5 Shoujo mangas with a male lead

Shoujo mangas usually revolve around a female lead or that’s what google says “Shōjo, shojo, or shoujo manga is manga aimed at a young teen female target-demographic readership. The name romanizes the Japanese 少女, literally “young woman”.”

But that’s not all, there are also some shoujo mangas with male protagonists. These shoujo mangas are totally different from your usual ones. Let’s get right into it.

5. Last game

Synopsis:

He’s rich, he’s smart, girls gather around him all the time, and he has always gotten first place on his exams… well, until Kujou transferred in his primary school class. She was quiet, plain, and poor, yet not once has she failed at beating Yanagi, both in academics and sports! Yanagi has made it his life goal to defeat this girl Kujou, and ten years later, as they enter high school, he just might finally win! This is the story of their last game.

I’m just really happy that the mangaka didn’t make yanagi look too much like the typical leading male in a Shoujo Manga if u know what I mean. Most shoujo male protagonists are just too much show off but yanagi is plain, bold which makes him really stand out in this manga.

4. Otomen

Synopsis:

Asuka Masamune is a guy who loves girly things–sewing, knitting, making cute stuffed animals and reading shojo comics. But in a world where boys are expected to act manly, Asuka must hide his beloved hobbies and play the part of a masculine jock instead. Ryo Miyakozuka, on the other hand, is a girl who can’t sew or bake a cake to save her life. Asuka finds himself drawn to Ryo, but she likes only the manliest of men! Can Asuka ever show his true self to anyone, much less to the girl that he’s falling for?

This is actually a different manga from other shoujos because unlike other cool and handsome male protagonists Asuka is a guy who loves girls girly things. This manga was really funny throughout it’s completion, I would definetely reccomend a read.

3. 3D Kanojo

Synopsis:

Tsutsui Hikari is an otaku, and he mostly avoids social life. Hikari has only one friend at school, who is also a social misfit, and he is mocked brutally by most of his classmates for being creepy and weird. One day, he ends up having to clean the school pool with Igarashi Iroha, who appears to be pretty much everything he hates in real-life girls. She skips school, has a blunt manner, doesn’t have female friends, and seems the sort to be promiscuous. However, she is friendly to Hikari, and even stands up to the people who make fun of him. Hikari’s bitterness and trust issues lead him to say pretty harsh things to Iroha, but she never dismisses him as creepy. After a while, it starts to look like Iroha may become his first real-life, 3D girlfriend! Will he be able to handle it?

When it comes to romance stories, authors often opt for a plot-driven story instead of a character-driven one. What this often leads to is the creation of fairly forgettable and shallow characters with personalities that don’t spread out in a more human fashion. However this is a manga where I could really connect with characters which made the story more interesting for me as I read.

2. My love story

Synopsis:

Takeo Goda is a GIANT guy with a GIANT heart. Too bad the girls don’t want him! (They want his good-looking best friend, Sunakawa.) Used to being on the sidelines, Takeo simply stands tall and accepts his fate. But one day when he saves a girl named Yamato from a harasser on the train, his (love!) life suddenly takes an incredible turn! Takeo can hardly believe it when he crosses paths with Yamato again, and he finds himself falling in love with her… But with handsome Sunakawa around, does Takeo even stand a chance?

I think that was quite unique and special, and I think that the chemistry of Takeo with other people really elevated the show. It had it’s nice romantic moments, serious moments, and silly ones. I highly recommend checking this anime out if you have not seen it yet or want an introduction to romance.

1. Rainbow days

Synopsis:

Nijiiro Days follows the colorful lives and romantic relationships of four high school boys—Natsuki Hashiba, a dreamer with delusions of love; Tomoya Matsunaga, a narcissistic playboy who has multiple girlfriends; Keiichi Katakura, a kinky sadist who always carries a whip; and Tsuyoshi Naoe, an otaku who has a cosplaying girlfriend.

When his girlfriend unceremoniously dumps him on Christmas Eve, Natsuki breaks down in tears in the middle of the street and is offered tissues by a girl in a Santa Claus suit. He instantly falls in love with this girl, Anna Kobayakawa, who fortunately attends the same school as him. Natsuki’s pursuit of Anna should have been simple and uneventful; however, much to his dismay, his nosy friends constantly meddle in his relationship, as they strive to succeed in their own endeavors of love.

This is one of those series that finish so fast once you start reading, because it is just so relaxing and nothing too serious happens, which also makes it so relatable and reminiscent of our high school days (well, for those that have graduated at least!) or how it could be. If you are looking for an easy-going series filled with the power of youth, this is a good example.

The story is seen in all four protagonists view which means we get to experience all the four love stories in their own view. See the full review here.

Even though many shoujo works are criticized for being unrealistic or two-dimensional, they are highly sought after and regularly adapted into anime and live-action adaptations. There are actually good shoujo anime that are not packed with cliches and stereotypes, but explore various subjects and themes that yes, even girls do enjoy.

It is simple, if you like it, then enjoy it without holding back!