Love and relationships appear in most genres of Japanese animation. Plenty of the most beloved manga and anime stories are romances or dramas based on the ever-growing bond of two people falling in love. Many shojo anime series are like that, along with some slice-of-life shonen series, or even some lighthearted seinen series as well.

Some anime romances are viewed as dysfunctional or problematic, especially those from earlier decades. Other anime series intentionally depict strained and turbulent relationships that are anything but wholesome — but not all anime romances are like that. Many others are inspiring, innocent, and wholesome for any viewer to enjoy, whether or not they're the primary romance of a given series.

Update December 3rd, 2023 by Louis Kemner: With every passing year, the anime industry delights fans with many new romance stories depicting happy, inspirational couples who show everyone what true love looks like. The best-written romance stories in anime will feature two likable, sympathetic lovers who treat each other well and form a healthy, happy relationship that will stand the test of time.

15 Yuki Sohma & Machi Kuragi (Fruits Basket)

Despite being a beloved shojo series all about empathy and romance, Fruits Basket depicts many dysfunctional and unhealthy romances. Shigure being involved with Akito, for example, was often more creepy than romantic. However, the romance between Yuki and Machi was as wholesome as it gets.

Yuki Sohma was a kind kuudere boy who appreciated Tohru as a friend, while Yuki mainly had his eyes on Machi Kuragi, a quiet and troubled girl who was on the student council with him. Machi thought she wasn't worth loving at first, but then they grew much closer and became very happy with one another. It was a storybook ending for them both, though all that was really just a subplot in Fruits Basket. That particular romance didn't get enough screen time to be one of the industry's top romances,so it ranks rather low among the most wholesome anime romances.

14 Nasa Yuzaki & Tsukasa Tsukuyomi (TONIKAWA: Over The Moon For You)

Nasa Yuzaki might have set the record for the quickest and most drama-free anime wedding of all time in TONIKAWA: Over The Moon For You. He and his new bride Tsukasa got married at the start of the series, rather than at the end, and the conflict and drama were external, not internal. This is very much a drama-free couple.

Nasa and Tsukasa are still figuring all this out, but they get along well as loving spouses and are determined to make each other happy however they can, with Nasa going the extra mile repeatedly.

13 Shinya Yukimura & Ayame Himuro (Science Fell In Love, So I Tried To Prove It)

Fellow scientists Shinya Yukimura and Ayame Himuro have a lot of chemistry, literally and otherwise. In the very first scene of Science Fell In Love, So I Tried To Prove It, Ayame declared that she just might be in love with the handsome Shinya, and they decided to conduct some experiments to prove whether or not a true romance is blossoming between them.

Ayame and Shinya are equally clueless and inexperienced with romance, but they'll do their best to verify their potential feelings. They even shared a wholesome and overdue kiss during an Okinawa sunrise — a moment any romance fan would cheer for.

12 Hitohito Tadano & Shoko Komi Just Might Be In Love (Komi Can't Communicate)

Komi Can't Communicate is primarily a slice-of-life comedy series, but it does make room for a subtle romantic subtheme between the silent heroine Shoko Komi and her first true friend, the kind boy Hitohito Tadano.

Komi Can't Communicate is dropping subtle but clear hints that Shoko and Hitohito have special feelings for one another. It's easily one of the most wholesome romances in modern anime; these gentle characters only want what's best for each other.

11 Miku & Tatsu (The Way Of The Househusband)

Miku and Tatsu from The Way Of The House Husband are "relationship goals" thanks to their strong and healthy marriage, which is in no jeopardy whatsoever of falling apart. Tatsu is a reformed Yakuza gangster who gave up a life of crime and violence in favor of home-cooking and errands.

Meanwhile, Tatus's wife Miku is a successful businesswoman with slick business suits to match. She is always happy to return home to a clean house and a fresh meal on the dinner table. Despite their very different backgrounds, Miku and Tatsu have a model marriage.

10 Izumi Miyamura & Kyoko Hori (Horimiya)

In the wholesome romance anime Horimiya, Kyoko Hori is a little too hard on her secretly edgy boyfriend Izumi Miyamura, but as a whole, this relationship is definitely wholesome and inspiring. Like with most wholesome anime romances, there is very little drama between the two main lovers and they understand and respect one another greatly.

It also helps that Izumi and Kyoko can be themselves around one another, while they have to put on appearances at school, which can be tiring. Izumi pretends to be gloomy and unapproachable, while Kyoko has to work hard to maintain her status as the school's most popular girl. It's a healthy and fun romance that appeals to fans of wholesome love stories, but Kyoko acts rather punkish at times, and some anime fans might say they're a bit too boring to be one of the industry's best couples, hence their modest rank.

9 Wakana Gojo & Marin Kitawaga (My Dress-Up Darling)

My Dress-Up Darling is a shojo-style seinen series that is all about the wonderful world of cosplay. The two main characters are the shy dollmaker Wakana Gojo and the lively cosplay enthusiast Marin Kitagawa, who are a classic example of opposites attracting.

