Top 23 Sad Manga That Will Make You Cry
If you enjoy being swept away by waves of emotions, this list contains different types of sad mangas that will leave you with a lump in your throat and very watery eyes. Some are infused with balanced, nuanced, and tender emotions that will make you feel both happy and sad, while others are earth-shattering and soul-sucking and might make you depressed. Regardless of the type of tears or sadness you want to experience, mangas are a great catalyst or trigger of pain that can taint your world with both colors and shades of grey.
+Manhwa&Webtoons That Will Make You Cry+
+Anime Movies That Will Make You Cry+
1.My Girl
マイガール
My Girl explores the themes of grief, family, and parenthood through the eyes of 23 years old Masamune Kazama and that of a daughter he did not know he had. One day, his mundane life is turned upside down as he suddenly finds himself navigating newfound responsibilities, sorrows, and the insecurities and fears that come with being a single father. The complexities of everyday life with his daughter are illustrated in an array of emotionally sour and sweet scenes and situations tinted with a potent dramatic execution. In his struggle to grow as a parent, son, and individual, Masamune will need to (or try to) understand what gives him fulfillment and happiness in life, what makes it worth living, and how to act around the people he loves without hurting or isolating himself from them.
+Volumes: 5
+Chapters: 44
+Published: 2006 to 2010
+Genres: Drama - Slice of Life
+Authors: Yumeka Sumomo [Art&tory]
+Serialization/Other work: Comic Bunch
2.5 Centimeters Per Second
秒速5センチメートル - Byousoku 5 Centimeter
5 Centimeters Per Second is the perfect sad manga to read for anyone who really likes the feeling of onion slices simmering in their eyeballs and their tear ducts transforming into waterfalls. It depicts the story of Takaki Toono and Akari Shinohara, childhood friends who, as they gradually transform into lovers, find themselves separated by physical distance due to life's random circumstances. This manga manages to perfectly encompass the multitude of feelings of young love: from the anxiety of confession to the lighthearted joy one feels when close to their person. It also manages to portray long-distance relationships in full realism: romance is interlocked to tragedy and delight to pain. This short work of art will tug at every corner of your heart.
+Volumes: 1
+Chapters: 11
+Published: 2010 to 2011
+Genres: Drama - Romance
+Authors: Shinkai Makoto[Story] + Seike Yukiko[Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Afternoon
3.Satougashi no Dangan wa Uchinukenai
砂糖菓子の弾丸は撃ちぬけない - A Lollipop or a BulleT
Nagisa is a middle schooler who is already projecting herself into adulthood due to her family's circumstances. One day, Mokuzu transfers into her school and whimsically declares that she wants to become friends with her. From that cliché start, the plot will gradually reveal many layers as both of the girls' home lives get unveiled. As friendship blossoms between them, they both let out to each other their fear of loneliness and opening up, the painful bonding they have to their family, their fear of isolation, rejection, and growing up. Both characters exist in different pains that they don't know how to escape from. There is no padding to this sad story and no use of over-the-top drama; things are as they are: bittersweet and painful.
+Volumes: 2
+Chapters: 13
+Published: 2007 to 2008
+Genres: Psychological - School
+Authors: Sakuraba Kazuki [Story] Sugimoto Iqura [Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Dragon Age
4.Futatsu no Spica
ふたつのスピカ - Twin Spica
The story follows elementary school students Asumi, Kei, Marika, Fuchuya, and Shu, who all enroll in the elite Tokyo Space Academy in hopes of becoming future astronauts. The topic of dreams is omnipresent in the physical and mental trials they must overcome throughout their journey. Optimism and earnestness get mixed with despair and melancholy as some of them will eventually discard any hopes of reaching their dreams, while others will try to hang on by every thread they can get their hands on. Twin Spica is filled with the nostalgic feelings we experience as young adults as our romantic and idealistic aspirations encounter the overly harsh realities of life.
