The first matchup that takes place in the finals of the Dark Tournament, Kurama’s fight with Karasu certainly delivers. Being the calm and collected tactician that he is, it’s rare to see Kurama rattled when going up against an opponent. Yet Kurama is shaken knowing that his only chance of overcoming Karasu’s speed and his explosive attacks is to transform into his original demon form and use his deadliest plants. Not only do we actually get to see Yoko Kurama fight and dominate for the 2nd time in the series, the fight ends in a way that all but guarantees Yusuke’s matchup with Younger Toguro. Definitely one of Kurama’s best fights in the series.

This fight is relatively short compared to most due to the massive gap in power after Genkai gives the Spirit Orb to Yusuke. Genkai’s fight with Younger Toguro is more symbolic than anything else. The audience learns through their fight the past Genkai and Younger Toguro share together, and Genkai’s sacrifice is yet another method to help push Yusuke to the point he needs to be in order to beat Younger Toguro. Genkai actually uses the 3 Spirit Gun attacks she’s limited to pretty effectively, as they would have succeeded against most. Had this type of fight taken place in their prime, it would certainly be considered one of the best in the series.

Another amazing fight of Kurama’s in the Dark Tournament, this fight ranks among his best due to the cleverness of his opponent. Unlike Gama, Kurama’s previous opponent, Touya isn’t foolish enough to underestimate Kurama despite him being heavily weighed down by Gama’s last attack and having his spirit energy sealed. Touya nearly defeats him with his ranged and close combat ice techniques; had any of them hit Kurama’s vital points as intended Touya would have instantly won. However, Kurama not only evades these attacks despite his extreme limitations, he sacrifices his body in order to use a technique Touya never would have expected in order to get the win. Kurama ends up falling unconscious right after being declared the winner, indicating just how close the match really was.

One of Hiei’s best fights in the entire series, Hiei goes up against Bui in the 2nd match of the finals of the Dark Tournament. This fight is classic in terms of being a similar matchup in terms of both ability and demeanor as well as simply seeing who’s the stronger of the 2. Both Hiei and Bui had previously demonstrated how incredibly fast they were with their weapon of choice, resulting in their speed being the first to be tested as Bui tries to cleave Hiei in half with his axe. As the match progresses, we see Hiei resort to his defining technique, the Dragon of the Darkness Flame, in an effort to go up against Bui’s raw unrestrained power. In the end, Hiei is the one who is able to come out on top after using his best moves, and ends up going into a hibernation state due to draining all of his spirit energy. Truly an epic fight.

This fight is terrific not only because we get to see Yusuke truly tested for the 2nd time after Genkai’s massive training regimen for the Dark Tournament, but also because of its tone. Most of the fights in the Dark Tournament for Team Urameshi tend to be either very serious or stressed, and this fight serves as a rare one that is humorous and good-spirited. Jin ends up being a unique opponent for Yusuke due to his control of flight as well as his Tornado Fists, resulting in making it difficult for Yusuke to stay in the ring as well as knock Jin out of it. However, Yusuke ends up revealing his Spirit Wave technique as well as a desire to do whatever it would take to win, which ends up being the deciding factor. Jin was certainly a worthy opponent to go up against Yusuke, leading into a great fight for the both of them.

One of the best come from behind matches in the series, Kuwabara’s match with Risho in the final matchup of the 3rd round of the Dark Tournament is one of Kuwabara’s finest moments. Having been severely injured by Team Ichigaki, Kuwabara is in absolutely no shape to fight. However, due to Hiei and the masked fighter being restrained by the Dark Tournament’s “nurse”, Kurama being in no shape to fight, and Yusuke being ruled “unfit” to compete anymore, Kuwabara is the last remaining hope for Team Urameshi to go up against Risho. Risho reveals his earth powers and completely dominates Kuwabara not only offensively but defensively as well; the few attacks Kuwabara gets off are no match for Risho’s armor. It is only due to the arrival of an unexpected guest that Kuwabara taps into an incredible amount of power that is able to overwhelm Risho completely, resulting in Team Urameshi moving on to the next round. How Kuwabara does this is best summed by him: there’s a reason why he’s the team anchor.

