『Kuroko’s Basketball』
出典 : Amazon.co.jp
Kuroko’s Basketball” by Tadatoshi Fujimaki, which was serialized in “Weekly Shonen Jump”, is distinctly different from other basketball manga.
Anyway, “anything goes!” using the following abilities. The game is characterized by the following features
・Goals from any position.
・Copy your opponent’s movements perfectly
・Just by looking at them, they get stuck.
・Breaking the Goal with Overwhelming Power
・Goal from the end of the court
The matches, in which abilities clash, are just as flashy.
It was so popular that the anime was produced for a third season and four movie versions were produced.
『Hoopmen』
出典 : Amazon.co.jp
Hoopmen is a basketball manga by Yukinori Kawaguchi, which was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump.
The protagonist, Sato Yuuho, is an ordinary person, and the one thing he is good at is interpreting English, but that doesn’t help him in the game of basketball. The story depicts the process of growth of an ordinary person who considers what it takes to play an active role in a team and works hard to achieve it. If you’ve ever been in a team sport, you’ve thought about what you can do for your team at least once.
While there are sports manga that compete on talent, this is a realistic basketball manga that tries to get by with hard work.
『DEAR BOYS』
出典 : Amazon.co.jp
The longest-running basketball manga is Hiroki Yagami’s DEAR BOYS, a serialization that began in 1989 in Monthly Shonen Magazine and will reach 30 years in 2019.
Each team in the series has its own detailed tactics and formations, and each team plays a unique game.
One of the features of the series’ longevity is the ability to enjoy the before and after changes in the rules; you can catch a glimpse of the rule changes throughout the play, such as the change from a 20-minute half game to four 10-minute quarters.
『Ahiru no Sora』
出典 : Amazon.co.jp
The series of “Ahiru no Sora” serialized in “Weekly Shonen Magazine” is a basketball manga by Takeshi Hinata, which started in 2004 and has already been published in 51 volumes.
The main feature of “The Sky of Ahiru” is its depiction of various themes with basketball as its main theme. It depicts not only the conflicts that occur within the club, such as conflicts between club members and the coach, but also the worries of school life and love affairs.
It also depicts problems at home, such as parents’ divorce, separation, and poverty. The characters’ environments are carefully described, so it is easy to get emotionally involved in them and immerse yourself in their worldview.
Since Hinata is a fan of “Slam Dunk,” the story may be reminiscent of “Slam Dunk” in some scenes. The character of Regent, whose specialty is rebounding, is definitely modeled after Hanamichi Sakuragi. Some characters have even stated that they started playing basketball because of “Slam Dunk”.
An anime adaptation is set for October 2019, and we can expect the same careful portrayal as the original.
Summary
In this article, I have compiled a list of seven recommended works for people looking for a basketball manga.
Although the length of the serialization varies from short term to long term, they are all realistic and interesting basketball manga.
You can read a volume of each, or just immerse yourself in one. I recommend that you give it a try if you find a work that interests you.
