There appears to be an almost constant flow of critically acclaimed anime being produced, far more than anyone interested in the art form will have time to consume. Some achieve almost universal popularity. Naruto’s pop culture saturation, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood or Neon Genesis Evangelion’s classic status, or My Hero Academia’s current widespread appreciation are some examples that have engaged a large population of fans.

However, not every good anime gets its due. There will be some gems that slip through the cracks with so many being produced and broadcast all the time, competing for viewers. If you’re looking for some underappreciated titles to read, why not start with something on this list?

1. Soul Eater

Death City is home to the renowned Death Weapon Meister Academy, a technical academy led by Lord Death himself, the Shinigami. Its mission: to create “Death Scythes” for the Shinigami to use in combating the many evils of their fantastical world. These Death Scythes, on the other hand, are not made from physical weapons; rather, they are born from human hybrids with the ability to transform their bodies into Demon Weapons after devouring the souls of 99 evil beings and one witch’s soul.

Soul Eater Evans, a Demon Scythe who appears to care only about what’s cool, aspires to become a Death Scythe with the assistance of his straight-laced wielder, or meister, Maka Albarn. The contrasting pair work and study alongside the hotheaded BlackStar and his caring weapon Tsubaki, as well as Death the Kid, the Shinigami’s own son, an obsessive-compulsive dual wielder of twin pistols Patty and Liz.

Soul Eater follows these Shibusen students as they embark on missions to collect souls and protect the city from the world’s threats, all while working together to become healthier in mind, body, and soul.

2. Nodame Cantabile

Shinichi Chiaki is a first-rate musician whose ambition is to perform among Europe’s elite. He comes from a distinguished family and is an infamous perfectionist—not only is he harsh on himself, but also on others. Shinichi’s only impediment to travelling to Europe is his fear of flying. As a result, he is currently stranded in Japan.

Shinichi meets Megumi Noda, or Nodame as she refers to herself, during his fourth year at Japan’s top music university. On the surface, she appears to be an unruly young lady with no direction in life. When Shinichi hears Nodame play the piano for the first time, he is blown away by the music she creates. Nonetheless, Shinichi is surprised to learn that Nodame is his neighbour, and worse, she falls head over heels in love with him.

3. Afro Samurai

When Afro was a child, he witnessed his father being killed in a duel by a man only known as Justice. After murdering Afro’s father, Justice discarded his Number Two headband in favour of the Number One, claiming its godly powers as his own.

Years later, having obtained the Number Two headband, which allows him to challenge the Number One, Afro continues his hunt for vengeance on the man who murdered his father.Only one thing stands in his way: everyone else in the world! Though only the Number Two can challenge the Number One, the Number Two can be challenged by anyone. As his enemies gather to vie for the title of Number Two, Afro must overcome a slew of foes and obstacles if he is to become Number One and claim vengeance once and for all.

4. Yona of the Dawn

The kingdom of Kouka is blessed with a lovely princess whose childlike innocence enchants all who meet her. Yona, her name, has grown up in the royal palace, safe from any danger that might come her way. All good things, however, must come to an end.

Yona’s perfect world comes crashing down when a heinous act of treason threatens to erase all that she holds dear, including her birthright as the princess of Kouka. She is forced to flee the palace because she has no one to trust but her childhood friend and loyal bodyguard Son Hak. Yona realises that her kingdom is no longer the safe haven it once was when she is faced with the perils of surviving in the wild with a target on her back.

Yona vows to do everything in her power to become strong enough to crush her enemies now that she is free of the shackles of naivety. With Hak by her side, she must piece together the fragments of an ancient legend that may hold the key to reclaiming her kingdom from those who plotted to steal it from her.

5. Bakemonogatari

Koyomi Araragi, a third-year high School student, survives a vampire attack thanks to the assistance of Meme Oshino, a strange man who lives in an abandoned building. Despite being freed from vampirism and reborn as a human, several side effects such as superhuman healing abilities and enhanced vision remain. Regardless, Araragi attempts to live a normal student’s life with the help of his friend and class president, Tsubasa Hanekawa.

