What is this genre all about? Media targeting women roughly 18-40
We present you the list of Josei anime you should watch right now.
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Top 20 Josei anime you should watch right now. [2026 List]
- 20. Debu to Love to Ayamachi to!
- 19. Zutaboro Reijou wa Ane no Moto Konyakusha ni Dekiai sareru
- 18. Higeki no Genkyou to Naru Saikyou Gedou Last Boss Joou wa Tami no Tame ni Tsukushimasu.
- 17. Tenmaku no Jaadugar
- 16. Hoshi Furu Oukoku no Nina
- 15. Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta...
- 14. Paradise Kiss
- 13. Kids on the Slope
- 12. Koroshi Ai
- 11. Koori Zokusei Danshi to Cool na Douryou Joshi
- 10. Chihayafuru
- 9. Mignon
- 8. Kuragehime
- 7. Uramichi Oniisan
- 6. Kumicho Musume to Sewagakari
- 5. Nodame Cantabile
- 4. Servamp
- 3. Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta... Season 2
- 2. 30-sai made Doutei da to Mahou Tsukai ni Nareru Rashii
- 1. Koi to Yobu ni wa Kimochi Warui
20. Debu to Love to Ayamachi to!
"This is the punishment for a fat, ugly girl like me falling in love with someone as beautiful as you..." Yumeko had a mountain of complexes about herself. Then, a terrible accident befalls her. Though somehow saved from the brink of death, Yumeko wakes up a completely different person. "This is...me...?! I'm SO cute!!" Those around her can't hide their surprise and wonderment at this 180°change... But, Yumeko's new hyper-positive attitude starts to change her surroundings, too. Worries and complexes can affect anyone, and Yumeko will chop right through those of her various supporting characters!! In love, work, friendship... And an attempted murder case?! This frenzied romantic comedy will leave you bubbling with energy!
Plus-sized Misadventures in Love! is currently airing and will have 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: デブとラブと過ちと！, Debu to Love to Ayamachi to!
19. Zutaboro Reijou wa Ane no Moto Konyakusha ni Dekiai sareru
Marie, the second daughter of a poor baron’s household, is treated like a servant by her parents. Even at Marie’s birthday party, her beautiful elder sister, Anastasia, is the star. Outside, Marie bumps into Count Kyuros Granado, who falls for her at first sight. Yet, due to a misunderstanding, the Count proposes to Anastasia. After a tragic accident, Marie must marry the count instead!
Betrothed to My Sister's Ex has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: ずたぼろ令嬢は姉の元婚約者に溺愛される, Loved by Her Sister's Former Fiancée
18. Higeki no Genkyou to Naru Saikyou Gedou Last Boss Joou wa Tami no Tame ni Tsukushimasu.
Pride Royal Ivy is only eight years old when she realizes that she’s been reincarnated, destined to become the future wicked queen and final boss of an otome game. She’s got it all in this new life: razor-sharp wit, boss-tier powers, and influence over the kingdom as crown princess. Determined to sow despair and destruction across the land, she… Wait, what kind of a rotten future is that?! Princess Pride decides to drop the maniacal villainess plan and protect the male love interests instead, cheating her way to saving everyone she can! Will this final boss end up earning the adoration of her kingdom?
The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 悲劇の元凶となる最強外道ラスボス女王は民の為に尽くします。, LasTame
17. Tenmaku no Jaadugar
In the harem of the Khan, wisdom is beauty.
The time: the thirteenth century. The place: Yeke Mongol Ulus, the greatest empire the world has ever known. The woman: Fatima, hailing from Persia, where medical technique and scientific knowledge have been perfected beyond all precedent.
Fatima's desire for a stage where she can put all her knowledge to work has brought her to the palace of the Mongols, where she falls under the wing of Töregene, the sixth wife of Ögedei, the second Great Khan—a mighty woman with complicated feelings about the direction of the empire. These two women are the axle upon which the politics of the palace, and soon the very world, will turn...
Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia has not yet aired. It will air on July 31, 2026. It is also Known as: 天幕のジャードゥーガル, A Witch's Life in Mongol
16. Hoshi Furu Oukoku no Nina
Nina had a rough start to life, stealing to survive—and eventually being sold into slavery by her own brother. But to her surprise, her captor, Prince Azure, ordained that she would live the life of a princess...specifically, that of the recently deceased princess-priestess, Alisha. But despite her changing fortune, Nina won't give up her old life without a fight...and Azure might just be the one to finally match her wits. But how much can she trust Azure? And can she stop the feelings budding in her heart, knowing she must eventually marry another...?
