Josei can be hard to pin down as a genre, because it's so varied. This is largely because it's a genre based on demographic - not content. Like Shonen is for young boys, and Shojo is for young girls, Josei is aimed at a demographic of adult women. They tend to contain more mature themes with a focus on romance and drama, though this isn't always the case.
Successful Josei anime are shows like Chihayafuru, Bunny Drop, and Yuri!!! On Ice, but not all Josei get the anime treatment. Like with every genre, there are manga that fly under the radar due to a lack of anime adaptation, and a lot that get adapted into live-action dramas. These Josei manga are ones that haven't been adapted into anime, but are still well worth a read.
8 Run Away With Me, Girl
Japanese name | Kakeochi Girl |
Run Away With Me, Girl is a completed drama Josei with nineteen chapters collected into three volumes. It's a girl's love series that deals with mature subjects like abuse, so it might not be for everyone, but it's a beautifully crafted tale.
It follows Momo "Maki'' Makimura's reconnection with a girlfriend from her youth, who she has discovered is soon-to-be-married and pregnant. Maki notices red flags in her husband right away, and the story revolves around her attempting to rescue her friend while exploring the unwavering feelings still between them.
7 Double
Japanese name | Daboru |
Double is an ongoing psychological drama by Ayako Noda about undiscovered theater actor Takara Takarada. He's a genius onstage, but his talents can only shine in the presence of his best friend and fellow actor Yuujin Kamoshima. Things change, however, when Takara is scouted away to television acting.
It's an unexpectedly dark story about Takarada's inability to cope without the guidance of his friend. The art style is incredibly unique, and very suitable for the story it portrays.
6 Dissolving Classroom
Japanese name | Yōkai Kyōshitsu |
Junji Ito will not be the first name many think of when they think of Josei. But this particular series, and quite a bit of Ito's catalogue, appeals to the older female demographic with a taste for hardcore horror.
An atypical Josei story, Dissolving Classroom is the gruesome tale of cursed siblings. Yuuma Aizawa is a transfer student that can't stop apologizing, and Chizumi is his eerie sister that reveals her brothers devil-worshipping past. His apologies, it turns out, are a form of devilish curse.
5 Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey
Japanese name | Kakukaku Shikajika |
This five-volume semi-autobiographical series by Akikio Higashimura follows Akiko Hayashi's very specific dreams. Blank Canvas is a story about Akikio's dreams: she wants to write a successful Manga as a high schooler, and have her favorite actor star in the anime, all so she can meet and marry him!
She is, however, far from achieving these dreams. It's a light-hearted slice-of-life with a protagonist that makes the reader believe they can do just about anything.
4 Empty Memories
Japanese name | Kara no Kioku |
Empty Memories is a prime candidate for an anime adaptation, as many of the characters have already made an animated debut in Japanese singer-songwriter and Vocaloid producer Eve's music videos!
The story is a slice-of-life Josei intertwined with supernatural elements. It follows anxious high-schooler Rei, who wakes up after a strange dream finding he can see all kinds of supernatural creatures invisible to everyone else. This Manga is a special treat for those that enjoy Eve's music, but it's an interesting enough story to draw in all kinds of readers.
3 The Embalmer
Japanese name | Shigeshōshi |
The Embalmer is a Josei manga that deals with a profession deemed unclean by Japanese society - embalming. Shinjuurou Mamiya is a professional embalmer driven by a passion to preserve the dignity of the dead, though he's all too aware of how his profession is seen.
Despite providing a necessary service that helps people mourn lost love ones, he is shunned by society for his work with the dead. It's a series that explores uncommon themes in Manga, and does so in an interesting and valuable way. It's certainly a tearjerker, though, so best to bring tissues.
2 House of the Sun
Japanese name | Taiyō no Ie |
House of the Sun is a romance manga that straddles the line between Josei and Shojo, making it perfect for readers transitioning between genres. The story revolves around Mao Motomiya, a high schooler abandoned by her mother and left feeling like she has no place to belong.
Fans of Kotaro Lives Alone will find similar themes in House of the Sun. When her childhood friend Hiro suggests they move in together, Mao must take the leap to reconnect with her father and deal with her feelings for Hiro.
1 Tokyo Tarareba Girls
Japanese name | Tōkyō Tarareba Musume |
Tokyo Tarareba Girls is a terribly fun and quintessential Josei story with a cast of lovable female characters. It revolves primarily around Rinko Kamata, a thirty-three-year-old woman whose life has seemingly come to a complete standstill. Her previously successful screenwriting career has gone downhill, and she remains unlucky in love.
Rinko and her friends vow to be married by the time of the Tokyo Olympics. It's a comedic series that was adapted into a very successful live-action drama, but remains unanimated.