Top Josei Anime Recommendations

Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii

Also known as Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
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

Given

Also known as given.

Studio: Lerche
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

Tightly clutching his Gibson guitar, Mafuyu Satou steps out of his dark apartment to begin another day of his high school life. While taking a nap in a quiet spot on the gymnasium staircase, he has a chance encounter with fellow student Ritsuka Uenoyama, who berates him for letting his guitar's strings rust and break. Noticing Uenoyama's knowledge of the instrument, Satou pleads for him to fix it and to teach him how to play. Uenoyama eventually agrees and invites him to sit in on a jam session with his two band mates: bassist Haruki Nakayama and drummer Akihiko Kaji.

Satou's voice is strikingly beautiful, filling Uenoyama with the determination to make Satou the lead singer of the band. Though reticent at first, Satou takes the offer after an emotional meeting with an old friend. With the support of his new friends, Satou must not only learn how to play guitar, but also come to terms with the mysterious circumstances that led him to be its owner.



Tags: Band , Boys' Love , Male Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast , LGBTQ+ Themes , Coming of Age , Primarily Teen Cast , Suicide , Tragedy , Rehabilitation , Cute Boys Doing Cute Things , Urban , School , Josei , Bisexual , Rock Music , Ensemble Cast , CGI , Basketball , Tsundere

Net-juu no Susume

Also known as Recovery of an MMO Junkie.

Studio: Signal.MD
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

Moriko Morioka is a 30-year-old single NEET woman. After dropping out from reality, she has taken off in search for a fulfilling life and ended up in a net game or "netoge." In the netoge world, she began her new life as a refreshing and handsome character named Hayashi. While starting out as a beginner, a pretty character named Lily reached out to help her. Meanwhile, in the real world, awaits a shocking encounter with a good-looking elite company employee, a mysterious blue-eyed blonde.



Tags: Video Games , Virtual World , Hikikomori , Female Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Otaku Culture , Heterosexual , Gender Bending , Josei , Parody , Konbini , Love Triangle

Chihayafuru

Also known as Chihayafuru.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Slice of Life , Sports

Chihaya Ayase is a girl who has spent most of her life simply supporting her sister in her model career. That changes when she meets a boy named Arata Wataya, a talented karuta player who recognizes Chihaya's potential to become a great player herself. As Chihaya takes on a new dream of becoming Japan's best karuta player, she is soon separated from her karuta playing friends, Taichi Mashima and Arata Wataya, as they grow up. Now in high school, Chihaya still continues to play karuta in the hope that she will one day meet her friends again.



Tags: Karuta , Female Protagonist , School Club , Coming of Age , Love Triangle , Josei , School , Heterosexual , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Unrequited Love , Athletics , Bullying , Slapstick , Tomboy , CGI

Senpai ga Uzai Kouhai no Hanashi

Also known as My Senpai is Annoying.

Studio: Doga Kobo
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

Being seen as a full-fledged business woman isn’t easy for Futaba Igarashi when her senpai, Harumi, treats her like a kid. Days for her are never typical, at work or outside of it, with all the antics going on in her life. As mishaps ensue, she’ll find herself growing closer with her loudmouth senpai. Maybe Futaba feels more than she lets on, but one thing’s for sure: she’s still annoyed!



Tags: Office Lady , Primarily Adult Cast , Female Protagonist , Work , Office , Tsundere , Heterosexual , Josei , Age Gap , Urban , Ensemble Cast , Tomboy , Male Protagonist , Tanned Skin , Video Games , Cosplay , Coming of Age , Basketball

Usagi Drop

Also known as Bunny Drop.

Studio: Production I.G
Status: Finished
Genres: Slice of Life

Going home from his grandfather's funeral, thirty-year-old Daikichi is floored to discover that the old man had an illegitimate child with a younger lover. The rest of his family is equally shocked and embarrassed by this surprise development, and not one of them wants anything to do with the silent little girl, Rin Kaga. In a fit of anger, Daikichi decides to take her in himself. As Daikichi nurtures Rin, he started to understand the struggle while at the same time the joy of parenting.



