Manga like Men's Kou (2020)

Ao Haru Ride

Also known as Ao Haru Ride.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

Futaba Yoshioka thought all boys were loud and obnoxious until she met Kou Tanaka in junior high. But as soon as she realized she really liked him, he had already moved away because of family issues. Now, in high school, Kou has reappeared, but is he still the same boy she fell in love with?



Includes two side stories and two oneshots.

Tags: Shoujo , School , Heterosexual , Love Triangle , Female Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , Tomboy , Unrequited Love , Coming of Age , Tsundere , Kuudere , Tragedy , Time Skip , Age Gap

NANA

Also known as Nana.

Status: Hiatus
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

Nana Komatsu is a young woman who's endured an unending string of boyfriend problems. Moving to Tokyo, she's hoping to take control of her life and put all those messy misadventures behind her. She's looking for love and she's hoping to find it in the big city.

Nana Osaki, on the other hand, is cool, confident and focused. She swaggers into town and proceeds to kick down the doors to Tokyo's underground punk scene. She's got a dream and won't give up until she becomes Japan's No. 1 rock'n'roll superstar.

This is the story of two 20-year-old women who share the same name. Even though they come from completely different backgrounds, they somehow meet and become best friends. The world of Nana is a world exploding with sex, music, fashion, gossip and all-night parties.



Note: Winner of the 48th Shogakukan Manga Award in the Shoujo Category in 2002.

Tags: Primarily Adult Cast , Female Protagonist , Band , Shoujo , Tragedy , Time Skip , Philosophy , Netorare , Found Family , LGBTQ+ Themes , Bisexual , Heterosexual , Achronological Order , Love Triangle , Age Gap , Urban , Rock Music , Nudity , Drugs , Bar , Mahjong

Akatsuki no Yona

Also known as Yona of the Dawn.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Romance

Yona reels from the shock of witnessing a loved one’s murder and having to fight for her life. With Hak’s help, she flees the palace and struggles to survive while evading her enemy’s forces. But where will this displaced princess go when all the paths before her are uncertain?



Tags: Travel , Female Protagonist , Shoujo , Historical , Found Family , Dragons , Politics , Fugitive , Gods , Mythology , Reincarnation , War , Tragedy , Royal Affairs , Foreign , Primarily Male Cast , Coming of Age , Heterosexual , Archery , Super Power , Male Harem , Kuudere , Drugs , Orphan , Pirates , Survival

orange

Also known as orange.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance

Everyone has regrets in life. So who wouldn’t take the chance to change the past if given the opportunity? When sixteen-year-old Takamiya Naho receives a mysterious letter, claiming to be from her twenty-seven-year-old self, her life is suddenly thrown into flux. The letter tells her that a new transfer student by the name of Naruse Kakeru will be joining her class, and to keep her eye on him. But why? Naho must decide what to make of the letter and its cryptic warning, and what it means not only for her future, but for Kakeru’s as well.



Included series/one-shot:
Volumes 1-5: Haru-iro Astronaut (春色アストロノート , Spring-Colored Astronaut); #1: Bessatsu Margaret 2011-06, #2: Betsuma sister 2012-01, #3~5: kakioroshi
Mami and Tomoki have always shared everything in life, they are identical twins, yet so different in character and personality: Mami tender and helpless, courted by boys to whom she doesn't never "no" for excessive kindness, Tomoki with a strong sense of duty and a great spirit of sacrifice, would do anything to see his sister happy. But there comes a time, however, when one realizes there are things that cannot be shared, especially when it is something extremely rare and unique... just like an alien?!
Volume 6: Mirai (未来)
Volume 6: Suwa Hiroto (須和弘人)
A side story focusing on Naho and Suwa's lives in the world where Kakeru passed away at age 17.

Notes: Nominated to the 20th Annual Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize.

Tags: School , Shoujo , Love Triangle , Time Manipulation , Heterosexual , Suicide , Primarily Teen Cast , Female Protagonist , Tragedy , Unrequited Love , Acting

Kaichou wa Maid-sama!

Also known as Maid-sama!.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance

The class president has a little secret she's keeping from everyone in her high school... As President of the Student Council, the overachieving feminist Misaki really socks it to the guys in an attempt to make the former all-boys' school attract a more female student body. But what will she do when the most awesome boy in class finds out Misaki's part-time job is in a maid café?! It's love at first fight in this shojo romantic comedy—with a whole new look at the battle between the genres!



