Anime like Karasu wa Aruji wo Erabanai

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 , Historical , Foreign , Detective , Conspiracy , Drugs , Ancient China , Politics , Work , Royal Affairs , Primarily Adult Cast , Adoption , Heterosexual , Unrequited Love , Alchemy , Maids , Tragedy , Episodic , Food , Slavery , Chibi , Asexual , Go , Seinen

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 , Ojou-sama , Suicide , Tsundere , Heterosexual , Maids , Body Horror , Orphan , Ancient China ,

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: Historical , Pandemic , Politics , Matriarchy , Samurai , Shoujo , Gender Bending , LGBTQ+ Themes , Primarily Adult Cast , Male Protagonist , Swordplay , Suicide , Crossdressing

Juuni Kokuki

Also known as The Twelve Kingdoms.

Studio: Studio Pierrot , Sogo Vision , Discotek
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy , Supernatural

Nakajima Youko is your average somewhat timid high school student. One day, a strange man named Keiki appears before her, swearing allegiance. Before she could properly register what was happening, demon-like creatures attack Youko and her friends, after which they are pulled into a different world. A world unlike what she has ever known. Separated from Keiki, Youko and her friends must do whatever they can if they wish to survive in this new world.

Tags: Isekai , Female Protagonist , Coming of Age , Politics , Language Barrier , War , Tragedy , Kingdom Management , Conspiracy , Youkai , Swordplay , Bullying , Anthropomorphism , Shapeshifting , Magic , Shrine Maiden , Royal Affairs , Military , Alternate Universe , Tanned Skin , Chimera , Travel

Seirei no Moribito

Also known as Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit.

Studio: Production I.G , Media Blasters
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy

Balsa’s prowess in battle is legendary, but the weight of death bears heavily on the spear-wielding mercenary’s soul. To atone, she has sworn to save 8 lives, no matter what the cost, and now only one life remains. Prince Chagum has been blessed with the power to stave off the droughts that threaten to starve and destroy his father’s empire, but he has been accused of being possessed by evil spirits, and court officials have set his own father against him. Condemned to death, he is saved by Balsa’s intervention and now, together, the two must unravel the secret of Chagum’s powers and the spirit behind them… before the armies sent to murder them can succeed!



Tags: Spearplay , Fugitive , Mythology , Female Protagonist , Historical , Found Family , Primarily Adult Cast , Swordplay , Politics , Magic , CGI , Coming of Age , Rural , Cosmic Horror , Tomboy

Akatsuki no Yona

Also known as Yona of the Dawn.

Studio: Studio Pierrot , TOKYO MX , Docomo Anime Store , Hakusensha , VAP , Marvelous , AT-X , Age Global Networks , TOP-INSIGHT , Delfi Sound
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Romance

Since Yona is the only princess of a grand kingdom, she has been raised with great care by her doting father and protected by her childhood friend/guard Hak and others. However, her fate changes on her 16th birthday, when her beloved cousin Soo-won murders her father to claim the throne. She flees the castle to Hak's hometown and begins her new life.



Tags: Shoujo , Female Protagonist , Dragons , Ensemble Cast , Fugitive , Travel , Primarily Male Cast , Coming of Age , Mythology , Royal Affairs , Politics , Reincarnation , Revenge , Historical , Tragedy , Male Harem , Found Family , Heterosexual , Swordplay , Archery , Primarily Adult Cast , Foreign , Orphan , Pirates , Gods , Crossdressing

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 , Acting , Tragedy , Historical , Primarily Adult Cast , Josei , Male Protagonist , Love Triangle , Time Skip , Disability , Meta , War , Suicide , Elderly Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast

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

Shinsekai yori

Also known as From the New World.

Studio: Aniplex , TV Asahi , A-1 Pictures , Pony Canyon , Sentai Filmworks
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Sci-Fi , Supernatural

Following a sudden outbreak of psychokinesis in 0.1% of the population, a rapid transformation swept the world. The godlike ability to manipulate matter remotely turned many power wielders to violence, inciting a long period of upheaval. Finally, after a chaotic era shaped by the rise and fall of oppressive regimes, the psychic humans were able to achieve a fragile peace by isolating their society, creating a new world bound by complex rules.

In the town of Kamisu 66, 12-year-old Saki Watanabe has just awakened to her powers and is relieved to rejoin her friends—the mischievous Satoru Asahina, the shy Mamoru Itou, the cheerful Maria Akizuki, and Shun Aonuma, a mysterious boy whom Saki admires—at Sage Academy, a special school for psychics. However, unease looms as Saki begins to question the fate of those unable to awaken to their powers, and the children begin to get involved with secretive matters such as the rumored Tainted Cats said to abduct children.

Shinsekai yori tells the unique coming-of-age story of Saki and her friends as they journey to grow into their roles in the supposed utopia. Accepting these roles, however, might not come easy when faced with the dark and shocking truths of society, and the impending havoc born from the new world.



Tags: Class Struggle , Dystopian , Lost Civilization , Post-Apocalyptic , Philosophy , Coming of Age , Tragedy , Super Power , Anti-Hero , Time Skip , Female Protagonist , Slavery , Conspiracy , Memory Manipulation , Politics , Revenge , Bisexual , Survival , War , Animals , Cosmic Horror , Magic , Rural , Environmental , Amnesia , Cult , Gore , Body Horror , LGBTQ+ Themes , Fugitive , Chimera , Heterosexual , Religion , Love Triangle , Torture , Anthropomorphism , School , Boys' Love , Yuri , Aviation

Fushigi Yuugi

Also known as Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play.

Studio: Studio Pierrot , TV Tokyo , NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan , Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions , Yomiko Advertising , Media Blasters , Apollon
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Romance

While visiting the National Library, junior-high students Miaka Yuuki and Yui Hongo are transported into the world of a mysterious book set in ancient China, “The Universe of The Four Gods.” Miaka suddenly finds herself with the responsibility of being the priestess of Suzaku, and must find all of her celestial warriors for the purpose of summoning Suzaku for three wishes. However, the enemy nation of the god Seiryuu has manipulated Yui into becoming the priestess of Seiryuu. As enemies, the former best friends begin their long struggle to summon their respective gods and obtain their wishes…

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Tags: Female Protagonist , Shoujo , Isekai , Magic , Historical , Heterosexual , Foreign , Mythology , Coming of Age , Travel , Gods , War , Super Power , Male Harem , Tragedy , Love Triangle , Crime , Martial Arts , Revenge , Nudity , Dragons , Reincarnation , Crossdressing , Twins , Suicide , Demons , Ancient China