Jujutsu Kaisen Becomes No.1 Beating One Piece

For the first time ever, the mega shonen series One Piece has been topped on the MANGA Plus platform. This digital comic app is owned by influential publishing powerhouse Shueisha.

According to the latest popularity rankings, the paranormal action title Jujutsu Kaisen has unseated One Piece as MANGA Plus’s #1 most-read manga. It marks the maiden instance of One Piece getting bested within the app’s competitive arena.

Jujutsu Kaisen overtaking the long-reigning champion demonstrates its formidable and sustained fanbase. The Dark Horse series has continued surging since its anime adaptation premiered last year. Its staying power confirms rumors of being the “next Naruto” may ring true.

One Piece Loses Top Spot on Manga Plus for the First Time in Shueisha’s History

One Piece has faced growing competition in recent years after dominating manga sales for over a decade. Its streak as the yearly best-selling manga ended in 2019 when Demon Slayer surpassed it, marking the first time since 2005-2006 that a different series took the top spot.

Demon Slayer won again in 2020 before Jujutsu Kaisen beat One Piece two years in a row in 2021 and 2022 based on its surging global popularity.

Now, in 2023, Jujutsu Kaisen has topped One Piece on the Oricon annual manga sales list once more. Moreover, both mainstream battle manga lost out to the soccer series Blue Lock this year – the first Kodansha title to ever lead Oricon’s tally.

So beyond Jujutsu Kaisen, new sports manga like Blue Lock are also challenging One Piece’s supremacy.

Several of these rival hits can be found in the most popular manga rankings on Shueisha’s Shonen Jump app as well. While still a force, One Piece no longer dominates the manga world after almost 20 straight years at the peak.

A Duel for Dominance in the Manga and Anime Landscape

Jujutsu Kaisen’s continued manga and anime success this year can be partially attributed to the well-received second season of its anime adaptation.

Despite some controversies surrounding animation studio MAPPA, the latest Jujutsu Kaisen Blu-ray volumes have outsold any from the first season, indicating strong continued interest.

The second course of season two, concluding in January 2024, should further boost Jujutsu Kaisen’s popularity in the near future.

However, One Piece is likely to mount fierce competition over the next few years to try to regain its best-selling crown.

Beyond the manga, there is a second season of Netflix’s live-action One Piece adaptation series confirmed for release, which could draw in new fans globally.

Additionally, acclaimed anime studio WIT Studio is producing a complete One Piece anime remake titled “The One Piece,” set to launch in 2025.

So, while Jujutsu Kaisen is riding high now, One Piece has major new anime projects on the way that could help it reclaim its spot at the top of the manga and anime world. The battle between the series looks set to intensify further.

Jujutsu Kaisen and One Piece’s Global Fanbase Challenges and the Battle for True Manga Dominance

However, the MANGA Plus popularity scores for series like Jujutsu Kaisen and One Piece don’t necessarily reflect their full global fanbase.

The platform’s rankings can be heavily skewed by viral trends and online meme culture, as evidenced by Kagurabachi’s unusual surge ahead of far bigger titles.

Jujutsu Kaisen and One Piece also suffer immensely from manga piracy, which severely limits their potential digital readership on legitimate platforms. If piracy could be better controlled, their scores and sales would likely be much higher.

Industry publishers are ramping up anti-piracy efforts worldwide to help curb illegal distribution. If successful, this could substantially increase traffic and revenue for major titles on MANGA Plus and other official apps.

It may allow the scores to better represent the sheer scale of hits like Jujutsu Kaisen and One Piece by capturing more of their huge yet fragmented fanbases. The battle for #1 is certainly not settled yet if piracy distorts the playing field.

The remainder of MANGA Plus’s top 10 highest-traffic offerings also carries some surprises. The full standings list at the time of writing shows:

1. Jujutsu Kaisen (767,866)
2. One Piece (702,180)
3. Chainsaw Man (628,777)
4. Boruto: Two Blue Vortex (606,940)
5. Kagurabachi (409,493)
6. My Hero Academia (405,605)
7. Dragon Ball Super (329,068)
8. Oshi no Ko (321,860)
9. Spy x Family (285,135)
10. Dandadan (225,752)

While One Piece slipping may shake up the status quo, competition-breeding innovation could revitalize reader engagement across top manga.