Yusuke’s final fight in the series against the last primary antagonist shows just how far Yusuke has come from being a delinquent kid getting into regular street fights. Being one of the very few that can go up against Yomi, the fate of ruling Demon World lies in Yusuke’s hands as he goes up against arguably the strongest character of the series. Even in the middle of displaying incredible strength and using very powerful versions of his classic attacks, Yusuke somehow loses his passion for fighting as the match progresses, infuriating Yomi to no end. It is only through Yusuke rediscovering the power he has when protecting/avenging his friends that he is able to trade blows with Yomi to end the match. Even though Yomi is declared the victor, he was weakened well enough to the point where he would not be strong enough to win the tournament. A fitting ending fight that touches on the important themes of the series.

The first legitimate fight as a Spirit Detective that Yusuke gets into is with Hiei, 1 of the 3 demons to steal treasures belonging to Koenma’s father. This fight stands out as Yusuke’s usual street fight tactics, while successful in this fight, mark a turning point as he begins to rely more and more on the Spirit Gun and other spiritual techniques. It also stands out as how Yusuke will resort to using whatever’s around him as a strategy as well as stay one step ahead of his opponent. Combined with Hiei underestimating Yusuke and his extreme cockiness as he toys with him, one can see how Yusuke was able to overcome Hiei’s power, resulting in Hiei’s desire to even the score throughout the series.

The current Spirit Detective going up against the former Spirit Detective, this fight is built up throughout the Chapter Black Saga and more than delivers. As talented as Yusuke is, he ends up meeting his match when he finally gets to fight Sensui, whose unique fighting style and incredible power as well as Yusuke’s diminished stamina give him an edge. Yusuke actually ends up dying as a result of their fight only to come back as a half-demon in order to start Round 2. From there, it is only because of Raizen taking over and giving Yusuke the necessary strength required that Yusuke defeats Sensui, leaving one to wonder what would have happened had Raizen not interfered. A very impressive fight if not for the fact that we get to see Yusuke at his peak go up against arguably the strongest human in the series.

The defining fight of the Dark Tournament Saga and one of the biggest anticipated fights of the series, Yusuke’s fight with Younger Toguro lives up to the hype. With Yusuke starting things off with an incredible attack only for Younger Toguro to appear unfazed, one wonders where this battle will go. The answer is higher and higher, as both Yusuke and Younger Toguro both power up to their maximum power in different ways as they trade blows with one another. With Younger Toguro having the edge, drastic measures are taken for Yusuke to finally lose control and defeat him once and for all, marking Yusuke a legitimate opponent. Arguably the best fight of the series.

To start off this list, we have The Next Generation –Patlabor-. Though this may be a live action, it is by no means a direct adaptation of the original animated series, but is in fact a sequel (hence The Next Generation). If it makes some of you anime purists feel better, this series happens to be directed by Ishii Mamoru, most famous for the 1995 Ghost in the Shell movie, and has also directed installments of the original animated series of Patlabor. The only remaining character from the original anime series is Shiba Shigeo, who happens to be played by his original seiyuu himself, Chiba Shigeru (also famous as Buggy the Clown in One Piece and Kuwabara in Yuu Yuu Hakusho). It maintains a good fraction of the charms of the original series, which is a police drama mixed in with some mechs (known as Labors). Though the CG isn't up to the standard of Michael Bay’s Transformers series, it is far superior in substance. The designs of the Labors are very true to the original series, as well as, their functions. Being a sequel to the original series, maybe some exposure to the Patlabor anime should be required to understand the context of the drama. If you want to see how humor from anime can work in a live-action context, this may be the model for you.

