Soso no Frieren (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End) Vol. 15 rules this week’s Billboard Japan Book Hot 100, a comprehensive list integrating physical books, e-books, library loans, and subscription-based metrics such as social media.
On the chart released Dec. 25, the latest volume of the popular high fantasy manga series (released Dec. 18) leads both physical-store sales and e-books, while also coming in at No. 3 for EC and landing within the top 50 on social media. The series is set to return with a second anime season beginning in January next year.
At No. 2 is Vol. 21 of the comic adaptation of Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries), currently serialized in Monthly Sunday GX. Following at No. 3 is Hirohiko Araki’s The JOJOLands Vol. 7, making its chart debut in the top 3. The volume enters the top 20 across three metrics, placing No. 2 in physical stores, No. 14 in EC, and No. 7 in e-books.
The comic adaptation of Uketsu’s popular novel Henna Ie (The Strange House) Vol. 6 opens at No. 7, coming in at No. 5 for physical stores and No. 11 for e-books. Close behind, Kanae Minato’s Ningen Hyouhon (Human Specimens) jumps from outside the top 20 last week to No. 8, following the launch of its live-action drama adaptation on Prime Video beginning on the 19th. The book places No. 11 in physical stores and No. 7 in social media, while also earning points from EC, e-books, and subscriptions, charting across all five metrics of the Japan Book Hot 100 methodology.
Check out the top 10 titles for this week:
Japan Book Hot 100 Top 10
(Numbers in parentheses indicate the title’s metric placements for physical stores, EC, e-books, subscriptions, and social media, top 20 only. English title given if translations or adaptations exist.)
1. Soso no Frieren (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End) Vol. 15, Kanehito Yamada, Tsukasa Abe (1・3・1・-・-)
2. Kusuriya no Hitorigoto ~ Maomao no Kokyu Nazotoki Techo ~ (The Apothecary Diaries) Vol. 21, Hyuuganatsu, Minoji Kurata, Touko Shino (3・-・2・-・-)
3. The JOJOLands Vol. 7, Hirohiko Araki (2・14・7・-・-)
4. Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray Vol. 22, Taiyo Kuzumi, Masafumi Sugiura & Pita, Junnosuke Ito (4・-・4・-・-)
5. Jun Shison Anniversary Photo Book “final”, Jun Shison (-・1・-・-・-)
6. Naruse wa Miyako wo Kakenukeru, Mina Miyajima (10・-・-・-・3)
7. Henna Ie (The Strange House) Vol. 6, Uketsu, Kyo Ayano (5・-・11・-・-)
8. Ningen Hyouhon (Human Specimens), Kanae Minato (11・-・-・-・7)
9. Naruse wa Tenka wo Toriniiku, Mina Miyajima (-・-・-・1・4)
10. World Trigger Vol. 29, Daisuke Ashihara (6・-・16・-・-)
Note: There will be no chart release on Jan. 1, 2026. The chart covering Dec. 22–28 will be published on Jan. 8, followed by the chart covering Dec. 29–Jan. 4, on Jan. 9.