When Hitagi Senjougahara, a fellow classmate, falls down the stairs and is caught by Araragi, the boy realises that the girl is unnaturally light. Despite Senjougahara’s protests, Araragi insists on assisting her, deciding to enlist the assistance of Oshino, the very man who had previously assisted him in his own predicament.

Bakemonogatari follows Araragi as he attempts to help those suffering from supernatural maladies through a series of stories involving demons and gods.

6. Drifters

Toyohisa Shimazu is the rearguard for his retreating troops during the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, and he is critically wounded when he finds himself in a modern, gleaming white hallway. Faced with nothing but a stoic man named Murasaki and hundreds of doors on both sides, Toyohisa is drawn into the nearest door and into a world unlike his own.

The strange land is inhabited by all manner of fantastical creatures, as well as warriors thought to be dead from various eras of Toyohisa’s world. Toyohisa quickly befriends the infamous warlord Nobunaga Oda and the ancient archer Yoichi Suketaka Nasu, and learns of the continent’s political unrest.

Furthermore, they have been summoned as “Drifters” to fight the “Ends,” people who are responsible for the Orte Empire’s creation and are attempting to exterminate the Drifters. As the Ends become more powerful, the Empire’s persecution of elves and other demihumans intensifies. It is up to Toyohisa and his band of outlandish heroes to fight in a brand-new world war to aid the Empire’s subjects while also defending the land they have claimed for themselves and challenging the Ends.

7. anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

Jinta Yadomi lives quietly as a recluse, avoiding school and instead spending his days at home playing video games. Meiko “Menma” Honma, his childhood friend, appears one hot summer day and begs him to grant a forgotten wish. He ignores her, which irritates her, but he doesn’t care. After all, Menma died many years ago.

Jinta initially believes he is hallucinating due to the summer heat, but he is later convinced that what he sees is the ghost of Menma. Jinta and his childhood friends grew apart after Menma’s untimely death, but they are brought back together as they try to put Menma’s spirit to rest. Will they be able to find the strength to help not only Menma, but themselves, move on after reliving their pain and guilt?

8. School Rumble

Everything changes with the words “I love you”—such are the bittersweet trials of high school romance. Tenma Tsukamoto, a second-year student, is on a quest to confess her feelings to the boy she is in love with. Kenji Harima, a notorious delinquent, is in a similar situation, unable to properly express his feelings to the one he loves. With school, friends, rivalries, and hobbies, these two will discover that high school romance is not for the faint of heart, especially as misunderstandings complicate their situation.

Tenma and Kenji both try to win the hearts of those they desire in School Rumble, a high-octane romantic comedy full of relatable situations.

9. Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata

For years, otaku Tomoya Aki has been obsessed with collecting anime and light novels, becoming attached to various series with captivating stories and characters. Now, he wants to have a chance to provide the same experience for others by creating his own game, but Tomoya is unable to do so on his own.

While directing, he successfully recruits childhood friend Eriri Spencer Sawamura to illustrate and literary elitist Utaha Kasumigaoka to write the script. Now that he has a super-group, Tomoya only needs an inspiration to base his project on, and he meets the lovely, docile Megumi Katou, after whom he models his main character.

Tomoya creates a new doujin circle with the hope of touching the hearts of those who play their game. What he doesn’t realise is that in order to elicit these emotions, the creators had to go through similar experiences in their own lives.

10. Eden of The East

On November 22, 2010, Japan was hit by missile strikes, a terrorist act that fortunately did not result in any casualties, and the day became known as “Careless Monday.” Society quickly forgets and goes about its business as usual.

Three months later, during her graduation trip to America, friendly college student Saki Morimi’s life is forever changed when she is saved from unexpected trouble by Akira Takizawa. Takizawa is upbeat, but odd in many ways—he is naked and has amnesia, believing himself to be a terrorist. He also has a strange cell phone that is loaded with 8.2 billion yen in digital cash.

