Manga Noritaka Le Roi De La Baston Tome 1 A 18 22 Guide

Noritaka is a high school delinquent/martial arts manga by Tsurugina Issei and Sadahiro Mika. Unlike supernatural fighting manga, it focuses on realistic (though exaggerated) street fighting, international martial arts, and the raw violence of after-school brawls.

Main character: Ajiro Noritaka, a scrawny but stubborn high school student who becomes obsessed with becoming the strongest fighter in Japan after a humiliating loss. He is joined by his friend Eguchi and various rivals.

These tomes represent a turning point:

Tome 18:

Tome 19:

Tome 20:

Tome 21:

Tome 22:

Ces 18 premiers volumes couvrent les arcs les plus iconiques de la série : Manga Noritaka Le Roi De La Baston Tome 1 A 18 22

Posséder cette tranche, c’est posséder le cœur du récit. L’édition Tonkam de cette époque est reconnaissable à son dos blanc et ses lettrages rouges.

For readers who own volumes 1–18: Seek out volumes 19–22 in Japanese or scanlation (French versions are out of print). The final arc, while rushed, provides emotional closure.

For collectors: Volumes 1–18 of Noritaka – Le Roi de la Baston are valuable for the high-quality fight art and nostalgic 90s shōnen energy. The series is a hidden gem of the French manga boom.

Final rating (volumes 1–18): 8.5/10
Final rating (complete series 1–22): 8/10 (docked for rushed ending) Noritaka is a high school delinquent/martial arts manga

| Manga | Similarities | Differences | |-------|--------------|-------------| | Hajime no Ippo | Tournament structure, training arcs | Ippo is boxing-only; Noritaka is multi-style | | Kenka Shoubai | Delinquent fights | Noritaka has more humor and less nihilism | | Shamo | Martial arts brutality | Noritaka is optimistic; Shamo is dark |

Noritaka occupies a unique middle ground between silly comedy and genuine emotional stakes.

❌ Little context if you skip volumes 19–21 – Jumping from 18 to 22 means missing two important fights and a character death. You will be confused.
❌ Ending rush – Volume 22 sets up the final arc, but the French edition ends at 24 volumes, so the resolution feels slightly rushed.

Volume 22 is in the late stage of the series (French edition vol. 22 corresponds roughly to Japanese vol. 25–26). At this point: These tomes represent a turning point: Tome 18:

Title: Noritaka French Title: Noritaka : Le Roi De La Baston Authors: Story by CARRO (Karapiro) & Art by Hideo Nanken Genre: Comedy, Martial Arts, School Life, Seinen Original Run: 1991 – 1998 French Publisher: Editions Tonkam