Jiro Taniguchi was awarded the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government for his significant contributions much appreciated by French readers. Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro hailed him “a manga poet, an observer of the world” whose exquisite line drawing and intricately constructed scenes from everyday life attract an international following. His stories deal with universal themes as the beauty of nature, devotion to family, and/or return to childhood.

Sometimes, a good manga gets overshadowed by more popular titles and doesn't get the attention it greatly deserves. With a little digging, we have discovered these wonderful but overlooked titles brimming with potential. So relax, enjoy, and spread the word about these diamonds in the rough.