Despite Takizawa’s suspicious characteristics, Saki quickly becomes friends with the enigmatic young man. However, she has no idea that this is the start of a thrilling death game involving money, cell phones, and the salvation of the world. Higashi no Eden follows Saki’s quest to uncover the mysteries surrounding her saviour, while Takizawa battles other people armed with similar cell phones and recalling memories that reveal his possible connection to the event from months ago.

11. Hyouka

Houtarou Oreki, a high school freshman, has only one goal: to live a grey life while conserving as much energy as possible. His peaceful days are cut short when his older sister, Tomoe, forces him to save the memberless Classics Club from disbandment.

Fortunately, Oreki’s predicament appears to be over when he enters the clubroom and discovers that his fellow first-year, Eru Chitanda, has already joined. Despite the fact that his obligation has been fulfilled, Oreki becomes entangled by Chitanda’s inquisitive and bubbly personality, and soon joins the club on his own volition.

Hyouka follows the four members of the Classics Club, including Oreki’s friends Satoshi Fukube and Mayaka Ibara, as they solve the trivial yet intriguing mysteries that pervade the city, inspired by Chitanda’s insatiable curiosity.

12. Monster

Dr. Kenzou Tenma, an elite neurosurgeon who recently married the daughter of his hospital’s director, is well on his way to the top of the hospital’s hierarchy. That is, until one night when a seemingly insignificant event alters Dr. Tenma’s life forever. While preparing to operate on a patient, he receives a call from the hospital director instructing him to switch patients and instead perform life-saving brain surgery on a famous performer. His colleagues, fiancée, and the hospital director applaud his achievement; however, as a result of the switch, a poor immigrant worker dies, causing Dr. Tenma to have a moral crisis.

When a similar situation arises, Dr. Tenma stands firm and chooses to operate on the young boy Johan Liebert rather than the town’s mayor. Unfortunately, Dr. Tenma’s decision has serious consequences, including the loss of his social standing. Dr. Tenma’s position is restored as a result of the mysterious deaths of the director and two other doctors. He is released because there is no evidence to convict him, and he goes on to become the hospital director.

Dr. Tenma’s past comes back to haunt him nine years later when he saves the life of a criminal—once again, he comes face to face with the monster he operated on. He must now embark on a quest of pursuit to atone for the devastation caused by the one he saved.

13. Gugure! Kokkuri-san

Gugure! Kokkuri-san is an eccentric comedy centred on Kohina Ichimatsu, a self-proclaimed doll. Her mundane existence is turned upside down when she summons a fox spirit known as Kokkuri-san. But, contrary to popular belief, he is no longer the omniscient, answer-giving spirit of legend. He is powerless in modern society due to the loss of believers.

When Kokkuri-san meets the strange girl who summoned him, he is astounded to learn that Kohina not only lives alone, but survives on only one cup of ramen! Concerned for the young girl, he takes it upon himself to ensure that Kohina receives proper nutrition and leads a decent life. Thus begins Kokkuri-less-than-hopeful san’s endeavours, as well as their odd life together.

14. Welcome to the N.H.K.

Tatsuhiro Satou, a twenty-two-year-old college dropout, has been a hikikomori for nearly four years. In his isolation, he has come to believe in many obscure conspiracy theories, but one in particular holds unshakable faith in: the theory that the evil conspirator behind his shut-in NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) status is the Nihon Hikikomori Kyokai (NHK), an evil and secret organisation dedicated to the spread of hikikomori culture.

NHK ni Youkoso! is a psychological dramedy that follows Tatsuhiro as he tries to escape the NHK’s evil machinations and the disease of self-induced isolation, all while struggling to leave his apartment and find work. Tatsuhiro’s unexpected encounter with the mysterious Misaki Nakahara may signal a turn of events, but with this meeting comes the unavoidable cost of having to confront his greatest fear—society.

