Takehiko Inoue manga in English: every series and where to start

Takehiko Inoue has 3 series with English volumes. Only 1 of them is complete in English. You can find all of them on the Takehiko Inoue creator page. Below is each series with its story, what Inoue did on it and where the English release stands. All volume counts here are as of October 2026.

Vagabond

Vagabond is built around Miyamoto Musashi. He was a real swordsman of the early Edo period. Inoue reimagines the early years of his life. The starting point is the novel Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa. Yoshikawa is credited as an author alongside Inoue.

Inoue does both the story and the art. The genres are Action, Adventure and Drama. Its themes are samurai, swordplay, history and philosophy. Expect a sword story that also asks bigger questions.

The English count matches Japan exactly. There are 37 Japanese volumes and 37 English volumes. That does not make it complete. Vagabond is still releasing in Japan. No next English volume is listed yet.

Slam Dunk

Hanamichi Sakuragi is a huge redhead. He settles most problems with his fists. He has asked out girl after girl. Every one of them said no. That is where Slam Dunk begins.

This one mixes comedy, drama and sports. Basketball and school life are at its center. Unrequited love is one of its themes too.

Story and art are both by Inoue. Slam Dunk is finished in Japan with 31 volumes. All 31 are out in English. It is the only Inoue series here that is complete in English. You can read it from the first page to the last right now.

Real

Wheelchair basketball is the subject of Real. The drama follows the people who play it. Tomomi Nomiya has dropped out of high school.

Its genres are Drama, Psychological and Sports. The themes are coming of age, disability, rehabilitation and basketball. So this is a different kind of basketball manga from Slam Dunk. Inoue handles the story and the art here as well.

Real is still releasing in Japan. Japan has 17 volumes. English has 16 of them. That puts English readers one volume behind. No date is listed for the next English volume.

Where to start

The numbers give a clear answer. Slam Dunk is the easiest start because it is the only series complete in English. Its 31 volumes are all out. You will not have to wait for an ending.

None of the three is short. Real is the shortest with 16 English volumes. But it is still releasing in Japan and has no ending yet. Vagabond is the longest at 37 volumes. It is also still releasing in Japan.

• Slam Dunk: 31 of 31 volumes in English. Complete in English.
• Real: 16 English volumes out of 17 in Japan. Still releasing in Japan.
• Vagabond: 37 English volumes out of 37 in Japan. Still releasing in Japan.

Want a finished story? Pick Slam Dunk. Want the fewest volumes to catch up on? Real is the smaller commitment. Just know that more is still coming. Vagabond suits a reader ready for 37 volumes of samurai drama with the story still open.