In this article, we will see a list of the best animes of the Josei genre, those aimed at a more mature female audience. Josei [女性] can be literally translated as "woman".
These titles tend to be more mature, generally focused on realistic situations, such as professional life or romance. Josei is the counterpart of Seinen, a demographic group aimed at teens and older men.
Table of Content
Nodame Cantabile
The studious and tense Chiaki is known as the best pianist in his school and dreams of becoming a world-class conductor like his idol, Viera; but his fear of flying (which makes it impossible to study abroad) combined with a recent breakup and dismissal from his piano instructor makes this future seem grim and unlikely.
After collapsing outside his apartment, drunk, Chiaki inadvertently meets a young woman named Nodame who, despite being quite talented at the piano, is filthy, clumsy, and casual. Despite being almost opposites, the two begin to grow closer and work together to overcome obstacles in their careers.
The anime is complete with several seasons and specials, full of comedy and romance, also featuring a lot of the music world and the reality of adult life. A classic josei and a favorite among fans of animes de música.
Chihayafuru
Chihaya Ayase is one of the most beautiful and famous girls in the school, but she is far from a conventional girl. Three years ago, in her senior year of elementary school, Chihaya and her friend Taichi fell in love with the card game, Karuta, after bonding with a lonely boy named Arata Wataya.
But when the trio graduated from elementary school, they each went their separate ways but shared a common goal: to excel in the game and find themselves in the national championships. Now, Chihaya is trying to share her passion for the game by creating a competitive Karuta club at school, but when she reunites with Taichi, it seems like maybe she's the one intent on fulfilling her childhood promise.
The anime has 3 seasons and although it is about a traditional card game from Japan, the battles and the atmosphere of the anime are quite striking and fun, only the romance takes a bit of a backseat, but the plot of the anime itself is perfect.
Denpa Kyoushi
When a petty thug is released from prison, he is determined to change his life by becoming an apprentice to the grandmaster of Rakugo Yakumo VIII, inspired by his performance in "Shinigami" during his incarceration.
Surprisingly, the old man agrees to train him and takes his new apprentice into his house to live, giving him the name "Yotaro", a classic word used in rakugo meaning "fool". Yakumo has a lot to teach about the art of rakugo.
Oddly, the anime features both a current and dark history of Yakumo's past. In this environment we have a girl adopted by master Rakugo who refuses to teach her about this art of storytelling.
Mel e Trevo
Yuuta Takemoto, a sophomore at an art college, shares a cheap apartment with two seniors – the eccentric Shinobu Morita, who fails to graduate due to absenteeism, and the sensible Takumi Mayama, who acts as a senior to Takemoto.
Takemoto hadn't given much thought to his future until one beautiful spring day, when he met Hagumi Hanamoto and fell in love at first sight. Incredibly talented in the arts, Hagumi enrolls at Takemoto University and soon befriends popular ceramics student Ayumi Yamada.
Ayumi is already well acquainted with the three roommates and secretly harbors deep feelings for one of them. Hachimitsu to Clover is a gripping tale of youth, love, quest and self-discovery among these five friends.
Sakamichi no Apollon
Introverted classical pianist and top student Kaoru Nishimi has just arrived in Kyushu for his first year of high school. Having constantly moved from place to place since childhood, he abandons all hope of fitting in, preparing for another lonely, meaningless year.
That is, until he encounters the notorious delinquent Sentarou Kawabuchi. Sentarou's immeasurable love for jazz music inspires Kaoru to learn more about the genre, and as a result, he slowly starts to let go, making his first friend.
Kaoru starts playing the piano at the after-school jazz sessions located in the basement of the record store owned by classmate Ritsuko Mukae. As he discovers the immense joy of using his musical talents to bring pleasure to himself and others, Kaoru's summer may grow into one he will remember forever.
Sakamichi no Apollon is an emotional story of friendship, music and love that follows three unique individuals brought together by their mutual appreciation of jazz.
Complete list of Josei Anime
Below we have a complete list according to Anime Planet sorted by rating, including seasons, OVAs, and Movies. Be careful that for some reason, some of the last entries on the list below seem like hentāis disguised as the Josei genre.
