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Why Baki the Grappler is so enduring, according to its publsisher

The core of Baki's enduring appeal is finding new ways to express the strength of its characters

News by Trent Cannon, Senior Contributing writer

Published on Wed Feb 18 2026

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For almost 35 years, Baki the Grappler has been a staple among fighting manga fans. From the visceral fights to the over-the-top physicality of the characters, the manga and resulting anime have both been highly influential for generations of both readers and mangaka. According to one of the editors behind the Baki the Grappler manga, the diverse exploration of the meaning of strength is a core part of the franchise’s enduring legacy.

We spoke to Yuki Yokoi, an assistant general manager of the business IP department at Baki the Grappler publisher Akita Shoten, about the manga’s 35th anniversary and how it has impacted manga for the past three decades. He believed that exploring the idea of strength is what has kept the manga fresh for over 150 volumes (and counting).

“I believe the methods used to clearly express ‘strength’ to readers and viewers have had a significant influence on many other creators,” Yokoi told us. “For example, the depiction of Yujiro’s birth – when, at the moment the strongest character in existence is born, every other character who prides themselves on their strength instinctively feels their own ranking drop by one – has been echoed in other works as well. By expressing ‘strength’ through every conceivable approach, I think this narrative technique has had a major impact on other creators.”

The range of characters in Baki, from traditional martial artists to historical samurai brought into the modern era to a defrosted caveman, has always been one of the things that makes the series iconic for so many years, so we’re not surprised that other manga creators have taken notice.

Each week, Popverse's resident anime expert Trent Cannon runs down the latest and, dare we say "greatest," in anime and manga in Popverse Jump. Some recent columns have included...