Tags: Iyashikei , Found Family , Family Life , Adoption , Orphan , Parenthood , Josei , Male Protagonist , Work

Honzuki no Gekokujou: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen

Also known as Ascendance of a Bookworm.

Studio: Ajiado
Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Slice of Life

Anime adaptation of Part 1 of Honzuki no Gekokujou.

When a sickly young girl suddenly becomes obsessed with inventing new things, her family and friends are all puzzled. "What has gotten into Myne?" they wondered, never dreaming that the answer is not a "What" but a "Who": Urano Motosu, a book-loving apprentice librarian who died in an earthquake in Tokyo who somehow found herself in Myne's body! And since Myne's world is still in a medieval stage, where books can only be owned by the elite, the new Myne intends to do everything she can to bring her beloved books to the masses in the time she has left.



Note: The first episode was included in a bonus DVD that came with the limited edition of the 8th volume of Part 4 of the light novel that was released on September 10th, 2019 prior to its TV premiere.

Tags: Class Struggle , Reincarnation , Female Protagonist , Isekai , Work , Age Regression , Economics , Family Life , Primarily Child Cast , Educational , Orphan , Josei , Magic , Adoption , Historical , Makeup , Archery , Time Skip , Achromatic , Chibi

Given Movie

Also known as Given The Movie.

Studio: Lerche
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance

The film centers on the love relationship among the band's bassist Haruki Nakayama, drummer Akihiko Kaji, and Akihiko's roommate and ex-boyfriend Ugetsu Murata.



Tags: Love Triangle , Band , Boys' Love , Male Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast , LGBTQ+ Themes , Primarily Adult Cast , Bisexual , Josei , Rock Music , Tragedy , CGI

Sakamichi no Apollon

Also known as Kids on the Slope.

Studio: Tezuka Productions , MAPPA
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

The beginning of summer, 1966.

Because of his father's job situation, freshman high school student Kaoru Nishimi moves by himself from Yokosuka to Kyushu to live with relatives. Until then, Kaoru was an honor roll student who tended to keep to himself, but meeting notorious bad boy Sentaro Kawabuchi starts to change him. Through his devil-may-care classmate, Kaoru learns the attractions of jazz and finds the first person he can call a "friend". He also discovers how much fun it is to play music with a pal.

Other characters include Sentaro's kind childhood chum, Ritsuko, who is the daughter of a record shop owner; the mysterious upperclassman, Yurika; and Brother Jun, the much-admired leader among their peers. Set against the backdrop of a seaside town with a scent of American culture, this series is a drama about young people coming into their own, crossing each other's paths, and finding friendship, love, and music!



Tags: Coming of Age , Band , Love Triangle , Josei , Jazz Music , Male Protagonist , Heterosexual , Found Family , Primarily Male Cast , School , Rural , Religion , Historical , Primarily Teen Cast , Age Gap , Time Skip

Uramichi Oniisan

Also known as Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan.

Studio: Studio Blanc
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Slice of Life

Being an adult is hard. For 31-year-old Uramichi Omota, that depressing truth weighs on him. While on TV, he’s an upbeat exercise instructor for a children’s show, but sometimes he can’t keep his sardonic comments to himself. Even his coworkers, a pair of mascots and a singing duo, keep revealing the plight of adulthood on air. Regardless, they’re working through it one a day at a time.



Tags: Work , Satire , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Acting , Episodic , Ensemble Cast , Meta , Josei , Musical Theater , Primarily Male Cast , Acrobatics

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

Koori Zokusei Danshi to Cool na Douryou Joshi

Also known as The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague.

Studio: Zero-G , Liber
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life , Supernatural

The setting is a workplace where a snowy-white romance blows in like a blizzard.

Himuro is a descendant of yuki-onnas living in modern times and a newbie office worker. When he gets emotionally overwhelmed, he ends up causing blizzards or starts building snowmen and igloos. Whenever his secret romantic feelings for his unique yet kind coworker Fuyutsuki intensify, he sometimes ends up freezing those around him. Then, there's Fuyutsuki. Everyone always sees her as the cool type, but Fuyutsuki is actually also pretty curious about her mysterious coworker, Himuro.

Their relationship continues to gradually evolve daily through work and work events. Eventually, they start to spend time with each other outside of work, but they're both a bit awkward when it comes to love, so they just can't seem to get closer... 

A heartwarming workplace fantasy romcom starring a seemingly cool couple is about to begin!



Tags: Office Lady , Primarily Adult Cast , Heterosexual , Iyashikei , Work , Youkai , Kuudere , Super Power , Urban Fantasy , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Josei , Office , Kemonomimi , Episodic , Tsundere , Age Regression , Shrine Maiden

Kumichou Musume to Sewagakari

Also known as The Yakuza's Guide to Babysitting.

Studio: feel. , Gaina
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Slice of Life

Kirishima Tooru was accustomed to solving all problems through violence and was called “the Demon of Sakuragi.” One day, the boss of the Sakuragi family suddenly summons Kirishima and appoints him caretaker of his only daughter, Yaeka! A heartwarming comedy about a yakuza crime family’s right-hand man and the boss’ only daughter. The two of them are about to begin their new daily lives together!



Tags: Family Life , Yakuza , Josei , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Found Family , Parenthood , Primarily Adult Cast , Urban , Anti-Hero , Guns , Iyashikei , Food , Delinquents , Tragedy , Suicide , LGBTQ+ Themes , Primarily Male Cast , Episodic

Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii OVA

Studio: A-1 Pictures , Lapin Track
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

The first OVA titled Sore wa, ikinari otozureta=koi was released on March 29, 2019.
The second OVA titled Tomodachi no Kyori was released on February 26, 2021.
The third OVA titled Shain Ryokou to Negaigoto was released on October 14, 2021.

Note: Unaired episodes bundled with the special edition of the 7th, 10th and 11th manga volumes.

Tags: Otaku Culture , Primarily Adult Cast , Josei , Heterosexual , Tsundere , Work , Episodic , Volleyball , School , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Tomboy , Athletics , Chibi , Virtual World , Marriage , Gender Bending

Koi to Yobu ni wa Kimochi Warui

Also known as Koikimo.

Studio: Nomad
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

One rainy day, salaryman Amakusa Ryou is saved by a high school girl he doesn't know at the station. He later finds out that the girl is Arima Ichika. Ryou is somewhat of a womanizer and to repay her for saving him, he suggests giving her a kiss or going out on a date with her, in which Ichika tells him he's creepy. This, however, opens a new door for Ryou and he falls madly in love with her. Ever since then, Ryou tries to overly express his feelings to Ichika. Ichika just keeps insulting him and says he's being creepy, but he just seems to take it as her way of showing affection towards him...



Note: The show streamed in advance on Amazon Prime Video on March 29, 2021. Regular broadcast started on April 5, 2021.

Tags: Age Gap , Female Protagonist , Love Triangle , Heterosexual , Male Protagonist , Josei , Urban , School , Yandere , Otaku Culture , Ensemble Cast

Honzuki no Gekokujou: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen 2nd Season

Also known as Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 2.

Studio: Ajiado
Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Slice of Life

Anime adaptation of Part 2 (Volume 1 & 2) of Honzuki no Gekokujou.

When Myne learns that the temple is in need of mana for their relics, she sees it as her chance to be cured of her life-threatening mana disorder. After seeing their bountiful library, she throws herself headfirst into the temple's grasp and begs to join their order. In exchange for her service and her unusually bountiful supply of mana, Myne is given the blue robes of a noble-born apprentice shrine maiden, despite being a commoner. To Myne, all this talk of mana and nobility is trivial, as she now has access to an unlimited supply of books!
As Myne transitions into the next phase of her life in this new world, she soon learns that achieving her dream has come at a heavy cost. Noble society is severe, unforgiving, and fueled by politics and neglect. She must now deal with the class conflict between the noble-born blue robes and the common-born grey robes, the High Bishop's attempts to oust her, and constant behavioral issues from her new retainers. With the help of her family, friends, and the enigmatic High Priest whose loyalties and motives remain unknown, Myne seeks to overcome these obstacles and continue on the path to becoming her ideal self—the ultimate librarian!



