Top 10 Manga Not Set In Japan [Updated Best Recommendations]
Here at Honey’s Anime, we love the appeal of manga in all its forms, but like many of our readers, we most love discovering new worlds buried within those black-and-white pages. Unsurprisingly, most of these stories take place in and around Japan itself — but fear not, globe-trotters, for we can help you travel the world from the comfort of your own home! These manga might be historical, contemporary, or entirely fantasy — but the most important aspect is that they take place in (or are based on) a place other than Japan. With that said, let’s dive into our newly updated list of the Top 10 Manga Not Set In Japan!
10. Arslan Senki (The Heroic Legend of Arslan)
Our first stop is ancient Persia, in the prospering kingdom of Pars, where we meet the young fourteen-year-old heir apparent, Prince Arslan himself. The Heroic Legend of Arslan is a loose adaptation of an ancient Persian epic, brought to life in stunning manga format by Arakawa Hiromu of Fullmetal Alchemist fame. Arslan’s destiny follows him from the royal capital of Ecbatana into the enemy territory of Lusitania, where he must grapple with his knowledge of his own kingdom and the true nature of the supposed ‘enemy’. The Heroic Legend of Arslan takes some fictional liberties with its surroundings, but the locations are very real, from the sprawling kingdom of Pars to neighbouring Lusitania (once a Roman province in Iberia). Arakawa has fabulously realized the dress, weapons, and environments of Persia, and the manga expertly follows Arslan’s growth both physically and emotionally along his long and dangerous journey.
9. Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries)
From ancient Persia, we travel to China, and the mysterious political intrigues of the royal palace. The Apothecary Diaries takes place in the country of Rii, a fantasy parallel to Imperial China, and follows Maomao — a slave girl with an incredible gift for apothecary work and poison tasting. After using her knowledge of herbal medicine to break a ‘curse’ afflicting the imperial heirs, Maomao is officially granted the (rather dangerous) role of attendant food taster. While Maomao becomes embroiled in the politics of Rii, we readers are treated to a gorgeous representation of Ancient China. Everything, from the clothes to the mannerisms to the character names, drips with an authentic attention to detail. If you’re looking for an excellent manga with a superb backdrop of China’s distant past, then you’ll definitely love The Apothecary Diaries.
8. Mahou Shoujo Tart★Magica - The Legend of "Jeanne d'Arc" (Puella Magi Tart★Magica: The Legend of “Jeanne d’Arc”)
Don’t let the magical girl vibes fool you — Puella Magi Tart: The Legend of Jeanne d’Arc is not for the faint of heart, as this sequel spin-off of the original Puella Magi Madoka Magica takes a look into an alternate history of magical girls. This historical spin-off is just as psychologically taxing as the original, delivered with the same gorgeously cute style that leads so many clueless newcomers to their doom. Puella Magi Tart: The Legend of Jeanne d’Arc follows the titular Maid of Orleans, the saviour of France herself, represented here as a magical girl (of course), set on a course to bring a true King and Queen to France and end the English occupation. There are magical girls and witches on both sides of the war, and the story accurately maps the real-life battles in which Jeanne participated — just with more witchcraft and magic! This is a worthy spin-off for any Puella Magi Madoka Magica fan to look into, and is accessible enough for newcomers to approach without requiring too much knowledge of the original series.
7. March Story
In this mature Korean-written manga, people called ‘hunters’ must track down and find the cursed antiques that give rise to the fiendish “Ill”. March Story follows the titular March on her journey in and around the towns and villages of 18th century Europe, as she seeks to put an end to the demonic threat spreading across the land. With a gorgeous visual style that dynamically brings the characters and environments to life, March Story offers a short and impactful drama about the wickedness of human nature and the demons that can prey on these same emotions — and features a lovely amount of globe-trotting across Europe along the way!
6. Dance in the Vampire Bund: Age of Scarlet Order
The original series may have ended in 2012, but there’s more vampiric goodness awaiting in the sequel series, Dance in the Vampire Bund: Age of Scarlet Order. What follows is a thrilling chase across vast tracts of the United States to seek shelter from the vampire hunts sweeping across the nation. Hot off the presses, Dance in the Vampire Bund: Age of Scarlet Order is an excellent return to the world of vampires, werewolves, humans and ‘fangless’ (vampires who removed their own fangs), and sheds more light on the ancient history of the vampires while maintaining the same playful ecchi-ness that entertained audiences in the original. And all the while offering a dangerous road-trip westwards across the United States!
