Anime like 3-gatsu no Lion

Chihayafuru

Also known as Chihayafuru.

Studio: MADHOUSE , VAP , Nippon Television Network
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Slice of Life , Sports

Chihaya Ayase is a girl who has spent most of her life simply supporting her sister in her model career. That changes when she meets a boy named Arata Wataya, a talented karuta player who recognizes Chihaya's potential to become a great player herself. As Chihaya takes on a new dream of becoming Japan's best karuta player, she is soon separated from her karuta playing friends, Taichi Mashima and Arata Wataya, as they grow up. Now in high school, Chihaya still continues to play karuta in the hope that she will one day meet her friends again.

Tags: Karuta , Female Protagonist , School Club , Coming of Age , Josei , Love Triangle , School , Heterosexual , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Unrequited Love , Athletics , Bullying , Tomboy , CGI , Slapstick

Where to watch?

Crunchyroll

Koe no Katachi

Also known as A Silent Voice.

Studio: Kyoto Animation , ABC Animation , Kodansha
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

After transferring into a new school, a deaf girl, Shouko Nishimiya, is bullied by the popular Shouya Ishida. As Shouya continues to bully Shouko, the class turns its back on him. Shouko transfers and Shouya grows up as an outcast. Alone and depressed, the regretful Shouya finds Shouko to make amends.

Tags: Disability , Bullying , Rehabilitation , Language Barrier , Coming of Age , Suicide , Tragedy , Male Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , School , Time Skip , Heterosexual , Female Protagonist , POV , Urban , Shounen , Unrequited Love

Where to watch?

Ping Pong THE ANIMATION

Also known as Ping Pong the Animation.

Studio: Tatsunoko Production , Aniplex
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Psychological , Sports

Tsukimoto Makoto (nicknamed Smile) is a quiet high-schooler who's been friends with the loud and energetic Hoshino Yukata (nicknamed Peko). They're both in the table tennis club and are very good at it, though Smile's personality prevents him from winning against Peko. The club teacher however notices Smile's talent and tries to make him gain some sportive tenacity.

Tags: Coming of Age , Table Tennis , Primarily Male Cast , Seinen , Male Protagonist , Philosophy , School Club , Primarily Teen Cast , Ensemble Cast , Rotoscoping , School , Teacher , Language Barrier , CGI , Bullying , Coastal , Time Skip , Delinquents , Anti-Hero , Suicide

Where to watch?

Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso

Also known as Your lie in April.

Studio: A-1 Pictures , Aniplex , Dentsu , Fuji TV , Kodansha , Aniplex of America , Kansai TV , KYORAKU
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

Piano prodigy Arima Kousei dominated the competition and all child musicians knew his name. But after his mother, who was also his instructor, passed away, he had a mental breakdown while performing at a recital. This resulted in him no longer being able to hear the sound of his piano playing. Two years later, Kousei hasn’t touched the piano and views the world without any flair or color. He was content at living out his life with his good friends Tsubaki and Watari until, one day, a girl changed everything. Miyazono Kaori is a pretty, free spirited violinist whose playing style reflects her personality. Kaori helps Kousei return to the music world and show that it should be free and mold breaking unlike the structured and rigid style Kousei was used to.

Tags: Tragedy , Primarily Teen Cast , Classical Music , Disability , Coming of Age , Rehabilitation , Male Protagonist , Love Triangle , Female Protagonist , Shounen , Heterosexual , Unrequited Love , School , Philosophy , CGI , Slapstick , Tomboy

Where to watch?

Hulu

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 , War , Suicide , Elderly Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast

Where to watch?

Amazon Prime Video

Chihayafuru 3

Also known as Chihayafuru 3.

Studio: MADHOUSE , Nippon Television Network
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Slice of Life , Sports

They may have just won their most coveted karuta tournament, but members of the Mizusawa karuta team still have a long way to go. Each member chases their dreams, and with a win under their collective belt, those dreams are closer in reach than ever. Chihaya Ayase is determined to challenge Wakamiya Shinobu and win the title of Queen, and Taichi Mashima is ready to take on Arata Wataya now that he’s made it into the most elite of karuta players — but an unexpected revelation will deal these karuta players a hand none of them saw coming.

