Summary
Romance mangacan often be a rather mixed bag. Some rom-coms are mostly silly hijinks between romantic leads, serious dramas where every chapter is rife with misunderstandings and melodramatic emotions, or harem stories that are filled with fanservice from top to bottom.
Seinen romances, while frequently featuring similar kinds of stories as shonen stories, tend to be more mature due to the nature of their older audience, giving them more freedom to explore complex ideas. Here are some of the best seinen romance manga, ranked by their MyAnimeList score.
10SaiKano
MAL Score: 7.90
An abbreviation ofSaishuu Heiki Kanojo,SaiKanotells the story of Shuji and Chise, two high school students who are newly dating. While Shuji struggles with being inexperienced and clueless when it comes to romance, he also has to deal with the fact that his girlfriend is actually a cyborg weapon used for war.
SaiKanois a romance storywhile also being a sort of science fiction war drama. The relationship between Shuji and Chise is as important as the world-ending conflicts going around them, and the two stories are inexplicably intertwined.
9My Dress-Up Darling
MAL Score: 8.00
Wakana Gojo is a quiet and unassuming young man who is immersed in the world of traditional doll-making. Scarred by rejection in the past, Gojo keeps his odd hobby to himself until he is suddenly found sewing by Marin Kitagawa, who immediately begs him to help him make her cosplays.
My Dress-Up Darlingis a romantic comedy focused on the world of cosplaying, both making them and wearing them. At the same time, it’s also a refreshingly wholesome romance where Gojo learns to be more confident in what he enjoys.
8The Kawai Complex Guide To Manors And Hostel Behaviors
MAL Score: 8.13
Kazunari Usa moves into the Kawai Complex to be more independent and live away from his parents. However, his dream life is ruined by the bizarre and overbearing residents of the complex, who all badger him relentlessly with selfish requests and bothersome demands. His only saving grace is the presence of Ritsu Kawai, a quiet, book-loving girl he has fallen in love with.
The Kawai Complex Guide to Manors and Hostel Behaviorsis a hilarious rom-com where the humor comes from watching these ridiculous characters interact with each other. At the same time, there’s an incredibly wholesome relationship building between Kazunari and Ritsu, one that is slow but certainly steady.
7Emma
MAL Score: 8.15
Emma is a young woman who came to work as a maid under Kelly Stownar, and then later as a maid for the Molders. While working as a maid, she falls in love with William Jones, the son of a wealthy merchant family. William returns her feelings, but in a time where class is everything, there are many roadblocks to their love bearing fruit.
Emmaisa historical manga taking place in Victorian Londonand features a classic story of love crossing over classes. The attention to detail is astounding, and the love story being told is both wholesome and heart-wrenching at the same time.
6Sweat And Soap
MAL Score: 8.16
Asako Yaeshima is a slightly plain woman working at a cosmetics company who tends to sweat more than the average person. She tries to hide the scent of her sweat with her company’s fragrances, but instead of masking her scent, she ends up drawing the attention of Kotaro Natori, a fragrance developer with a keen sense of smell.
Sweat and Soapis a slightly unconventional romance manga that revolves around smells and scents. However, underneath that is a very wholesome relationship between Natori and Asako, and while there is a bit of drama, it’s a largely light-hearted love story.
5Maison Ikkoku
Yusaku Godai has been trying to get into college after failing multiple times. His studying time is constantly interrupted by his rowdy and rambunctious neighbors, who constantly drag him into drinking parties regardless of his wishes. Fed up, he declares his intent to move out - but when he meets the new manager, Kyoko Otonashi, he suddenly decides to stay after all.
Maison Ikkokuisyet another romantic comedy by the legendary Rumiko Takahashi. However, it’s quite different from her usual works, being a much more grounded romance that features more mature characters and plotlines.
4Your Name
MAL Score: 8.39
Mitsuha Miyamizu lives in the countryside dreaming of a life in the city, while Taki Tachibana is a city boy planning a career in architecture. One day, the two discover that whenever they fall asleep, they find themselves in each other’s bodies, living their lives.
Your Namewasan incredibly popular movie by Makoto Shinkai, and its manga adaptation is no less enjoyable. While it might not be better than the movie, it’s a decent read for anyone who is a fan.
3Insomniacs After School
MAL Score: 8.46
Ganta Nakami is known for being a grumpy and unfriendly high school boy. Unbeknownst to most others, Ganta’s grumpiness comes from his insomnia, which keeps him from getting a good night’s sleep. His life changes when he meets the freewheeling Isaki Magari, who, to his surprise, also suffers from insomnia.
Insomniacs After Schoolis a cozy and slow-moving romance story between two characters struggling to get over their insomnia. There’s a lot of personal introspection alongside the growing relationship between the two leads, and their personal growth is as big a part of the story as their romance.
2A Bride’s Story
MAL Score: 8.56
As a sort of political marriage between clans, Amir Halgal is married to Karluk Eihon, a boy eight years her junior. Despite being separated from her family, Amir makes the best of her new life, making connections with her new family and friends.
A Bride’s Storyisa historical romance manga set in the Middle Eastduring the 19th century, featuring fantastic artwork and blistering detail. The series covers the stories of several brides living in different locations within the area, covering it very much like a historical documentary.
1Kaguya-sama: Love Is War
MAL Score: 8.91
Kaguya Shinomiya is the Student Council vice president of Shuchiin High School, an institution attended by the richest and most powerful children in Japan. She is in love with the Student Council president, Miyuki Shirogane, but refuses to confess herself. Little does she know that Shirogane is thinking the same thing as the two desperately attempt to get the other to confess first.
Kaguya-sama: Love Is Waris probablyone of the most popular romantic comedies around, and the manga is no different. The hilarious antics the two get up to as they try to catch the other slipping is iconic, yet the romance between the two can also be incredibly heartwarming.
