Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon (which translates to わたしの幸せな結婚 in Japanese and ‘My Happy Marriage’ in English) was initially released in the form of a Japanese light novel series. Akumi Agitogi has written it along with the illustrations of Tsukiho Tsukioka.
The light novel was originally released through an online site and was eventually attained by the Japanese publisher Fujimi Shobo which specializes in the publication of manga, role-playing games, collectible card games, and light novels.
The light novel was published by them under the Fujimi L Bunko imprint after its acquisition of the light novel in January 2019.
The live-action movie adaptation of Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon aired in Japan in March 2023.
The more anticipated anime adaptation of Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon is set to release in July 2023, televised by Kinema Citrus for Japanese viewers, and will be available to stream on Netflix for international viewers.
The story of Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon is based on a time during the Meiji Restoration era in the nineteenth century. The anime is a slow-burn romance, and you might notice a resemblance to the classic fairytale story of Cinderella in this anime.
There is, however, a paranormal twist involved, which makes this an interesting and anticipated watch.
The anime follows a young girl Miyo Saimori who was born to a loveless couple with her fate destined to be one filled with sorrow. After her mother’s demise, Miyo Saimori was left at the mercy of her father’s care, who brought in his lover and her daughter, making things difficult for Miyo.
Following the arrival of Miyo’s stepmother, Miyo’s life was reduced to the life of a servant in her own house.
Miyo’s fate worsens as she is labeled to be worthless owing to her lack of psychic abilities that her half-sister inherited, making her the black sheep.
Miyo’s fate is destined to take a terrible turn yet again after her father arranges her marriage to Kiyoka Kudou, a military captain who is popular for all the wrong reasons.
Kiyoka Kudou is rumored to be the most cruel and cold-hearted person in their town, so much so that he has driven away all his would-be wives.
Things take a pleasant turn once Miyo realizes that Kiyoka is subject to baseless rumors and that he is, contrary to popular belief, actually a kind-hearted person and a beautiful man inside and out.
After a painful childhood, Miyo is headed toward a beautiful marriage and a happy ever after.
Romance anime is a reasonably popular choice among watchers, and if the story of Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon, the beautiful illustration, romance, and stunning cherry blossom environment is what got you hooked on the anime, then here’s a list of anime that you are sure to enjoy!
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Clannad
The story of Clannad revolves around Tomoya Okazaki, who leads a life of seclusion and apparent delinquency. Tomoya is a third-year high school student who has recently lost his mother, due to which his father has taken to alcohol consumption and gambling to cope with the loss.
The protagonist finds himself lonely with no one to look out for him. Tomoya dislikes his life and the condition in which he is because of his dad, due to which the two often end up fighting.
One such fight led to Tomaya injuring his shoulder, after which the two grew distant from each other, which eventually led to Tomaya acquiring the label of a delinquent.
One day, Tomoya meets a strange girl who appears to be talking to herself on his walk to school. This strange girl is named Nagisa Furukawa and is in the same grade as Tomoya but a year older.
She is repeating in the same year due to her illness which forced her to take leave from school.
Nagisa, much like Tomoya, does not have a lot of friends since all her friends moved up a grade leaving her behind. The two hence, start hanging out and become friends, and it is revealed that Nagisa wants to join the drama club that has been disbanded.
Tomoya helps out Nagisa in bringing the drama club back to life along with four other girls, each of whom has their own challenge, and Tomoya, while helping them overcome these, also realizes that his life isn’t as dull as he thought.
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance, Supernatural
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Duration: 23 episodes + 1 OVA
Score on MAL: 8
Where to watch: Funimation
Ride Your Wave
This anime starts out with Hinako Mukaimizu who is a nineteen-year-old lively girl who moves to a coastal town for her college to fulfill her love for surfing. She hasn’t given much thought to her future and goes where the tide takes her.
One day, her apartment is set on fire due to the fireworks display, and she is trapped inside the apartment set ablaze. This is when she encounters Minato Hinageshi, who is a twenty-one-year-old firefighter who saves her life.
The two quickly become friends as they find each other’s company symbiotic.
Minato’s passion for saving and helping others makes him a reliable person for Hinako in a new city, and in turn, she helps Minato explore surfing and try out new ways to surf. The two spend more time together and eventually develop a deep and gentle relationship.
