It seems like shonen and seinen titles dominant the manga and anime landscape. These are stories primarily targeted at boys and young men, which include titles like Demon Slayer, One Piece, and Berserk. Most people who are familiar with manga and anime may also know about shojo, titles that are targeted at teen girls like Sailor Moon, Fruits Basket, and Yona of the Dawn.
It's Josei titles, manga and anime targeted at young women, that are more often than not overlooked. But these titles are definitely worth checking out if you're looking for more mature stories that center an older female audience. Josei covers genres from mysteries to slice of life romances to psychological horror - so you're bound to find something for everyone!
Here is a short list of some of the josei titles we happen to have at The Indianapolis Public Library. Please note that these titles will be found in both our adult and teen sections due to age-rating standards varying between Japan and the United States. I have indicated on each title whether it is found in the teen or adult section of the library.
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(Teen) Creator of Princess Jellyfish Akiko Higashimura tells an autobiographical tale of her time as a high school student as she worked towards her dream of becoming a manga artist. While teenage Akiko thinks taking art classes will help her easily…
(Teen) One of the best-selling josei series of all-time, Chihayafuru is a sports series following Chihaya and her friends as they compete in Hyakunin Isshu karuta competitions, a traditional card game in which players much match the lines of poetry…
(Teen) University student Totonō Kunō has exceptional observation skills. However, it's those very skills that get him in trouble. As the story begins, he's brought to the local police station because the authorities believe Totonō is responsible…
(Adult) By the same author as Sweet Blue Flowers and Wandering Son, Even Though We're Adults is about Ayano and Akari, two women in their thirties who meet at a bar and stumble into a messy relationship. But there's a catch: Ayano has a husband.…
(Adult) Helter Skelter is a dark, psychological horror manga about a supermodel named Liliko and her desperate attempts to stay beautiful and relevant as she ages. The manga is a clear critique of the beauty industry and its impact on women and…
(Adult) A hilarious manga following Uramichi Omota who works for a children's television show called Together with Maman. At 31 years old and a former professional gymnast, Uramichi is a bit jaded with how his life's turned out. The humor of the…
(Teen) Shinichi Chiaki wants to become a famous music conductor known around the world - the only problem is he's afraid of flying. Feeling stuck while his classmates achieve their dreams, Shinichi finds himself entangled with an odd woman who's a…
(Adult) Perfect World follows Tsugumi Kawana, a 26-year-old interior designer who reunites with an old crush from high school Itsuki Ayukawa, an architect and wheelchair user. Despite their years apart, Tsugumi still has feelings for Itsuki. This…
(Adult) Pink is a bit more lighthearted compared to Kyōko Okazaki's other titles: Helter Skelter and River's Edge. It follows Yumiko, an office worker by day and call girl by night, as she struggles to make enough money to feed her pet crocodile.…
(Adult) Tsukimi Kurashita lives in Amamizukan, an apartment building in Tokyo where no men are allowed and the women there each have very specific nerdy fixations. Tsukimi, for example, loves jellyfish because of the memories she holds of her mother…
(Teen) A short, four-volume series following college students Satoko and Nada. Satoko is Japanese and Nada is from Saudi Arabia. Both have come to America to study. The manga features four-panel spreads on each page showing the various slice-of-life…
(Adult) She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat is a cute slice-of-life romance manga. It follows Nomoto who loves to cook as both a hobby and a way to de-stress. One day when she's found she's made too much food for herself, she invites her…