Tags: Isekai , Female Protagonist , Reincarnation , Work , Class Struggle , Historical , Magic , Economics , Josei , Orphan , Found Family , Chibi

Kuragehime

Also known as Princess Jellyfish.

Studio: Brain's Base
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

Plain, timid and obsessed with jellyfish, Tsukimi is a far cry from her idea of a princess. Her tepid life as a jobless illustrator comes complete with roommates who harbor diehard hobbies that solidify their status as hopeless social rejects. These wallflowers run a tight, nun-like ship, but their no-men-allowed-not-no-one-not-no-how bubble is unwittingly burst after Tsukimi brings home a rescued sea jelly and a beauty queen... who's actually a guy.

When the threat of losing their cozy convent inspires this glamour boy to turn the neurotic entourage into a portrait of success, will Tsukimi take her chance to bloom, or will she end up a hot mess?



Tags: Josei , Crossdressing , Female Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Slapstick , Otaku Culture , Makeup , Primarily Female Cast , Found Family , Gender Bending , Femboy , Fashion , Ensemble Cast , Love Triangle , Heterosexual , Urban , LGBTQ+ Themes , Politics , Drawing

Nodame Cantabile

Studio: J.C. Staff
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

Shinichi Chiaki is a first class musician whose dream is to play among the elites in Europe. Coming from a distinguished family, he is an infamous perfectionist; not only is he highly critical of himself, but of others as well. The only thing stopping Chiaki from leaving for Europe is his fear of flying. As a result, he's grounded in Japan.

During his 4th year at Japan's top music university, Chiaki happens to meet Noda Megumi; or as she refers to herself, Nodame. On the surface, she seems to be an unkempt girl with no direction in life. However, when Chiaki hears Nodame play the piano for the first time, he is in awe at the kind of music she plays. To Chiaki's dismay, Nodame moves into the apartment next to his and finds out that she is head over heels in love with him.

Nodame Cantabile tells the story of Chiaki and Nodame, as they not only learn to deal with each other, but learn lessons from one another as they strive for the top of the musical world.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Tags: Josei , Primarily Adult Cast , Heterosexual , College , Classical Music , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Band , Slapstick , CGI , Tsundere , LGBTQ+ Themes

Koroshi Ai

Also known as Love of Kill.

Studio: Platinum Vision
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Psychological , Romance

Two assassins face off. The cool bounty hunter Chateau and the mysterious and powerful Ryang-ha. Chateau and Ryang-ha become enemies after this fight—at least, they should have, but for some reason Ryang-ha takes a liking to Chateau and begins following her around.

Little by little, Chateau develops a cooperative partnership with Ryang-ha, which gets her caught up in the struggle against the organizations hunting him down. Furthermore, that battle is related to her past as well. Two mismatched assassins weave together a twisted "Assassin X Assassin" thriller. The strange gears of fate begin to move.



Note: The first episode had an early premiere at AnimeNYC 2021.

Tags: Assassins , Heterosexual , Josei , Amnesia , Urban , Adoption , Female Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Ships , Crime , Guns , Male Protagonist , Yandere , Age Gap , Police , Foreign , Suicide , Gore

Hachimitsu to Clover

Also known as Honey and Clover.

Studio: J.C. Staff
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

Takemoto Yuuta, Mayama Takumi, and Morita Shinobu are college students who share the small apartment. Even though they live in poverty, the three of them are able to obtain pleasure through small things in life. The story follows these characters' life stories as poor college students, as well as their love lives when a short but talented 18 year old girl called Hanamoto Hagumi appears.



Tags: Coming of Age , Josei , Male Protagonist , College , Primarily Adult Cast , Heterosexual , Love Triangle , Primarily Male Cast , Unrequited Love , Drawing , Chibi , Kuudere