Manga like Arte

Blue Period

Also known as Blue Period.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

The studious Yatora leaves a dry life of study and good manners behind for a new passion: painting. But untethering yourself from all your past expectations is dangerous as well as thrilling…



Note: Nominated for Manga Taisho Awards in 2019, Kodansha Manga Awards in 2019 and the 24th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2020. Winner of the 13th Manga Taisho Awards. Winner of the General Manga category of the 44th annual Kodansha Manga Awards.

Tags: Drawing , Coming of Age , College , Seinen , Male Protagonist , Educational , Philosophy , Primarily Adult Cast , LGBTQ+ Themes , School , School Club , Tragedy , Transgender , Bisexual , Primarily Teen Cast , Crossdressing , Gender Bending , Suicide , Nudity , Tomboy

Otoyomegatari

Also known as A Bride's Story.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

A Bride’s Story tells the tale of a beautiful young bride in nineteenth-century Asia. At the age of twenty, Amir is sent to a neighboring town to be wed. But her surprise at learning her new husband, Karluk, is eight years younger than her is quickly replaced by a deep affection for the boy and his family. Though she hails from just beyond the mountains, Amir’s clan had very different customs, foods, and clothes from what Karluk is used to. As the two of them learn more about each other through their day-to-day lives, the bond of respect and love grows stronger.



Note: Won the Prix Intergénérations ("Intergenerational Award") at the Angoulême International Comics Festival in 2012 and the 7th Manga Taishou award in 2014.

Tags: Ensemble Cast , Historical , Marriage , Seinen , Female Protagonist , Foreign , Heterosexual , Iyashikei , Travel , Age Gap , Family Life , Arranged Marriage , Educational , Food , Twins , War , Archery , Nudity , Language Barrier , LGBTQ+ Themes , Animals

Emma

Also known as Emma.

Status: Finished
Genres: Romance , Slice of Life

Calling upon his former governess, William Jones, gentleman, is startled when his knock is answered by an uncommonly beautiful servant, the soft-spoken Emma. Throughout his visit, William's eyes drift to the maid whenever she enters the room, and he contrives to meet Emma socially as she goes about her errands. But London society is a web of strict codes and divisions. For the son of a wealthy merchant, seeking out a working-class girl is simply not done! William's father plans for his son to marry into the peerage and elevate the Jones family to greater heights, but although William says and does what is expected of him, he longs only for Emma's company...



Tags: Foreign , Historical , Maids , Work , Educational , Heterosexual , Female Protagonist , Adoption , Seinen , Primarily Adult Cast , Ojou-sama , Orphan , Travel , Time Skip , Butler , Teacher , Nudity , Cars , Trains , Ships

Gisèle Alain

Status: Releasing
Genres: Slice of Life

"Gisèle Alain will provide you with any service, Madame," Gisèle claims as she puts a sign on her door. Gisèle Alain is the owner of an apartment and decides to take on whatever request that she receives. She forces Eric, a resident of the apartment with overdue rent, to tag along with her service. Their first mission is to find a cat that another resident has lost and claims to have been missing for 3 days. Upon further investigation, they find a suspicious man taking away cats to an unknown alley. Gisèle decides to investigate further and finds out who the man is without hesitation! An amusing yet calm service providing you with anything you want; at your service by Gisèle Alain!



Tags: Seinen , Historical , Foreign , Crossdressing , Female Protagonist , Detective , Work

Kakukaku Shikajika

Also known as Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

High schooler Akiko has big plans to become a popular mangaka before she even graduates, but she needs to get much better at drawing if she ever wants to reach her goal. Looking for an easy fix, she signs up for an art class, thinking all her problems will soon be solved. She’s in for a surprise: her new instructor is a sword-wielding taskmaster who doesn’t care about manga one bit. But maybe this unconventional art teacher is just what she needs to realize her dreams!



Notes:
Kakukaku Shikajika is an autobiography detailing the life of author Akiko Higashimura.
The manga won the Grand Prize at the 8th Manga Taisho Award in 2015.

Tags: Drawing , Coming of Age , Otaku Culture , Teacher , Autobiographical , Josei , Female Protagonist , Tragedy , Non-fiction , College , Time Skip , Meta , Work , Writing , Primarily Adult Cast , Rural , Swordplay , Philosophy , Educational , Mopeds

Kusuriya no Hitorigoto

Also known as The Apothecary Diaries.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Mystery

Maomao, a young woman trained in the art of herbal medicine, is forced to work as a lowly servant in the inner palace. Though she yearns for life outside its perfumed halls, she isn’t long for a life of drudgery! Using her wits to break a “curse” afflicting the imperial heirs, Maomao attracts the attentions of the handsome eunuch Jinshi and is promoted to attendant food taster. But Jinshi has other plans for the erstwhile apothecary, and soon Maomao is back to brewing potions and…solving mysteries?!



Note: Won the Grand Prize in the Printed Manga category at the Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Award 2019.

Tags: Female Protagonist , Medicine , Detective , Historical , Foreign , Ancient China , Primarily Female Cast , Seinen , Drugs , Tragedy , Royal Affairs , Politics , Work , Crime , Maids , Asexual , Adoption , Heterosexual , Episodic , Conspiracy , Suicide , Chibi , Ojou-sama

Aoi Horus no Hitomi: Dansou no Joou no Monogatari

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama

This manga tells the story of Hatshepsut, a woman who reigned successfully over Egypt for many years. The story begins when she is a young woman, marrying her half-brother Thutmose II and thus ensuring his rise to Pharaoh. Hatshepsut is a woman with a strong will, who is not going to accept the restrictions others might try to place on her as a woman.

Tags: Historical , Seinen , Female Protagonist , Royal Affairs , Tomboy , Biographical , Politics , Arranged Marriage , Crossdressing , Slavery , Desert , Gore , Gods , Incest , Nudity , Swordplay , Heterosexual

Kyuutei Gaka no Urusai Yohaku

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance

Set in the Baroque Spanish royal palace, a court painter is set to draw a portrait of His Majesty at the Minister's recommendation. However, while watching the royal art collection, he finds a woman who breaks a picture with a short sword.

Tags: Historical , Shoujo , Male Protagonist

Fushigi no Kuni no Bird

Also known as Isabella Bird in Wonderland: Unbeaten Tracks in Japan.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Adventure , Slice of Life

British adventuress Isabella Bird journeys to Japan in 1878 and becomes the first Westerner to travel to many remote locations, heading northward towards Hokkaido to study the aboriginal Ainu people.

A true story based on the book "Unbeaten Tracks in Japan".

Tags: Historical , Educational , Travel , Foreign , Seinen , Female Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Biographical , Nudity

Keikoku no Shitateya Rose Bertin

Also known as Rose Bertin: The Dressmaker That Launched a Thousand Dreams.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Romance

Eighteenth-century France--the eve of a revolution. At the court of Versailles was a certain dressmaker who enjoyed even greater influence than the nobility, despite her commoner roots. This woman’s name was Rose Bertin. Favored by the tragic queen Marie-Antoinette, she was then swallowed up by the tides of revolution. This is the story of the bold, pioneering woman credited as the mother of fashion design.



Tags: Historical , Seinen , Foreign , Biographical , Fashion