15. Angels of Death

Rachel Gardner’s eyes are lifeless and dead, and she wishes to die. She wakes up in a building’s basement with no idea how or why she got there. She comes across a bandaged murderer named Zack who is attempting to flee. Rachel and Zack set out to ascend through the building floor by floor until they escape, with Zack promising to kill her as soon as he is free.

However, as they progress upward, they meet more twisted people, all of whom appear to be acquainted with Rachel. What is her relationship to the building, and why was she assigned to it? With a new boss on each floor, will Rachel and Zack be able to fulfil their wishes?

16. Kids on the Slope

Kaoru Nishimi, an introverted classical pianist and top student, has just arrived in Kyushu for his first year of high school. He’s been moving from place to place since he was a child, and he’s given up hope of ever fitting in, preparing himself for another lonely, meaningless year. That is, until he meets Sentarou Kawabuchi, a notorious delinquent.

Sentarou’s undying love for jazz music inspires Kaoru to learn more about it, and as a result, he gradually begins to break out of his shell, making his first friend. Kaoru starts playing the piano at after-school jazz sessions held in the basement of fellow student Ritsuko Mukae’s family-owned record store. As he discovers the immense joy of using his musical talents to bring enjoyment to himself and others, Kaoru’s summer may just turn out to be one he remembers for the rest of his life.

Sakamichi no Apollon is a touching story of friendship, music, and love that follows three distinct individuals who are brought together by their mutual love of jazz.

17. Death Parade

Most people will either go to Heaven or Hell after they die. Death, on the other hand, brings a select few to Quindecim—a bar where only pairs of people who die at the same time can enter. Decim, an enigmatic figure who also serves as the arbiter, is present at the bar. He judges those who end up at Quindecim by challenging them to a life-or-death game. These games determine whether or not the patron’s soul will be reincarnated into a new life or be sent into the void, never to be seen again.

From darts and bowling to fighting games, each patron’s true nature slowly emerges as they wager their souls. Though his methods remain the same, the sudden appearance of a black-haired amnesiac forces Decim to reconsider his own decisions.

18. Paranoia Agent

Musashino City’s residents are being terrorised by the infamous Shounen Bat (Lil’ Slugger). The assailant appears impossible to catch—much less understand—while flying around on rollerblades and beating people down with a golden baseball bat. Tsukiko Sagi, a well-known but shy character designer, is suspected of orchestrating the attacks. Tsukiko, who is only believed by her anthropomorphic pink stuffed animal, Maromi, is just one of Shounen Bat’s many victims.

As Shounen Bat continues his relentless attack on the town, detectives Keiichi Ikari and Mitsuhiro Maniwa begin to look into the attacker’s identity. However, as more people fall victim to the infamous golden bat, word of the assailant spreads throughout the town. As terrifying rumours spread among adults and children alike, paranoia begins to set in.

Will the two detectives be able to uncover the truth behind Shounen Bat, or will paranoia get the better of them?

19. Btooom!

Ryouta Sakamoto is unemployed and lives with his mother; his only real accomplishment is that he is Japan’s best player of the popular online video game Btooom! His peaceful life is about to change when he finds himself stranded on an island in the middle of nowhere, clutching a small green crystal in his left hand and having no memory of how he got there. To his surprise, someone has decided to recreate the game he enjoys in real life, with the stakes being life or death.

The players are tasked with killing seven of their fellow participants and stealing their green crystals in order to return home, armed with a bag full of unique bombs known as “BIM.” Despite his initial opposition to any form of violence, Ryouta is forced to fight when he realises that many of the other players are not as friendly as they appear. Together with Himiko, a fellow Btooom! player, they attempt to escape the island, getting closer and closer to the truth behind this death match.

20. Bakuman

Moritaka Mashiro aspired to be a mangaka as a child, just like his childhood hero and uncle, Tarou Kawaguchi, creator of a popular gag manga. However, when tragedy strikes, he abandons his dream and spends his middle school days studying, hoping to become a salaryman instead.