+Volumes: 16
+Chapters: 97
+Published: 2000 to 2009
+Genres: Drama - Fantasy - Sci-Fi - Slice of Life - Supernatural
+Authors: Yaginuma, Kou [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Comic Flapper
5.Koe no Katachi
聲の形 - A Silent Voice
Koe No Katachi will bathe you in pain. It will steal your heart, throw it on the wall, mash it up, throw it on the floor, step on it, eat it, throw it up, and give it back to you (maybe). The story follows Shouya Ishida as he begins to bully a deaf transfer student, Shouko Nishimiya. Initially, events will leave you stunned and at a loss for words, perhaps even with a bad taste in your mouth. The bullying is elevated to a degree to which Shouko must eventually transfer schools. As Shouya grows, he finds himself consumed by his past, growing into a withdrawn and unassertive young man. Entering high school, he meets Shouko again and embarks on a quest for redemption, determined to confront the trauma he inflicted on her and himself and make amends.
+Volumes: 7
+Chapters: 64
+Published: 2013 to 2014
+Genres: Drama
+Authors: Ooima Yoshitoki [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Shounen Magazine (Weekly)
6.Solanin
ソラニン
For some, their twenties are synonymous with endless sunshine and hope; for others, they signify the moment in their lives in which self-doubt and terrorizing uncertainty slammed into them. Most of us fall in the middle of this pendulum, experiencing both pain and limitless joy, and Solanin is the depiction of those incessantly pivotal moments. Through the eyes of 23-year-old Meiko Inoue and her boyfriend Nauro Taneda, an intimate story will unfold as they both decide to quit their job and embark on a new journey of trials and tribulations. This manga lingers with a feeling of depression and even a bit of anxiety, managing to capture the blues we feel when we are aimless.
+Volumes: 2
+Chapters: 28
+Published: 2005 to 2006
+Genres: Drama - Slice of Life
+Authors: Asano Inio [Story&Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Young Sunday (Weekly)
7.Half & Half
One day, strangers Shinichi Nagakawa and Yuuki Sanada get involved in an accident where they are killed. After dying, they reach a place between life and the next world where God decides to let them live for 7 more days. At the end of that period, they must choose which one of them will get to continue to live and which one must die. To ensure that they don't just end up killing each other, God links together their emotional and physical sensations and makes it so that they cannot walk away from each other. If you're looking for a short read mixed with comedy, romance, and sadness, you'll probably enjoy this one. Oh, btw although this is a sad manga, there are plenty of..erhm, boobs, for lack of a better term, so expect a fair share of ecchi moments.
+Volumes: 2
+Chapters: 14
+Published: 2020 to Present
+Genres: Romance - Supernatural - Ecchi
+Creator: Seo Kouji [Story&Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Bessatsu Shounen Magazine
8.Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan
私たちの幸せな時間 - Our Happy Time
After her third suicide attempt, Juri Mutou is invited by her aunt Monica, a member of the clergy, to visit Yuu, a convict on death sentence she often sends letters to. When they meet, Juri and Yuu are perplexed by each other's points of view and outlooks on life. They begin a sort of friendship through both dialogues and letters, which will give rise to multiple questions and introspections on life, death, love, and pain. Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan is a beautiful short manga that is bound to submerge you into an emotional, powerful and depressing world through the mature and painful exchange of its characters.
+Volumes: 1
+Chapters: 8
+Published: 2008 to 2008
+Genres: Drama - Romance - Slice of Life
+Authors: Yumeka Sumomo [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Comic Bunch
9.Bokurano
ぼくらの - Bokurano: Ours
This manga follows a group of middle school students who are tasked with piloting a humanoid-type mecha, Zearth, to defend their city from monster invasions. Don't be put off by the sci-fi elements, Bokurano's primary focus is that of psychological trauma. As each student gets a turn at piloting the mecha, the author dives deep into their psyche, deconstructing key moments in their lives and fleshing them out to a degree where every relevant detail is put forth in the pannels, regardless of the brutality of its depiction. The meaninglessness of life is explored through different visceral tales that will grip your heart and crush it. If watching Neon Genesis Evangelion made you depressed and led you to the verge of a mental breakdown, wait till you read this one lol.