Based on the series by Yoshinaga Fumi, Antique Bakery tells the story of four unique men who come from unique and diverse backgrounds working at Antique bakery. The first thing that can attract dorama addicts are the four main characters, who happen to be played by some of Japan’s biggest actors whose careers continue to flourish. With Shiina Kippei as Tachibana Keiichiro, Fujiki Naohito (you may recognize him in the 1998 GTO live action and the 1996 Hana Yori Dango movie) as Ono Yusuke, Abe Hiroshi (who voiced Kenshiro in the new Hokuto no Ken movie series) as Kobayakawa Chikage, and Takizawa Hideaki (who co-sung One Day, Dream, one of the opening themes to Inuyasha) as Kanda Eiji. The cast, with their various ages and experiences, all bring a distinct performance that appropriately reflects the character of the original series it adapts. Even though some of the gay-related themes that were consistent in the original series are toned down in this adaptation, the dorama finds a way to work around it to explore the personalities and lives of the characters. However, the dynamic of four working men with their diverse backgrounds, who are just trying to get by and enjoy life and be of contribution to others, still manages to capture the spirit of Yoshinaga-sensei’s vision to the small screen. To top it off, legendary rock band, Mr. Children, happens to contribute to both the opening and ending themes of this series, which beautifully extends the themes of this show.

Based on the iconic series by Tada Kaoru, Itazura na Kiss is the foundation of the “senpai, please look at me” stories found only in anime and manga. Prior to this drama in 2013, it also had a drama back in 1996, (during the early days of this series) as well as a Taiwanese, Korean, and Thai adaptations. What manages to make this series successful, not this version but in many re-tellings, are that its themes and characters transcend all cultural barriers. *There is someone out there that is love, but may feel that person is unattainable*. But when the chips all fall into place, anything is possible. Whether it would be destiny, pure luck, or effective planning. In the 2013 version, Honoka Miki splendidly captures the underachieving and yet, spirited qualities of Kotoko, while Furukawa Yuki as Naoki, appropriately comes across as charismatic and yet, egotistical, but is capable of opening his heart. The cast captures all the qualities of the relationships portrayed in the original source material in context, whether the situation would be dramatic, comedic, and/or romantic.

Though City Hunter got a Hong Kong live action movie with Jackie Chan and was also given a more serious approach with a K-Drama, Saeba Ryo, the King of Mokkori, finally graces Japanese small screens in Angel Heart, which Hojo-sensei (the original creator) saying it's an alternate universe sequel to City Hunter. The series does a great job of capturing the deadly but yet emotionally fragile Glass Heart, or Xiang-Ying (played by Miyoshi Ayaka), thanks to the influence of receiving Kaori’s heart from a black market operation. Kamikawa Takayama, playing Saeba Ryo, does a great job of portraying him as a paternal figure to Glass Heart and shares a believable physical resemblance to the character from both the anime and manga. The rest of the cast have some believable resemblance to the characters they are based on and also pays homage to City Hunter through some of its flashbacks (such as how Ryo first met Kaori). What makes this series qualify as an effective adaptation is the presentation of how the original material is also a great story of moving beyond personal tragedies and re-discovering what it means to love while kicking some ass.

This series serves more as a prequel to the anime, prior to Shinichi becoming the child renamed as Edogawa Conan. The teenage Shinichi is played by Mizobata Junpei, while the child Conan that made the brand iconic is not present. However, Mizobata’s brings physicality to the role by using the same gestures as his animated counterpart. He also does an excellent job of conveying the character’s curiosity, dedication, and intelligence. But if this series can win over fans regardless of familiarity with the original series, it would certainly be his chemistry with Kutsuna Shiori as Mouri Ran. They make such a cute couple and they excellently play off each other. You can easily see them as equals and how they need each other when they are on the case.

