Naruto Isn’t Popular in Japan? Reason Why Masashi Kishimoto Never Topped Highest Selling Manga in Japan

While often getting close, Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto never had what it needed to surpass One Piece in manga sales, not even for a single year.

Published November 28, 2025, 1:26 am

Despite being one of the highest-selling manga ever, Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto never managed to dethrone the long-standing record holder for most years with the highest manga sales, One Piece. In fact, there was reportedly only one time when Naruto came close, finishing just behind One Piece in second place, but it never reached the top.

Well, the biggest reason Naruto could never be #1 likely comes down to Weekly Shonen Jump’s heavier focus on One Piece. But maybe the editors clearly understood One Piece’s massive potential, and even if Naruto received the same level of push, it still might not have matched One Piece’s cultural impact.

Sure, Naruto is still huge, pulling in massive volume sales every year. But as it was competing against a generational series, people’s spending naturally gravitated toward the one with the stronger legacy. And since One Piece had already been running before Naruto even started, fans knew exactly what to expect from a series that was already peak.

How Oda Has Always Been 1 Step Ahead of Kishimoto

Oda has always seemed one step ahead, and even this year, One Piece once again took the crown as Japan’s best-selling manga of 2025. At this point, it almost feels expected, like the series just refuses to slow down, no matter how many years have passed.

We are finally back after 6 years!! https://t.co/sct85PGxIs pic.twitter.com/Tdl3KuSfKc

— Pookie (@PookiePiece) November 28, 2025

Since Oda started publishing One Piece two years earlier than Kishimoto launched Naruto, it gave him a head start in building hype and establishing a massive fanbase. But beyond timing, One Piece simply had a broader, more universal appeal right from the beginning.

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Kishimoto wrote a powerful, life-changing story from the perspective of ninjas; something that’s deeply rooted in Japanese culture, but still a bit niche worldwide. Not everyone naturally gravitates toward ninja lore, and some aspects of the story can feel very absurd.

Meanwhile, Oda cast his net far wider, crafting a grand adventure across the seas with pirates, while also incorporating themes of family, freedom, dreams, and characters people could relate to on a deeper level. That wider accessibility made it almost inevitable which series would dominate in the long run, and that’s, of course, not Naruto.

After Shippuden’s Peak, Boruto Can Never Top Manga Sales

Back when the Pain Arc, Five Kage Summit, and the early parts of the War Arc were being released, Naruto’s manga sales were at their absolute peak. Shippuden had that momentum, that hype, that emotional pull. But once Shippuden ended, and Boruto took over, that same spark just wasn’t there anymore, and the sales clearly reflected it.

Here’s a little comparison between Naruto: Shippuden, One Piece, and Boruto in terms of MyAnimeList rating:

Meanwhile, One Piece kept cruising. With the recent God Valley reveal arc, the series proved that even after 28 years, Oda can still drop world-shaking moments like it’s nothing. It’s rare for a manga to stay this strong for so long, but One Piece somehow keeps raising the bar instead of slowing down.

And even with new-gen hits like Kagurabachi, Blue Lock, Dandadan, Ichi the Witch, and more entering the scene, One Piece still manages to keep its long-time fans hooked while collecting new readers. That’s something Naruto couldn’t do post-Shippuden, and something it probably never will at this point.

All previously released episodes of the Naruto series are currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.