Anime like Chihayafuru

3-gatsu no Lion

Also known as March comes in like a lion.

Studio: Shaft , Aniplex
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

Rei Kiriyama is a 17 year old boy who recently started living alone, financed by his salary as a professional Shogi player. Despite his independence, however, he's yet to mature emotionally, and his problems continue to haunt him in his daily life. His relationship with his adoptive family is strained, and he has difficulties interacting with his fellow high school students.

Meanwhile, his professional career in Shogi has entered a slump. Burdened with the heavy expectations placed upon him, his wins and losses are fluctuating as his record and progression into the ranks begin to stagnate.

Acquainted with Rei are the three Kawamoto sisters: Akari, Hinata, and Momo. Unlike Rei, they live happily in their modest home, which they warmly welcome Rei into as if he were one of their own. He frequently visits the family, interacting with them and receiving the kind of care and affection he never quite had while under his foster home.
This is the story of Rei's triumphs and failures, relationships new and old, and his growth as a person.



Tags: Coming of Age , Rehabilitation , Shogi , Found Family , Seinen , Estranged Family , Board Game , Family Life , Adoption , Urban , Male Protagonist , Philosophy , Tragedy , Primarily Adult Cast , Food , Unrequited Love , Iyashikei , School , School Club , Baseball

Kono Oto Tomare!

Also known as Kono Oto Tomare!: Sounds of Life.

Studio: Platinum Vision
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

In the story, Takezou is the last remaining member of the koto club, a club dedicated to the traditional Japanese string instrument. If he doesn't find new members, the koto club will be terminated. One day, Takezou is alone in the club room when a student barges in and demands to join. The student is delinquent Chika Kudou, a guy who even scares delinquent upperclassmen at other schools.



Tags: School Club , Coming of Age , Ensemble Cast , Male Protagonist , Tsundere , Heterosexual , Band , Primarily Teen Cast , Delinquents , School , Bullying , Primarily Male Cast , Shounen , Kuudere

Fruits Basket: 1st Season

Also known as Fruits Basket (2019).

Studio: TMS Entertainment , Funimation , TV Tokyo
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life , Supernatural

Tohru Honda thought her life was headed for misfortune when a family tragedy left her living in a tent. When her small home is discovered by the mysterious Soma clan, she suddenly finds herself living with Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure Soma. But she quickly learns their family has a bizarre secret of their own: when hugged by the opposite sex, they turn into the animals of the Zodiac!



Tags: Found Family , Female Protagonist , Urban Fantasy , Family Life , Shoujo , Mythology , Coming of Age , Shapeshifting , Primarily Teen Cast , Ensemble Cast , Fairy Tale , Orphan , Rehabilitation , Curses , Animals , Delinquents , Yandere , Unrequited Love , Episodic , School Club , Homeless , Heterosexual , Primarily Male Cast , Kuudere , Cohabitation , Slapstick , Male Harem , School , Bullying , Tsundere , Memory Manipulation , Suicide , Philosophy , Iyashikei , Female Harem , Femboy , Agriculture , Gender Bending , Crossdressing , Gangs , Amnesia , Nudity , LGBTQ+ Themes , Body Horror , Nekomimi , Kemonomimi , Denpa , Chibi , Card Battle , Table Tennis , Badminton

Haikyuu!!

Also known as HAIKYU!!.

Studio: Production I.G , Sentai Filmworks
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Sports

Inspired after watching a volleyball ace nicknamed "Little Giant" in action, small-statured Shouyou Hinata revives the volleyball club at his middle school. The newly-formed team even makes it to a tournament; however, their first match turns out to be their last when they are brutally squashed by the "King of the Court," Tobio Kageyama. Hinata vows to surpass Kageyama, and so after graduating from middle school, he joins Karasuno High School's volleyball team—only to find that his sworn rival, Kageyama, is now his teammate.

Thanks to his short height, Hinata struggles to find his role on the team, even with his superior jumping power. Surprisingly, Kageyama has his own problems that only Hinata can help with, and learning to work together appears to be the only way for the team to be successful. Based on Haruichi Furudate's popular shounen manga of the same name, Haikyuu!! is an exhilarating and emotional sports comedy following two determined athletes as they attempt to patch a heated rivalry in order to make their high school volleyball team the best in Japan.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Tags: Volleyball , School Club , Male Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast , Shounen , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , School , Coming of Age , Fitness , Kuudere

Akane-banashi

Also known as Akane-banashi.

