It was serialized on Shogakukan's Ura Sunday website from April 2012 to August 2018, with its chapters compiled into twenty-seven tankōbon volumes.

In these arenas, wealthy business owners and merchants hire gladiators to fight in unarmed combat where the winner takes all, called Kengan matches.

Yamashita Kazuo, an average Japanese salaryman for Nogi Group witnesses a street fight in an alley between two mysterious fighters.

His spectacular ability to crush his enemies catches the attention of big business owners, leading to his inclusion in the Kengan Annihilation Tournament under the invitation of Hideki.

This tournament is held by the biggest CEOs in Japan and the winner gets the seat of Kengan Association chairman, a position which holds immense power and prestige.

[12][13] A sequel, titled Kengan Omega (ケンガンオメガ), began its serialization on Ura Sunday and MangaONE on January 17, 2019.

[73] Kazuaki Morita provided character designs for the anime, while Yasuharu Takanashi composed the series' music.

[87] In March 2024, Netflix announced a crossover anime of both series, titled Baki Hanma vs. Kengan Ashura, which premiered on June 6 of the same year.

[88] Sandrovich launched another manga series, titled How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?, which is set in the same universe as Kengan Ashura.