Included one-shots:
Volume 1: Toumei na Sekai (A Transparent World)
Volume 4: Tsuide ni 3 Baka mo Maid-sama! (And While We're at It, the Idiot Trio as Maids!)
Volume 4: Soshite Momotaro mo Maid-sama (Peach Boy Is a Maid Too!)
Volume 6: Aoi Haru (Blue Spring)
Volume 6: Fukukaichou wa Ouji-sama!? (The Vice-President Is a Prince?!)
Volume 7: Aoi to to Yukai na Nakama-tachi (Aoi with Fun Friends)
Volume 8: Baka to Furyou to Hero to (An Idiot, a Delinquent and a Hero)
Volume 8: Toaru Asa no Seitokaishitsu (A Particular Morning in the Student Council Office)
Volume 11: Kaichou wa Shisuji-sama! (The President Is a Butler!)
Volume 11: Konnichiwa Imouto desu (Hello, I'm the Little Sister)
Volume 12: Sentimental Ikkun (Sentimental Ikkun)
Volume 13: Maid Latte Hikaeshitsu (Maid Latte Back Room)
Volume 15: Baka to Furyou to Madonna to (An Idiot, a Delinquent and a Madonna)
Volume 17: Comics Kakioroshi Short Story (Exclusive Short Comic)


Tags: Shoujo , Female Protagonist , Heterosexual , Tsundere , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Maids , Tomboy , Work , Crossdressing , Butler , Male Harem , Love Triangle , Bar , Restaurant

Kimi ni Todoke

Also known as Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

Sawako Kuronuma is the perfect heroine...for a horror movie. With striking similarities to a haunting movie character--jet-black hair, sinister smile and silent demeanor--she's mistakenly called Sadako by those around her. But behind her scary façade is a very misunderstood teenager. Too shy to fit in, all she wants to do is make some friends. But when the most popular boy in class befriends her, she's sure to make more than just that--she's about to make some enemies too!



Notes: The chapter count includes 3 extra stories and prologue.

Tags: Shoujo , Female Protagonist , School , Coming of Age , Heterosexual , Primarily Teen Cast , Tomboy , Ensemble Cast , Bullying , Baseball , Gyaru , Love Triangle , Tsundere , Age Gap , Tragedy

Fruits Basket

Also known as Fruits Basket.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Psychological , Romance , Supernatural

After a family tragedy turns her life upside down, plucky high schooler Tohru Honda takes matters into her own hands and moves out...into a tent! Unfortunately for her, she pitches her new home on private land belonging to the mysterious Sohma clan, and it isn't long before the owners discover her secret. But, as Tohru quickly finds out when the family offers to take her in, the Sohmas have a secret of their own--when touched by the opposite sex, they turn into the animals of the Chinese Zodiac!



Note: Volume 9 includes the bonus chapter "Rain Shelter of Terror".

Tags: Animals , Shoujo , Mythology , Ensemble Cast , Tragedy , School , Philosophy , Shapeshifting , Rehabilitation , Heterosexual , Reincarnation , Female Protagonist , Found Family , Family Life , Primarily Teen Cast , Tsundere , Coming of Age , Age Gap , Henshin , Urban Fantasy , Love Triangle , Crossdressing , Incest , Orphan , Memory Manipulation , Delinquents , Dissociative Identities , Revenge , Teacher , Disability , Unrequited Love , Estranged Family , Youkai , Transgender

Yamada-kun to Lv999 no Koi wo Suru

Also known as My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance

Recently dumped, Akane is just about to quit the game she used to play with her boyfriend, when she meets Yamada in the same RPG. Yamada in real life turns out to be somewhat of a legend. The only problem is - he is ONLY interested in the game. As Akane's feelings grow, will Yamada's focus stay on the game?



Note: Ninth place of Tsugimanga 2020 Award in the Web Manga Category

Tags: Video Games , Heterosexual , Shoujo , Female Protagonist , Otaku Culture , Age Gap , Virtual World , College , Primarily Adult Cast , Urban , E-Sports

Yubisaki to Renren

Also known as A Sign of Affection.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Romance , Slice of Life

Yuki is a typical college student, whose world revolves around her friends, social media, and the latest sales. But when a chance encounter on a train leads to her meeting friend-of-a-friend and fellow student Itsuomi-san, her world starts to widen. But even though Itsuomi-kun can speak three languages, sign language isn’t one of them. Can the two learn to communicate the budding feelings between them?



