japanese food culture in response to changing social dynamics. Cooking Papa functions as both entertainment and a cookbook.
Cooking Papa Full Episode 001 (English Subtitle) by ItsGeiru
19. Ginga Series
Yoshihiro Takahashi's canine epic was launched in 1983, covering 147 volumes across multiple interconnected series that follow dog dynasties. Beginning with Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin, this franchise touches upon themes of survival, loyalty, and pack dynamics from an entirely animal-centric perspective.
Ginga densetsu Noah Finnish edition vol 1 by Babytappy
20. Super Mario-kun
Here, each story arc adapts specific Mario games while incorporating original humor and character development that is impossible in interactive media. This licensed manga proves that video game adaptations can achieve longevity through creative interpretation rather than slavish adherence to the source material's limitations.
The 30 Year Old Nintendo Boomer Reviews Super Mario Manga Mania by Yukio Sawada by #1 Marmaduke Fan
