High school freshman Hiromi joins the tennis club because of her admiration for Ryuzaki. Ryuzaki is a senior, who's the best tennis player on the team and also nicknamed "Ochoufujin", ("Madame Butterfly"), because of her elegance on the tennis court. However, the new coach, Jin Munakata, wants the inexperienced Hiromi to play in a forthcoming tournament.
Due to this, Hiromi considers quitting tennis for good but, in the depth of her soul, she soon realizes that she loves tennis after all. She returns to the club and, under Munakata's coaching, her talent starts to bloom.
In the end, Hiromi develops a strong emotional bond with her coach, not knowing that Munakata is risking his life because of a chronic illness.
Aim for the Ace! (1979) has finished airing and it has 1 Episodes. It is also Known as: エースをねらえ！, Ace o Nerae: Theatrical Version, Aim for the Ace! Movie, Aim for the Best!, Jump High Hiromi!
Genres: Japan , Tennis , Sports , Romance , School Life
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Top 5 Anime Like Aim for the Ace! (1979) (Ace wo Nerae! (1979)) [2026 List]
- 5. Suzuka
- 4. Cross Game
- 3. Chihayafuru 2
- 2. Grand Blue
- 1. Chihayafuru
5. Suzuka
Yamato Akitsuki travels to Tokyo alone to study in one of the high schools located within the area. He lives in with his aunt who operates a public bath solely for the ladies in the local district and begins his normal high-school life. One day, he chances upon a girl in school and is immediately mesmerized by her beauty. He is shocked when he realizes later that the girl, Suzuka, is actually living next door to him. From then on, Yamato's ordinary life begins to change little by little.
Suzuka has finished airing and it has 26 Episodes. It is also Known as: 涼風, Suzuka
4. Cross Game
The main character is Kou Kitamura, son of the owner of Kitamura Sports. In the same neighborhood is a batting center run by the Tsukishima family. Due to their proximity and the relationship between their businesses, the Kitamura and Tsukishima familes have been close for many years, with their children going back and forth between the two homes like extended family. Because Kou and Wakaba were the same age and always together, Aoba was jealous of all the time Kou spent with her older sister. Aoba is a natural pitcher with excellent form, and Kou secretly trains to become as good as she was, even while publicly showing little interest in baseball.
Cross Game has finished airing and it has 50 Episodes. It is also Known as: クロスゲーム, Cross Game
3. Chihayafuru 2
Chihaya Ayase is obsessed with developing her school's competitive karuta club, nursing daunting ambitions like winning the national team championship at the Omi Jingu and becoming the Queen, the best female karuta player in Japan—and in extension, the world. As their second year of high school rolls around, Chihaya and her fellow teammates must recruit new members, train their minds and bodies alike, and battle the formidable opponents that stand in their way to the championship title. Meanwhile, Chihaya's childhood friend, Arata Wataya, the prodigy who introduced her to karuta, rediscovers his lost love for the old card game.
Chihayafuru 2 has finished airing and it has 25 Episodes. It is also Known as: ちはやふる 2, Chihayafull 2
2. Grand Blue
When Iori Kitahara heads off to college, he decides to live at his uncle's dive shop in Izu named Grand Blue. Iori is looking forward to experiencing college life amidst the roar of the waves, the blazing sun, and his cute cousin who lives with him! However, Iori runs into a group of tough guys playing strip rock-paper-scissors, and ends up joining Peek-a-Boo, the college's diving club!
Grand Blue Dreaming has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: ぐらんぶる, Grand Blue
1. Chihayafuru
Chihaya Ayase, a strong-willed and tomboyish girl, grows up under the shadow of her older sister. With no dreams of her own, she is contented with her share in life till she meets Arata Wataya. The quiet transfer student in her elementary class introduces her to competitive karuta, a physically and mentally demanding card game inspired by the classic Japanese anthology of Hundred Poets. Captivated by Arata's passion for the game and inspired by the possibility of becoming the best in Japan, Chihaya quickly falls in love with the world of karuta. Along with the prodigy Arata and her haughty but hard-working friend Taichi Mashima, she joins the local Shiranami Society. The trio spends their idyllic childhood days playing together, until circumstances split them up.
Now in high school, Chihaya has grown into a karuta freak. She aims to establish the Municipal Mizusawa High Competitive Karuta Club, setting her sights on the national championship at Omi Jingu. Reunited with the now indifferent Taichi, Chihaya's dream of establishing a karuta team is only one step away from becoming true: she must bring together members with a passion for the game that matches her own.
Chihayafuru has finished airing and it has 25 Episodes. It is also Known as: ちはやふる, Chihayafull