Akito Takagi, the school’s top student and aspiring writer, notices the detailed drawings in Moritaka’s notebook one day. Akito approaches Moritaka, proposing that they become mangaka together, seeing the vast potential of his artistic talent. Moritaka realises, after much persuasion, that if he can create a popular manga series, he might be able to convince the girl he has a crush on, Miho Azuki, to participate in the anime adaptation as a voice actor. As a result, the pair begins creating manga under the pen name Muto Ashirogi, hoping to become Japan’s greatest mangaka, the likes of which have never been seen before.

21. Baby Steps

Eiichirou Maruo, a diligent and methodical honour student, decides to exercise more during his limited free time because he is concerned about his health. As a result, he joins the Southern Tennis Club at the start of his freshman year after seeing a flyer.

During his free trial at the club, he meets Natsu Takasaki, a first-year student who is determined to become a professional tennis player because of her passion for the sport. Eiichirou’s study-oriented life, on the other hand, exists because he believes it is what he must do, not because he enjoys it. His monotonous days, however, come to an end as the more he plays tennis, the more enamoured he becomes with it.

Baby Steps tells the story of a young boy who uses his hardworking and perfectionist nature to develop his own distinct playing style. Eiichirou’s skills gradually improve, and he aspires to be on equal footing with the best tennis players.

22. Tokyo Ravens

Onmyoudou magic was once a powerful technique used by the Japanese during WWII to gain an advantage and establish their nation as a formidable force. However, Japan was quickly defeated after the revered onmyouji Yakou Tsuchimikado caused the “Great Spiritual Disaster,” which continues to plague Tokyo today. As a result of this blunder, the Onmyou Agency was formed in order to exorcise future spiritual disasters and combat the demons that would enter the world.

Onmyoudou has now evolved into something far more modern, simplified, and refined for use in a wide range of applications such as medicine and technology. However, not everyone can use the magic, as Harutora, a member of the Tsuchimikado branch family, can. Despite an old promise to protect Natsume, the heir of the Tsuchimikado’s main family and Yakou’s alleged reincarnation, as her familiar, Harutora lacks talent and prefers to live a normal life. However, when a prominent member of the Onmyou Agency attempts to recreate the same experiment that led to Japan’s demise, he decides to keep his word and fight alongside Natsume.

23. Devilman: Crybaby

Without a living host, demons cannot take shape. However, if a person’s will is strong enough, they can defeat the demon and take its power for themselves, becoming a Devilman.

Akira Fudou, despite his frailty and unassuming demeanour, has always had a bleeding heart. So when his childhood friend Ryou Asuka asks for his assistance in locating devils, Akira gladly accepts.

To Akira’s surprise, the destination is Sabbath: an immoral party of debauchery and degeneracy. In the midst of bloodshed and death, demons possess the revellers, transforming their bodies into grotesque monsters and wreaking havoc. Akira unwittingly merges with the devil Amon and becomes a Devilman, gaining the power to defeat the remaining demons in his reckless attempt to save his best friend.

Despite the fact that it gives him great power, this new alliance awakens an insatiable and primal part of Akira. Akira, who has the body of a devil but the crybaby heart of a child, works alongside Ryou to destroy those who harm humanity and his loved ones.

24. Working!!

Souta Takanashi, a childlike Popura Taneshima, cannot refuse Souta Takanashi’s offer to work for Wagnaria, a family restaurant in Hokkaido, because of his love for small, cute things. Takanashi takes special pleasure in adoring the older Popura, which only adds to her self-consciousness about how young she appears. When he meets the rest of his coworkers, he quickly realises he must stay alert, including the katana-wielding floor chief Yachiyo Todoroki, the intimidating head chef Jun Satou, the dangerously well-informed and subtly sadistic sous chef Hiroomi Souma, the obstinately lazy manager Kyouko Shirafuji, and the waitress Mahiru Inami, who has a “painful”

Working!! is a unique workplace comedy powered by an eccentric cast that follows the never-dull happenings within the walls of Wagnaria as Takanashi and his co-workers’ quirky personalities combine to create non-stop antics, shenanigans, and hilarity.