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5. Burn the Witch
From the legendary creator of Bleach comes a modern-era tale of witchcraft and dragon-slaying set in London. Burn the Witch follows Wing Bind, the western counterpart of Bleach’s Soul Society, and takes place in ‘Reverse London’ — a hidden side of the famous city, responsible for controlling and protecting domesticated dragons. Originally a one-shot turned into a manga, Burn the Witch takes place two years after the final epilogue of Bleach, and follows two young Witches — Ninni Spangcole and Noel Niihashi — seeking to protect the ‘real’ London from the dangers of ‘Dark Dragon’ attacks. Set amongst both modern urban London and the slightly less developed Reverse London, Burn the Witch is a fantastic jaunt through England and a nostalgia-inducing experience for Bleach fans.
4. Yuukoku no Moriarty (Moriarty the Patriot)
For Sherlock Holmes fans, this entry on the list should come as no surprise! Set in the Victorian era of 19th century Great Britain, Moriarty the Patriot tells the untold story of Sherlock Holmes’ greatest rival — William James Moriarty. Unlike the original stories from Sir Conan Doyle, Moriarty takes centre stage here, and is given a streak of heroic vigilantism as he seeks to dismantle the cruel injustice of the classist divide tearing Britain apart. The artwork is nothing short of meticulous, bringing the grimy, gritty Victorian-era London to life so well that we can almost feel the soot clinging to the pages. If you’re itching to see how this young vigilante turns into the mastermind nemesis behind Holmes’ darkest days, this series is sure to satisfy, and also indulges our fan-fiction theories about Moriarty’s youth at the same time. With an excellent art style and setting, you’ll feel like you’re standing in the streets of smoggy London town right alongside Moriarty the Patriot.
3. Bokura no Chikyuu no Arukikata (Our Not-So-Lonely Planet Travel Guide)
Can’t decide where you’d like to travel to? How about -- everywhere?! Our Not-So-Lonely Planet Travel Guide is a gorgeous love letter to the romance of travel, following a young same-sex couple who don’t entirely seem like a ‘perfect match’ at first blush. Asahi Suzumura is serious and reserved, and his boyfriend is the easygoing Mitsuki Sayama, making for quite an odd couple. But they often say that travel brings you closer, and that’s certainly true in this gorgeous slice of life. Asahi and Mitsuki embark on a vacation around the world, intending to get married when they return to Japan. This manga takes us from country to country, encountering different people and cultures, allowing the characters to learn more about the wide world and about each other. If you’re looking for a gorgeously charming adventure, Our Not-So-Lonely Planet is definitely a top pick!
2. Spy x Family
Spy x Family is staggeringly popular, and it’s a series we here at Honey’s Anime absolutely love, along with nearly 12 million other readers around the world. This utterly charming blend of comedy and action prominently features the thrills of espionage and the hilarity of a misfit family. But lurking beneath the comedic exterior is a surprisingly dark setting that might not be immediately apparent -- the dangerous political climate of Cold War Berlin. The opening chapter of Volume 1 introduces us to Twilight, the top intelligence agent of ‘Westalis’ (a little on the nose, perhaps?) as he infiltrates ‘Ostania’, a notoriously secretive country where any rumor of dissent is harshly punished. Ostania acts as a stand-in for the USSR during the height of the Cold War in the 1960s, a time when both the West and the USSR employed weaponised espionage, each attempting to get the upper hand on the other as war loomed on the horizon. Twilight’s mission is even based on real-world stories of espionage -- to infiltrate the enemy, assimilate among the people, and extract critical intelligence. These long-term missions oftentimes included forming a family as cover, although we’re not sure many families also have an assassin, a telepath, and a hyper-intelligent dog! Next time you put on your disguise and enter the world of Spy x Family, keep your friends close and your enemies closer!