Notes:
- Ranked 17th place for the Tsugimanga Award in the Print Manga Category in 2020.
- Nominated for the 45th and 46th Kodansha Manga Award in the Shoujo Category in 2021 and 2022.
- Nominated for the 68th Shogakukan Manga Award in the Shoujo Category

Tags: Shoujo , Language Barrier , Female Protagonist , Disability , Primarily Adult Cast , Heterosexual , College , Love Triangle , Bar , Chibi , Urban , Tsundere

Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun

Also known as My Little Monster.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance

Mizutani is a self-absorbed overachiever, concerned only with maintaining the highest grades in school. Haru is an impulsive short tempered brute, who scares everyone with his explosive bursts of violence. Haru gets suspended on the first day of school when he encounters some bullies harassing a student and dispatches the bullies with great bloody violence. Mizutani is tasked with delivering school materials to Haru who interprets this as an act of friendship and latches on to Mizutani, much to her dismay. And so begins a strange and potentially combustible relationship!



Note: Includes 17 bonus stories.

Tags: School , Shoujo , Love Triangle , Delinquents , Coming of Age , Heterosexual , Tsundere , Female Protagonist , Kuudere , Baseball , Age Gap , Tragedy

Banana Fish

Also known as Banana Fish.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama

Nature made Ash Lynx beautiful; nurture made him a cold ruthless killer. A runaway brought up as the adopted heir and sex toy of "Papa" Dino Golzine, Ash, now at the rebellious age of seventeen, forsakes the kingdom held out by the devil who raised him. But the hideous secret that drove Ash's older brother mad in Vietnam has suddenly fallen into Papa's insatiably ambitious hands--and it's exactly the wrong time for Eiji Okamura, a pure-hearted young photographer from Japan, to make Ash Lynx's acquaintance...



Tags: Mafia , Tragedy , Gangs , Noir , Conspiracy , Drugs , Primarily Male Cast , Foreign , Primarily Adult Cast , Crime , Male Protagonist , Shoujo , Delinquents , Guns , Revenge , Urban , Adoption , Criminal Organization , Boys' Love , LGBTQ+ Themes , Politics , Bisexual , Cars , Police

Ouran Koukou Host Club

Also known as Ouran High School Host Club.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

One day, Haruhi, a scholarship student at exclusive Ouran High School, breaks an $80,000 vase that belongs to the "Host Club," a mysterious campus group consisting of six super-rich (and gorgeous) guys. To pay back the damages, she is forced to work for the club, and it's there that she discovers just how wealthy the boys are and how different they are from everybody else.



Note: Includes 14 extra chapters.

Tags: Male Harem , Shoujo , School Club , School , Female Protagonist , Crossdressing , Gender Bending , Slapstick , Mixed Gender Harem , Ensemble Cast , Coming of Age , Tomboy , Primarily Teen Cast , Twins , LGBTQ+ Themes , Meta , Cute Boys Doing Cute Things , Parody , Heterosexual , Love Triangle , Agender , Cosplay , Tsundere , Chibi , Bisexual , Gyaru , Incest

Namaiki Zakari.

Also known as Cheeky Brat.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Sports

Basketball club manager Yuki has a secret—she’s in love with the team captain! But when Naruse discovers her secret, she’s in trouble! Just how long is he going to keep teasing her about it? Stupid pretty playboy…



Note: Chapter includes one epilogue.

Tags: Shoujo , Basketball , Female Protagonist , Tsundere , Heterosexual , School Club , School , Love Triangle , College , Kuudere , Age Gap , Crossdressing

Taiyou no Ie

Also known as House of the Sun.

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

As a child, Mao spent all her time at Hiro’s house across the street. Going to his house always made her feel cheerful. A few years later, Mao’s father gets remarried and Mao finds herself with nowhere to call home. Hiro ends up letting her stay with him in the house he’s been occupying alone since the death of his parents. A love story unfolds, between two childhood friends of different ages.



Note: Includes twenty extra chapters.

Tags: Female Protagonist , Family Life , Coming of Age , Love Triangle , Shoujo , Age Gap , Tsundere , Tragedy , Heterosexual , School , Adoption , Primarily Teen Cast , Orphan , Estranged Family

Last Game

Also known as Last Game.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance

In elementary school, the rich and spoiled Yanagi Naoto was known for excelling in both studies and sports. But then he suffered the first setback of his life when Kujou Mikoto, a girl from a poor family, transferred to his school and performed better than Naoto at every turn. Reeling from this unforgivable blow to his pride, Naoto decided that he had to make Mikoto lose at something…by making her lose her heart to him, which he could then break! Now that they’re both in college, will Naoto finally be able to win Mikoto’s affections–or will he lose this final game with her?