+Volumes: 11
+Chapters: 66
+Published: 2003 to 2009
+Genres: Drama - Sci-Fi
+Authors: Kitoh Mohiro [Story&Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Ikki
10.Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin
二舎六房の七人
Not for the faint of heart or seeker of good feelings. Rainbow follows the incarceration of seven minors as they struggle to survive in a new hellish environment ruled by masochistic and sociopathic officers and doctors. Despite the almost insurmountable physical and mental traumas thrown their way on a daily basis, the characters continue to choose to move and fight for their survival, never giving up, forging an invincible and extraordinary friendship among themselves.
+Volumes: 22
+Chapters: 235
+Published: 2002 to 2010
+Genres: Drama
+Authors: Kakizaki Masasumi [Art], Abe George [Story]
+Serialization/Other works: Young Sunday (Weekly)
11.Bokura ga Ita
チェンソーマン - Chensō Man
Romance, drama, and slice of life merge in Bokura Ga Ita. This manga starts off with the typical innocent-girl-falls-for-delinquent-boy story but quickly reveals itself to have much more depth than most shojos. The story evolves into a painful and tragic tale spanning ten years where first love gets stained by revelations of troubled past, family secrets, cheating scandals, abusive behaviors, and death. Although pact with drama and tragedy, Bokura Ga Ita manages not to fall into excessiveness or clichés as it realistically constructs the themes it portrays.
+Volumes: 16
+Chapters: 70
+Published: 2002 to 2012
+Genres: Drama - Romance - Slice of Life
+Authors: Obata Yuuki [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Betsucomi
12.Three Days of Happiness
寿命を買い取ってもらった。一年につき、一万円で。 - Jumyou wo Kaitotte Moratta. Ichinen ni Tsuki, Ichimanen de.
Kusunoki finds himself having spent his life uneventfully and being short on cash at the ripe age of 20. As he sells the rest of his belongings to a bookshop keeper, he is informed of a store specializing in the purchase of lifespan, time, and health. Going to the address he is provided with, Kusunoki manages to sell 30 years of his life and finds himself with only 3 months left to live. ''Three Days of Happiness'' follows the remaining of these 3 months as he gets taken on a whirlwind of emotions, from the pure ecstatic delight he finds in financial freedom to the confrontation of all of his lingering regrets. This short manga manages to explore many themes of mortality, loneliness, emptiness, and fulfillment; it is thought-provoking yet simple and easily digestible
+Volumes: 3
+Chapters: 18
+Published: 2016 to 2017
+Genres: Drama
+Authors: Taguchi, Shouichi[Art], Miaki Sugaru [Story]
+Serialization/Other work: Shounen Jump+
13.Oyasumi Punpun
おやすみプンプン - Goodnight Punpun
Firs of all, don't be put off by the weird character design of our protagonist as it's all part of the author's psychological deconstruction of the character. Oyasumi Punpun is a convoluted tale of a shy and quiet boy who, as he manages to get through the ebbs and flows of life, discovers its sour truths: parents are as flawed as we are, people we look up to suddenly become unimpressive, love and friendship are not constants. As he slowly turns into an adult, his timidness gives way to reclusiveness, and his conflicting emotions are only intensified as no one seems able to guide him through maturity and explain his feelings to him.
+Volumes: 13
+Chapters: 147
+Published: 2007 to 2013
+Genres: Drama - Slice of Life
+Authors: Asano Inio [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Big Comic Spirits
14.Ningen Shikkaku
人間失格 - No Longer Human
Ooba Youzou goes to school with a mask on: with his classmates, he puts on the mask of a playful and cheerful young man, always clowning around; with his teachers, he puts on the mask of a smart kid, but never so smart as to stand out. The lingering trauma of past abuse and persisting feelings of alienation and hatred have made it impossible for him to reveal his true self to others. He is terrified of other human beings, and in his fear, he slowly plunges into sociopathic behaviors and thought processes. Certain aspects of this dark manga will hit close to home for many; for others, it will be quite triggering as it deals with very dark themes; for yet others, it will leave them speechless. This is a tale of despair that is devoided of any happiness.