Two years prior to the premiere of this series, Honey and Clover also had a live action movie. As stated earlier, a movie in itself isn’t enough to fully explore the story and characters of. Shortly after the Japanese drama ended, a Taiwanese version was also made. The reason why this series succeeds as a Dorama is not because of the complex nature of the individualities and relationships of the cast (excellently played by Ikuta Toma as Yuta, Narumi Rika as Hagumi, Nariyama Hiroki as Shinobu, Mukai Osamu as Takumi, and Harada Natsuki as Ayumi). In their own ways, they bring their roles to life and don’t take it to the exaggeration that you would see in anime, but keep it realistic and believable. Granted it may not be able to cover as much ground as the anime, the series still teaches its audience that sometimes, things don’t go the way you planned and there is always room to grow and improve as a person while still pursuing your dreams. Last, the addition of Canvas, the emotional power ending theme by Hirai Ken, will most certainly bring a tear to your eye.

Between the 1990s and the mid-2000s, Hana Yori Dango was a top Shoujo series (along with Itazura na Kiss). Prior to the 2005 drama, there was a 1995 live action movie and a Taiwanese drama re-branded as Meteor Garden. The 2005 drama is very faithful to the story and themes of its source material. But being faithful in a core sense is not what defines this series, it's the appealing cast consisting of Inoue Mao as Tsukushi, Matsumoto Jun as Tsukasa, Oguri Shun as Rui, Matsuda Shota as Soujiro, and Abe Tsuyoshi as Akira, that makes this drama work and capture your emotions. Inoue as Tsukushi manages to perform her working class background and how she feels isolated from her peers. The rest of the cast playing the infamous Flower 4, or F4 for short, come across as stuck up snobs but also capture the quirks of their individual personalities. Inoue’s chemistry with Matsumoto and Oguri also nails the nature of the relationship from the original series. Thanks to the success of this drama, the series managed not only a second season but a Korean adaptation as well.

In number 3, is the live action version of Gokusen. Though the anime was only one season with a small handful of episodes, its live action adaptation managed to spawn three seasons from 2002 to 2008 with a final movie in 2009. In a physical sense, Nakama Yukie truly brings the Yamaguchi Kumiko character from ink to life. She has the look and ability to pull off the character. Nakama does an effective job of the character coming off as unassuming in all of her portrayals for Kumiko. The writers, the director, and the actress herself, all do an excellent job of capturing who Kumiko is as a teacher, and as the heir to a yakuza gang. The series also has a great share of action and you see how Kumiko is one tough lady you don't want to mess with. Another great contributor to this series is most certainly the casting of Matsumoto Jun of Arashi (one of Japan’s biggest boy bands) as Sawada Shin. Matsumoto has his own unique charisma that makes you believe he is the leader of a ragtag group of delinquents at the toughest boys’ school in town. In addition to the individual abilities of Matsumoto and Nakama, their chemistry captures a suggested sense of forbidden feelings between each other, which was also at times, hinted in the original anime and manga. On one surprising note, this drama also features Oguri Shun, a famous actor who also made his breakout role in GTO as a bullied student. But in Gokusen, he’s the delinquent.

In a very close second, we have the romantic music comedy, Nodame Cantabile. Watch this series along with the anime and you’ll see the live action version is very faithful to its source material. If anything, hardcore fans of this series have a very strong case that maybe the dorama could be superior to the anime. What makes this dorama successful are the portrayals and chemistry of Ueno Juri as Noda Megumi and Tamaki Hiroshi as Chiaki Shinichi. They not only nail the characters they play but do an excellent job of capturing the magic of their unique relationship that starts from a big brother/little sister-like relationship to a budding romance. Noda Megumi excellently displays Megumi’s childish and eccentric qualities, and Tamaki Hiroshi masterfully captures Chiaki’s superiority complex as the drama manages to find that balance in their relationship. Just like it was in the anime, the series also emphasizes the First Movement or Andante Cantabile, from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7. And if there were any more reasons to watch this drama, it would most certainly be Takenaka Naoto’s performance of Stresemann, which you have to see for yourself.

