10 部最佳同性恋/少女漫画

Love manga and looking for your next obsession? Whether you love a sweet school romance, a story that will leave you reaching for the tissues, or a thoughtful look at gay life in Japan, there’s plenty to explore in the world of male-male romance and gay-focused manga. The tricky part is knowing exactly where to start.

First, a quick note on terminology. Boys’ Love (BL) and yaoi are terms associated with male-male romance manga, while gay manga can also focus more directly on gay characters, identity, relationships, and everyday life. These categories overlap, and their meanings can vary between creators, publishers, and readers. For a closer look, check out our guide to the differences between Bara, yaoi, and related gay-manga terms.

For this list, we’ve brought together ten titles that offer different ways into the genre. Some are warm and fluffy. Others tackle grief, family, and prejudice. And a few might just make you reconsider your entire reading list.

Which manga should you start with?

Now, let’s get into the details and find your next manga obsession.

1. Sasaki and Miyano

by Shou Harusono

简介

Miyano is a high-school student who loves reading BL manga. He knows all about the familiar romantic tropes, but recognizing a romance on the page is one thing. Realizing you might be starring in one yourself? That’s another matter entirely!

Enter Sasaki, an older student who takes an interest in Miyano. What begins as an unlikely friendship slowly develops into something more. All the while, Miyano must figure out what his growing feelings actually mean.

Why We Recommend It

If you’re new to BL, Sasaki and Miyano is a lovely place to start. Its appeal lies in the small moments: awkward conversations, nervous glances and the excitement of getting closer to someone special.

The romance takes its time, giving both characters room to develop. There’s plenty of comedy, too, particularly in the way Miyano’s knowledge of BL conventions clashes with his inexperience in real-life romance.

It’s also refreshingly self-aware. It embraces its cliches, but it uses them to explore what happens when fantasy meets genuine feelings.

For a warm, character-driven romance that doesn’t need constant drama to keep you hooked, this one is a winner.

2.港湾洗衣店

by Yuzu Tsubaki and illustrated by Sawa Kanzume

简介

Sometimes, all you want is a quiet life. That’s exactly what Akira Minato hopes for when he leaves his exhausting corporate job and takes over his grandfather’s old laundromat.

Unfortunately for Akira, his peaceful new routine is about to get complicated. A handsome high-school student named Shintaro Katsuki becomes a regular customer. Before long, Shintaro’s interest in Akira extends well beyond clean clothes and a convenient place to do the washing.

Akira is gay, but he’s reluctant to let Shintaro know. A slip of the tongue changes that, setting the stage for a romance full of mixed signals, awkward encounters, and confusing feelings.

Why We Recommend It

There’s something appealing about the everyday setting of 港湾洗衣店. Instead of grand declarations and deep romantic gestures, the story finds drama in the ordinary encounters and the uncomfortable business of figuring out what you want.

Akira’s more mature outlook also contrasts with Shintaro’s youthful determination. Their different stages of life create much of the tension, and that brings us to an important caveat.

The age gap is significant. Akira is an adult, while Shintaro is a high-school student. Their dynamic may not appeal to everyone, so it’s worth knowing that before diving in.

Drama Adaptation of Minato’s Laundromat Manga

The manga has also inspired two television drama series, produced by TV Tokyo in 2022 and 2023.

3.欢迎回家

by Ichi Ichikawa

简介

What makes a family? For Hiromu and Masaki Fujiyoshi, it’s the everyday business of raising their child, Hikari, and building a loving home together.

There’s one important twist, though. 欢迎回家 takes place in an Omegaverse setting, a fictional world in which people are classified as alphas, betas, or omegas. These categories influence relationships and reproduction. In this story, pregnancy is possible regardless of conventional sex or gender distinctions.

The family’s life is full of affectionate moments, growing pains and the little challenges of raising a child. But the world around them isn’t always accepting. Their experiences also touch on discrimination and the importance of having people who support your family.

Why We Recommend It

Fancy a BL story that puts domestic life front and center? 欢迎回家 offers a cozy change of pace.

Rather than focuzing solely on the excitement of falling in love, it explores what happens afterwards. Hiromu and Masaki are already married and raising their child. Their relationship is part of a wider family story, complete with responsibilities, insecurities, and plenty of tenderness.

Its Omegaverse setting is important to the plot, so your enjoyment will partly depend on whether that fictional framework appeals to you. Omegaverse conventions also vary between creators, so this particular version shouldn’t be treated as a universal set of rules.

If you’re comfortable with the Omegaverse premise, the combination of domestic warmth, family relationships, and discrimination gives this story its appeal.

Anime Adaptation of Welcome Home Manga

4.直到遇见我的丈夫

by Ryousuke Nanasaki and Yoshi Tsukizuki

简介

Love rarely follows a straightforward path. In Until I Meet My Husband, gay activist Ryousuke Nanasaki looks back on his own journey towards finding it.