Nina the Starry Bride has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 星降る王国のニナ, Hoshi Furu Oukoku no Nina
15. Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta...
After hitting her head particularly hard one day, Duke Claes' daughter suddenly recalls all the memories of her past life: that of a teenage Japanese girl. Just before her untimely death, this girl recalls playing an otome game... that is exactly like the world she's living in now!
She is now Katarina Claes, the antagonist of the otome game, who nastily hounded the protagonist until the end. Knowing all the possible outcomes of the game, she realizes that every single possible route ends with Katarina being murdered or exiled! In order to avoid these Catastrophic Bad Ends, she has to use her knowledge of the game and her own wiles, starting with breaking off this engagement with the prince...
Will Katarina survive while making her way through this world, where bad flags trip at every turn?
My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 乙女ゲームの破滅フラグしかない悪役令嬢に転生してしまった…, Hamefura
14. Paradise Kiss
Third-year high school student Yukari Hayasaka has no time for frivolous things. She needs to study hard and attend cram school so she can do well on her university exams. She doesn't care which university she gets into; she just wants to leave the town she's grown bored of. Too bad her parents have other opinions on the subject.
One day, while Yukari is walking down the street, a guy with multiple piercings and bleached hair flags her down. Suspicious of the stranger, she tries to get away from him but fails and ultimately ends up meeting his friends: a group of third-year fashion design students at a prestigious art school. They want her to be their model for their final project, but Yukari thinks it will only get in the way of her studies. But the more she gets to know them, the more she grows to admire the way they go after their dreams. Will modeling for this eccentric group of would-be fashion designers give Yukari a much-needed push to strive for her own goals? And what about her attraction to the group's leader, George Koizumi? Can a relationship between them work? Watch Paradise Kiss to find out!
Paradise Kiss has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: Paradise kiss, ParaKiss
13. Kids on the Slope
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 his childhood, he abandons all hope of fitting in, preparing himself 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 break out of his shell, making his very first friend. Kaoru begins playing the piano at after-school jazz sessions, located in the basement of fellow student Ritsuko Mukae's family-owned record shop. As he discovers the immense joy of using his musical talents to bring enjoyment to himself and others, Kaoru's summer might just crescendo into one that he will remember forever.Sakamichi no Apollon is a heartwarming story of friendship, music, and love that follows three unique individuals brought together by their mutual appreciation for jazz.
Kids on the Slope has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: Sakamichi no Apollon, 坂道のアポロン, Sakamichi no Aporon, Apollo on the Slope
12. Koroshi Ai
The silent and stoic Chateau Dankworth is a bounty hunter. Her target: Son Ryang-ha, a notorious killer known for killing 18 high-class officials in a single night. To this day, his murders remain swift, efficient, and bloody. However, after Son Ryang-ha overpowers Chateau in their first encounter, he reveals his own intentions: he too is after her, aiming for her heart.
Son Ryang-ha's attempts to catch her eye are quite unique, to say the least. He offers gifts to her in the form of her current targets, tied up and battered, and will do anything to spend more time together. Reluctantly, Chateau goes along with this act, and so begins the cat-and-mouse game of love between two killers.
Love of Kill has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 殺し愛, Koroshi Ai
11. Koori Zokusei Danshi to Cool na Douryou Joshi
Himuro-kun is a living descendant of the Snow Woman from Japanese folklore. But anytime he's around his eccentric yet kind colleague, Fuyutsuki-san, he totally freezes up! Despite the snowstorm of love that rages on in his heart, and her complete cluelessness, will he take a step forward or stay frozen in place?
The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 氷属性男子とクールな同僚女子, Koori Zokusei Danshi to Cool na Douryou Joshi
10. 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
9. Mignon
Mignon is an original BL anime from South Korea. The animation follows a complex and exciting story of drama and desires. It revolves around a boxer named Mignon, and a vampire doctor Young-on Oh, who find solace in the presence of one another through an aggressive and romantic affair.
