Anime like Nami yo Kiitekure

Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii

Also known as Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku.

Studio: A-1 Pictures , Aniplex , Fuji TV , Kanetsuu Investment , Christmas Holly , Dentsu , Ichijinsha
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

Having slept through all four of her alarms, the energetic Narumi Momose finds herself running late for her first day of work at a new office. As she races to catch her train, she makes a promise to herself that none of her coworkers will find out about her dark secret: that she is an otaku and a fujoshi. Her plan goes instantly awry, though, when she runs into Hirotaka Nifuji, an old friend from middle school. Although she tries to keep her secret by inviting him out for drinks after work, her cover is blown when he casually asks her whether or not she will be attending the upcoming Summer Comiket. Luckily for her, the only witnesses—Hanako Koyanagi and Tarou Kabakura—are otaku as well.

Later that night, the pair go out for drinks so that they can catch up after all the years apart. After Narumi complains about her previous boyfriend breaking up with her because he refused to date a fujoshi, Hirotaka suggests that she try dating a fellow otaku, specifically himself. He makes a solemn promise to always be there for her, to support her, and to help her farm for rare drops in Monster Hunter. Blown away by the proposal, Narumi agrees immediately. Thus the two otaku start dating, and their adorably awkward romance begins.



Tags: Otaku Culture , Primarily Adult Cast , Josei , Office Lady , Female Protagonist , Video Games , Work , Episodic , Male Protagonist , Urban , Kuudere , Heterosexual , Ensemble Cast , Cosplay , LGBTQ+ Themes , Tsundere , Office , Bisexual , Athletics , Tomboy , Classic Literature

Fune wo Amu

Also known as The Great Passage.

Studio: ZEXCS , Kansai TV , KYORAKU
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

The series follows the employees at the Genbu Shobou publishing company. Araki, who is a veteran editor for the dictionary department, is looking for a successor now that he's approaching retirement age. After Majime Mitsuya — a salesman who's a poor talker — meets Masashi Nishioka — Araki's coworker who is sociable and frivolous — Araki overhears their conversation and decides to recruit Majime into the department. The story follows "the awkward humans" Majime and Masashi as they work together to compile a medium-sized Japanese dictionary titled "The Great Passage" (Daitokai).



Tags: Primarily Adult Cast , Work , Writing , Male Protagonist , Time Skip , Philosophy , Coming of Age , Educational , Office Lady , Heterosexual , Office , Marriage , Meta

Hinamatsuri

Also known as HINAMATSURI.

Studio: feel. , Funimation , Media Factory , Magic Capsule , Nippon Columbia , AT-X , Kadokawa Media House
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Sci-Fi , Slice of Life , Supernatural

The comedy manga centers around a super-powered girl named Hina and Nitta, a young member of the yakuza. Hina suddenly appears in Nitta's room and threatens him with her extraordinary powers. However, they end up living together.



Tags: Found Family , Family Life , Adoption , Ensemble Cast , Parenthood , Satire , Surreal Comedy , Seinen , Slapstick , Super Power , Kuudere , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Yakuza , Urban , Female Protagonist , Homeless , Primarily Female Cast , Coming of Age , Bar , Episodic , School , Isekai

Hataraki Man

Also known as Hataraki Man.

Studio: Studio Gallop , Kodansha , Fuji TV , Sony Music Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

Hiroko Matsukata is a woman who works for a magazine company. She puts all she has into her work, and is known as a strong, straight-forward working girl, who can at will turn herself into Hataraki man (working man) mode. Despite Hiroko's success at work, her life lacks romance. Even though a hard worker, she'd leave early anytime to go on a date. Too bad her boyfriend is even bigger a workaholic than Hiroko.



Tags: Work , Female Protagonist , Office Lady , Office , Primarily Adult Cast , Seinen , Philosophy , Episodic , Nudity

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

Runway de Waratte

Also known as Smile Down the Runway.

Studio: Ezo’la , DMM pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

Chiyuki Fujito has a dream: to become a Paris Collection model. The problem is, she's too short to be a model, and everyone around her tells her so! But no matter what they say, she won't give up. Her classmate, a poor student named Ikuto Tsumura, also has a dream: to become a fashion designer. One day Chiyuki tells him that it's "probably impossible" for him, causing him to consider giving it up...?! This is the story of two individuals wholeheartedly chasing after their dreams in spite of all the negativity that comes after them!



Tags: Fashion , Work , Family Life , Coming of Age , Male Protagonist , Shounen , Female Protagonist , School , Nudity , Primarily Teen Cast

Seiyuu Radio no Uraomote

Also known as The Many Sides of Voice Actor Radio.

Studio: CONNECT , Nippon Columbia , KADOKAWA , Happinet Phantom Studios , Movic , BS Nittele , AT-X , Studio Mausu , KLOCKWORX
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Slice of Life

Yuuhi Yugure and Yasumi Utatane, high school classmates and co-hosts of a weekly radio program, paint a picture-perfect friendship for their listeners. Yet, in reality, they couldn’t be more different. Their off-air dynamic is a whirlwind of chaos and insults. As their tumultuous relationship unfolds, they navigate the turbulent waters of friendship and rivalry in the cutthroat realm of showbiz.



Tags: Primarily Female Cast , Female Protagonist , Acting , Work , Gyaru , Idol , Otaku Culture , School , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Nudity , Super Robot , LGBTQ+ Themes

Bakuman.

Also known as Bakuman..

Studio: J.C.STAFF , NHK , Media Blasters , NHK Enterprises , NYAV Post
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

Moritaka Mashiro and Akito Takagi are pretty much foils of each other. Mashiro, an average 9th grade student but talented artist, and Takagi, an overall advanced 9th grader and aspiring writer. After great convincing, Takagi convinces Mashiro to join him in becoming the greatest mangakas Japan has ever seen. Takagi, with his gift of writing, hopes to become a successful mangaka, and Mashiro, with his gift of art, hopes to marry the girl of his dreams, Azuki Miho.



Tags: Work , Writing , Drawing , Coming of Age , Ensemble Cast , Male Protagonist , Heterosexual , Meta , Shounen , School , Primarily Teen Cast

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 , Seinen , Family Life , Found Family , Estranged Family , Male Protagonist , Board Game , Philosophy , Tragedy , Bullying , Primarily Adult Cast , Food , Trains

Hana wa Saku, Shura no Gotoku

Also known as Flower and Asura.

Studio: Studio Bind , King Records , Nippon Television Network , Yostar , BS Nittele
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

On the picturesque island of Tonakijima with a population of only 600, Hana’s favorite pastime is reading literature to the island’s children. Her narration skills are second to none, and Mizuki, the president of the school’s broadcasting club immediately recognizes Hana’s ability to engage with others and draw them into her recitations. Invited by Mizuki to join the club, Hana embarks on a journey to discover her true love of reading — and maybe even change the course of her life along the way.



Tags: Primarily Teen Cast , School Club , Coastal , School , Acting , Female Protagonist , Tsundere , Classic Literature , Seinen , Yuri