In the entertainment medium of manga, the romance genre has more often than not focused on high-school settings and themes of young love. There are, however, a variety of intriguing romantic manga out there which have bucked that trend over the years, delivering more mature, grown-up love stories in the process.

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Such manga often delve into challenging themes such as personal growth, emotional depth, and second chances. The stories manage to unfold with nuanced character arcs and development, often providing more realistic portrayals of dating and romance among their adult characters. Protagonists often must navigate the various pressures and pitfalls of adulthood, including career obstacles, challenging family dynamics, and complex personal histories, providing a wider range of character-developing experiences in the process. The best manga about adult romances have often provided rewarding depictions of issues such as self-discovery, passion, and emotional vulnerability. Thanks to their evocative storytelling and emotional expression, the following manga offer readers compelling explorations of adult dating and love. These sagas have resonated with readers over the years, providing them with multifaceted, relatable characters and heartfelt storytelling.

5 Midnight Secretary Is An Unconventional, Macabre Workplace Romance

MyAnimeList score: 7.56

Tomu Ohmi's offbeat tale zeroes in on a forbidden romance between a secretary and her dangerous boss. More than just a workplace romance, the boss here is a vampire, opening up the narrative to a variety of relationship complexities and secrets.

Kaya's work as the new secretary to successful business director Kyouhei Touma quickly takes a very unexpected turn. Beyond his work at the forefront of his successful crockery company, Touma has an unfortunate reputation for being incredibly full of himself, and is also a notorious philanderer. For Kaya, though, the real trouble begins when she finds out that Touma is in fact a vampire. The pair's bond and complicated relationship makes for a compelling read. Far from the more grounded takes on adult love typically found in more mature romance manga, Midnight Secretary highlights themes of lust, desire, and death, as is to be expected with its vampiric love plot.

4 Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku Takes A Romantic Look At A Well-Known Japanese Subculture

MyAnimeList score: 7.93

This thoughtful series explores the romance and everyday struggles of office workers Narumi Momose and Hirotaka Nifuji. Readers see the pair bond over their mutual otaku interests as their relationship grows.

Initially, Momose intends to keep her keen interest in otaku and fujoshi living a secret. However, upon being courted by old school friend and fellow otaku Nifuji, Momose enjoys a new lease on her dating life. In Japan, an otaku is simply someone who consumes a good deal of entertainment media, especially manga, anime, and video games. A fujoshi, meanwhile, is a female fan of the romance genre in media such as manga and anime. The pair’s charmingly off-beat romantic dynamic makes for a fun narrative center, as the series delves into the lives and stylings of those in the otaku subculture. Its emphasis on both office life and otaku living make it a stark departure from the more conventional, young love-focused manga out there.

3 Honey And Clover Follows The Romantic Journeys Of Several Artists

MyAnimeList score: 7.99

This art school-set series follows a well-developed cast of art students who’ve just moved into adulthood. Readers follow five principal characters going to the same arts school, as they explore the challenges of romance and friendship.

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The series kicks off with Yuuta Takemoto, a sophomore arts student who lives with two seniors who appear to be the polar opposites of one another. Takemoto’s arc sees him quickly fall for talented student Hagumi Hanamoto. The series is full of slice-of-life storytelling and romance, establishing everyday characterizations and observations before fleshing them out into compelling narratives. Delivering the goods as a sensitive, poignant look at life in the arts, as well as the general complexity of human relationships. Through focusing on the early years of adulthood, the series manages to balance themes of both youth and maturity, making it an interesting bridge of sorts between high-school and work-place romance manga storytelling.

2 Nodame Cantabile Charts The Romance Of Two Very Different Pianists

MyAnimeList score: 8.26

Prodigious pianist Shinichi Chiaki’s romance with eccentric piano-player Megumi Noda takes center-stage in Tomoko Ninomiya’s manga. The series follows the pair as they navigate their relationship, their musical careers, and their personal ambitions.

Despite his monumental talent, Chiaki’s debilitating fear of flying has prevented him from ever pursuing his plan-playing dreams in Europe. Self-critical and high-strung, Chiaki’s life changes when he meets Nora, a similarly gifted musician with a polar opposite personality to his own. Relaxed and lackadaisical, she manages to impress Chiaki with her immense talent, and their slow-burning romance forms the heart of this acclaimed series. With a popular 2007 anime adaptation to enjoy as well, Nodame Cantabile is a rewarding piece of romantic storytelling that also highlights the pitfalls of perfectionism.

1 Nana Follows Two Young Women's Romantic And Professional Journeys In Tokyo

MyAnimeList: 8.55

This well-regarded romance series follows the trials and tribulations of two women, both named Nana. The series sees the pair navigate adult life in Tokyo, relationships, and career goals.

Ai Yazawa’s thoughtful saga sees Nana Osaki prioritize pursuing her dreams in music. Nana Komatsu, meanwhile, longs for a fulfilling love life and relationship. The Nanas wind up living together in Tokyo after a fortuitous series of events gradually brings them together. The series enjoyed critical acclaim, and a moderately successful anime adaptation in 2006. The series’ mature reflections on 20-something life, hopes, and dreams makes for a poignant, grounded reading experience that serves as a stark break away from the more conventional, high school-set romance manga out there.

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