From romantic comedies that deliver fanservice gags to fantasy series that somehow incorporate titillating powers into their world-building, the world of ecchi manga has something to offer to everyone. If you’re a fan of the genre, today is your lucky day as we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 ecchi manga to read In 2023! All of these titles are fairly new and might be unknown to some but very dear to others. Pro tip: read them while alone – unless you’d like to share your reading habits with everyone else on public transport (a truly brave soul)!
Best Ecchi Manga to Read
Chained Soldier by Takahiro (Story), Takemura Yohei (Art)
Combining supernatural shonen-like action and a growing harem, Chained Soldier has quickly proven that it’s got more than just gorgeous girls and splashy combat scenes (although, it has both of those in spades!). In a world where only women can gain supernatural powers, our hapless teenage protagonist, Yuuki, finds himself drawn into a battle against the otherworldly threat of the “Demon City,” Mato. There, he finds that he can transform into a powerful warrior…but only when he’s enslaved to the beautiful but-deadly soldier, Kyouka.
After every battle, Yuuki earns himself a “reward”—a compulsion of Kyouka’s power that forces her to commit whatever heinously perverted desire Yuuki has locked away in his heart! From bare-naked back massages to some surprisingly wholesome moments (like a nice squishy hug), Chained Soldier’s ecchi comedy perfectly complements the fast-paced action.
Seven Arcs will be adapting Chained Soldier’s anime, which is set to release in 2024. Also, did you know that the author of Chained Soldier is the same Takahiro who wrote Akame ga Kill?
Synopsis: Decades ago, gates to an otherworldly and dangerous dimension known as Mato-the “Demon City”-appeared across Japan. Those who partook in the “peaches” growing there gained unique abilities-but only if they’re girls. When down-in-the-dumps high school boy Yuuki Wakura finds himself caught up in a gate, he’s saved by Kyouka Uzen, the beautiful commander of the 7th squad of the Demon Defense Force, who…orders him to become her slave?! (Yen Press)
Ayakashi Triangle by Kentaro Yabuki
From the acclaimed artist of To-Love-Ru and Black Cat comes another perfectly crafted adventure that’s equal parts ecchi fanservice and action! This gender-bending story stars Matsuri Kazamaki, an exorcist charged with eradicating ayakshi, while protecting his childhood friend, Suzu Kanade, who attracts them in large numbers. When Matsuri is switched into a girl’s body, he’ll have all sorts of misadventures and mishaps to navigate—and does Suzu still love him, even if he’s trapped in a girl’s body?
Kentaro Yabuki’s reputation proceeds him (including his work as the artist of Darling in the FranXX), but if you haven’t read his work before, you can expect a brilliant balance between high-stakes battles, surprisingly emotional character moments, and extremely ecchi fanservice, especially thanks to Matsuri forgetting he’s a girl half the time!
Ayakashi Triangle’s anime premiered earlier in 2023 to middling reviews—if you liked the idea but hated the anime’s awful censorship, then check out the physical releases from Seven Seas Entertainment, which are entirely uncensored. Ayakashi Triangle is being released digitally on Viz’s MangaPLUS—but all the uncensored ecchi parts have been artfully edited (or in some cases even removed). At least there are no terrible black bars, thankfully!
Synopsis: Matsuri Kazamaki’s job as an exorcist ninja means that his livelihood depends on driving away the ayakashi spirits who endanger humans. He’s been protecting his childhood friend, Suzu Kanade, from the shadows for years, as she effortlessly attracts ayakashi. What will happen when Suzu encounters a creature who looks like a simple cat, but who is really Shirogane, the king of ayakashi? (Seven Seas Entertainment)
Sakurai-san Wants To Be Noticed by Akinosora
A sappy romantic comedy that hits you right in the feels! Sakurai-san Wants To Be Noticed is centered squarely around two high school lovebirds—or, they would be lovebirds if they weren’t so cautious about confessing their feelings! Mako and Sakurai have an extremely close and flirtatious relationship, but neither is willing to cross the line toward becoming “more than friends.” If you enjoy having your heart pound and watching two characters grow ever closer to finally admitting their feelings, then this short, four-volume series is perfect!
Akinosora’s name might be more familiar to those in the doujinshi circles, and although this isn’t as R-rated as his normal works, Akinosora brings his ecchi game to bear with an almost-mandatory panty shot every page. The buttons on Sakurai’s shirt are also doing God’s work, and we’re all very thankful!
Synopsis: Mako can’t figure out what’s up with Sakurai. She’s always talking to him, asking weird questions, and getting REALLY close! Doesn’t she think he’s going to get the wrong idea? Or could it be that…she likes him? No way! But…maybe? (Seven Seas Entertainment)
Please Put Them On, Takamine-san by Yuuichi Hiiragi
Easily the most blatantly ecchi series on this list, Please Put Them On, Takamine-san is a romantic comedy with a supernatural twist that involves stripping naked (no, we’re not joking!). The beautiful class president, Takane Takamine, appears untouchable—but in reality, she possesses a supernatural ability to “undo” any one action she’s made by stripping off her panties or bra. But when her childhood friend and classmate, Koushi Shirota, finds out, Shirota is blackmailed into becoming part of her scheme to make a life of “perfection.”
Please Put Them On, Takamine-san has, by its very nature, a stunning amount of ecchi moments—everything from upskirt shots to impeccably drawn breasts; we’d dare say the line between simple ecchi and fine art gets blurred from time to time. All of that surrounds a surprisingly wholesome love story about regret and expectations, and about all the things you can’t undo in life.
Synopsis: Takane Takamine is the goddess of her high school. With perfect grades, athletic prowess, and unrivaled beauty, this student council president is the apple of everyone’s eye-including Koushi Shirota, a below-average student with no friends or social prospects whatsoever. But he’ll soon find out the secret behind Takamine’s unbelievable success-her underwear! When she strips, she can undo any of her past actions, and now that Koushi knows, Takamine won’t let him off so easy…(Yen Press)
2.5 Dimensional Seduction by Yuu Hashimoto
An ecchi comedy that’s basically the raunchier version of My Dress-Up Darling, 2.5 Dimensional Seduction is all about cosplaying and breaking out of your shell. The hopeless, girl-phobic main character, Okumura, would much rather fixate on 2D manga girls than any of those difficult, real-life 3D girls. But what happens when the lines between paper and reality get blurred when his school’s manga club gains a cosplaying girl? If Okumura’s heart wasn’t already pounding, he’ll have another thing coming when he learns that this new firebomb, Lilysa Amano, has a preference for erotic cosplays!
If it’s not already obvious, all this setup means readers are treated to a fabulous number of gorgeously designed outfits and some great ecchi fanservice, all mixed together with some classic romantic-comedy tropes. 2.5 Dimensional Seduction’s anime has already been announced, so keep a close eye here for more information on the release window!
Synopsis: “I have no interest in real girls!” So claims Okumura, the president of the school’s manga club. He’s your typical otaku, obsessed with a sexy (fictional) 2D manga character known as Liliel. Then the new school year starts, and a (real!) 3D girl named Lilysa whose passion is cosplay joins the club. Lilysa convinces Okumura to become her photographer–and guess who her favorite manga character is? Not only that, but Lilysa is into modeling the fetishy stuff! The boundaries between 2D and 3D start to blur as this hot-blooded romantic comedy unfolds. (Seven Seas Entertainment)
These are the top 5 ecchi manga you should be reading in 2023! The ecchi genre is blooming and there are more and more titles coming out each year – it’s never too difficult to find new favorites. What are some of your favorite ecchi manga series? Leave a comment below, and as always, thank you for reading!
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