25. Nichijou

Nichijou is primarily concerned with the daily antics of a trio of childhood friends—high school girls Mio Naganohara, Yuuko Aioi, and Mai Minakami—whose stories soon intersect with the young genius Hakase Shinonome, her robot caretaker Nano, and their talking cat Sakamoto. Every day, the lives of these six and the many people around them experience both the calms of normal life and the insanity of the absurd. Walking to school, being bitten by a talking crow, hanging out with friends, and watching the principal suplex a deer are all part of the extraordinary daily lives of those in Nichijou.

26. Kokoro Connect

When five Yamaboshi Academy students realise there are no clubs where they can fit in, they form the Student Cultural Society, or “StuCS” for short. Taichi Yaegashi, a die-hard wrestling fan; Iori Nagase, an unsure optimist; Himeko Inaba, a cool computer genius; Yui Kiriyama, a petite karate practitioner; and Yoshifumi Aoki, the class clown, make up the club.

Aoki and Yui have a strange incident one day when, without warning, they switch bodies for a short period of time. As this supernatural occurrence continues to occur at random among the five friends, they realise it is more than just a game. They soon discover each other’s hidden secrets and emotional scars, which could end up tearing the StuCS and their friendship apart.

27. Daily Lives of High School Boys

Three close comrades roam the halls of the all-boys Sanada North High School: the eccentric ringleader with a hyperactive imagination Hidenori, the passionate Yoshitake, and the rational and prudent Tadakuni. Their lives are filled with giant robots, true love, and intense drama… at least in their vivid imaginations. In reality, they are just three ordinary guys passing the time, but who said ordinary life couldn’t be interesting? Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou is filled with bizarre yet hilariously relatable situations that are anything but mundane, whether it’s an intricate RPG reenactment or an unexpected romantic encounter on the riverbank at sunset.

28. Seitokai Yakuindomo

Takatoshi Tsuda is called out for his untidy uniform on his first day of high school at the formerly all-girls Ousai Private Academy by student council president Shino Amakusa. Shino offers Takatoshi the position of vice president of the student council in exchange for apologising for delaying Takatoshi’s first class and stating that the group needs a male point of view to accommodate the arrival of boys at the school. Despite his displeasure, Takatoshi is appointed as the newest member of the student council despite having yet to enter the school building.

Takatoshi quickly realises that the other members of the student council are more than a little strange: President Shino, who appears studious and serious, but is actually a huge pervert obsessed with the erotic and constantly making lewd jokes; secretary Aria Shichijou, who appears to be a typical sheltered rich girl, but is just as risque, if not more, than the president; and finally, treasurer Suzu Hagimura, who appears to be fairly normal, but has the body of an elementary school student and is extremely self-conscious of it. Surrounded by these colourful characters, the new vice president is now subjected to an onslaught of sexual humour and insanity.

29. School Babysitters

Ryuuichi Kashima, a teenager, must adjust to his new life as the guardian of his younger brother Kotarou after losing both parents in a fatal plane crash. Although Ryuuichi can maintain a friendly and kind demeanour, Kotarou is a reserved toddler who is still too young to comprehend the gravity of the situation. They are approached at their parents’ funeral by Youko Morinomiya, the stern chairman of an elite academy, who decides to take them under her care.

However, in exchange for a roof over their heads and enrollment in the school, Ryuuichi must fulfil one condition: he must become the school’s babysitter. In order to support the academy’s female teachers, a babysitter’s club was formed to care for their infant children; however, the club is severely understaffed, so Ryuuichi is now responsible for not only his younger brother, but also a handful of toddlers with dynamic personalities.