Hinako’s life in this new city where she found love takes a dark turn as Minato becomes a victim of the dangers of surfing. Hinako is left to figure life out alone while coping with an emotionally challenging situation, and this is when she realizes a secret hidden in the waves of the sea.
She finds a way to hold on to what is dear to her, only to realize this might not be the best scenario. Hinako ends up revisiting her past, uncovering secrets, and trying to make things better for herself and those around her.
Genre: Romance, Drama, Supernatural
Studio: Science SARU
Duration: 1 hour 35 minutes movie
Score on MAL: 7.61
Where to watch: Prime Video, Crunchyroll
Your Lie in April
This popular anime is about Kousei Arima, a talented pianist who was regarded as the “Human Metronome” from a very young age owing to his exceptional skills in playing the piano.
Her discipline, rigorous and quality training by his trainer makes him one of the best piano players and a local celebrity at a young age.
His fame is short-lived as he stops playing the piano after he suffers a personal tragedy. The trauma renders him devoid of being able to hear the musical notes of the piano he once mastered and keeps him away from the stage for the time to come.
Kousei lives a pretty monotonous life with his two friends, Tsubaki Sawabe and Ryouta Watari. The child prodigy who once used to win all competitions and had a good name among his musical peers has now not played the piano in two years.
Kousei seems to be pretty content with his way of uninspired life, but an encounter with the free-spirited, courageous, and cheerful violinist Kaori Miyazono changes his way of life.
Kaori changes the way Kousei views music and opens up his style to a more unique and personal style that is free of the rigid rules and guidelines that he was used to.
He is able to break free from the mold he was in and discovers his own style, which can be groundbreaking.
The two spend a lot of time together, and Kaori helps Kousei get back into the world of music, and in doing so, they develop a great bond. Their fates are destined to change as Kousei discovers the things Kaori had kept hidden from him.
This anime can be a tearjerker, but at the same time, it makes up for a beautiful story.
Genre: Romance, Drama
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Duration: 22 episodes + 1 OVA
Score on MAL: 8.65
Where to watch: Hulu, Prime Video, Crunchyroll
Also read: 30 Your Lie In April Facts You Need To Know
Natsuyuki Rendezvous
Natsuyuki Rendezvous is similar to a love triangle anime, the only difference being that one of the persons involved in the triangle exists not in the human form but looks after his wife in the form of a ghost.
Rokka Shimao is a beautiful florist whose husband passed away three years ago. She is the owner of the local floral show that is frequently visited by Ryousuke Hazuki, a young man who has fallen for the store manager and wants to declare his love for her, but his conquest remains full of challenges the world cannot see.
Hazuki, despite his weak eyesight, decides to be a part-timer at the floral shop in order to spend more time with Rokka. He is, however, disappointed when he sees a man in her apartment on the second floor, believing him to be Rokka’s live-in boyfriend.
Hazuki later comes to know that it is not her live-in boyfriend but the ghost of her husband, Atsushi Shimao, looking over his wife and possibly luring away any potential suitors for his wife.
Hazuki catches up on the fact that Rokka Shimao can’t see the ghost of her husband, and thus Hazuki decides to pursue his love for Rokka, setting her free from the past and a chance to move on while allowing the ghost to finally pass on.
Both the men remain obstinate in their stance, and while Hazuki continues to pursue Rokka, Atsushi is determined to be a stubborn obstacle in Hazuki’s way.
Genre: Supernatural, Drama, Romance
Studio: Doga Kobo
Duration: 11
Score on MAL: 7.27
Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Apple TV, Prime Video
5 Centimeters per Second
A three-part movie, 5 Centimeters per Second, is the third and final installation of the story that revolves around Takaki Tōno and Akari Shinohara, who are childhood friends.
They live in similar circumstances and hence have the kind of empathy for each other that they haven’t seen among their peers. Their bond grows deep, but they are unable to be connected due to their circumstances and their failed attempts at staying in touch.
The first part of the act, Cherry Blossom, set in 1991, focuses on Takai and Akari’s childhood and the beginning of their friendship. Their friendship blossoms into mutual feelings of love which are difficult for them to maintain due to their situation.
They nevertheless try their best to hold onto what they started, but not without being met with resistance.
Long-distance turns out to be more challenging than they thought, and with the letter becoming less frequent, they start to grow distant forcibly.
The second installation, Cosmonaut, set in 1999, is based on the young adult stage in the life of Takaki, who is now in his third year in senior high. The two childhood friends have not been able to bridge the distance, and neither have they been able to move on.
By wanting to hold onto each other, they end up hurting themselves and those around them.
The third and final part set in 2008, 5 Centimeters per Second, portrays the adult life of the two long distant admirers who have been unable to pick up where they left off.
The longing starts to take over important aspects of their lives, and they are seen to be thinking about each other from far away.
Genre: Drama, Romance
Studio: CoMix Wave Films
Duration: 3 movies
Score on MAL: 7.58
Where to watch: Prime Video, Apple TV
Violet Evergarden
This heartbreaking story is about Violet Evergarden, the protagonist who was created to meet the needs of fighting a war that lasted for four years in the continent of Telesis that eventually led to the formation of the North and the South.
Violet was raised with the intention of eliminating enemies, and now that the war is over, she hopes to give meaning to the words of the only person that meant something to her, her mentor and guardian, Major Gilbert.
Now that the war is over and the environment is flourishing and moving past the ones left behind, Violet finds her training of a war machine to be redundant.
Thought to be devoid of emotions, she seems to have a tough time dealing with her designated foster family and sets out to explore what there is out in this unexplored world, which has moved past the war, welcoming the new generation.
She stumbles upon Auto Memory Dolls, who are required to do transcription for people and help them with communication through letters. She thereafter begins working as a Memory Doll herself, which takes her on an unexpected expedition.
She learns what it means to be human and finds herself through the exploration that this job takes her on.
Genre: Drama, War, Fantasy
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Duration: 13 Episodes + 1 OVA + 2 Movies
Score on MAL: 8.67
Where to watch: Netflix, Funimation
Also read: Anime Like Violet Evergarden That You Can Watch
Insomniacs After School
Two high school students, Ganta Nakami and Isaki Magari, have something in common that will bring them closer. Both of them find themselves unable to sleep at night in the comfort of their home and end up being sleep deprived throughout the day.
While this sleep deprivation is evident in Nakami’s grumpy and irritable attitude, Magari seems to be a cheerful and free-spirited girl who is well-known among her peers.
Isaki Magari is able to maintain her sanity even after sleepless nights owing to the idle astronomy club’s observatory lab. Magari is able to complete her sleep cycle by taking naps whenever she gets the time in the lab. The astronomy observatory lab serves as her saving grace and a well-kept secret.
Nakami unveils this secret sleeping spot uncovering her secret, and once they realize that they have the rare situation of restless nights in common, they open up to each other, and this spot which was earlier dominated by Magari, is now a shared space between the two.
Genre: Slice of life, Drama, Romance
Studio: LIDENFILMS
Duration: 13 Episodes
Score on MAL: 7.98
Where to watch: Prime Video
Irozuku Sekai no Ashita kara
Based in the city of Nagasaki, this story portrays the dull and monotonous life of Hitomi Tsukishiro in a world full of magic ingrained in everyday life. Hitomi has lost the ability to see colors and hence sees her world in black and white. This alone was not the only loss the teenager faced.
Even though she was born into a family of witches, she lives a bland and boring life with her grandmother, who feels sorry for her and wants to do something to help her granddaughter live a fulfilling life.
Kohaku Tsukishiro, Hitomi’s grandmother, cooks up a spell to give her granddaughter a chance at a spirited and colorful life.
Kohaku Tsukishiro sends her 17-year-old granddaughter into the past, where Hitomi finds herself in the room of Yuito Aoi, whose artwork brings a dash of color into the monochromatic life of Hitomi Tsukishiro.
Confused by the change in her life events, Hitomi must find out the ultimate goal and discover a path for her that was paved by her grandmother. She needs to give meaning to the mystery of her grandmother’s spell, which led her to a strange yet familiar place back in time.
Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Romance
Studio: P.A. Works
Duration: 13 Episodes
Score on MAL: 7.52
Where to watch: Prime Video