If any dorama were to make this list at number 1, it would naturally be the 1998 GTO, short for Great Teacher Onizuka. Granted there was a version made in 2012, the 1998 version still resonates with fans to this day. Though the 2012 version manages to adapt more material long after the airing of the original anime and publication of the manga, what makes the 1998 GTO hold up to this day is mostly thanks to Sorimachi Takashi’s portrayal of Onizuka. Sorimachi’s charisma brings a much appropriate performance for live action and the chemistry with his cast mates, such as Matsushima Nanako (who would later become husband and wife) as Fuyutsuki, would be one part that would define the heart of this series. At the core, the character is still a reformed delinquent who has an unorthodox way of reaching his troubled students and would come to be an influence to his peers with the long-term positive results he gains. The series excellently critiques the roles within Japanese society in where students, parents, teachers and administrators have a responsibility of making education meaningful beyond the competitive exam system. Sorimachi’s portrayal of Onizuka has a very touching reason with his motivations for becoming a teacher and he values education in a way that may seem idealistic to the Japanese but are the norm for most systems around the world. Sorimachi’s version of Onizuka gives the audience of a very immersing journey in what it means to live a meaningful life and making a difference towards oneself and others.

Far in the future, war has reduced society to 6 exclusive cities. The government has a strong presence within everyday life in these cities, and the people are monitored constantly. The cities promote conformity and protect the peace that we soon see is all a lie. One night, teenage boy Shion, who is one of the elite people living in No. 6 city, finds a runaway criminal in his home. Nezumi is running from the government and seeks shelter with Shion. In return for Shion’s kindness, he and his mother are cast out of their elite lifestyle to live in a rougher side of their city. They get to know the real No. 6. A new light is shed on No. 6 city and the mysteries behind its societal structure. What is this city hiding from its people? Throughout No. 6 we can see the relationship between Shion and Nezumi grow into love. They started out as enemies not trusting each other, but by working together to solve the mysteries of No. 6, a bond is formed. Similar to Loveless, we can see a yaoi relationship that is trying to discover the activities of a suspicious organization. There is a supernatural element to this story as well, but we don’t want to give too much away. Just know that if you like Loveless, you will definitely enjoy No.6.

With strong yuri and yaoi relationships, a huge mystery element, magical powers, and children versus adults themes, Shinsekai Yori is sure to catch your eye if you enjoyed Loveless. Without giving too much away, the story revolves around a group of kids in a “different” world trying to learn and control their magical abilities. Unbeknownst to them, there is a threat lurking within the school that hides in the shadows, waiting to discipline any student that does not meet a social norm. When their friends begin to disappear, some of the children begin to question the adults around them and even the structure of their small society itself. In this anime we can see children coming of age and learning that the world is not really what it seems. The overall mystery is similar to Loveless in the sense that children are fighting against an organization which wants to hide all their secrets and induces amnesia on anyone who comes too close. This action-packed drama also explores the use of supernatural abilities, similar to Loveless. With many of the relationships in the story being either yuri or yaoi, you can definitely get your BL drama fix.

Did Loveless really make you want to watch a new, adorable yaoi anime? Well you can’t go wrong with Super Lovers. Recently released, the loveable nature of these characters will definitely satiate any cute, yaoi craving you might have. With an amnesia element in the storyline, this standard Boys Love anime also has an older character developing a relationship with younger male character, similar to Loveless. When Haru goes to visit his mother in Canada as a high school student, he meets a young Japanese boy, Ren, who his family later adopts. Ren is a wild child and needs Haru to show him how to live normally. They spend the summer together, strengthening their brotherly relationship before Haru has to return to Japan. Haru leaves, promising that they will live together in the future. But before that can happen, Haru gets into a car accident and loses his memory of his time with Ren. Years later, Ren comes to Japan to live with Haru and his other adoptive brothers and remind him of the close relationship they once had.