Notes: The chapter count includes 6 extra stories and 4 one-shots.

Tags: Shoujo , Time Skip , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Tsundere , Heterosexual , Kuudere , Primarily Adult Cast , College , Love Triangle , Coming of Age , School Club , School , Revenge , Tragedy

Hirunaka no Ryuusei

Also known as Daytime Shooting Star.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

After arriving in Tokyo to live with her uncle, Suzume collapses in a nearby park where she had once seen a shooting star during the day. A handsome stranger brings her to her new home and tells her they’ll meet again. Suzume starts her first day at her new high school sitting next to a boy who blushes furiously at her touch. And her homeroom teacher is none other than the handsome stranger!



Notes:
- Includes 3 extra chapters.
- Includes the one-shot "Tsuyu Kaoru (ツユカオル, A Love Story in Moist Rainy Days)"
- Includes the one-shot "Heroine no Ryuusei (ヒロインの流星)"
- Includes the one-shot "More than Words (モア ザン ワーズ)"
- Includes the one-shot "Cookie Girl Cream Boy (クッキーガール クリームボーイ)"
- Includes the one-shot "Hibi Ryuusei: Suzume no Parallel Koukou Nikki (日々流星－すずめのパラレル高校日記－, Suzume's Parallel School Diary)"

Tags: Shoujo , Love Triangle , School , Age Gap , Female Protagonist , Teacher , Coming of Age , Heterosexual , Tsundere , Urban , Primarily Teen Cast

Kamisama Hajimemashita

Also known as Kamisama Kiss.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Romance , Supernatural

Nanami Momozono is alone and homeless after her dad skips town to evade his gambling debts and the debt collectors kick her out of her apartment. So when a man she's just saved from a dog offers her his home, she jumps at the opportunity. But it turns out that his place is a shrine, and Nanami has unwittingly taken over his job as a local deity!

Nanami has all kinda of new responsibilities she doesn't understand, dangers she's unaware of, and a cranky ex-familiar who's...actually pretty hot. What's a new-fledged godling to do?



Tags: Shoujo , Female Protagonist , Kemonomimi , Demons , Coming of Age , Youkai , Urban Fantasy , Gods , Monster Boy , Found Family , School , Yandere , Time Manipulation , Amnesia , Historical , Love Triangle , Heterosexual , Male Harem , Age Regression , Idol , Afterlife , Marriage

Hibi Chouchou

Also known as Like a Butterfly.

Status: Finished
Genres: Romance , Slice of Life

Shibazeki Suiren is a stunningly beautiful girl. When she enters high school, most of her classmates are astonished by her beauty, but after noticing her quiet manners and lack of contact with anyone else except her friends Yuri and Aya, she receives the nickname "Takane no Hana", a beautiful flower but impossible to reach. However, after a fellow freshman called Kawasumi Kouha saves her from a persistent suitor, she finds herself mesmerized by him... as he's the only boy who won't look at her no matter what.

Tags: School , Coming of Age , Shoujo , Heterosexual , Unrequited Love , Female Protagonist , Love Triangle , Primarily Teen Cast , Martial Arts

Akagami no Shirayuki-hime

Also known as Snow White with the Red Hair.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Romance

Shirayuki is famous for her naturally bright-red hair, and the prince of Tanbarun wants her all to himself! But when she escapes into the woods of the neighboring kingdom, a young man named Zen and his two friends come to her aid. But who is Zen really…?



Included one-shots:
Volume 1: Hachigatsu no Shikisai (Four-season Color of August)
Volume 2: Bokura wo Tsunaide. (Bind Us.)
Volume 14: Natsuyasumi 00-Nichime (00 Day of Summer Holiday)

Tags: Heterosexual , Shoujo , Medicine , Female Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Politics , Historical , Royal Affairs , Love Triangle , Swordplay , Unrequited Love , Assassins , LGBTQ+ Themes , Fairy Tale , Male Harem , Twins , Bisexual

Sasaki to Miyano

Also known as Sasaki and Miyano.

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

Miyano spends his days peacefully reading Boys' Love comics and worrying about how girly his face is-until a chance encounter leads to a scuffle with his senior Sasaki. Intrigued by his feisty junior Miyano, delinquent Sasaki uses every opportunity he can to get closer...



Tags: Boys' Love , Male Protagonist , School , Primarily Male Cast , Cute Boys Doing Cute Things , Otaku Culture , LGBTQ+ Themes , Meta , Shoujo , Bisexual , 4-koma , Crossdressing , Primarily Teen Cast