Anime like Oooku

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

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 , Drugs , Historical , Ancient China , Detective , Conspiracy , Foreign , Politics , Work , Royal Affairs , Primarily Adult Cast , Adoption , Heterosexual , Seinen , Alchemy , Maids , Unrequited Love , Tragedy , Go , Aromantic , Pregnancy , Episodic , Food , Asexual , Slavery , Makeup , 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 , Josei , Love Triangle , Time Skip , Male Protagonist , Disability , Meta , War , Suicide , Elderly Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast

Koukyuu no Karasu

Also known as Raven of the Inner Palace.

Studio: Bandai Namco Pictures , Aniplex , Shueisha , Movic , Tohan , Marui Group , BS11 , Kansai TV
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Mystery , Supernatural

Deep within the inner palace lives a special consort who does not serve the emperor despite her position as a consort. She is known as the Raven Consort. People who have seen her say she looks like an old woman, while others say she looks like a young girl. Stories tell of her use of mysterious arts, and how she can take on any request, be it death curses or finding lost things. Koushun, the current emperor, goes to visit the Raven Consort with that intention. Without knowing that their fated meeting will become a taboo that will overturn history.



Tags: Female Protagonist , Foreign , Historical , Primarily Adult Cast , Detective , Kuudere , Mythology , Magic , Episodic , Necromancy , Shoujo , Conspiracy , Politics , Ghost , Suicide , Tsundere , Heterosexual , Maids , Ojou-sama , Body Horror , Orphan , Ancient China ,

Saiunkoku Monogatari

Also known as The Story of Saiunkoku.

Studio: MADHOUSE , NHK , Sogo Vision
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Romance

Saiunkoku is a world of eight provinces or houses, each named after a different colour. The new Emperor, Shi Ryuuki, has gained a reputation for being uninterested in courtly matters and for flaunting his love for men. Shuurei, although born of the important Kou family, has difficulty making ends meet. She easily accepts an invitation to be the Emperor's concubine in order to turn him into a good ruler. The mysterious Seiran, a young man who was adopted by her father, goes with her as Ryuuki's bodyguard. Entering the imperial palace revives Shuurei's dream of being a court official, and, together with the many companions she meets along the way, continues moving bravely forward while trying to fend off the Emperor's advances.



Tags: Female Protagonist , Politics , Historical , Shoujo , Foreign , Coming of Age , Ensemble Cast , Philosophy , Work , Mythology , Urban , Royal Affairs , Unrequited Love , Ancient China , Kingdom Management , Bisexual , Swordplay , Bullying , Family Life , Assassins , Primarily Adult Cast , Travel , Ghost , Arranged Marriage , Primarily Male Cast , Male Harem , War , Heterosexual , Crime , Dissociative Identities , Found Family , Marriage

Saiunkoku Monogatari 2nd Season

Also known as The Story of Saiunkoku Second Series.

Studio: MADHOUSE , NHK , Sogo Vision
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Romance

Shuurei needs to deal with more obstacles in the new series. More danger comes her way but at the same time meeting friends who will help her with her work as an official.



Tags: Historical , Politics , Foreign , Shoujo , Philosophy , Mythology , Unrequited Love , Royal Affairs , Ancient China , Kingdom Management , Work , Female Protagonist , Male Harem

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 , Afterlife , Male Protagonist , Time Skip , Historical , Suicide , Yakuza , Inseki , Gods , Memory Manipulation

Chouyaku Hyakuninisshu: Uta Koi.

Also known as Utakoi.

Studio: TYO Animations
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance

Uta Koi tells the "super-liberal interpretation" of the Hyakuninisshu anthology compiled during Japan's Heian period of 100 romantic poems from 100 different poets such as The Tale of Genji's Murasaki Shikibu.

Tags: Josei , Historical , Classic Literature , Heterosexual , Marriage , Unrequited Love

Hidamari no Ki

Studio: MADHOUSE , VAP
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama

A story set in the mid-1800's about a young doctor who has been trained in Western-style medicine and a young samurai who is trying to live up to the old traditions of his class and culture. The story is actually based upon real people - the doctor, Ryo-an, was Tezuka's great grandfather.

During the Second Year of Ansei (1855) in Edo's Koishigawa are two young men, Manjiro Ibutani and Ryoan Tezuka. Ibutani is a low-ranking samurai who is a gifted swordsman and has a straightforward and strong sense of justice. Tezuka has a more carefree attitude. He has an eye for the ladies, but he is passionate about becoming a doctor. The two opposite characters come of age during the backdrop of the turbulent end of the Tokugawa Period (1600-1868 CE).



Tags: Medicine , Historical , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Conspiracy , Pandemic , Seinen , Samurai , Coming of Age , Swordplay , Work , Time Skip , Biographical , Nudity

Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon

Also known as My Happy Marriage.

Studio: Kinema Citrus , KADOKAWA , Square Enix , Bandai Namco Music Live , Toy's Factory
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Supernatural

Despite being born into a noble family, Miyo lost her birth mother at a young age and grew up being abused by her stepmother, stepsister, and father.

When she finally receives news that she's to be married off, she finds out that her husband-to-be is Kiyoka, a soldier with a reputation for being cruel and heartless. In fact, he's had numerous previous fiancées who have all fled his household; none lasting even a mere three days.

Resigned to the fact that her family had abandoned her, Miyo knocks on the gate of the Kudou household to find herself greeted by a beautiful man with pale skin. Despite the poor treatment she receives from her husband-to-be during their first meeting, Miyo is unable to return to her old home and spends her time cooking and doing chores. However, as the days pass, Miyo and Kiyoka being to slowly open their hearts to each other...



Tags: Marriage , Female Protagonist , Bullying , Arranged Marriage , Historical , Heterosexual , Urban Fantasy , Kuudere , Shoujo , Super Power , Politics , Rehabilitation , Royal Affairs , Primarily Adult Cast , Age Gap , Military , Coming of Age , Fairy Tale , Guns , Clone , Makeup