Mignon has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: Mignon
8. Kuragehime
Tsukimi and her wallflower friends are hopeless nerds with bizarre hobbies. Their crippling social anxieties keep them from setting foot outside the all-girl apartment complex they inhabit, but a late night jellyfish rescue mission and the arrival of a “Stylish Girl” are about to turn their lives upside down!
Princess Jellyfish has finished airing and it has 11 Episodes. It is also Known as: 海月姫, Kurage-hime
7. Uramichi Oniisan
"Hello, boys and girls! Do you like guys with more than one side to them?"
31 year old Omota Uramichi is the gymnastics coach in the children's educational TV program "Together with Mama." He might be sweet on the outside, but all boys and girls are inevitably scared off whenever they get a glimpse of the adult darkness that's the result of Uramichi-sensei's emotional instability. This is a tragic eulogy to all the "boys and girls" who are now adults!
Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan has finished airing and it has 13 Episodes. It is also Known as: うらみちお兄さん, Uramichi Oniisan
6. Kumicho Musume to Sewagakari
Kirishima Tooru is the right-hand man of the Sakuragi crime family. For him, the job is a perfect excuse to let his violent instincts run wild, earning him the nickname “the Demon of Sakuragi”. It seems like nothing will stand in the way of his vicious nature. But then one day, he receives an assignment like never before from the boss—babysitting his daughter! This is the heartwarming (or is it bloodcurdling?) story of a little girl and her yakuza caretaker!
The Yakuza's Guide to Babysitting has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 組長娘と世話係, 組長女兒與照料專員, The Mob Boss’s Daughter and Her Caretaker, Kiedy yakuza zostaje niańką
5. Nodame Cantabile
Shinichi Chiaki is a first class musician whose dream is to play among the elites in Europe. Coming from a distinguished family, he is an infamous perfectionist—not only is he highly critical of himself, but of others as well. The only thing stopping Shinichi from leaving for Europe is his fear of flying. As a result, he's grounded in Japan.
During his fourth year at Japan's top music university, Shinichi happens to meet Megumi Noda or, as she refers to herself, Nodame. On the surface, she seems to be an unkempt girl with no direction in life. However, when Shinichi hears Nodame play the piano for the first time, he is in awe of the kind of music she creates. Nevertheless, Shinichi is dismayed to discover that Nodame is his neighbor, and worse, she ends up falling head over heels in love with him.
Nodame Cantabile has finished airing and it has 23 Episodes. It is also Known as: のだめカンタービレ, Nodame Cantabile
4. Servamp
The story revolves around a high school student named Mahiru Shirota, who likes simple things and dislikes difficult things. One day, he picks up a stray black cat he finds in the middle of the road and gives him the name Kuro. From this moment on, a contract between the servant-vampire Kuro, called "Sleepy Ash," and Mahiru is formed, and Mahiru is pulled into a war between the seven deadly servamp and their eighth sibling Tsubaki.
SERVAMP has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: SERVAMP（サーヴァンプ）, Servamp
3. Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta... Season 2
Second season of Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta...
My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Season 2 has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 乙女ゲームの破滅フラグしかない悪役令嬢に転生してしまった…Ｘ, Hamefura 2, My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! X, Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta… X
2. 30-sai made Doutei da to Mahou Tsukai ni Nareru Rashii
Adachi's 30th birthday as a virgin came with the oddest gift—the ability to read the mind of anyone he touches. Pondering what to do with this mysterious power, he gets a lead when he accidentally reads his colleague Kurosawa's mind. Turns out the handsome hotshot of the sales team has got a thing for him! How will Adachi respond to overhearing these affectionate thoughts?
Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?! has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 30歳まで童貞だと魔法使いになれるらしい, 30-sai made Doutei da to Mahou Tsukai ni Nareru Rashii
1. Koi to Yobu ni wa Kimochi Warui
Once you fall for someone, you can't stop the love.
A strange encounter spurs the meeting of Amakusa Ryou, a high spec businessman who is loose with women, and his high school sister's best friend, Arima Ichika. From there, he falls madly in love. On one hand, he approaches her with almost too straight-forward methods, while she responds simply disgusted, insulting him without hesitation... and he takes it as her way of showing love.
This is a romantic comedy about a twisted elite employee and a normal otaku high school girl.
It's Too Sick to Call this Love has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 恋と呼ぶには気持ち悪い, Koi to Yobu ni wa Kimochiwarui, Koikimo