Adapted into manga from Nanasaki’s collection of autobiographical essays, the story follows his experiences from youthful crushes and awkward attempts at dating to discovering a wider gay community. Along the way, he faces unrequited love, disappointment, and the uncertainty of trying to find someone who truly understands him.

The memoir also covers Nanasaki’s marriage. Seven Seas Entertainment describes his 2016 wedding as Japan’s first religiously recognized same-sex wedding. This refers to religious recognition, not legal recognition of same-sex marriage in Japan.

Why We Recommend It

Not every great manga needs a fictional love triangle or a dramatic confession in the rain. Sometimes, real life provides more than enough material.

What makes Until I Meet My Husband stand out is its personal perspective. Nanasaki shares the excitement, loneliness, and frustrations of searching for love as a gay man in Japan. His experiences are his own, but the feelings behind them may resonate with readers who have struggled to find their place or connect with others.

The illustrated format also makes this memoir an accessible way to explore a real person’s life without losing sight of the emotional details.

If you want a story rooted in lived experience rather than romantic fantasy, this memoir is well worth reading.

樱桃魔法三十年的童贞能让你成为魔法师？

by Yuu Toyota

简介

What if still being a virgin when you turn 30 granted an unexpected magical power? For office worker Kiyoshi Adachi, that power is, as a virgin, the ability to read people’s minds through physical contact.

It sounds useful, until Kiyoshi discovers that his handsome colleague Yuichi Kurosawa has romantic feelings for him. Suddenly, a perfectly ordinary working day becomes much harder to navigate. How do you act normally around someone when you know exactly what they’re thinking about you?

Why We Recommend It

The premise alone is enough to make this one stand out. 樱桃魔法 takes an everyday workplace setting and adds a supernatural twist, creating plenty of opportunities for awkward encounters and comic misunderstandings.

The fun comes from watching Kiyoshi try to make sense of Yuichi’s feelings while dealing with his own. The romance is sweet, the comedy is effective, and the magical element gives a familiar office romance a fresh angle.

The tone does become more dramatic as the story develops, so expect more than a string of jokes and cute moments. However, that added emotion helps the relationship grow beyond its initial gimmick.

The supernatural premise, workplace comedy, and growing emotional depth make 樱桃魔法 a refreshing take on the office romance.

Drama Adaptation of Cherry Magic Manga

6. Given

by Natsuki Kizu

简介

Music has a funny way of bringing people together. In Given, guitarist Ritsuka Uenoyama meets Mafuyu Sato, a quiet student carrying a guitar he barely knows how to play.

Ritsuka soon discovers that Mafuyu has a remarkable singing voice. He invites him to join his band, which also includes drummer Akihiko Kaji and bassist Haruki Nakayama.

As the four musicians begin working together, their relationships become increasingly complicated. Music gives them a way to express themselves, but it also brings difficult feelings to the surface. Mafuyu’s unresolved past, in particular, becomes an important part of the band’s journey.

Why We Recommend It

If you prefer your romance with a generous helping of emotional turmoil, Given deserves a place on your reading list.

Music isn’t simply a backdrop here. It shapes the characters’ relationships, gives them a way to communicate, and becomes central to their emotional growth. Rehearsals, performances, and songwriting all help move the story forward.

The romance develops alongside themes of grief, vulnerability, and learning how to connect with other people. That gives the characters’ struggles real weight, even when they can’t find the right words to explain themselves.

However, be warned: this is a more emotionally intense read than the gentler romance of Sasaki and Miyano. It’s funny and tender, but it also doesn’t hide from tougher emotions.

For readers who want BL that explores how love and music can help people navigate pain, Given hits the right notes.

7.你昨天吃了什么？

by Fumi Yoshinaga

简介

Love isn’t always about dramatic confessions or grand romantic gestures. Sometimes, it’s about deciding what to cook for dinner.

你昨天吃了什么？ follows Shiro Kakei, a lawyer, and his partner Kenji Yabuki, a hairdresser, as they navigate everyday life together in Tokyo. Their routines include work, family matters, relationship challenges and, of course, plenty of home cooking.

Shiro enjoys preparing meals, and the dishes he makes often become the starting point for conversations about their lives. Between shopping trips, shared dinners, and the occasional disagreement, the couple’s relationship unfolds one day at a time.

Why We Recommend It

Here’s a manga that understands the romance of ordinary life.

Shiro and Kenji aren’t navigating their first crush or the uncertainty of a new relationship. They’re an established couple dealing with the practical realities of living together. Their differences, habits, and occasional frustrations make their relationship feel lived-in rather than idealized.