Studio: ZEXCS , TV Asahi , Aniplex , Shueisha , Cygames , AbemaTV , TV Asahi Music , BS Asahi
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama

"With only your voice and body—master the art."

Akane Ousaki, captivated since childhood by the magical performances of her father, Shinta Arakawa, witnesses a shocking incident during his decisive performance for promotion to shin’uchi (master rank).

Six years later, now a high school student, she sets her sights on becoming a shin’uchi herself—pushing forward in the highly competitive world of rakugo.

A passionate and authentic rakugo drama begins now!



Tags: Rakugo , Female Protagonist , Acting , Shounen , Coming of Age , Revenge , Urban , Work , Found Family , POV , Primarily Adult Cast , Family Life , School , Time Skip , Gyaru

Mashiro no Oto

Also known as Those Snow White Notes.

Studio: Shin-Ei Animation , DMM music
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music

Sawamura Matsugorou is a shamisen player of legendary talent. Upon his death, his grandson, Sawamura Setsu, lost his ability to play. Having lost his beloved sound, Setsu finds himself in Tokyo in search of a new sound to love. Tachiki Yuna, who works at a club, hooks him up with a gig to play there as a warm up act. Setsu imbues the sound of his shamisen with his many thoughts and feelings he has of others, still searching for his own sound and his own feelings.



Tags: Musical Theater , Coming of Age , Male Protagonist , School Club , Shounen , Urban , School , Tragedy

Kono Oto Tomare! 2

Also known as Kono Oto Tomare!: Sounds of Life Season 2.

Studio: Platinum Vision
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

The second season of Kono Oto Tomare!

Despite their best efforts during the Kanto Region Music Festival, the Koto Club is hit with the harsh reality of their poor performance. In the face of disappointment, they still decide to hone their skills and set sight on their next target.

Tags: School Club , Heterosexual , Ensemble Cast , Coming of Age , Primarily Teen Cast , School , Band , Male Protagonist , Shounen , Delinquents , Bullying , Primarily Male Cast , Female Protagonist

Ao no Hako

Also known as Blue Box.

Studio: Telecom Animation Film , TMS Entertainment , Shueisha , TBS , Toho
Status: Finished
Genres: Romance , Slice of Life , Sports

Do these sports-crossed lovers have a chance?

Taiki Inomata loves badminton, but he has a long way to go before he can reach nationals. When Taiki sees upperclassman Chinatsu Kano practicing her heart out on the girls’ basketball team, he falls for her hard. After an unexpected turn of events brings the two closer together, sports might not be the first thing on their minds anymore!



Note: The series streamed a week in advance on Netflix Japan starting with episode 2 released alongside episode 1.

Tags: Heterosexual , Primarily Teen Cast , School Club , Coming of Age , Athletics , Male Protagonist , Badminton , Unrequited Love , School , Love Triangle , Female Protagonist , Cohabitation , Basketball , Shounen , Acrobatics , Chibi

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu

Also known as Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju.

Studio: Studio DEEN
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama

The story revolves around a mature prisoner who was released on good behavior during Japan's Shouwa Genroku era (1960s to early 1970s). He is called Yotarou by others, a term that means an "anti-hero" or a "dim-witted man." When he returns to society, he starts a new life in rakugo (comic storytelling). Touched by Yakumo's role as the "grim reaper," he asks the master to take him in as an apprentice. Most of the season delves into Yakumo's own past during World War II and the years afterward.



Note: The first episode aired with a runtime of 48 minutes as opposed to the standard 24 minute long episode.

Tags: Rakugo , Tragedy , Acting , Historical , Primarily Adult Cast , Love Triangle , Time Skip , Josei , Male Protagonist , Disability , Meta , LGBTQ+ Themes , War , Suicide , Elderly Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast

Medalist

Also known as Medalist.

Studio: ENGI , KADOKAWA , Kodansha , TV Asahi
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Psychological , Sports

Tsukasa Akeuraji, a frustrated skater, meets a girl called Inori Yuitsuka, who is yearning to enter the world of figure skating. Motivated by Inori's obsession on the rink, Tsukasa takes on coaching Inori himself. Inori's talent blossoms, and Tsukasa becomes a brilliant mentor. Together they aim to make her a glorious medalist!!



Tags: Ice Skating , Coming of Age , Athletics , Female Protagonist , Dancing , Found Family , Seinen , Male Protagonist , Primarily Child Cast , Rehabilitation , Work , Urban , CGI , Time Skip , Ballet , Parenthood