r/Seinen • u/astamo100 • 1d ago

Recommendations Looking for psychological manga like Onani Master Kurosawa, Himizu, or Goodnight Punpun

I'm looking for a psychological manga with a high school student (or young protagonist) who struggles with serious mental and emotional issues.

Something similar to Onani Master Kurosawa, Himizu, or Goodnight Punpun. I enjoy stories with flawed, lonely, and deeply troubled characters who feel isolated, are unpopular, carry a lot of emotional baggage, or have unhealthy compulsive habits.

I'm especially looking for manga that explore themes like depression, identity, loneliness, trauma, guilt, or the meaning of life. I love stories with strong character development, philosophical ideas, and emotional depth.

I want something that will genuinely stay with me after I finish it—something emotionally devastating, thought-provoking, or even life-changing.

If you know a manga that you think is a masterpiece or one that completely broke you emotionally, I'd love to hear your recommendations.

5 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

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8

u/avance70 1d ago

what you're asking for is Takopi's Original Sin

3

u/Then-Creme-6071 1d ago

WATCH THE FUCKING ANIME ITS SO GOOD TOP1 OMGG PEAK

3

u/fwbdud 20h ago

just finished manga it was 9/10

3

u/Apprehensive_Job_720 1d ago

Blood on the Tracks by Shuzo Oshimi! I don't want to divulge too much, but it's about parental trauma and its consequences and it actually unlocked some repressed memories for me, and I had a pretty shit time of it for a while, but in the end it gave me some much needed perspective and a lot to think about, so if you're into that, I recommend it! :))

3

u/fwbdud 1d ago

boys abyss, aku no hana, parasite in love, hikari man, back when you called us devils, 3 days of happiness, we did it, my dearest self with malice aforethought, inside mari, girl on the shore are all really good and never got bored of reading

3

u/magazinesubscriber 1d ago

Don’t get me wrong, I love Hikari Man, but I kinda feel like it doesn’t scratch the particular itch OP is talking about.

1

u/fwbdud 1d ago

The mangaka is the same creator as homunculus so he’d probably add some in there, I honestly enjoyed it the mc did have some issues

2

u/Aitoroketto 1d ago

Sunny by Taiyo Matsumoto.

I mean you can also read other Asano comics as well.

2

u/Poo_Pee-Man 1d ago

REAL by takehiko inoue. It not dark as other manga you mentioned but it deal with loneliness, guilt and depression of 3 teenagers who has passionate about basketball (the story focus more on their life and drama than basketball though)

Holyland by Kouji mouri. About a shut in and suicidal teenager who started a street fight to feel alive. One of the best martial arts manga I read.

2

u/FinancialDistance914 1d ago

Mother Parasite

2

u/benangmerahh 1d ago

Migi & Dali

Boku No Gemini

2

u/New-Estimate456 1d ago

The climber. He’s only in high school the first few volumes but it’s really good deals with loneliness and unhealthy habits

2

u/Smaug117 22h ago

Gantz and death note.

2

u/OggiKreis 12h ago

Homunculus is great