1. 86 (86--EIGHTY-SIX)
The gritty reality of war is something many of us are privileged enough to have avoided, and are only exposed to via fictional worlds. EIGHTY-SIX’s gritty, morbid, and altogether depressing war story is honestly hard to swallow at times, but if you can manage to persevere, you’ll find a gripping story and an engaging backdrop. What makes EIGHTY-SIX stand out amongst this list is the depths to which the series (including its light novel, anime, and various spin-off media) has gone in order to truly solidify the world-building. The Republic of San Magnolia is a vague conglomerate of World War II allies stitched into one, but chiefly with the nomenclature of France -- the country’s capital city is, after all, ‘Liberté et Égalité’. And then there’s the enemy nation of the Giadian Empire, a militaristic nation that forms a hybrid of WW2-era Imperial Germany and Austria-Hungary -- Giad’s official emblem is even the double-headed eagle, the identifying flag of Austria-Hungary in World War 1. And a little later into the series comes Roa Gracia -- a seemingly Tsarist Russia stand-in, complete with Slavic names for their mechs, but with an emblem reminiscent of the United Kingdom. Despite all this mind-bending and country-shifting madness, EIGHTY-SIX manages to dive deeply into ethnic and racial tensions, highlighting different cuisines, religions, dialects, mannerisms, and -- most importantly -- ideology of supremacism, racial superiority, and divine mandates. Definitely the heaviest entry on this list, EIGHTY-SIX, in our opinion, manages to create the most convincing setting amid a backdrop of war and bloodshed that will certainly stick with you long after the final pages.
Final Thoughts
Thus concludes our whirlwind trip around the world, in both time and space! From the sandy depths of ancient Persia, to the gritty streets of Victorian London, and even to the battlefields of a twisted World War II, manga can truly transport us wherever and whenever we want. There are many more manga out there we couldn’t include in this list, so we’d love to hear your thoughts down in the comments below! Let us know if your favourite series didn’t make the cut, or if you’re glad to see a manga get featured -- we’ll be stopping by the comments to discuss with you, and go on another globe-trotting adventure together!
It's impossible to deny how many manga set in Japan exceed those that are set elsewhere. It's no wonder, considering how manga is a part of Japan's culture. Some manga artists, though, gave us the chance to travel around the world through their manga not set in Japan. Many of them are historical ones, revolving around characters who really existed, adding new stories around them to make them look more interesting. Some others are softer, like shoujo revolving around a love story set, for example, in Australia. Then, there are those which wield supernatural elements, turning ancient cities into a ghostly scenario. And so on... In this top 10, we decided to make a mix. We chose shounen, seinen and even shoujo, with all the most interesting subcategories. If you are ready to leave, buckle up!
10. Cesare
- Mangaka: Souryou, Fuyumi
- Genre: Drama, Historical, Mature, Psychological, Seinen
- Volumes: 11
- Published Date: 2005 – ongoing
Let's start from Italy, during Renaissance. This is a story revolving around the figure of Cesare Borgia, observed in full details. Our protagonist, though, is the naive Angelo da Canossa, who finds himself at a loss of what to do. He joined university, and he loves studying, but life under pressure, with tension and intrigue, doesn't seem to suit him. The fated meeting with Cesare Borgia will change his life for good. Cesare is charming and will be able to make Angelo get near the dark side of Renaissance... If you want to see how Italy was during Renaissance, you should read Cesare! It's important to mention how Fuyumi Souryou worked together with a Dante scholar, just to get to know more details and make this story as realistic as possible. The art style is really something else; typically seinen, it is neat, precise and full of the smallest details. You will get the feeling of actually walking Italian streets. Let yourself be captivated by the charismatic figure of Cesare Borgia!
9. Ad Astra: Scipio to Hannibal
- Mangaka: Kagano, Mihachi
- Genre: Action, Historical, Adventure, Seinen, Psychological, Drama, Mature
- Volumes: 11
- Published Date: April 2011 – ongoing
Let's go on with two arch enemies who made history! First of all, with this manga, we remain in Italy and on the Mediterranean Sea. Ad Astra: Scipio to Hannibal, as the title suggests, revolves around the Roman Publius Cornelius Scipio and the Carthaginian Hannibal. In this manga, we follow their lives from the very beginning. Scipio and Hannibal are on opposite sides: while Scipio screams and shouts, Hannibal is very silent, and when he speaks, he shows how clever he is. We assist their struggles, through battles, victories, and losses! Mihachi Kagano gave us this masterpiece, and page after page we can see the effort to stick to facts. Scipio and Hannibal's personalities, too, are very near to what history books say. We follow the battles Rome led, and we see the rivalry between the two of them. As a seinen manga, the art style is really wonderful, and if we had to choose a word, we'd call it “mature”. If you wish for a Mediterranean trip, you should pick Ad Astra up!