Their relationship was platonic at first, but when Wakana called Marin beautiful, like a hina doll, that changed overnight. Now, Marin is madly in love with her cosplay partner and Wakana just might return her feelings. Their budding romance is both wholesome and exciting.

8 Naruto Uzumaki & Hinata Hyuga (Naruto)

The romance between Naruto's protagonist Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata is one of shonen's best and most popular. For years, the shy ninja Hinata Hyuga admired her crush Naruto Uzumaki, who inspired her with his courage and grit in the face of adversity. It also helped when Naruto shouted some words of encouragement to Hinata during the chunin exam.

Naruto was a bit clueless at first, but that changed over time. He and Hinata soon formed a strong and wholesome romance that culminated in their marriage at the end of Naruto Shippuden. They had a son and daughter who star in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.

7 Avatar Aang & Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Given their youth, Avatar Aang and the Waterbender Katara were bound to have an innocent, G-rated romance in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Katara had always been fond of Aang and protective of him as well during their journey to defeat the Fire Lord, and those feelings soon blossomed into something more.

Aang and Katara had a few stumbles, such as the scene in the Cave of the Two Lovers. Overall, though, their relationship was incredibly wholesome — either of them would gladly risk their lives for the other.

6 Hirotaka Nifuji & Narumi Momose (Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku)

The popular josei anime and manga franchise Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku may not be an icon of romance, but it does portray one of anime's most wholesome relationships. In this series, a small handful of friends at the office all share a secret passion for otaku culture, from video games to anime and cosplay. That includes the hardcore gamer Hirotaka Nifuji and his childhood friend, Narumi Momose.

Hirotaka and Narumi get along great and they soon decide to start dating. A wholesome romance soon takes root and the two lovers perfectly understand and respect one another, even if they lightly tease each other for fun.

5 Ichigo Kurosaki & Orihime Inoue (Bleach)

In Bleach, a few wholesome romances took root, such as Rukia Kuchiki the Soul Reaper marrying her childhood friend Renji Abarai. Over time, the story also brought protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki closer to his classmate Orihime Inoue.

This romance was a slow burn, but it definitely paid off in the end, and Ichigo and Orihime had a few cute moments together. The manga's epilogue depicted them as a happily married couple enjoying their peaceful, ordinary life together, and they even had a lovable son named Kazui Kurosaki. Such wonderful scenes make the Ichigo/Orihime romance a healthy and inspiring one, but it's held back by a relative lack of screen time in Bleach's story.

4 Yuu Koito & Touko Nanami (Bloom Into You)

Bloom Into You ranks among the better yuri manga/anime series out there. It's also a high school romance/drama story featuring the charming, gentle girl Yuu Koito and her gorgeous senior classmate Touko Nanami, a seemingly perfect girl whom everyone looks up to.

Over time, the two girls can't help but fall in love, and they're an even better match for one another than they expected. They will have some drama to work through together, but they respect and adore each other greatly and would do anything to make the other happy.

3 Shikimori & Izumi Yuu (Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie)

Even if the near-perfect relationship between Shikimori and Izumi Yuu made for an underwhelming narrative, their love story still ranks among the industry's most wholesome and innocent of all. Whether or not it makes for an exciting watch, the wholesome anime Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie is all about two lovers who are in perfect sync.

Shikimori is popular and highly respected for being charming, beautiful, kind, athletic, and a star student. Her gentle boyfriend Izumi Yuu simply feels fortunate to be involved at all. Still, Shikimori doesn't see him as a burden – to her, he's a wonderful person who's always worth protecting.

2 Himuro & Fuyutsuki (The Ice Guy And His Cool Female Colleague)

The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague is a gentle, easygoing romantic comedy starring two cool kuudere lovers, Himuro the ice guy and the cat-loving Fuyutsuki. They've had their eyes on each other ever since they met, and before long, they were dating and having all kinds of fun together.

Himuro and Fuyutsuki may be soft-spoken and not too open with their emotions, but their love rings true, and they find meaningful ways to quietly but clearly express their amorous feelings. There's no drama or hardship involved at all – for the ice guy and the cool Fuyutsuki, it's smooth sailing in the waters of true love.

1 Aileen D'Autriche & Demon Lord Claude (I'm The Villainess, So I'm Taming The Final Boss)

The seinen isekai anime I'm the Villainess stars Aileen Lauren d'Autriche, who found herself reborn in her favorite otome game's world. She was reincarnated as the antagonist, but she has a heart of gold and the smarts to survive despite having no plot armor. Aileen met and got engaged to the kuudere demon lord Claude, who's simply misunderstood, not evil.

Aileen and Claude soon became "relationship goals," with Claude being highly protective and Aileen being charmingly bashful anytime Claude kisses her in public. After foiling Lilia's third and final plot, they were happily married. Despite Claude's status as demon lord, he was actually a sweet and protective lover with a surprisingly innocent personality, and Aileen loved him for it. That makes their relationship the #1 most wholesome romance in modern anime.