Some might think that certain anime fall into the Josei genre because of their maturity or adult theme, but not all of them fit that genre. So the list may seem small to you.
Responsive Table: Scroll the table to the side with your finger >>
| Anime | Year | Type |
| Descending Stories: Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu | 2017 | TV |
| Bunny Drop | 2011 | TV |
| Chihayafuru 3 | 2019 | TV |
| Chihayafuru 2 | 2013 | TV |
| Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu | 2016 | TV |
| Kids on the Slope | 2012 | TV |
| Nodame Cantabile | 2007 | TV |
| Nodame Cantabile: Finale | 2010 | TV |
| Nodame Cantabile: Paris | 2008 | TV |
| Princess Jellyfish | 2010 | TV |
| Chihayafuru | 2011 | TV |
| Honey and Clover II | 2006 | TV |
| Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu OVA | 2015 | OVA |
| Saiyuki Reload: Burial | 2007 | OVA |
| Osomatsu-san | 2015 | TV |
| Nodame Cantabile OVA 2 | 2010 | OVA |
| Paradise Kiss | 2005 | TV |
| Honey and Clover | 2005 | TV |
| Nodame Cantabile OVA | 2009 | OVA |
| Only Yesterday | 1991 | Movie |
| Saiyuki Reload Gunlock | 2004 | TV |
| Gokusen | 2004 | TV |
| Saiyuki Reload | 2003 | TV |
| Pet Shop of Horrors | 1999 | OVA |
| Polar Bear Cafe | 2012 | TV |
| Servamp Filme: Alice in the Garden | 2018 | Movie |
| Karneval OVA | 2012 | OVA |
| Kaze no You ni | 2016 | Movie |
| Natsuyuki Rendezvous | 2012 | TV |
| Ristorante Paradiso | 2009 | TV |
| Chihayafuru OVA | 2013 | OVA |
| 07-Ghost | 2009 | TV |
| Karneval | 2013 | TV |
| Utakoi | 2012 | TV |
| Hatenkou Yuugi | 2008 | TV |
| Servamp | 2016 | TV |
| Devils and Realist | 2013 | TV |
| A Polar Bear in Love | 2017 | Other |
| Amatsuki | 2008 | TV |
| My Sweet Tyrant | 2018 | TV |
| Higepiyo | 2009 | TV |
| Holiday Love: Fuufukan Ren`ai | 2018 | Other |
| Super Seisyun Brothers | 2013 | TV |
| Trick or Alice | 2016 | OVA |
| A Destructive God Sits Next to Me | 2020 | TV |
| Gestalt | 1997 | OVA |
| Wild Adapter | 2014 | OVA |
| Sin Strange+ | 2014 | TV |
| Yubisaki kara no Honki no Netsujou: Osananajimi wa Shouboushi | 2019 | TV |
| Servamp Filme: Alice in the Garden | 2018 | Movie |
| Karneval OVA | 2012 | OVA |
| Kaze no You ni | 2016 | Movie |
| Natsuyuki Rendezvous | 2012 | TV |
| Ristorante Paradiso | 2009 | TV |
| Chihayafuru OVA | 2013 | OVA |
| 07-Ghost | 2009 | TV |
| Karneval | 2013 | TV |
| Utakoi | 2012 | TV |
| Hatenkou Yuugi | 2008 | TV |
| Servamp | 2016 | TV |
| Devils and Realist | 2013 | TV |
| A Polar Bear in Love | 2017 | Other |
| Amatsuki | 2008 | TV |
| My Sweet Tyrant | 2018 | TV |
| Higepiyo | 2009 | TV |
| Holiday Love: Fuufukan Ren`ai | 2018 | Other |
| Super Seisyun Brothers | 2013 | TV |
| Trick or Alice | 2016 | OVA |
| A Destructive God Sits Next to Me | 2020 | TV |
| Gestalt | 1997 | OVA |
| Wild Adapter | 2014 | OVA |
| Sin Strange+ | 2014 | TV |
| Yubisaki kara no Honki no Netsujou: Osananajimi wa Shouboushi | 2019 | TV |