Earl Ciel Phantomhive is a young heir after his parents’ untimely death. The plot revolves around Ciel’s dark past and the circumstances that led him to gaining his new demon, butler Sebastian. The relationship between Ciel and Sebastian is one of necessity and mutual benefit. While performing the average duties of a butler, Sebastian also fights for Ciel to maintain order and search to reveal the mysteries of Ciel’s past. Kuroshitsuji is full of mystery, angst, and plenty of BL situations. Ciel is very similar to Ritsuka in Loveless. Both have amnesia and are searching for the reason they lost their loved ones. With older, gorgeous men being their helpers and guides, who can help but infer the budding relationships between the older and the younger. This anime has grown huge in popularity since its release in 2008, leading to several spin-off series and a live-action movie. People have fallen in love with the angst-filled relationship between young Ciel and the demon Sebastian.

Slacker high school student, Akira, is just killing time until one day he is approached by a suspicious man. Shirogane introduces himself as not being human, but declares that he is a shadow. During a midnight trip to the school later that day, Akira and his friends are attacked by shadow monsters. The group is rescued by the mysterious man Akira met earlier, who asks Akira to fight alongside him. Akira and Shirogane seal their contract with a kiss and Akira is transformed into a shadow-monster killing machine called a “shin”. He can only return to being a normal human with the help of another kiss from Shirogane. The balance of light and dark in the world is at risk, but with constant flirting between the characters, you definitely get the same vibe as Loveless. The main characters are required to stay together constantly and this can lead to some hilarious situations. Between the supernatural couple battles and the budding relationships, this show is full of innuendoes and mystery.

This is a darker themed anime about an orphan boy who has separated himself from everyone around him. The audience is thrown into the question of who is Yuki? It seems as though he is able to read people’s minds and learn their dark secrets once he touches them. When one of his classmates falls to the darkness in his heart, Yuki is saved by a silver-eyed man who promises to protect and never betray him. Why does this man seem so familiar to Yuki? What is the mystery surrounding his mentor, Kanata? Yuki has forgotten his past, just like Ritsuka in Loveless. Both have guides to help them remember what happened, and in Yuki’s case, who he really is. With so much potential for some yaoi angst between Yuki and this silver-eyed savior, you can’t help but root for their romance. After the first episode you will be dying to know the secrets of their past and Kanata’s plans for the future!

Natsuki is widely considered by many to be the best on his high school basketball team, although his team just never seems to get past the qualification rounds. Tired of never placing above 3rd round, Natsuki wants to try something new and so his friends encourage him to try out for the number one basketball team, Fujiwara Academy. He decides to try out and so he relocates to live with his aunt so that he could give it a shot, and see where it takes him. Unfortunately for Natsuki, he’s quite small compared to other players so many don’t find him to be very intimidating. After watching a practice game he notices how Fujiwara’s team just toys around with their opponents, and this makes him wonder whether or not he’s even capable of being number one again. Natsuki just wants the best out of his basketball career, but with his team being very weak in comparison to Fujiwara Academy, it just annoys him to no end. His passion to overtake the number one spot boils in his blood, but he runs into constant problems due to his height difference which creates some funny moments in the manga. Will he ever get a shot at the top spot? Will he ever get a chance to play for the best team in the league? Pick up a copy of Cross Over and see what happens!

Dear Boys is a three part manga so we encourage you to check out the other acts after you’ve read the original. Kazuhiko was the proud captain of the Tendoji High School basketball team, but moved onto another high school to pursue his talents even further. However his new school’s basketball team is far from great, in fact, the entire team has disbanded leaving him with no hope. In spite of this unfortunate start, Kazuhiko took to the court to demonstrate his passion for the game which led members of the defunct team to take notice and join in on the fun. Their goal is to reach the national tournament where they can showcase their true potential, and to go face to face with their competition. Nothing can ever stop someone from pursuing something they truly love, especially if it’s something they’ve been doing for many years. For Kazuhiko, he truly felt that the opportunity to play couldn’t be avoided, and that same feeling resonated with other members of his new basketball team. Despite the team disbanding in the beginning, they reformed to create a powerful union and take their skills to the next level. Along the way Kazuhiko meets a certain woman who he becomes attracted to, and she too plays a major role in his success for the school team in this comedy basketball drama.

