Manga like Subaru

Dance Dance Danseur

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

Junpei is happily snoozing away during his sister's ballet recital when a male ballet dancer steps onto the stage. Moved by the strength and skills the dancer displays, the boy discovers his love for this art.

But after a certain tragedy happens, he vows to leave his past behind and turn into the epitome of manliness. What will he do when his love for ballet reignites?!

Tags: Dancing , Male Protagonist , Seinen , Foreign , Heterosexual , School , Disability , Amputation , Primarily Teen Cast , Crossdressing , Love Triangle

Kenrantaru Grande Scène

Also known as The Magnificent Grand Scene.

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

Kanade, a girl gifted with an observing eye and an ability to get things done. This is the story about her journey discovering the beauty of classical ballet and the joy of dancing. From the popular author that brought us Vanitas, comes a romantic story that makes the beauty of classical ballet come alive.



Tags: Dancing , Coming of Age , Primarily Female Cast , Female Protagonist , Shounen , Travel , Foreign , Language Barrier , Classic Literature

Ballroom e Youkoso

Also known as Welcome to the Ballroom.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Romance , Sports

Fujita has drifted through middle school aimlessly, unable to find friends or anything that can hold his attention. Then, one day, he's attacked by a gang and saved by a mysterious man. But this isn't a karate master; it's a ballroom dance instructor! Reluctantly, Fujita takes a few beginner's classes, only to find his inspiration... an entrancing, teenage dance prodigy named Shizuku. It's Fujita's first step into the high-octane world of competitive dance!



Note: Nominated for the 6th and 8th Manga Taisho Award.

Tags: Dancing , Coming of Age , Male Protagonist , Shounen , Heterosexual , Ensemble Cast , School

SWAN

Also known as Swan.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Sports

Masumi Hijiri is a 16-year-old ballet student attending a small school in Japan. When she unexpectedly recieves an invitation to attend a special ballet competition, and later gains admission to a renowned ballet academy, she embarks on a grand adventure of friendship and hardship. She is the weakest of the students, and as such encounters several challenges, but her determination and faith in herself help guide her through the fierce world of ballet.



Tags: Shoujo , Dancing , Coming of Age , Heterosexual , Female Protagonist , Ensemble Cast

capeta

Also known as Capeta.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Sports

Taira Capeta was a 4th grader boy. He had lost his mother when he had been very little. Although he pretended to be tough in front of his father, actually he felt lonely. One day, his father brought junk parts home from his workplace and made a racing cart. Soon, they went to a circuit to drive the cart. However, Capeta found that its frame was bent and it could hardly run straight. But, with his technique he managed the cart. Furthermore, he followed soon after the fast cart and he could nearly leave it behind. The driver in the cart was Minamoto Naomoi, the champion of the East Japan Junior Cart. Looking at their chase, Naomi’s mother, Minamoto Nanako, advised Capeta to take part in the official race.



Tags: Cars , Time Skip , Shounen , Coming of Age , Male Protagonist

WonDance

Also known as Wandance.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Sports

Kaboku Kotani is starting high school, and he plans to do what he’s always done: go along with his friends, keep quiet, and not draw too much attention to himself. After all, it’s hard enough to get by with a stutter like his— why make things worse by standing out from the crowd? But then he sees another first-year, Hikari Wanda, dancing like no one is watching—or like she doesn’t care who sees her. It makes Kaboku wonder: Could he reach that same freedom? To find his way to Wanda, he does something he never thought he could: He joins the dance club. After all, every routine begins with a single step, right? Join Kaboku and Wanda as they freestyle their way to life and love!



Note: Nominated for the Tsugimanga 2020 Award in the Manga Category.

Tags: Dancing , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Disability , School Club , Seinen , School , Primarily Female Cast

3-gatsu no Lion

Also known as March Comes in Like a Lion.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

Rei Kiriyama is a child prodigy. Rei Kiriyama is also an orphan who lives alone in an empty apartment. Rei Kiriyama is a teen working in an adult's world. Life is complicated for Rei. He's an up-and-coming shogi player on the verge of turning pro, but he has no homelife, or much of a life period,outside his board game, but thankfully with the help of some life-long friends he has an opportunity start all over again.



Notes:
Winner of the Grand Prize at the 4th Manga Taishou Award in 2011.
Winner of the 35th Kodansha Manga Award in 2011.
Winner of the Grand Prize at the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2014.
Winner of the Grand Prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival in 2021.

Tags: Coming of Age , Philosophy , Family Life , Rehabilitation , Seinen , Shogi , Found Family , Male Protagonist , Bullying , Iyashikei , Food , Heterosexual , Board Game , Tragedy , Age Gap , School Club , Adoption , Love Triangle

Piano no Mori

Also known as Forest of Piano.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music

This is a story about a piano, pitifully abandoned in the woods, and a young boy, Kai, who grew up playing it as his favorite toy. While Kai cannot even read sheet music, one day, he meets Shuhei Amamiya, an aspiring child pianist who transfers schools from Tokyo, and their music teacher, Sosuke Ajino. Ajino was also once a gifted pianist, until a tragic accident stole his promising future from him forever. Each from a different background, the trio’s personalities gravitate to one another and rebound. All the while, the piano sits patiently, awaiting a hand to play it.



Tags: Musical Theater , Foreign , Seinen , Teacher , Male Protagonist , Crossdressing , Band , Gangs , Family Life , Gender Bending , Classical Music , Classic Literature

Lady Love

Status: Finished
Genres: Romance , Sports

Michelle is passionate about ballet but belongs to a poor family that can not afford the Academy of Dance. However, a prima ballerina who takes a liking to Michelle decides to help: Oriella Siorella. Michelle sees her benefactress as an idol and aspires to be like her but is shocked when Siorella falls from grace when a new dancer arrives, named Olivia Ann. The series narrate Michelle's pursuit in her passion, dance, and the entertainment world in Italy.

Tags: Shoujo

Do Da Dancin'!

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Sports

Sakuraba Taiko has been into ballet since she was a kid. Her mother also used to dance, although she gave it up to take a more traditional life path. Therefore, she was eagerly supportive of Taiko's interest in ballet. Taiko's life was staggered by the death of her mother in a car accident, but she has continued to dance, although her heart is no longer in it. Her remaining family and childhood friends support her as she chases her dream to become a famous dancer.

Her latest role is in the ballet "Giselle" as Myrta, the queen of the Wilis, spirits of young, virginal women who died before their wedding day. One day when she comes to the studio, she meets a beautiful, famous male ballet dancer, Mikami Akira, and she instantly crushes on him. Will she be able to dance well enough in her role to impress him and live up to the expectations of the whole ballet group? Will she be able to sort out her own feelings towards ballet and her mother's death?

Tags: Josei , Dancing