30. Tamako Market

The Usagiyama Shopping District is home to a quirky but close-knit community of business owners. Tamako Kitashirakawa, a clumsy but endearing adolescent girl, comes from a family of mochi bakers who own a small shop called Tama-ya. Tamako comes across a talking bird who introduces himself as royalty from a distant land one day. Dera Mochimazzi, as he refers to himself, claims to be looking for a bride for his country’s prince. Dera follows Tamako home and develops a mochi addiction, becoming painfully overweight and unable to fly back to his homeland; thus, he takes up residence with Tamako’s family and becomes the community’s beloved mascot.

Meanwhile, Tamako’s friend, Mochizou Ooji, keeps his true feelings for her hidden. Their fathers are fierce mochi rivals, but will it be enough to sever Tamako and Mochizou’s bond? And what will become of Dera’s mission to find his prince’s destined bride?

31. Himouto! Umaru-chan

People are not always what they seem to be, as is the case with Umaru Doma, the perfect high school girl—until she gets home! The real fun begins when the front door is shut. When she puts on her hamster hoodie, she transforms from a refined, overachieving student to a slacker, junk food-eating otaku, leaving all housework to her responsible older brother Taihei. Umaru knows how to have a good time, whether she’s hanging out with her friends Nana Ebina and Kirie Motoba or competing with her self-proclaimed “rival” Sylphinford Tachibana.

Himouto! Umaru-chan is a cute story that follows Umaru and Taihei’s daily adventures as they take care of—and put up with—each other to the best of their abilities, as well as the unbreakable bonds between friends and siblings.

32. Barakamon

Seishuu Handa is a rising calligrapher who is young, handsome, talented, and, sadly, a narcissist. When a veteran calls his award-winning piece “unoriginal,” Seishuu loses his cool and suffers severe consequences.

Seishuu’s father exiles him to the Goto Islands, far from the comfortable Tokyo lifestyle the temperamental artist is accustomed to, as punishment and also to aid him in self-reflection. Seishuu must now try to find new inspiration and develop his own unique art style in a rural setting—that is, if boisterous children (led by the rambunctious Naru Kotoishi), fujoshi middle schoolers, and energetic old men stop barging into his house!The newest member of the small and eccentric Goto community just wants to get some work done, but the islands are far from the peaceful countryside he expected. The arrogant calligrapher learns far more than he could have imagined thanks to his eccentric neighbours who are completely incapable of minding their own business.

33. Kingdom

Many kingdoms rose and fell during China’s Warring States period, which saw a raging dragon raze the land for 500 years, paving the way for the next generation of kings and generals to fight for supremacy. From the never-ending cycle of warfare emerged seven powerful states.

In the kingdom of Qin, Xin, a war orphaned slave, trains hard with his fellow slave and best friend, Piao, who shares his proud dream of becoming a Great General of the Heavens. However, the two are forced to part ways when Piao is hired by a retainer of the King to work in the royal palace.

After a bloody coup, Piao returns to Xin, half-dead, with a mission that will lead him to a meeting with China’s young King, Ying Zheng, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Piao. Kingdom follows Xin as he embarks on his first journey into the blood-soaked pages of Chinese history. On his long journey to become a Great General of the historic Seven Warring States, he must forge his own path to glory.

34. Terror in Resonance

The word “VON” in red is all that remains after a terrorist attack on a nuclear facility in Japan. The government is shattered by its inability to act, and the police are frantically looking for ways to crack down on the perpetrators. The general public is unaware—until, six months later, a strange video appears on the internet. In it, two teenage boys known only as “Sphinx” openly challenge the police, threatening to cause destruction and mayhem throughout Tokyo.

The police struggle to act effectively against these terrorists, unable to stop the widespread panic that is spreading throughout the city and desperate for any leads in their investigation, with Detective Kenjirou Shibazaki caught in the middle of it all.

