Anime like Mononoke: Hinezumi

Kusuriya no Hitorigoto

Also known as The Apothecary Diaries.

Studio: Toho , OLM , TOHO animation STUDIO , Nippon Television Network , Imagica Infos , Dentsu , Shogakukan , Square Enix
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery

Maomao lived a peaceful life with her apothecary father. Until one day, she’s sold as a lowly servant to the emperor’s palace. But she wasn’t meant for a compliant life among royalty. So when imperial heirs fall ill, she decides to step in and find a cure! This catches the eye of Jinshi, a handsome palace official who promotes her. Now, she’s making a name for herself solving medical mysteries!



Tags: Female Protagonist , Medicine , Ancient China , Drugs , Historical , Detective , Conspiracy , Politics , Foreign , Royal Affairs , Work , Primarily Adult Cast , Adoption , Heterosexual , Alchemy , Episodic , Maids , Aromantic , Unrequited Love , Seinen , Slavery , Asexual , Makeup , Pregnancy , Food , Chibi , Educational , Go , Nekomimi , Suicide

Oooku

Also known as Ōoku: The Inner Chambers.

Studio: Studio DEEN , Netflix
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

In Edo period Japan (1603 to 1868), a strange new disease called the Redface Pox has begun to prey on the country's men. Within eighty years of the first outbreak, the male population has fallen to a quarter of the total female population. Women have taken on all the roles traditionally granted to men, even that of the Shogun. The men, precious providers of life, are carefully protected and the most beautiful of the men are sent to serve in the Shogun's Inner Chambers.



Note: The first episode has a runtime of 1 hour and 18 minutes.

Tags: Matriarchy , Historical , Pandemic , Politics , Tragedy , Royal Affairs , Gender Bending , Samurai , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Shoujo , Crossdressing , Acting , Heterosexual , Female Protagonist , Achronological Order , LGBTQ+ Themes , Swordplay , Parenthood , Suicide , Tsundere , Religion , Matchmaking , Disability

Onmyouji

Also known as Onmyoji.

Studio: Marvy Jack
Status: Finished
Genres: Mystery , Supernatural

Yearning, obsession, burning desire…
When people’s uncontrollable emotions begin to overflow, that is when they become demons.

In prosperous ancient Kyoto, court musician Minamoto Hiromasa, grandson of Emperor Daigo, visits the residence of the official onmyoji — the yin-yang diviners — in hopes of unraveling the mysteries of the demons that disturb the city. While there, he is introduced to a man perfectly suited for untangling these enigmas: the great onmyoji Abe Seimei, a man cloaked in an otherworldly aura. Hiromasa is vexed by Seimei’s lack of interest in the mundane world and his reluctance to help, but the two of them confront the demons at the cause of the incidents. They eventually find the onmyoji Ashiya Doman, who lurks in the shadows of the demons. Seimei and Hiromasa are joined by Hiromasa’s flute teacher Imperial Prince Atsumi, the emperor’s onmyoji Kamo Yasunori, and Lady Tsuyuko, who comes to accompany them as a result of a particular case. As their emotions intertwine like threads, will Seimei and Hiromasa be able to restore peace to the capital?

The ordeal of these mismatched friends destined to share the same fate begins now.



Tags: Youkai , Demons , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Episodic , Philosophy , Exorcism , Historical , Anti-Hero , Boys' Love , Gambling

Karasu wa Aruji wo Erabanai

Also known as YATAGARASU: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master.

Studio: NHK , Studio Pierrot , NHK Enterprises , Studio Pierrot
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Fantasy , Supernatural

Welcome to Yamauchi, a world inhabited by the Yatagarasu, a race of three-legged ravens who shapeshift into humans. The land is divided into four regions—North, South, East, and West—each ruled by a noble family. Yukiya, the son of a leader in the North, is shocked by a call to attend to the Imperial Prince. Murder, mysteries, and an invasion from an unexpected enemy await in this epic fantasy.



Tags: Royal Affairs , Conspiracy , Shapeshifting , Politics , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Assassins , Estranged Family , Ojou-sama , Adoption , Philosophy , Swordplay , Ensemble Cast , Gore , Mythology , Anthropomorphism , Augmented Reality

Sonny Boy

Also known as Sonny Boy.

Studio: MADHOUSE , BS Asahi , Shouchiku , Marui Group
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Sci-Fi , Supernatural

It’s an ordinary summer vacation...except for the fact that Nagara’s high school has mysteriously drifted into another dimension. As the students begin to develop strange new powers, will they work together to survive the alien environment and find a way home, or will their newly formed factions and rivalries turn on each other?



Note: The first episode received an advance release on YouTube on June 19, 2021. The regular TV broadcast started on July 16, 2021.

Tags: Alternate Universe , Philosophy , Denpa , Coming of Age , Super Power , Survival , Primarily Teen Cast , Isekai , Meta , Achronological Order , Travel , Cosmic Horror , Mixed Media , School , Episodic , Tragedy , Seinen , Gods , Wilderness , Male Protagonist , Animals , Heterosexual , Unrequited Love , Desert , Baseball , Space , Suicide

ayakashi: Japanese Classic Horror

Also known as Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales.

Studio: Toei Animation , Discotek
Status: Finished
Genres: Horror , Psychological , Supernatural

A collection of three classic Japanese horror stories: "Yotsuya Kaidan," the story of a wife betrayed by her husband who seeks vengeance even in death. "Tenshu Monogatari," the story of forbidden love between a goddess and a human, and "Bakeneko," the story of a mysterious cat monster with a vendetta against a certain family.

Tags: Historical , Youkai , Anthology , Demons , Revenge , Tragedy , Philosophy , Ghost , Gods , Nudity , Travel , Exorcism , Heterosexual , Swordplay , Samurai , Love Triangle

Mononoke

Also known as Mononoke.

Studio: Toei Animation , Asmik Ace , Sony Music Entertainment , Dentsu , SKY Perfect Well Think , Fuji TV , Discotek
Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural

Mononoke is a spin-off of the Bakeneko story arc of Ayakashi: Japanese Classic Horror. It follows the Medicine Seller as he deals with various spirits or "Mononoke" in feudal Japan. Just like in the Bakeneko story, he combats with a series of tools and his vast knowledge of the supernatural on his side, but can only slay the Mononoke when he uncovers its form (Katachi), the truth behind its appearance (Makoto) and the reason for its unusual behavior (Kotowari).



Tags: Youkai , Demons , Ghost , Exorcism , Historical , Detective , Ensemble Cast , Anthology , Philosophy , Body Horror , Male Protagonist , Gore , Ships , Pregnancy , Inn , Primarily Adult Cast , Cult , Mixed Media , Orphan , Samurai , Crime , Cosmic Horror , Travel , Incest , Trains , Time Skip , Oiran , LGBTQ+ Themes