Summary
Romance manga with adult protagonists offer a refreshing change from high school love stories, allowing the mangaka to explore more complex components of adult relationships. Perfect World and Tokyo Tarareba Girls explore the bittersweet complications and self-discovery of adult romance. My Androgynous Boyfriend and Smoking Behind the Supermarket have you about adorable couples with vibrant chemistry.
The romance genre has always been popular with anime and manga fans, with a variety of stories and couples keeping fans entertained. However, many adult manga readers can often become exhausted from reading high school romance over and over again. Luckily, due to the diverse nature of romance manga, there are many excellently written series with adult protagonists..
Making adult characters the center of attention in a romance series is a great opportunity for mangaka to develop their creativity, especially in a real-life context, by solving complex problems. Very real issues that adult couples face. Whether it’s lifelong love or a quick breakup, adult romance can be just as complicated and dramatic as its teenage counterpart.
10 perfect worlds
Created by Rie Aruga
Perfect World follows Tsugumi Kawana, an average 26-year-old balancing her daily life and career when she unexpectedly reunites with her high school friend and first love: Itsuki Ayakawa. However, what is more surprising is that Ayakawa is no longer able to walk on her own and must use a wheelchair. Excited to reunite with an old friend and still yearning for something more, Tsugumi takes the time to reconnect with a reluctant Ayakawa.
Not only does Perfect World prominently feature a unique male lead, the film also blatantly deals with the bittersweet complications that come with Tsugumi and Ayakawa’s relationship.. A romance between two people takes time and allows the couple to learn and grow thoroughly before deciding to commit to each other and their unique struggles.
Available through Kodansha
9 Tarareba Tokyo girls
Created by Akiko Higashimura
From the creator of Princess Jellyfish, Tokyo Tarareba Girls has all the wit of Higashimura’s other popular josei series combined with the existential dread of being a single woman in her 30s. Manga focused Enter Rinko, a constantly trying screenwriter who is still single at the age of 33. She often hangs out with her two best friends at school, Kaori and Koyuki to lament about her love troubles and complain. about their daily lives.
One fateful night, the trio are interrupted by a handsome young man named Key, who tells them that the reason they are unlucky in love is because they focus too much on the “what ifs” in their lives. life. Tokyo Tarareba Girls is incredibly insightful in its handling of modern dating for individuals in their late 20s and early 30sand like Higashimura’s previous work, there’s an emphasis on self-discovery as the main characters navigate their messy love lives.
Available through Kodansha
8 My androgynous boyfriend
Created by Tamekou
Featuring another unique pairing, My Androgynous Boyfriend is a fun, colorful josei manga detailing the lives of Wako Machida and Meguru Soma. Meguru is a beautiful young man obsessed with the latest fashion and makeup trends, asserting himself by making sure he stands out fashionably in any crowd. Wako is also obsessed with beauty and constantly wears her boyfriend’s outfits. My bisexual boyfriend explores romance and gender expression in a fun and colorful way. Tamekou’s vibrant character art makes the couple’s adorable energy something every hopeless romantic should strive for.
Available through Seven Seas Entertainment
7 There’s something wrong with us
Created byNatsumi Ando
Murder, revenge, romance and traditional Japanese sweets all combine to create a near-perfect storm in Something’s Wrong With Us, a series perfect for fans sworn enemies to romantic love stories. Continuing her mother’s legacy, Nao decided to pursue a career in traditional Japanese confectionery. With her unprecedented skill and determination, Nao wins a position at a top candy store, but when she meets the owner – a cold-faced man named Tsubaki – she falls into worried and paranoid, because Tsubaki is someone from her past. blamed her mother for her murder.
Balancing the cold and cutthroat company she now works for, Nao begins to dig deeper into Tsubaki’s history and life to try to uncover the truth about what happened that night as well as try to Trying to clarify her mother’s name. While Something’s Wrong With Us may captivate readers with its complex murder mystery plot, the series also successfully builds on the tense history between Nao and Tsubaki, giving the two perfect chemistry. perfect for pushing their romance beyond typical conventions in the genre..