Akatsuki and his good friend Kiyoharu have spent a good chunk of time playing one-on-one basketball together. Unfortunately their time together would not last, as the two friends are split up into different groups on a very strong basketball team. One is thrown into the B group, while the other was placed into the F group which many considered to be the failure group. Akatsuki was not discouraged by the decision to be placed in the F group, as he continued to maintain his positive charm and practiced consistently to refine his skills. Akatsuki made a promise to Kiyoharu however, so he intends to work hard not to break it at all costs. This wonderful story looks at the life of two childhood friends who get split apart and now must cope with their situation as best as they can. Akatsuki isn’t as skilled as Kiyoharu but tries his best to stay motivated, so that he too can get a chance to play on the more skilled side of the team. Through their hard work and determination, the two ensure that both their promises are kept and that someday they can play together again, much like they did as children.

Sora truly loves the game of basketball, but due to his short and weak stature, he doesn’t seem to have enough confidence to perform well. He’s been running around the court since childhood, and has been trying to grow tall much like his mother who too was a basketball player. Curious about why she stopped playing and wanting to play more himself, Sora makes an effort to do his best to become a better player in the sport he loves most. Ahiru no Sora is an inspiring comedy that looks at Sora and his struggles to become a well rounded basketball player, but along the way faces new challenges that strengthen his passion. As you read further into the story you come to realize that his mother used to play, but never really explains why she stopped. Of course that answer is for you to discover as you read deeper into the plot, but Sora is really the main reason why we chose him for the 7th spot. His warm hearted approach to learning, as well as his tenacity to never give up really hits you because you can see just how much he loves the game, and will do whatever it takes to achieve results not only for himself but for his mom too.

Tachibana has a knack for basketball but due to the constant pressures that sports clubs bring, he decides to distance himself from them all in hopes to do something less stressful. Once he transfers to a new school however, all of those feelings immediately changed as he meets another basketball player who really impresses him and decides to join the team. The two go up against a very formidable opponent in an exhibition match which eventually leads the team mates to grow frustrated with one another, as they continue to fall behind in points. This changes however when one of the senior members on the team throws out some inspiring words to fire them up, and from there these young teenagers do their best to work their way to the top. The name of the manga is certainly strange at first glance, but once you read more into this slice of life comedy you’ll notice that it really is about Tachibana and his willingness to play better basketball. He’ll always say things like “I’ll do my best!”, or “I’ll make sure we don’t lose again!” to ensure that he stays focused on what he came to the court to do, and that’s to win. There are so many great inspiring moments in the manga as well that truly give it that slice of life shine, because it educates the reader on the more inner workings of the mind, and that you can accomplish just about anything if you just focus entirely on what you love at every moment.

Kyo Aizawa’s father is devoted to the sport of basketball, but due to a serious injury he can no longer participate on the court. He insists that his daughter should fulfill his position and make her way to the NBA. To do this he enrolls her into a well known high school which focuses on not just the boys’ basketball team, but very cute girl uniforms. Not too pleased by this result, Kyo must dress like a boy day and night to avoid being noticed since the team actually resides at the school dorm to maintain team spirit. Later she’s introduced to a young talent on the team named Chiharu Eniwa who proves to be a pain in the butt for her, as he treats her with hostility at every opportunity. As fate would have it, the two would now have to face each other more often as they’ve been paired up to live in the same room, and as they build a better bond they come to realize that there’s something they’re each hiding. This manga is sure to keep you laughing for a long time because there’s just so much happening all at once that it’s hard to avoid. Kyo struggles so hard to maintain her boyish demeanor but it often backfires on her in situations when she’s confronted by Eniwa. The two clearly know there’s something off about each other, so they always constantly bicker to try and dissuade the other from figuring everything out. Kyo does have a lot of talent however and it surprises a lot of the boys on the squad, who eventually learn a thing or two from her during their practices. You’re always left guessing what will happen next, and pray that Kyo never gets caught because she brings so much energy to the mix. Be sure to check out this action packed comedy manga!