+Volumes: 3
+Chapters: 12
+Published: 2009 to 2011
+Genres: Action - Mystery - Horror - Psychological
+Authors: Furuya Usamaru [Story&Art] Dazai Osamu [Story]
+Serialization/Other work: Comic Bunch
15.Hotarubi no Mori e
蛍火の杜へ - Into the Forest of Fireflies' Light
If you want to cry so much that you get dehydrated and need to be sent to the hospital for Iv fluids: this is one of the most heart-warming, jaw-dropping, tear-induced and sad mangas ever created. Here, you'll meet Gin, a forest spirit who helps 6-year-old Hotaru get out of the forest she got lost in. Falling in love with his good nature and delicate words, Hotaru keeps visiting Gin every year during her summer vacations. Soon, they both develop strong affections towards one another, strengthening their bond beyond words. But there's a catch: Hotaru can't touch Gin under any circumstance.
+Volumes: 1
+Chapters: 4
+Published: 2002 to 2003
+Genres: Drama - Romance
+Authors: Midorikawa Yuki [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other work: LaLa
16.Bitter Virgin
ビターバージン
Let's start with the fact that this title is very misleading: the story this manga portrays is not carnal but actually hauntingly tragic. The narrative follows high school student Daisuke as he falls in love with Hinako, a girl in his class with an incredibly brutal and traumatic past. Showcasing both the hideous side of human nature as well as the bright and beautiful one, this manga intertwines terrible aspects of life with a coming-of-age romance. Not for the fainthearted, Bitter virgin will make you well-up with tears.
+Volumes: 4
+Chapters: 32
+Published: 2005 to 2008
+Genres: Drama - Romance
+Authors: Kusunoki Kei [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Young Gangan
17.Your Lie in April
四月は君の嘘 - Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso
Kousei Arima was taught how to play the piano by his mother, who would make sure that he would strictly follow the musical notations on his sheet. Practicing daily and feverishly adhering to the notes, Kousei won every competition he entered. One day, his mother suddenly dies, and due to a sheer shock and inability to deal with her death, he becomes tone-deaf and gives up on ever performing again. A couple of years later, his best friends introduce him to Kaori Miyazono, a whimsical violinist who plays without the use of music sheets. As friendship emerges between the two, Kaori slowly taints his black and white life with splashes of colors, urging him to play music again. Despite the heartwarming setting and plot, this manga is also heart-shattering. Expect sweet moments laced with tragedy.
+Volumes: 11
+Chapters: 44
+Published: 2011 to 2015
+Genres: Drama - Romance
+Authors: Arakawa Naoshi [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Shounen Magazine (Monthly)
18.Hoshi no Koe: Voices of a Distant Star
ほしのこえ - Hoshi no Koe
Despite a sci-fi background, this manga's story is told realistically, mostly focusing on its two protagonists' human characteristics, emotions, and thought. Mikako and Noboru are two teenagers in love, but Mikako gets assigned to go into space and join the army in a fight. The two continue their relationship, but as time progresses, she gets further away from Earth, lengthening the time it takes for their messages to reach one another. This short sad manga depicts the delicate romance of two separated lovers through melancholic illustrations and words representing the fragility of human emotions and how, while it is easier on our hearts to end things, sometimes they will not allow us to do it.
+Volumes: 1
+Chapters: 10
+Published: 2004 to 2004
+Genres: Drama - Romance - Sci-Fi
+Authors: Yumeka Sumomo [Art] + Shinkai Makoto [Story]
+Serialization/Other work: Afternoon
19.Orange
Ah.. Orange. A great fruit. My favorite color. And an awesome yet very sad and depressing manga. Orange is a slice-of-life with an equal mix of depression and romance. Here, Naho Takamiya receives a letter from her 26-year-old future self. The message informs her of her future life, filled with regrets, as well as gives her information about a new transfer student, Kakeru Naruse, who seemingly commits suicide at some point during her school year. With these details at hand, Naho attempts to change both her future and that of Kakeru. This is a deliciously bittersweet manga so prepare for some heartache.
