An interesting topic for a graphic medium to explore, the Deaf community and sign language is a niche genre examined by talented artists and writers in manga. A static form like art may seem like a difficult way to communicate deafness and the use of sign language; however, certain mangaka have managed to master the ability to bring sign language to life on the page. Below are four impactful manga that represent the deaf community.
A Silent Voice by Yoshitoki Ōima
Trigger Warning: Mention of depression, mentions of bullying, and suicide.
A Silent Voice follows Shoya, a teenage boy who bullied a deaf girl named Shoko in primary school, and his attempts to accept and rectify his regretful past actions. In his pursuit to make amends for his treatment of Shoko, Shoya learns sign language to convey a heartfelt apology. This blossoms into a friendship filled with complicated feelings and special communication methods.
Ōima depicts this communication in a unique way; her drawing and storytelling are a representation of both those who can and cannot hear. Reading about both characters’ struggles to accept themselves and their journey to connect with others is an emotional rollercoaster that is sure to immerse any reader in the complicated world of adolescence.
A Sign of Affection by Suu Morishita
Suu Morishita’s A Sign of Affection is a shojo manga that explores a colorful cast of characters that includes Yuki, a deaf college student, and Itsuomi, a well-versed traveler as well as a college student. Yuki has been deaf since childhood and often struggles to communicate with others when they turn away from her or talk too fast. When she meets Itsuomi, it seems his interest and willingness to adapt to her are immediate. What follows is the wonderment of discovering sign language as a medium of communication. Itsuomi’s initial curiosity about the deaf community evolves into a deeper interest in Yuki’s personal experiences as a deaf individual. Like many other Deaf people, Yuki is proud to be deaf, which is a refreshing perspective portrayed by Morishita. The art and story are both gorgeous representations of love and sign language.
Love in the Palm of His Hand by Rinteku
Love in the Palm of His Hand by Rinteku is an alternative love story that follows college students Fujinaga and Keito. When Fujinaga first meets Keito, a deaf freshman, he is introduced to the world of sign language and quickly finds his interest piqued. Fujinaga is an actor who relies heavily on communication as his main skill. He often feels unheard as he struggles to find success in the field of acting; however, when he meets Keito, he finds that he has a talent for understanding and communicating with sign language. As he learns more about Keito, the two are drawn together by a connection deeper than simple friendship.
Rinteku showcases this blossoming relationship with beauty, conveyed through sign language. Her art is a stunning portrayal of communication between the deaf and the hearing, and an overall great read. Although only the first volume has been published, Square Enix Manga has announced physical releases of the second and third volumes for October 2025 and April 2026, respectively.
The Moon on a Rainy Night by Kuzushiro
In Kuzushiro’s The Moon on a Rainy Night, high school freshman Saki meets Kannon, a girl who is severely hard of hearing. One rainy night, Saki meets Kannon on her way home from piano practice. Saki bumps into Kannon, causing her to fall on the ground. Kannon gives her a bandage without a word and then leaves. The next day, on her first day of high school, Saki is surprised to find Kannon to be her seat neighbor in class. Saki attempts to talk to Kannon, but Kannon seems uninterested in friendship with anyone; however, Saki is determined to be Kannon’s friend. After repeated efforts, Saki learns more about Kannon’s struggle with her hearing loss. As the pair grows closer, Saki realizes her admiration for Kannon runs deeper than friendship. This leads to a story of self-realization and inclusivity. Kuzushiro manages to capture both light-hearted, funny, and serious topics with her beautiful art and fun dialogue in this alternative love story.
These four manga are great options to introduce any reader to the Deaf community and the world of sign language. Whether you choose to pick up A Silent Voice for a deep and emotional read, A Sign of Affection for a light-hearted romance, or Love in the Palm of His Hand for a moving alternative love story, you are sure to enjoy your time learning about what it means to be deaf from these characters.
If you’re new to manga, be sure to check out our article The Best 10 Manga to Gift a Beginner.
Interested in more manga reads? Check out our Bookshop bookshelf, Illustrious Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels.
