12 Best Seinen Romance Anime, More Explicit Stories!

Anime seinen aimed at audiences with an adult age range, namely 18 years and over. This age is roughly the age of high school students, college students, and those who are already married. The story concepts displayed are also quite mature and complicated, especially those in the action and genre romance. Not infrequently they show scenes that are explicit and bolder. Therefore, watch anime seinen recommended for adults.

However, this article will recommend anime seinen romance the best that is safe and fun to watch. Come on, see the explanation!

1. Kaguya-sama: Love Is War (2019)

dock. A-1 Pictures/ Kaguya-sama: Love Is War

Kaguya-sama: Love is War tells the story of Miyuki Shirogane who becomes the student council president and is the student with the best ranking in his school. As student council president, he has a deputy named Kaguya Shinomiya, a woman who is also skilled in any subject. They made the whole school jealous and looked like a perfect couple.

Both of them fall in love with each other, but are reluctant to admit it because they both have too high self-esteem. To maintain the honor that exists within them, the two of them create a competition to test who will confess their love first and is the one who loses.

2. Maison Ikkoku (1986)

dock. Studio Deen/ Maison Ikkoku

This is a story about an old boarding house called Maison Ikkoku in the city of Clock Hill. One of the tenants, Yuusaku Godai, felt uncomfortable living there because he was always disturbed by the noise of his neighbors. He wants to move to another, more peaceful place so he can study in peace.

However, his plan was canceled when he met Kyoko Otonashi, the new boarding house keeper. Falling in love with her, Godai thinks that her boarding house is not worse than he thought. Even though Kyoko turns out to be a widow and still loves her late husband, Godai doesn’t care. He continues to shower Kyoko with all his attention and tries to convince her to fall in love again.

3. My Dress-Up Darling (2022)

dock. CloverWorks/ My Dress-Up Darling

As a child, Wakana Gojou was teased by his friends because he liked traditional Japanese dolls. Not wanting the teasing to happen again, Wakana spends her days at school as a loner. On the other hand, he has a classmate named Marin Kitagawa whose character is completely the opposite of him.

One day, while she was making doll clothes in the crafts club room, Kitagawa caught her. Knowing that his friend was good with a sewing machine, Kitagawa was the one who needed a costume cosplay, asks Wakana to help him make the costume. Since then, they have worked together and their relationship has become closer.

4. Insomniacs After School (2023)

dock. LIDENSFILMS/ Insomniacs After School

Insomniacs After School centers on Ganta Nakami and Isaki Magari who have insomnia problems, namely difficulty sleeping at night. The two of them used the abandoned astronomy club’s observatory as a secret place to sleep. Initially, this place was only known to Magari, but Nakami accidentally saw him sleeping in that room.

Magari didn’t hesitate to share his secret place with Nakami. Because they often rest together and have the same problems, they get closer to each other and grow to like each other.

5. ReLIFE (2016)

dock. TMS Entertainment/ ReLIFE

ReLife tells the story of Arata Kaizaki who is 27 years old and is always considered a loser by many people. His very ordinary life then changes when he meets Ryou Yoake, a member of the ReLife Research Institute. He offers Arata a pill with the promise that his life will get better. Without thinking, Arata took the pill and woke up as a 17 year old young man.

It turns out, Arata was used as an experimental subject and had to become a high school student for the second time for one year. It seemed easy, but he encountered various problems on his first day. He begins to adapt again as a high school student and experiences a romance with Chizuru.

6. Working!! (2010)

dock. A-1 Pictures/ Working!!

Working!! centers on a group of workers at a family restaurant called Wagnaria which is located in one corner of Hokkaido prefecture, Japan. It follows the story of Souta Takanashi, Popura Taneshima, Mahiru Inami, Todoroki Yachiyo, Jun Satou, Hiroomi Souma, Kyouko Shirafuji, Aoi Yamada, and other workers who enliven Wagnaria. With various unique characters and traits, they have exciting days while working there.

7. More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers (2022)

dock. Studio MOTHER/ More Than A Married Couple, But Not Lovers

Serial More Than A Married Couple, but Not Lovers tells the story of Jirou Yakuin and Akari Watanabe who live together. They train to become a “husband and wife” couple for the wedding practices held by the school. In fact, the two of them are always at odds with each other and have people they like, but are paired as a married couple.

In this practice, they can change partners as long as they enter the top 10 pairs with the highest points. Jirou and Akari try hard to become one of them and unexpectedly become more acquainted with each other’s charms. So, do they still want to change partners if they qualify for the top 10?

8. Arakawa Under the Bridge (2010)

dock. Shaft/ Arakawa Under the Bridge

Born into a rich family, Ichinomiya Kou lives by adhering to his family’s principle of getting something through his own hard work, not through the help of others. Not only that, he also believes that rich people should not be indebted to anyone.

However, his mindset changed after he was saved by Nino, a blonde woman who lived under the Arakawa bridge when she almost drowned in the river. Since then, he returns the favor by dating her and befriending other strange people who appear one by one.

9. Basilisk (2005)

dock. Gonzo/ Basilisk

Basilisk is anime seinen romance between Iga Oboro and Kouga Gennosuke which is full of fighting action. Their relationship had to be hidden because their clans were in conflict again after previously being ordered to cease fire by the strongest commander named Ieyasu Tokugawa.

To resolve the conflict, Ieyasu’s two grandsons who became the next heirs to the shogunate ordered Iga and Kouga to send ten of their best soldiers to fight in a bloody battle. The reward if one of them wins is the favor of the Tokugawa Shogunate for a thousand years. Then, what is the fate of their relationship?

10. After the Rain (2018)

dock. Wit Studio

After the Rain is an anime with a story of unrequited love that happened to Akira Tachibana. The high school girl likes the manager where she works. Their age difference is very large. Akira is still 17 years old, while his manager, Masami Kondo, is 45 years old and already has children.

Even though there is a big age gap, Akira still sincerely likes his manager. He felt comfortable and enjoyed working with him. He couldn’t explain the reason for his attraction, but was sure that loving someone didn’t need a definite reason. And one day, after it rained, he confessed his feelings to the middle-aged man.

11. Scum’s Wish (2017)

dock. Lerche/ Scum’s Wish

Scum’s Wish shows the story of the couple Awaya Mugi and Yasuraoka Hanabi who look like a beautiful couple. In fact, they only fill each other’s loneliness. They both like someone which is impossible because of the age difference.

Awaya likes her private music teacher, while Hanabi likes her childhood friend who is now her new homeroom teacher. It turns out, their teachers know and like each other, much to the two students’ dismay.

The story of Awaya and Hanabi begins after they accidentally meet in the hallway and often spend time together. To get rid of feelings of loneliness and disappointment in the person they like, the two of them decide to date.

12. Sing “Yesterday” For Me (2020)

dock. Doga Kobo/ Sing “Yesterday” For Me

Sing “Yesterday” For Me follows the story of Rikou Uozumi who works in a convenience store or department store in Tokyo after graduating from college. His monotonous life immediately changes after the appearance of Haru Nonaka, a woman who often comes to his workplace to befriend him.

However, she learns that her close friend, Shinako Morinome, is moving to town. Without hesitation, Rikou confessed her feelings all this time. Unfortunately, Shinako has a trauma that makes her close her heart to anyone.

On the other hand, Haru continues to open up to Rikou and approaches her. The woman immediately knew that Rikou was just like her, who had no future and wanted to get out of her comfort zone. Together they learn about letting go and accepting what tomorrow will bring.

Those are some anime recommendations seinen romance the best that is exciting to watch. Enjoy watching!