Recommended Manga About Exams | From Educational to Heartwarming Stories
Recommended Exam-Related Manga
Here is a collection of manga related to exams.
The selection includes both “educational and helpful” manga and “touching stories that won’t help with exams.” The “educational manga” are introduced first.
*The Winner of February* (二月の勝者, Nigatsu no Shōsha)
A story about a cram school for junior high school entrance exams.
It vividly portrays the realities of the junior high school entrance exam world.
This popular manga was also adapted into a drama.
The protagonist is a new teacher who starts working at a mid-level cram school.
A new top instructor, with an impressive track record from a leading cram school, joins the team and begins implementing various reforms.
The story offers a raw and realistic look at the world of junior high school entrance exams from the perspective of cram school teachers. A current cram school director even admits that “8 to 9 out of 10 details are accurate.” *1
The names of the cram schools in the manga are slightly altered versions of real ones.
Readers familiar with entrance exams will enjoy spotting these references and reminiscing about their own experiences.
*Dragon Zakura* (ドラゴン桜)
The ultimate exam manga.
It was adapted into a hit TV drama in 2005, which sparked a visible increase in the number of applicants to the University of Tokyo that year.
The story follows a struggling lawyer who becomes a teacher for a special class at a low-performing high school, guiding students toward admission to the University of Tokyo.
It includes plenty of practical study tips, making it a helpful resource for studying.
Although the university entrance exam system has changed since its publication, many of the study techniques remain relevant today.
The manga successfully balances an abundance of educational content with an engaging story.
Students who read this during their school years are highly likely to be positively influenced.
*Dragon Zakura 2* (ドラゴン桜 2)
The sequel to the immensely popular first series.
This time, the story reflects recent trends in exams and changes in student attitudes.
The story picks up after the events of the first series.
Following the lawyer’s departure from Ryuzan High School, the school produces zero University of Tokyo admissions.
This time, however, the students have a slightly higher baseline, starting from mid-tier universities instead of a deviation score of 30.
The sequel maintains the simple yet impactful tone of the original, delivering an engaging and practical story.
*Gakusan* (ガクサン)
A manga about study guides.
It covers both high school and university entrance exams, with many elements particularly helpful for university exams.
Actual study guides are featured in the story, making it easy to purchase any materials that catch your eye.
The protagonist is a 26-year-old mid-career employee who joins a publishing company specializing in study guides.
She struggles to adapt but gradually grows, supported by her eccentric colleagues.
The manga is both informative and entertaining, making it a great read.
*Blue Period* (ブルーピリオド, Burū Piriodo)
A smash-hit manga that has been adapted into an anime, stage play, and live-action film.
The story follows a high school student leading a mundane life who decides to aim for the highly competitive Tokyo University of the Arts.
The protagonist, who used to spend his time drinking and smoking, strives to make it in the world of art, delivering a raw and inspiring journey.
Even readers with no knowledge of art will enjoy this manga, which is one of its greatest strengths.
It introduces lesser-known aspects of art university entrance exams and expands readers’ knowledge of the art world.
With themes revolving around talent, effort, and perseverance, it motivates readers to pursue their own dreams and challenges.
*Space Brothers* (宇宙兄弟, Uchū Kyōdai)
A widely popular manga adapted into an anime, animated film, and live-action movie.
It has won multiple awards and sold over 31 million copies as of January 2023.
The story follows two brothers: one is already an astronaut, and the other, after headbutting his boss and getting fired, decides to pursue his childhood dream of becoming an astronaut by taking the selection exams.
In this manga, the “exam” is the astronaut selection test, which takes place across the first eight volumes or so.
While it doesn’t focus on high school or university entrance exams, it inspires readers to dream big and reminds them that it’s never too late to chase their goals.
As one of the most famous manga in recent years, it’s a must-read.
*Love Hina* (ラブひな, Rabu Hina)
A romantic comedy by Ken Akamatsu, who is now a member of the Japanese parliament.
The story centers around a university entrance exam candidate aiming for the University of Tokyo who becomes the manager of a girls’ dormitory—a dream-like setup for a rom-com.
Although it doesn’t provide much practical help for exams, it’s a wildly popular rom-com from the early 2000s.
*Pita-Ten* (ぴたテン, Pitaten)
The story revolves around a sixth grader preparing for junior high school entrance exams who encounters a trainee angel from the heavens.
This manga, adapted into an anime in 2002, was quite popular at the time.
For readers in their 30s, they might recognize the artist as the creator of *Di Gi Charat*.
With its beautiful and cute art style, the manga explores the struggles of children dealing with exams in a meaningful story.
While it doesn’t delve deeply into the process of taking exams, it captures the unique, small world of elementary school students growing emotionally during their journey.
In the early 2000s, junior high school entrance exams were relatively uncommon.
Creating a story centered around them during that time was ahead of its time.
*1 Source: [Asahi Dot](https://dot.asahi.com/articles/-/41856?page=1)
