The Best Manga Exploring Work, Jobs, and Professions

While there are limits to what can be depicted in manga, manga is easy to read!
With that in mind, I’d like to introduce you to various jobs through manga, which can broaden your world.
There are many manga about various jobs and industries, but here are some particularly recommended ones.

• Doctor (Intern): Say Hello to Black Jack [Completed]
• Astronaut: Space Brothers
• Private Finance: Naniwa Financial Road [Completed]
• Police Officer: Hakozume: Koban Joshi no Gyakushu
• Soccer Team Manager: GIANT KILLING [Ongoing]
• Rakugo Storyteller: Akane Banashi [Ongoing]
• Salaryman: Section Chief Kousaku Shima [Completed]
• Restaurant Owner: I’m 30, Divorced, and Starting a Bar [Completed]
• Publishing Company Employee: Juhan Shuttai! [Completed]
• Case Worker: Minimum: A Minimum Decent Living [Completed]
• Radiological Technician: Radiation House [Ongoing]
• Shoemaker: IPPO [Completed]

Doctor (Intern): Say Hello to Black Jack [Completed]

Check out the review on ComicAddict
Densho Batto’s Say Hello to Black Jack Free Download Page (English version available)
There are many manga about doctors, but this is a must-read for its popularity and because it’s free.
The author has made all chapters available for free.

The story follows the protagonist, a graduate of a prestigious university medical school, as he works in various departments of a university hospital as an intern.
Filled with youthful justice, the protagonist is shocked by the reality of the medical system and the field, causing problems but persevering and growing.

The perspective and impressions of the story can greatly differ depending on whether a student or an older person reads it.
Students might cheer for the protagonist and criticize the Japanese medical system, while older readers might simply think, “Ah, to be young…”

Astronaut: Space Brothers

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This manga starts with the protagonist aspiring to become an astronaut and depicts the selection process.
It’s a dream job that every boy considers at some point in childhood, but surprisingly, many don’t know how to actually become one.
Drawn with the help of numerous interviews and collaborators, it conveys the real atmosphere of being an astronaut.

The story is extremely interesting, with over 31 million copies sold as of 2023.
It’s a masterpiece that you’ll definitely want to read.

Private Finance: Naniwa Financial Road [Completed]

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Manga Library Z Naniwa Financial Road (all chapters free, JP only)
Set in the 90s, this is the story of a protagonist who gets a job in so-called “street finance.”
It has always been mentioned as a manga that teaches about money, but now that it’s freely available on “Manga Library Z,” you should definitely give it a read. It’s free, after all.

Not only is it educational about money, but it’s also interesting as a manga.
Even if you’re not interested in private finance, or if the art seems a bit old and not cute, it’s still enjoyable to read.

With the advancement of digitalization, one wonders how credit checks and such are handled nowadays.
It feels like things might have gotten even more intense.

Police Officer: Hakozume: Koban Joshi no Gyakushu

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A hit work that has been adapted into a drama and anime.
The protagonist is a female police officer, and you can learn about the daily life of police officers and female officers who are tossed about by incidents in the city.
The characters are drawn cutely, but the manga also depicts the rewarding and challenging aspects of the job, conveying respect for police officers.
It’s also nice that it contains just the right amount of comedy elements, making it easy to read even when you’re tired.
Perhaps many people dreamed of becoming a police officer or a female officer in the future?

Soccer Team Manager: GIANT KILLING [Ongoing]

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A unique soccer manga with the protagonist as a soccer team manager.
He reforms a weak J-League team.
It’s less about depicting the manager’s job and more about how much influence a manager can have on a team.
Reading it, you realize that while it’s a job with great responsibility, it must be really interesting for those who are suited for it.
It’s like the manager mode in a baseball game.

Rakugo Storyteller: Akane Banashi [Ongoing]

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A rare manga that takes Japanese traditional entertainment, rakugo, as its theme.
The protagonist is a female rakugo storyteller apprentice, challenging the world of rakugo.

There are no flashy battle scenes, but challenges and difficulties are clearly explained and befall the protagonist.
Even if you have no interest in rakugo, it’s very enjoyable. And it makes you interested in rakugo, making you think, “I’d like to go listen to it once.”
It’s amazing how manga can make even a field you have no interest in enjoyable.

Salaryman: Section Chief Kousaku Shima [Completed]

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A long-running series serialized in “Morning” since 1983.
The protagonist has held various positions such as section chief, department head, director, and recently, he even reincarnated in another world to become a knight commander.

It depicts the life of a salaryman when Japan was booming.
The protagonist works for the electric appliance manufacturer “Hatsushiba Electric Industrial.”
You can also gain knowledge about society, including stories about internal factions and management/economics.

Restaurant Owner: I’m 30, Divorced, and Starting a Bar [Completed]

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The story of a 30-year-old divorced protagonist who starts a pub in a cheap turnkey property.
It’s a story about starting a restaurant from scratch, with content that could be found in a how-to book on restaurant management, told through a story.
It makes you think, “Maybe I could do this too!?”
If you’ve ever thought about managing a restaurant someday, this is an interesting read to start with.

Publishing Company Employee: Juhan Shuttai! [Completed]

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The protagonist, a former judo athlete, is assigned to the manga editorial department of a publishing company.
You get a good understanding of how publishing companies are involved in the books that circulate in society.
The relationship between the sales and editorial departments, and the struggles of modern-day newcomers.
It’s a manga that working adults can enjoy without feeling out of place.
It makes you want to work hard at your job.

Case Worker: A Minimum Viable Lifestyle of Health and Culture [Completed]

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The title “A Minimum Viable Lifestyle of Health and Culture” refers to the rights of citizens as stipulated in the Constitution of Japan.
This manga features a case worker employed in the welfare department of a city hall. It’s a job that involves consulting with and arranging necessary support for individuals who need assistance with their income and living situations.

The manga intricately depicts the challenges and the authentic atmosphere of this somewhat niche profession, offering readers a glimpse into an unfamiliar world. While the issue of welfare often gets negative press, imagining the actual fieldwork might inspire a different way of thinking. It’s a manga that broadens your perspective.

Radiologic Technologist: Radiation House [Ongoing]

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A unique manga that doesn’t focus on doctors but on radiologic technologists—a profession many are unaware of, and even those who know of it may not understand the extent of their responsibilities. The manga portrays the duties of a radiologic technologist and the medical field’s environment.

The protagonist is a socially awkward but highly skilled radiologic technologist. It’s a story set in a niche industry, yet it’s very enjoyable to read. No wonder it has been adapted into a drama and further into a series.

Shoemaker: IPPO [Completed]

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This is the story of a protagonist who, inspired by an Italian shoemaker grandfather, decides to become an artisan in a shoe shop. The manga has a calm and contemplative atmosphere, where you can almost hear the rhythmic sounds of work from the workshop. While not flashy, the manga (at least for me) allows you to touch upon the world of ‘custom-made shoes,’ a realm with which we seldom interact daily.