Food is the heart of the series, too. The cooking scenes give readers a glimpse into Shiro’s routines and offer a natural way to bring people together. You might arrive for the relationship drama, but don’t be surprised if you leave with dinner ideas.

The manga also explores family expectations, aging, and the everyday challenges faced by a gay couple. These themes emerge through ordinary conversations rather than heavy-handed explanations.

If you’re looking for a mature, grounded story about gay life in Japan, this is an excellent choice. Just don’t read it on an empty stomach!

你昨天吃了什么》漫画改编电影

8.我属于你的夏天

by Nagisa Furuya

简介

For high-school students Chiharu Saeki and Wataru Toda, a shared love of films is the beginning of an unexpected romance.

The two become friends through their mutual interest in cinema. Then Chiharu confesses his feelings for Wataru. Wataru claims that the confession doesn’t bother him, and their friendship continues. But as they spend more time together, he begins to question whether his feelings are as straightforward as he first thought.

Their summer becomes a journey of movie-related adventures, growing affection and the realization that friendship can turn into something more.

Why We Recommend It

Sometimes, the best romances are the ones that take their time.

我与你的夏天 has a gentle, wistful atmosphere that makes it an ideal choice if you fancy something softer than a high-drama love story. Its focus on films gives Chiharu and Wataru a natural way to spend time together, while their developing feelings provide the emotional heart of the story.

The appeal is in the small details: the conversations that linger, the uncertainty of a new relationship, and the excitement of discovering that someone might feel the same way about you.

It’s a slower, quieter romance, but that doesn’t mean it lacks emotion. Watching the characters work through their feelings is part of the pleasure.

If you enjoy tender school romances with a shared hobby at their center, this is a lovely choice. You might even come away with a few films to add to your watchlist.

Kodansha currently lists three English volumes.

9. My Brother’s Husband

作者：Gengoroh Tagame

简介

Yaichi Origuchi is a divorced father living with his young daughter, Kana, in Tokyo. Their everyday routine takes an unexpected turn when Mike Flanagan, a friendly Canadian man, arrives at their door.

Mike is the widower of Yaichi’s estranged gay twin brother, Ryoji. He’s come to learn more about his late husband and the family he left behind. Yaichi welcomes Mike into their home, but his arrival brings uncomfortable questions about family, sexuality, and the assumptions Yaichi has made about his brother’s life.

As Mike spends time with Yaichi and Kana, their family begins to confront ideas that have gone unchallenged for years.

Why We Recommend It

Not all gay manga is about romance. And 我哥哥的丈夫 is an excellent example of what gay-focused manga can explore beyond conventional BL drama.

Rather than following a couple falling in love, the story examines how families respond to a gay relative. Yaichi must confront his own attitudes, while Kana approaches Mike with a child’s curiosity and openness. Their different reactions reveal how prejudice can be learned, challenged, and gradually unpicked.

The story also explores grief and the importance of understanding the people we love, even when we haven’t always accepted them.

Tagame handles these themes through clear, accessible storytelling. The result is an emotionally engaging manga that invites readers to think about family and acceptance without losing sight of the people at its center. One manga cannot represent every gay person’s experience in Japan. What it can do is open the door to a conversation worth having.

It offers a perspective that broadens this list beyond romantic relationships and provides a thoughtful look at gay identity and family life.

10.万有引力

by Maki Murakami

简介

Shuichi Shindo dreams of becoming a successful musician. With his band on the rise, he’s determined to make it big. But his confidence takes a knock when he meets Yuki Eiri, a successful romance novelist who isn’t impressed by his lyrics.

Shuichi is determined to prove Yuki wrong. Yet, as he tries to win the novelist over, his irritation develops into a crush. Yuki, meanwhile, is far more complicated than his cold exterior suggests.

With music, ambition, and a growing attraction pulling them together, the pair embark on a romance that’s anything but straightforward.

Why We Recommend It

Fancy a trip back to classic BL? 引力 is a useful reference point for readers interested in older titles alongside newer favorites.

The manga combines romance with the chaotic world of the music industry. Shuichi’s personality clashes with Yuki’s prickly nature, creating plenty of conflict and comedy.

Its tone and romantic dynamics reflect an older style of BL, which may not suit every reader. The age gap and relationship dynamics are also worth considering before you begin.

Still, its place on this list isn’t about claiming that one series defines the genre. It’s about giving readers a chance to explore a classic alongside contemporary works with very different approaches to romance.

引力 has a documented English-language publication history through TOKYOPOP, followed by a new translation in Seven Seas Entertainment’s Collector’s Edition.

If you’re building a varied manga collection, this is one to consider.

结论

As you will have seen, there is a vast range of stories and kinds of male-male romance and gay-focused manga available. And there are so many more to be found. To explore more, check out our other guides on the Japan Gay Guide website: