Summary
Blue Box, a.k.aAo no Hako, masterfully amalgamates the exhilarating world of sports withthe complexities of teenage romanceto recount a memorable story about two high schoolers. The sports romance series follows Taiki Inomata, a member of Eimei Academy’s high school badminton team who has fallen head-over-heels in love with the super-talented basketball player Chinatsu Kano. As their paths cross on and off the court, the duo goes through the ups and downs of romantic affairs while navigating the challenging life of an athlete.
The series captures the tension between a sportsperson’s feelings and personal ambitions while offering a heartwarming exploration of dedication, perseverance, love, friendship, and personal sacrifices. Anime fans who wish to watchshows with similar themes toBlue Boxhave plenty of options available.
Updated May 20, 2025 by Mirza Aaqib Beg:Even before it was released in the Fall 2024 season, Blue Box made headlines as one of the most anticipated sports anime of the year. The manga had already been a success, and as the anime was finally released, it catapulted the franchise to new heights of popularity.
Now, more than three months after the first episode was televised, the anime continues to grow in popularity, making it one of the most popular sports romance anime of all time. The updated list includes a few more exciting shows that will resonate with Blue Box fans.
After a series of coincidences, Chihaya Ayase learns about the intriguing world of competitive karuta that turns her life around. As she falls in love with the intense sport, she starts dreaming of earning the title of Queen of Karuta. Chihaya’s passion for the game refuses to subside in the subsequent years, and by the time she reaches high school, she starts the Mizusawa Karuta Club, determined to win Omi Shrine’s national championship.
I thought karuta was a card game people played for fun. But it’s not… Karuta is a sport!
Chihayafurufollows Ayase as she pursues her passionwhile dealing with the romantic feelings she has developed for someone special in her life.Blue Boxfans who are looking for a sports-focused series should consider adding Chihayafuru to their watchlist, as it beautifully balances the complexities of the protagonist’s relationships and the intensity of competitive sport.
Usually, sports romance anime don’t have overcomplicated romantic dynamics, as they tend to focus more on intense competition. Blue Box appears to break this mold by introducinga complex love trianglewith two characters falling for the same person. But decades before the series was even conceived,Touchwent a step further by recounting the story of the Uesugi twins who fell for their childhood friend, Asakura Minami.
Throughout his life, Tatsuya has lived under the shadow of his younger twin Kazuya, despite being a more gifted sportsman. While he has no hesitation in allowing his sibling to thrive and enjoy the limelight, Tatsuya realizes that he can’t sacrifice Minami, even for his brother.Touchis the story of the trio as they deal with the vicissitudes of life and navigate the complexities of love, familial bonds, and dreams.
3Area no Kishi
Anime About Chasing Dreams, Sports, And Love
After taking a managerial role and giving up on his soccer dream, Kakeru Aizawa’s life appears to come to a standstill as he struggles to find the same passion in any other aspect of his life. Eventually realizing that he could stillchase his World Cup dream and taking inspirationfrom a childhood friend, Aizawa returns to the field with newfound fire in his heart.
Area no Kishirecounts Kakeru’s inspiring journey as he embarks on a quest for glory. Like Taiki fromBlue Box, he finds emotional and moral support from a friend who not only helps him regain his passion for the sport but also becomes his love interest.
4Yawara
A Thought-Provoking Sports Series
Naoki Urasawa’sYawarais an imaginative and realistic reflection on the burden that comes with talent and the expectations that are forced upon prodigies. Through the protagonist Yawara Inokuma, the series explores the conflict between a teenager’s mundane desires and the responsibility of carrying a family legacy.
Despite addressing some serious themes, Yawara somehow manages to retain a lighthearted and charming tone, making it a great watch forBlue Boxfans who are looking for sports animethat goes beyond the conventional plotlines and navigates the emotional complexities of its characters.
5Princess Nine
A Tale About Breaking Barriers, Growth, Dreams, And Love
Kisuragi School is an all-girls academy whose Chairman, Keiko Himuro, decides to put together a baseball team, with the hope that it would be able to challenge boys' teams and win the National High School Baseball Championship. Determined to play at the Koshien Stadium, the team of nine girls, led by ace pitcher Ryo Hayakawa, sets out to challenge the status quo and prove they are just as good as their male counterparts.
Princess Nineis an exciting story of an eccentric group of girls who are dealing with their personal struggles while striving to fight an uphill battle. The series, with its unique blend of romance, drama, and sports, keeps viewers engaged, making it a captivating watch. It has all the elements that will appeal toBlue Boxfans.
Hajime no Ippois the inspiring story of the young titular protagonist who loses his father at a young age andhas to work incredibly hardto help his mother with her fishing boat rental business. As if his circumstances are not already tragic enough, he gets bullied by his peers regularly, who mock and look down on him. His purposeless and depressing life takes a dramatic turn when Ippo ends up at the Kamogawa Boxing Gym, where he falls in love with the sport of boxing.
The reason we train so hard in the first place is so we can make it home in one piece.
Realizing that he has a gift for the sport, Ippo becomes an unstoppable force and is driven to take on the world and make a name for himself. Although Hajime no Ippo is primarily focused on sports, Kumi and Ippo’s slow-burning romance adds another dimension to the story. Sports anime fans who loveBlue Boxwill likely enjoy this series, too, as it packs the same mix of emotional depth, personal hardships, perseverance, and passion.
Inspired by Mitsuru Adachi’s Japanese baseball-themedbest-selling manga of the same name,H2is a sports-romance series that explores the complexities of teenage love while primarily focusing on themes of ambition, friendship, and personal growth. The series centers upon Hiro Kunikimi, a talented pitcher whose promising baseball career appears to come to an unexpected end when a doctor diagnoses him as having a serious elbow injury. Distraught by the tragic circumstance, he reluctantly gives up the sport and enrolls at the Senkawa High School.
While Hiro feels that there is no turning back, an incident leads to the shocking revelation that the doctor who diagnosed him is a quack, and he can still play baseball. But since Senkawa has no baseball squad, Kunikimi must set out to build a team from scratch with the hope of someday getting to play Koushien baseball tournament.H2’s Hiro is driven to participate in the nationwide baseball tournament just asBlue Box’s Taiki is desperate to reach the nationals in badminton. The two shows beautifully balance sports and romance whilehighlighting the personal growth and maturationof their protagonists.
After moving from the Hiroshima countryside to Tokyo, young Yamato Akitsuki helps his relatives look after the girls-only dormitory. Soon after his arrival, he is mesmerized by the incredible talent of heavily scouted track and field athlete Suzuka Asahina, after watching her practicing her technique. But Yamato’s clumsiness and irresponsible behavior do not appeal to a perfectionist like Suzuka, who turns out to be his neighbor.
Desperate to win her heart, Akitsuki turns to sports, only to find out that he has a hidden talent for sprinting. With his newfound purpose, Yamato sets out to push himself to his limits to becomean ideal suitor for the supertalented Suzuka. Just like Taiki fromBlue Box, Akitsuki also falls for a sought-after young sportswoman who, according to others, is way out of his league. The romance between the couples in both shows develops as they navigate the challenges of their athletic careers and undergo a dramatic shift in their personalities.
Eiichirou Maruo is a hardworking and intelligent honor student who joins the Southern Tennis Club due to his concern for his poor health. On the first day there, he crosses paths with Natsu Takasaki, an aspiring professional tennis player who is determined to reach the pinnacle of the sport. Through his personal experiences and by observing Natsu’s passion for the sport, Eiichirou is inspired to play tennis seriously and develops his technique. With time, he is overcome by the thrill of competition and starts dreaming of standing toe-to-toe against the world’s best players.
Baby StepsandBlue Boxare great sports shows that teach the value of discipline and inspire viewers to chase their dreams. They primarilyfocus on two young sportspeople chasing their dreamswho end up having feelings for each other. Furthermore, they also highlight the intense demands of competitive sports and the importance of balancing personal feelings with them.
Mitsuru Adachi’sCross Gameexploresthe emotional and psychological growthof its teenage protagonists through the lens of their athletic pursuits, just likeBlue Box. Both anime revolve around similar themes, like sportsmanship, personal ambition, and friendship.Cross Gamealso briefly explores the gradual development of romantic feelings between its characters, although it ends tragically.
I saw a pitcher who threw these amazing fastballs on an opposing team. That pitcher’s form looked so cool. Too bad that pitcher had a bad personality. Figures, since she didn’t know the meaning of kindly.
The series follows Kou Kitamura, an extremely talented baseball player who, despite his skillfulness, has no interest in the sport. His abilities have been honed primarily due to frequent visits to the Tsukishima family’s local baseball batting center. The Kitamura family is a sports shop owner and is close friends with the Tsukishimas. Despite the close familial bonds, Kou is at odds with Aoba Tsukishima, and the two keep bickering because of their contrasting personalities.
Although Kou and Aoba are frequently at each other’s throats, their bond with Wakaba Tsukishima acts as a strong connection between them. When personal tragedies turn their lives upside down, the duo eventually turns to baseball as a means of solace and healing.Cross Gamebeautifully captures Kou and Aoba’semotional journeys through hardships and challengesthat shape their identities and help them find their purpose.