The story of Nine and Twelve, the two boys behind the masked figures of Sphinx, is told in Zankyou no Terror. They should not exist, yet they persist in a world of deception and secrets, causing the city to crumble around them in the hopes of burying their own tragic truth.

35. Flowers of Evil

Kasuga Takao is a young boy who enjoys reading, particularly Charles Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs du Mal. Saeki Nanako, a girl at his school, is his muse and Venus, and he admires her from afar. He leaves his copy of Les Fleurs du Mal in the classroom one day and returns alone to retrieve it. He discovers not only his book, but also Saeki’s gym uniform in the classroom. He steals it out of the blue.

Everyone now knows that “some pervert” stole Saeki’s uniform, and Kasuga is dying of shame and guilt. Furthermore, the strange, creepy, and friendless girl in the class, Nakamura, witnessed him putting on the uniform. Rather than revealing who he is, she recognises his kindred deviant spirit and uses her knowledge to take control of his life. Will Kasuga be able to get closer to Saeki despite Nakamura’s interference and his dark secret? What exactly is Nakamura’s plan for him?

36. Clean Freak! Aoyama-kun

He’s charming, cool, athletic, and a great cook, but most importantly, he’s a neat freak. Everyone idolises and respects Aoyama, but due to his mysophobia, they can only admire him from afar. Despite this, he participates in soccer, a rather filthy sport!

Aoyama, the playmaker for Fujimi High School’s soccer club, avoids physical contact at all costs and dribbles cleanly to victory. The road to Nationals, however, will not be easy for Fujimi’s underdog team. But, alongside striker Kaoru Zaizen, Aoyama will demonstrate to everyone that, even as a clean freak, there are some things for which he is willing to get dirty.

37. Chihayafuru

Chihaya Ayase had only one dream as a child: to see her older sister Chitose become Japan’s most successful model. However, after defending her ostracised classmate Arata Wataya from his bully—childhood Chihaya’s friend Taichi Mashima—she discovers the world of competitive karuta and quickly falls in love with it.

This card game based on the Ogura Hundred Poets anthology necessitates excellent memory, agility, and tremendous endurance from the players. Chihaya joins the Shiranami Society, along with the newly reconciled Arata and Taichi, to embark on an exciting journey for the title of Queen of Karuta, which is awarded to the top-ranked female player.

Chihaya had grown estranged from a dispassionate Taichi and from Arata since middle school. Chihaya, on the other hand, decides to start a karuta club at her high school in order to improve her skills. Chihaya’s new-founded Mizusawa Karuta Club hopes to win the Omi Shrine’s national championship with the help of Taichi, another veteran player, and a few spirited newcomers.

38. Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki

Fumiya Tomozaki is the best player in Japan in the online game Attack Families, also known as “Tackfam.” Despite having such a prestigious title, his lack of social skills and amiability causes him to fall short in his daily high school life. He blames the convoluted mechanics and unfair rules of life for his lack of friends, forcing him to give up and declare himself a bottom-tier character in this “game.”

Fumiya is shocked to learn the true identity of another top-tier Tackfam player after a chance meeting—Aoi Hinami, a popular, smart, and sociable classmate who is the polar opposite of himself. Aoi, surprised at how inept Fumiya is at everything except Tackfam, decides to help him succeed in what she refers to as the greatest game of all. Fumiya begins to advance tiers in the glorious game of life through the gruelling ordeals of social interactions and relationships.

39. Sirius the Jaeger

Vampires have infiltrated Tokyo in the year 1930, feasting on its unsuspecting citizens. As the number of victims grows, the city’s authorities decide to hire the Jaegers—a strange, diverse group of people tasked by the V Shipping Company with tracking down vampires all over the world. The Jaegers battle the vampires with the same ruthlessness as their adversaries, carrying musical instrument cases to disguise their identity.

Yuliy, the Jaeger’s most skilled warrior, is the only survivor of a vampire raid on his hometown. He works with his team to assist Tokyo’s law enforcement with the city’s vampire problem, utilising the strength granted