Available through Kodansha
6 Smoking After the Supermarket With Friends
Created by Jinushi
After causing a stir with its captivating first chapter, Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You proved to be an adorable love affair between an exhausted salaryman and a supermarket employee with dual personalities. Public opinion is very different. Sasaki, a cranky man whose only joy after a tiring day at work is the cheerful, optimistic attitude of Yamada – a cute girl who works at the supermarket he stops by on his way home. One night, after deciding to hang around the back of the bar to smoke, Sasaki meets Tayama – a charming girl with sharp taste and a sarcastic sense of humor. Sasaki has no idea that his new smoking friend is the same Yamada he has a crush on.
Smoking behind the supermarket with his friends is still going on and as of writing, Sasaki still hasn’t figured out Tayama’s true identity. Notwithstanding, The infectious banter and chemistry between the two leads makes them a couple worth watching.. Plus, Sasaki’s constant aloofness towards the whole situation is hopelessly adorable.
Available through Square Enix
5 Everyone is getting married
Created by Izumi Miyazono
Asuka Takanashi, an extremely successful, career-oriented woman, dreams of getting married and becoming a perfect housewife. She felt like she was finally about to achieve her dream when suddenly, her boyfriend of five years suddenly decided to dump her. She soon comes into contact with a famous announcer named Ryu Nanami and the two have great chemistry. However, there is only one clear problem for Asuka – Ryu doesn’t want to get married.
Following the standard rhythms of a typical “opposites attract” romantic comedy, Everybody Gets Married is a fun, heartfelt story about finding balance despite a couple’s differences and being able to grow with their partner as their life goals and desires grow. Their lives change over time. The manga is also relatively short, making it a fascinating read for Josei fans.
Available through Viz Media
4 firefly weddings
By Oreco Tachibana
Firefly Wedding is a highly historical romance manga revolving around Satoko, the eldest daughter of the prestigious Kirigaya family, who has received many marriage proposals in the past because of her natural beauty. However, Satoko rejected each of these potential suitors because of a heart condition she kept secret. One day, Satoko is kidnapped by a group of criminals – one of whom is the series’ male protagonist, Shinpei Gotou – who are assigned to assassinate her.
In a desperate gamble to save her own life, Satoko begged Gotou that she had loved him at first sight and she wanted to marry him. He agreed and the two escaped. The firefly wedding is heart-wrenching in so many ways and the manga does a great job of building the tension.
Read now on Comicey
3 Sweat & Soap
Created by Kintetsu Yamada
While its admittedly odd premise is likely to deter prospective fans, Sweat & Soap has proven itself time and again to be one of the best romance manga ever written in throughout the series. The film tells the story of Asako, an employee at a high-end soap company, who feels insecure about her body odor. Hints at her unexpected prince charming, Koutarou, an incredibly talented perfume developer at the same company, who falls in love with her – because of her natural scent.
Sweat & Soap captures every important moment between the couple – their awkward first meeting, the adjustments they make when they move in together, meeting Asako’s family, etc. Even if things aren’t picture-perfect for the couple, Asako and Koutarou are the perfect example of what it means to find “the one.”.
Available through Kodansha
2 Signs of affection
By suu Morishita
With the anime adaptation set to air starting in January, there’s no better time to enjoy A Sign of Affection from artist-writer duo suu Morishita. The series follows Yuki, a young deaf college student who is navigating adult life when she meets Itsuomi, a well-traveled upperclassman whom she befriends and begins teaching sign language.
As the story progresses, a relationship begins to develop between the two. A Sign of Affection is an adorable “meet cute” romance with a unique couple that uses strong themes while still telling a tender love story.
Available through Kodansha
1 Wotakoi
Created by Fujita
The world of dating can be difficult for extreme otaku – a topic that has never been addressed better than in Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku. Focusing on three different couples, Wotakoi begins as a laid-back romantic comedy set in an office before gradually transitioning into a deeper, more mature romantic story. The series features references to popular anime, manga, and video games, making it relatable to any hobbyist trying to find lasting love..
With both the popular anime and live-action accompanying the hit manga, it’s clear that Wotakoi has become a modern classic in the romance genre. Its unrelenting charm and relatable cast make it an absolute staple for romance comic fans new and old.
Available through Kodansha