Tags: Karuta , School Club , Female Protagonist , Josei , Love Triangle , Athletics , Coming of Age , Educational , Ensemble Cast , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Unrequited Love , Tomboy , Heterosexual , Male Harem , CGI , Meta

Where to watch?

HIDIVE

Fruits Basket: The Final

Also known as Fruits Basket The Final Season.

Studio: TMS Entertainment , TMS Music , Funimation , Avex Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Psychological , Romance , Slice of Life , Supernatural

After last season’s revelations, the Soma family moves forward, but the emotional chains that bind them are not easily broken. Unable to admit why she wants the cure, Tohru wrestles with the truth, aware that time is running out for someone close.

And a secret still lurks that could break another’s heart. But hope is not lost—a clue to the curse is found. Could their imprisonment’s end be near?

Note: This season premiered on Funimation and AnimeLab on March 20, 2021. The Japanese broadcast started two weeks later on April 6, 2021.

Tags: Shoujo , Found Family , Coming of Age , Rehabilitation , Female Protagonist , Family Life , Ensemble Cast , Philosophy , Tragedy , Urban Fantasy , Mythology , Animals , Heterosexual , Orphan , Shapeshifting , Gods , Yandere , Cohabitation , Revenge , Bullying , School , Love Triangle , Unrequited Love , Primarily Male Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Reincarnation , Tsundere , Age Gap , Suicide , Nekomimi , Kemonomimi , School Club , Curses , Kuudere , Crossdressing , Femboy , Chibi , Gender Bending , Time Skip , Marriage

Where to watch?

iQ

Bilibili

Hulu

Hachimitsu to Clover

Also known as Honey and Clover.

Studio: J.C.STAFF , Nomad , Genco , Viz Media , Asmik Ace , Dentsu , Discotek , Fuji TV
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

Takemoto Yuuta, Mayama Takumi, and Morita Shinobu are college students who share the small apartment. Even though they live in poverty, the three of them are able to obtain pleasure through small things in life. The story follows these characters' life stories as poor college students, as well as their love lives when a short but talented 18 year old girl called Hanamoto Hagumi appears.

Tags: Coming of Age , Male Protagonist , College , Primarily Adult Cast , Heterosexual , Josei , Love Triangle , Unrequited Love , Primarily Male Cast , Drawing , Chibi , Kuudere

Where to watch?

No streaming links available

Blue Period

Also known as Blue Period.

Studio: Seven Arcs , DMM music , Kodansha , DMM pictures , Mainichi Broadcasting System , Bit Grooove Promotion , Netflix
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

The studious Yatora leaves a dry life of study and good manners behind for a new passion: painting. But untethering yourself from all your past expectations is dangerous as well as thrilling…

Note: The anime premiered on Netflix on Sep 25, 2021 in Japan. The TV broadcast started on Oct 2, 2021.

Tags: Drawing , Coming of Age , Male Protagonist , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Educational , Seinen , Philosophy , School Club , Time Skip , Urban , Bisexual , Transgender , LGBTQ+ Themes , Crossdressing , Femboy , Nudity

Where to watch?

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu: Sukeroku Futatabi-hen

Also known as Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju.

Studio: Studio DEEN
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama

Unable to forget a performance of "Shinigami" performed by the rakugo master Yakumo in the prison where he was being held, Yotaro's first act upon his release was go right to the theater, where he begged, pleaded, and was finally accepted as Yakumo's live-in apprentice. After years of refining his art, Yotaro was promoted to the rank of Shinuchi and inherited the title of 3rd Generation Sukeroku. For the sake of his master Yakumo, Konatsu, and to change the image of Sukeroku inside them both, what kind of rakugo will Yotaro discover?

This celebrated human drama, based on a story by Haruko Kumota, offers an honest and sympathetic look into the lives and livelihoods of rakugo storytellers in the Showa era.

Tags: Rakugo , Josei , Acting , Elderly Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Male Protagonist , Afterlife , Time Skip , Historical , Suicide , Yakuza , Inseki , Gods , Memory Manipulation

Where to watch?