8. Vinland Saga
- Mangaka: Yukimura, Makoto
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Historical, Seinen
- Volumes: 19
- Published Date: July 2005 - ongoing
And now, let's head to northern Europe. Thorfinn was a boy full of dreams for the future. A mercenary raid, though, changed his life completely: his father was killed, and he was raised by those same Vikings who murdered him. Growing up, Thorfinn becomes a warrior, seeking revenge for his father, searching for the band's leader Askeladd. His journey will be full of ups and downs, struggles, losses, but Thorfinn will never stop dreaming about that land without war or slavery: a land called Vinland! Makoto Yukimura grounded Vinland Saga with detailed research, that's why we would define this seinen manga as “brutal”. It's not an exaggeration: Vinland Saga's atrocities are based on reality, there's no sugarcoating it. So brace yourself; you'll follow Thorfinn and the Vikings in a cold Europe, full of bloodshed and violence. The art style is so detailed you'll get the feeling that you are there beside our protagonist. We warn you, if you start reading it, you won't be able to stop!
7. Georgie
- Mangaka: Igarashi, Yumiko (Art) Izawa, Man (Story)
- Genre: Drama, Historical, Romance, Shoujo
- Volumes: 5
- Published Date: 1982 – 1984
After blood and gore, let's soften it up with some romance! Who doesn't remember this sweet story set between Australia and England? Georgie grows up with two brothers: Abel and Arthur. Their mother, though, acts differently toward Georgie, who soon enough starts wondering why. Later on, the truth pops up: they're not her real family as Georgie was adopted. She wants to discover the truth, so a trip will bring her in England, where apparently she came from... Imagine Australian farms, with cows, pigs, chicken... That's the beginning. Then, imagine the Victorian Era, with its betrayals, love triangles, and hardships. Georgie is a shoujo manga that still maintains its popularity. From Australia to England, we start a journey together with Georgie – a tomboy at first who becomes a strong lady later on – seeking the truth. In the meantime, we'll enjoy a non-conventional romance! As you probably know, being Georgie a manga from 1982, its art style is vintage. Yet, this rare gem is old, but gold! So give it a chance.
6. Historie
- Mangaka: Iwaaki, Hitoshi
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Historical, Seinen
- Volumes: 9
- Published Date: January 2003 - ongoing
And now, why don't we take a trip to Greece? Here, we are in front another masterpiece by Hitoshi Iwaki. Historie is a manga revolving around Eumenes. We follow his life from childhood until he will become the secretary of Alexander the Great. The story begins around 343 BC, and we'll meet very important historical figures, such as Aristotle and, of course, Philip II of Macedon, as those were the years of the Macedonian expansion. Iwaaki starts from Eumenes, who actually existed, but whose life remains shrouded in mystery, and takes artistic liberty with him. This translated in a historical manga appreciated by critics since it's very well-structured and thorough. If you crave for some Ancient Greece intrigue and are a fan of Alexander the Great, this manga is what you're searching for! With Iwaaki Hitoshi's unmistakable art style, you will be sucked in a wonderful story full of adventures!
5. The Case Study of Vanitas (Vanitas no Carte)
- Mangaka: Mochizuki, Jun
- Genre: Fantasy, Historical, Shounen, Vampire, Supernatural
- Volumes: 3
- Published Date: December 2015 – ongoing
What about France and Paris, with vampires and the supernatural? Jun Mochizuki, after giving us a masterpiece set in England – Pandora Hearts – started a new shounen manga set in France. The story revolves around Noé, who lands in Paris searching for the Book of Vanitas. Vanitas was a vampire hated by other vampires because born under a blue moon. So he created that grimoire in order to get his revenge. Noé needs to find that book, but he meets a doctor called Vanitas instead, who wields the Book of Vanitas and uses it to heal his patients... What's going on? Jun Mochizuki's beautiful and cute art style gives us yet another amazing story, with an escalation of events leaving us with bated breath. Plot twists, unpredictable enemies, shocking truths: Vanitas no Carte funnels every single thing we appreciate in Mochizuki's works, and more. If you wish for a trip to the beautiful Paris, distorted by the presence of vampires, give it a try! It's worth it.
