8 Best Josei Anime, Ranked (2024)

Josei anime is a genre that is typically targeted at young adult (or full adult) women. When compared to shojo, it tends to be a bit more mature in terms of the plot and themes present. If you are growing up and want a more realistic view of the world through anime, then josei is a great genre.

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There are a lot of josei anime out there, but thankfully, we've got you covered. In this list, we are going to go over some of the best josei anime that you can watch. It's important to first note that some anime we've included can be considered more than one genre, but overall, we've included options that appeal to young adults looking for something more than the typical shojo.

8 Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju

8 Best Josei Anime, Ranked (2)

First up, we have Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju. This may be a mouthful for some people, but there is no equivalent English name that the show goes by. This anime follows Yotaro, who has recently been released from prison and wants to be a rakugo performer.

Rakugo is essentially Japanese storytelling that features one performing sitting on a stage with a variety of props. Overall, the show has a solid plot and provides a peek into Japan during a less-modern period. Typical rakugo can be quite funny, so you can expect to chuckle while watching too.

7 Honey And Clover

Honey and Clover was originally published in a shojo magazine, but was eventually moved to a josei magazine; as such, you can think of it like a 'shojosei'. In Honey and Clover, you can follow along with the life of a group of five art school students navigating through life.

Watching Honey and Cloves feels deeply personal, as you'll watch these characters grow and develop over the course of the show. Honey and Clover is realistic in terms of how it portrays young adulthood as well as romance, making it a great watch.

6 Nodame Cantabile

8 Best Josei Anime, Ranked (4)

So far, we've covered history and art, so why not talk about a music-related anime? Nodame Cantabile follows Nodame and Chiaki as they attend a music college. There are no outlandish scenarios, sci-fi elements, or supernatural beings; instead, this is an honest show about the relationship between two people.

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Of course, things don't go smoothly. You can watch the antics between Nodame and Chiaki, as well as catch a glimpse into the music world that they both live in.

5 Chihayafuru

8 Best Josei Anime, Ranked (6)

While josei anime often takes place outside of highschool, this isn't always the case. One great josei anime set in high school is Chihayafuru. This anime follows Chihaya, who strives to become the best competitive karuta player. This is essentially a card game based on poetry that can be quite action-packed.

Chihayafuru does a phenomenal job of making the anime feel more than just a high school drama. While watching, you will get to know the three main characters as they traverse through the early stages of adulthood.

4 Nana

8 Best Josei Anime, Ranked (7)

If you have had any previous interest in josei anime, then you probably know Nana. While technically published in a shojo magazine, Nana has all the right ingredients for a solid josei anime. This includes stressful jobs, adult roommates, romance, and an endearing friendship between two women who are both named Nana.

Nana K. (nicknamed Hachi) and Nana O. come from different backgrounds, but while meeting on the way to Tokyo, the two develop a beautiful friendship that is repeatedly put to the test. The side characters in Nana are great too, including the other members of Nana O's band, the Black Stones.

3 Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku

8 Best Josei Anime, Ranked (8)

While the name may seem comical, Wotakoi is an endearing story about finding love and friendship as an adult. In the anime, you'll get to know Narumi and Hirotaka, who become a couple pretty early into the show. As a couple, you can experience little moments between these two otaku.

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Sometimes, being an adult with 'otaku' interests can feel lonely, but Wotakoi proves that there is someone for everyone out there. Of course, you can also watch the two main characters (along with the loveable side characters) game and even dive into an MMORPG together.

2 Princess Jellyfish

8 Best Josei Anime, Ranked (10)

Speaking of otaku, Princess Jellyfish follows the story of Tsukimi, who is a jellyfish otaku. As an extra-introverted otaku, Tsukimi lives in an apartment that only houses other women otaku, making for some humourous encounters.

Princess Jellyfish is one of my favorite anime on this list, as well as my favorite manga. Both the show and manga will have you constantly laughing! I also recommend checking out other work from the mangaka, Akiko Higarshimura. Her manga Tokyo Tarareba Girls doesn't have an anime, but it's a hilarious read with a touch of romance.

The real fun comes when Tsukimi meets Kuranosuke, who is a young man who likes to cross-dress. While this may sound strange, Princess Jellyfish is a beautiful story about a found family, and truly embracing the things that you love.

1 Paradise Kiss

8 Best Josei Anime, Ranked (11)

In first place, we have Paradise Kiss. This is another manga by Ai Yazawa, who also wrote Nana. At its heart, Paradise Kiss is a fashion anime. In it, you can follow the story of Yukari, who befriends a group of students attending a fashion school.

Paradise Kiss takes place at the same school as Neighborhood Story (also by Yazawa), with a few common characters. Neighborhood Story takes place before Paradise Kiss, and came out about four years before. While it's fun to spot Easter eggs, they are stand-alone stories.

Yukari comes from a completely different world, but her world seems to broaden upon meeting this group of designers. Although Paradise Kiss is set in high school, the show does an amazing job of depicting real-life relationships that aren't always perfect. Overall, Ai Yazawa is the queen of josei, and it shows in both Paradise Kiss and Nana.

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8 Best Josei Anime, Ranked (2024)

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