One Piece is Officially Japan’s Best-Selling Manga of 2025
One Piece retakes the #1 spot as Japan's best-selling manga of 2025 with 4.2 million copies sold. Find out how the Elbaf arc helped Luffy reclaim his throne after 6 years.
After years of being dethroned by newer hits, One Piece has reclaimed its position as Japan’s best-selling manga of 2025. With approximately 4.2 million copies sold throughout the year, Eiichiro Oda’s legendary pirate adventure has proven it’s far from over—and the beloved Elbaf arc deserves much of the credit.
One Piece Sales: The Numbers Don’t Lie
The 2025 manga sales figures are in, and One Piece sits comfortably at #1:
Top 7 Best-Selling Manga in Japan (2025):
- One Piece – 4.2 million copies
- Jujutsu Kaisen – 3.9 million copies (no new volumes released!)
- Dandadan – Boosted by anime adaptation
- Blue Lock – Despite controversial anime quality
- Kingdom – Consistently strong performer
- Blue Box – Rising star
- Sakamoto Days – Over 2 million sales
What makes these numbers even more impressive? One Piece achieved this with just 3 volumes released in 2025, covering the Elbaf arc plus some backlog sales from the Egghead arc.
How the Elbaf Arc Brought One Piece Back to #1
The Elbaf arc has been a massive hit with fans, reigniting enthusiasm for the series after some quieter years. Here’s why it worked:
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What Makes Elbaf Special:
- Long-awaited location – Fans have been waiting to visit Elbaf since early in the series
- Giant lore – Exploring the homeland of beloved characters like Usopp’s heroes
- Mystery and world-building – Classic One Piece strengths on full display
- Connection to the Final Saga – Clear momentum toward the series’ conclusion
- Return to adventure – After the intense political intrigue of recent arcs
The arc’s popularity shows that One Piece still knows how to captivate audiences even after 25+ years of publication.
When Did One Piece Lose Its #1 Spot?
Before 2019, One Piece being anything other than Japan’s best-selling manga was shocking. The series dominated sales charts year after year. But then everything changed.
The Timeline of One Piece’s Sales Journey:
Pre-2019: One Piece consistently #1
- Rare exceptions were notable events
- The series seemed untouchable in sales
2019: Demon Slayer overtakes One Piece
- Demon Slayer’s explosive popularity shocked the industry
- Anime adaptation drove manga sales to unprecedented heights
- One Piece’s six-year reign as #1 ended
2020-2024: Competition intensifies
- Demon Slayer continued dominating
- Jujutsu Kaisen became the best-selling manga of 2024
- Blue Lock topped charts in 2023
- One Piece remained in top rankings but not #1
2025: One Piece reclaims the throne
- Major competitors concluded (JJK, My Hero Academia)
- Elbaf arc reignites fan enthusiasm
- Sales rebound to 4.2 million copies
The Shocking Jujutsu Kaisen Factor
Perhaps the most surprising stat from 2025? Jujutsu Kaisen sold 3.9 million copies without releasing a single new volume.
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Let that sink in. A completed manga series came within 300,000 copies of beating the ongoing #1 series. This demonstrates:
- JJK’s cultural impact remains massive
- New fans discovering the series post-anime
- Collectors completing their sets
- The upcoming sequel Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo generating interest
Jujutsu Kaisen will likely continue strong sales into 2026, though numbers should gradually decline as the series ages. Still, its performance in 2025 proves it’s one of the most significant manga of the past decade.
Why One Piece Sales Dropped in Recent Years
It’s worth acknowledging that One Piece has faced declining sales in recent years. Several factors contributed:
Reasons for the Sales Dip:
- Series fatigue – After 1,100+ chapters, some readers felt burned out
- Lengthy publication – New readers intimidated by catching up
- Strong competition – Fresher series like Demon Slayer and JJK offered shorter commitments
- Pacing concerns – Some arcs felt drawn out to certain readers
- Changing manga landscape – Digital reading and shorter series gained popularity
But here’s the thing: even during its “down” years, One Piece remained among the best-selling manga in Japan. It never fell off dramatically—it just had newer series temporarily surpass it.
One Piece Will Dominate for Years to Come
With the current state of the manga industry, One Piece faces little serious competition for the immediate future.
Why One Piece’s Dominance Will Continue:
Major competitors have ended:
- Jujutsu Kaisen concluded in 2024
- My Hero Academia wrapped up in 2024
- Sakamoto Days approaching its finale
- Demon Slayer long since concluded
No immediate challengers:
- New Weekly Shonen Jump series need time to build audiences
- Established series like Kingdom and Blue Lock appeal to different demographics
- Dandadan growing but still behind One Piece
The Final Saga draws readers:
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- Fans want to see how the 25+ year journey ends
- Mystery boxes getting answered after decades
- Clear endpoint in sight motivates lapsed readers to return
Eiichiro Oda’s vision remains strong:
- The author hopes for an even bigger 2026
- Major reveals and battles on the horizon
- Fan enthusiasm at multi-year highs
What This Means for Weekly Shonen Jump
The current situation isn’t entirely positive for Weekly Shonen Jump, Japan’s premier manga magazine.
The Challenge Ahead:
Ending series:
- Multiple tentpole titles concluded recently
- Fewer guaranteed hits in the lineup
- Risk of over-reliance on One Piece
Need for new blood:
- Jump needs fresh series to blow up
- Cultivating the next Demon Slayer or JJK takes time
- Current newcomers haven’t reached that level yet
Opportunity for experimentation:
- Less competition means new series get more attention
- Room for different genres and styles
- Chance to discover the next generation of hits
While One Piece’s dominance is great for its fans, the industry health depends on new series emerging to challenge it. History shows that manga thrives when multiple franchises compete for the top spot.
When Can You Read the Latest One Piece?
One Piece is currently in its Final Saga, and new chapters release weekly:
Release Schedule:
- One Piece Chapter 1170 – January 4, 2026
- Japan release time – 12:00 AM JST Monday
- US release time – 11:00 AM EST / 8:00 AM PT Sunday
Where to read legally:
- Manga Plus (free)
- Shonen Jump app (free for latest chapters)
Reading through official channels supports Eiichiro Oda and ensures the series continues getting the resources it deserves.
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The Road Ahead for One Piece
2026 could be even bigger for One Piece according to Eiichiro Oda’s stated hopes. With the series in its Final Saga, major plot points that fans have waited decades to see are finally approaching:
What to Expect:
- Major character confrontations – Long-teased battles finally happening
- Ancient mysteries revealed – The Void Century, One Piece treasure, and more
- Emotional payoffs – 25+ years of storytelling reaching culmination
- Potential series conclusion – Though Oda has extended his estimates before
The Legacy of Being #1
One Piece reclaiming the top spot in 2025 isn’t just about sales numbers—it’s a testament to the series’ enduring quality and cultural impact.
What This Achievement Represents:
- Longevity matters – Quality storytelling outlasts trends
- Fan loyalty pays off – Readers who stuck with the series rewarded
- Narratives can evolve – Long-running series can find new creative heights
- The journey isn’t over – Even after 25+ years, One Piece has stories to tell
As the best-selling manga series of all time, One Piece has sold over 500 million copies worldwide. Its 2025 sales performance proves the series remains culturally relevant and commercially dominant.
Bottom line: One Piece is officially Japan’s best-selling manga of 2025 with 4.2 million copies sold, reclaiming the crown it lost in 2019. Thanks to the beloved Elbaf arc and the conclusion of major competitors, Luffy’s adventure has proven it’s far from finished. With the Final Saga underway and Oda aiming for an even bigger 2026, the best-selling manga of all time isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
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