4. Green Blood
- Mangaka: Kakizaki, Masafumi
- Genre: Action, Thriller, Historical, Seinen, Psychological
- Volumes: 5
- Published Date: June 2011 – May 2013
Why don't we leave Europe for a bit, and go to the United States? This story is set in Manhattan, New York, during the industrial revolution. The 6th district – Five Points – is flooded with immigrants, and the mobsters became the law. A boy named Luke Burns, though, can see a ray of hope: he wants to fight the mobsters and realize the popular “American dream”. But what if his own brother, Brad Burns, is actually a skilled assassin for the biggest mob group? While reading Green Blood, you get the feeling of watching a good old Western movie. That is possible thanks to a beautiful and detailed art style and a concise story that starts and ends, going directly to the point, without further ado. Green Blood focuses on the hardships faced by the young United States, and it revolves around revenge and brotherhood. If you like a setting in the Old West and a very good story, buckle up and go back with Green Blood! It won't fail you.
3. D.Gray-Man
- Mangaka: Hoshino, Katsura
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Demons, Shounen, Supernatural
- Volumes: 25
- Published Date: May 2004 – ongoing
Let's return to Europe. D.Gray-man is set at the end of the 19th century, and it starts from England to travel around Europe. Our protagonist is Allen Walker, an exorcist. As apostles of God, the exorcists, wielding anti-Akuma weapons called “Innocence”, fight against the Akuma – demons created by the Millennium Earl. Allen needs to stop the Millennium Earl, as his ultimate plot may put an end to the whole world. Will he succeed? Are gothic atmospheres your piece of cake? If that's the case, you should give D.Gray-man a try. Katsura Hoshino creates an entire universe, spreading all around Europe supernatural elements such as the Akuma, and the exorcists to fight against them. This is a shounen manga revolving around friendship, love and the strength people manage to find to overcome the hardships. Give it a chance, considering how the art style is a feast for the eye and the plot totally captivating!
2. Kingdom
- Mangaka: Hara, Yasuhisa
- Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery, Historical, Seinen
- Volumes: 50
- Published Date: 2006 – ongoing
Let's go to Asia now, more specifically in China. It's the Warring States period, and in spite his low status, Xin dreams to become a Great General. Some circumstances bring Xin to the fated meeting with Zheng Yin, the future king of Qin. While initially on very bad terms, the two of them join forces to reach their goals and become comrades. Xin wants to climb the army ranks, and Zheng wants to bring the warring states under Qin. But between them and their goals, are trials, hardships, and bloodshed... Kingdom is a historical manga that we would define as “intense”. Yasuhisa Hara is a genius for depicting long battles and still being able to make the reader fully understand them. The art style is detailed and neat, and it helps to amplify the intensity of the story. As this manga covers a lot of years, we can see the characters' growth, their evolution over the time, and there are a lot of historical figures, as well. Kingdom is not a manga for everyone; yet, it is a masterpiece of the genre. If you are brave enough to give it chance, the reward will be great.
1. Innocent
- Mangaka: Sakamoto, Shinichi
- Genre: Drama, Historical, Seinen, Tragedy, Psychological
- Volumes: 9
- Published Date: January 2013 – April 2015
Let's end this ranking traveling to France once again! This time, though, with a darker story. It's the 18th century and the ideals of freedom and equality, which will lead to the French Revolution, begin to spread. Living in the darkness, there's one family, who lives almost on the margins of society because of what it represents: they are the executioners of Paris, the Sanson Family. Within the family, the next generation executioner is Charles-Henri, who happens to be innocent, shy, and unable to face being treated like scum. But there's no stopping the harsh fate. Charles-Henri will have to run toward it head on, and grow up... With Innocent, Shinichi Sakamoto gave us a little masterpiece which is deep and catchy. Starting from the art style, which is simply perfect, so much so that you feel like you're looking at pictures, ending with the plot and the characters. Sakamoto takes the liberty to embellish some events, or some historical figures, in order to make them more appealing. The result is simply magnificent! Brace yourself because Sakamoto's version of those years in France is very bloody and psychological, but it's a trip with no turning back: once you start reading, you'll crave for more even after the ending!
Final Thoughts
With Innocent, our trip among manga not set in Japan comes to an end. Well, how did you like it? We enjoyed traveling with you from Ancient Greece to the Roman Empire, and far away to the Old West. We hope this list will come in handy for you all, as we actually thought about each of our readers: there are shounen manga, shoujo, and seinen ones. And, for those who are into yaoi and boys love, some of these stories wield gay pairings, or BL subplots, or characters who can be shipped by all the multishippers out there, as well. So, let us know what you think in the comments below, and tell us if you know other manga that belong on this list!
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