Anime like Sasurai no Taiyou

Ashita no Joe

Also known as Tomorrow's Joe.

Studio: Mushi Production , Fuji TV
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Slice of Life , Sports

Joe, a teenage orphan in the slums of the Doya streets, meets Danpei, a homeless, alcoholic ex-boxing coach. Danpei, seeing Joe's boxing talent, decides to train him. When Joe is sent to a terrible juvenile home for petty crimes, he meets Rikiishi who becomes his boxing rival. Danpei arrives at the home to help Joe to train in order to defeat Rikiishi. When Joe decides to seriously pursue boxing, Danpei cannot get a coaching license because of his reputation as a drunk.



Tags: Boxing , Anti-Hero , Coming of Age , Delinquents , Tragedy , Male Protagonist , Shounen , Class Struggle , Primarily Male Cast , Rehabilitation , Ojou-sama , Orphan , Prison , Yakuza , Homeless , Police , Crime , Time Skip , Educational , Gangs , Bullying , Primarily Teen Cast , Achromatic

Glass no Kamen

Also known as Glass Mask.

Studio: Eiken , Studio Jack
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance

Kitajima Maya, a 13-year old girl with a talent for acting, was discovered by the reclusive actress Tsukikage. The story follows Maya's growing up, intense training, overcoming challenges, and evolving into the foremost actress of her generation (she is about 20 so far). Maya's greatest rival is Himekawa Ayumi, the beautiful daughter of a famous movie couple. They ultimately vied for the most sought-after role - the "Crimson Goddess". An equally important subplot Maya's relationship with the handsome and ruthless entertainment mogul Hayami Masumi, who secretly became her number one fan, but misunderstandings and bad-timing obstructed their romance...



Tags: Acting , Shoujo , Female Protagonist , Work , Age Gap , Classic Literature , Ojou-sama , Coming of Age , Heterosexual

Idol Densetsu Eriko

Studio: Ashi Productions , Youmex , Big West , TV Setouchi
Status: Finished
Genres: Music

Eriko Tamura is Kousuke Tamura, the chairman of Tamura Productions (reknown music company) and Minako Tamura's (former famous idol singer) only daughter. Having talent for singing since birth, she has always loved her parent's media world. Then one day tragedy strikes when her parents get into a horrible car accident, which kills her father and leaves her mother in coma. She is left in her father's best friend, Mr. Uchida's care. Now Eriko must take the path of singing, a path her parents did not want her to pursue. Then her uncle is out to destroy her career. But in spite of all the hardship, she becomes an idol and wins hearts all over Japan.



Tags: Idol , Female Protagonist , Urban , Tragedy , Amnesia , Foreign , Bullying , Motorcycles , Acting , Dancing , Animals

Sue Cat

Studio: Knack Productions , Asatsu DK
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Music

After an accident, the amnesiac Sue was taken in to live with Torao's family. She always had the urge to become a singer, but didn't know why. As it turns out, Sue is actually part of a band formed with her two twin sisters. But Sue's climb to the top of the charts is a long and hard way.



Tags: Animals , Chibi , Idol

Ie Naki Ko Remi

Also known as Remi, Nobody's Girl.

Studio: Nippon Animation , Fuji TV
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Slice of Life

Remy, a cheerful and tender-hearted girl, lives with her mother in a French country town. One day her father returns to the town after a long period working away from home in a city. Her father tells Remy that she isn't their real daughter, and Remy is almost sold to an evil slave trader. It is Vitalis, a strolling entertainer, who helps Remy. Vitalis discovers her talent for singing and decides to take her in with his troupe.



Tags: Classic Literature , Historical , Coming of Age , Philosophy , Found Family , Travel , Survival , Kids , Female Protagonist , Foreign , Work , Tragedy , Animals , Episodic

Ie Naki Ko

Also known as Nobody's Boy Remi.

Studio: TMS Entertainment , MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Slice of Life

Remi is a boy living happily with his mother in the French countryside. But everything changes when his estranged father comes home and, in desperate need of money, reveals that Remi is adopted, and sells him. Heartbroken, Remi ends up with Vitalis, a traveling musician, and his troupe of animal entertainers. Together, they travel the country trying to make a living, along the way learning the harsh lessons of life. A deeply moving story about friendship, loss and the pursuit of happiness.



Tags: Coming of Age , Tragedy , Survival , Classic Literature , Foreign , Musical Theater , Philosophy , Rural , Agriculture , Family Life , Travel , Homeless , Male Protagonist , Historical , Animals , Band , Outdoor , Teacher , Urban , Dancing , Guns , Crime , Adoption , Disability , Acting , Orphan

Ace wo Nerae!

Also known as Aim for the Ace!.

Studio: MADHOUSE , Tokyo Movie Shinsha , Mainichi Broadcasting System , Anime Room , Tokyo Animation Film , Imagica , King Records , Studio Sign , Discotek
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Sports

On her first day at Nishi High School, 15-year-old Hiromi Oka is inspired by top player Reika "Ochoufujin" Ryuuzaki to take up tennis. Shortly after joining the school's tennis club, she encounters Jin Munakata, the club's new coach. Munakata puts everyone under rigorous training that even puts Ochoufujin to shame. Despite the hardships, Hiromi's determination prompts the coach to select her as part of the club's main players. Because of this, Hiromi must endure the peer pressure from her seniors to become an ace tennis player.



Tags: Tennis , School Club , Shoujo , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Coming of Age , Primarily Teen Cast , Bullying , Ojou-sama , Slapstick , Delinquents

Ashita e Attack!

Studio: Nippon Animation , Fuji TV
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Sports

This drama tells the story of girls in high school. Girls who love to play volleyball form a team in their school. Although the team starts out as a weak and unorganized sport club, over time the girls’ extraordinary passion and endeavor enables their team to become one of the best organized and highly recognized teams at the school. Now they aim to win the championship in the National High School Volleyball League. Although it is painful and hard to achieve such a goal, it is nice to have friends to share the feeling, especially the joy. Through volleyball, the girls learn and experience many lessons in life as they grow up. Let’s share their laughter.



Tags: School , Female Protagonist , Volleyball , Primarily Female Cast , School Club , Ojou-sama

Attack No.1

Studio: Tokyo Movie Shinsha , Fuji TV
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Sports

Kozue Ayuhara is a highschool girl and enthusiastic volleyball player. Her dream is to play in the Japanese national volleyball team. During the series she makes it from the school district league up to the Japanese volleyball finals, step by step till the international volleyball championship. But the faster and higher Kozue climbs the career ladder up, the more she gets confronted with the dark side of success: too high expectations, self-conceit and envy are progressing towards serious problems.



Tags: Shoujo , Volleyball , Adoption , Tragedy , Female Protagonist , School Club , Primarily Female Cast , Foreign , Primarily Teen Cast , School , Heterosexual , Delinquents