Nate Torres just wants a shot at all the glory, but he’s labeled as a benchwarmer by his peers and it doesn’t sit well with him. When an opportunity that comes his way gets shot down, Nate decides that the only way he can make a name for himself is to take it to the streets to show off his skills. Away from all of the pressure of being in the spotlight, Nate eventually begins to notice his talents improving and discovers that he’s got a lot more game in him than most assumed. Street basketball as we know has been around since the early 1960’s, but really took off in Rucker Park back in the late 80’s to mid 90’s. Even to this day Rucker Park in Harlem still brings in huge numbers, and is a place where a lot of classic NBA members made their name. In the case of Nate, he realized that his raw talent could be showcased on the back streets where there were no strict rules involved, and where he could truly be himself on the court. It’s a powerful story about a man who’s hungry for more, and with enough teamwork behind him, he would become an unstoppable force on the main court.

Kuroko Tetsuya isn't very popular around others and just doesn't have any significant qualities about him. On the basketball court however, this unexpected showstopper somehow shines in his own remarkable way, using this edge to his advantage against other players. Kuroko's main purpose is to take this untapped potential to the major leagues, and to take down each member of the elite middle school team called the Miracle Generation, cementing a name for himself on the courts. Despite what people around him have mentioned, it doesn’t deter Tetsuya from stepping his game up to show everyone what he’s made of. This hard work and devotion to the game is what sparks a lot of attention, and really gets you feeling hype for Tetsuya throughout the chapters. He knows of his own setbacks but turns them into something very unique to display to the world that he’s no joke when it matters most.

The story of Real revolves around three passionate players who dedicate their life to the game of basketball. Nomiya is a high school dropout with no future in his life, and lives with a deep guilt of crippling a young girl in a traffic accident. Togawa was a former talent in the world of track and field who had a goal to become the best in Japan, but now is confined to a wheelchair playing basketball with players who have no interest in the game whatsoever. Takahashi was once a very well known team leader and honor student, but due to unfortunate circumstances cannot move from the chest down. How will these three players manage to overcome their adversities to become the best? Real is pretty much the best word you could use to define this very powerful manga, as it deals with the reality of physical setbacks and how these players deal with their shortcomings psychologically. As each chapter progresses, you’re left in amazement as these three work desperately to break down their own psychological barriers, and to prove to the world around them that disabilities are nothing more than a temporary obstacle. This really hit home with us because we’re all so self-centered sometimes and don’t even realize how blessed we are to have what we have, and that we take so much for granted in many cases. Real puts you in your place and helps you to wake up and realize that your narrow minded approach to life is the real setback, and that just about anyone can attain true happiness as long as they see past their imperfections.

Sakuragi is deeply in love with both girls and basketball, but unfortunately he just can’t seem to catch the right girl and it starts to bother him. However one day fate comes along in the form of Haruko, a girl who not only finds herself not intimidated by him, but eventually becomes the backbone of Sakuragi’s success. When the two come together Sakuragi discovers more than he could ever ask for, which was the ability to become the boss of the court with unbelievable talent. Sakuragi's desperate attempts to meet true love were finally granted to him, but even more so his talents on the court skyrocketed beyond comprehension. It’s true that you find the one you love doing what you love and for Sakuragi it not only cured his loneliness, but it transformed him into a total powerhouse on the court. Haruko not only helped to reshape his entire life from the bottom up, but she too became a part of the one thing Sakuragi loved most and that was his devotion to basketball.