+Volumes: 6
+Chapters: 31
+Published: 2012 to 2017
+Genres: Drama - Romance - Sci-Fi
+Authors: Takano Ichigo [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Monthly Action
20.Deep Love – Ayu no Monogatari
食糧人類 - Shokuryou Jinrui
Another almost overly dramatic manga that will make you stop mid-way and wonder if these kinds of things actually happen in real life. To which your brain will remind you that yes, these things do happen, unfortunately. To which you will agree with and consequently continue to stare and read in horror as the events in this manga unfold. Here, the author makes use of a lot of typically shocking or dramatic content to get her point across, so make sure your heart and eyes are ready for what you're about to embark on. The plot follows Ayu, a 17-year old girl devoid of any hope of a future. She finds her heart lacking in joy, love, or even pain and starts to engage in explicit work, trying to find a fleeting sense of existence by selling her body.
+Volumes: 2
+Chapters: 8
+Published: 2004 to 2004
+Genres: Drama
+Authors: Yoshi [Story]+ Yoshii Yuu [Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Bessatsu Friend
21.Fumetsu no Anata e
不滅のあなたへ- To Your Eternity
Starting as an unidentifiable artifact made by a deity of another time, our protagonist morphs into objects and things he comes into contact with. With time, he slowly gains conscientiousness by connecting to animals and humans. Through these various connections, he is able to experience a sea of emotions and feelings that he, at first, cannot put into words. The story will follow his literal growth and maturation into different entities as he finds himself through the eyes of the people he meets, borrowing their traits and eventually inventing his own. This unique and interesting plot will take you into a whirlwind of emotions and make your heartache with both compassion and sadness.
+Volumes: 21
+Chapters: 82
+Published: 2016 to Ongoing
+Genres: Adventure - Drama - Supernatural
+Authors: Ooima Yoshitoki [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Shounen Magazine (Weekly)
22.life
ライフ
You asked for drama? tragedy? depression? Receive it my reader. This manga comes with all the tags. Sensitive souls who don’t want their souls to end up in a dumpster, scroll for something more heartwarming. Fellow people who like to hurt their heart in very dramatic and almost obnoxious ways: read this manga. This isn’t a deep or particulalry well crafted work, the majority of the time it will feel like the author googled ‘‘tragic things that can happen to a teenager’’ and decided to include them all throughout her chapters. The drama will feel a bit out there, but if there’s anything the last couple of years have taught us it’s that yes, it can get worse; even if you’re already living in Dante’s inferno, hell has plenty of circles.
+Volumes: 20
+Chapters: 80
+Published: 2002 to 2009
+Genres: Drama - Slice of Life
+Authors: Suenobu, Keiko [Story&Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Bessatsu Friend
23.Can't See Can't Hear But Love
보지 못하고 듣지 못하고 사랑해 - See, Hear, Love
I’m finishing this list with a manhwa because I love people screaming at me that manga and manhwa aren’t the same. Scream away. And if you happen to read this manhwa, you will continue on and scream in pain. I really don’t want to give much away to the story because it’s unexpected, just trust me on that one, you will find yourself drowning in an ocean of tears (unless you’re heartless, in which case.. hey!). The misery depicted here is pretty heavy-handed and a lot of side characters behave in extremely inhumane ways. I don’t think that the story is particularly deep or or incredibly original, but it serves as a great catharsis of pain and tear ducts.
+Volumes: 6
+Chapters: 83
+Published: 2010 to 2011
+Genres: Comedy - Drama - Romance - Slice of Life
+Authors: Go Yeong-Hun [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Daum Webtoon
If you feel like crying while watching instead of reading, I got you covered here are the Top 14 Japanese Animated Movies That Will Make You Cry.
