Anime like Higehiro is gonna be really hard to come by I assume because the show isn’t too typical drama, romance, and runaway kind of anime, it’s about the cruelty of the world and how you can learn to survive and live even if there is no one to save you or keep you safe.
Everyone in the anime community is excited about this show and how much it has to offer. It is a really wholesome show on the surface and when you watch the anime it shows a really deeper meaning to everything said and done. I’m not sure if I can suggest to you a proper anime will satisfy you after you finish the show.
There’s plenty of comedic, runaway, depressing, and wholesome anime like Higehiro where you will be given a very unique perspective on life and you will fall in love with it. Something with a deep meaning and a story behind it that will teach you many things along the way.
Also, Check out These Meaningful quotes from Higehiro
Here’s the list of 10 Amazing anime like Higehiro: After Being Rejected, I Shaved and Took in a High School Runaway
1. It’s Too Sick to Call this Love, Koikimo
- Genre: Comedy, Romance
- Episode: 12
Why it’s similar
Both shows came out on the season and quite similar in a way, Koikimo is a love story between an older man and a teenage girl just like Higehiro while the plots and story are quite different, one story is just about simple love, you can’t help how it happens and with who, while Higehiro is about the societal issue about poverty and child abuse.
They both have a similar story of an adult man meeting a young teenage girl who in one’s case falls in love with the girl at first sight and the other one helps the little helpless girl and cares for her.
Synopsis
In Koikimo we have Ichika who is a high school teenage girl the same age as Sayu but both of them have quite different stories, one girl who one day by just happenstance saves the life of a guy who ends up falling in with her and the other who left everything behind and came to Tokyo to live far away from home.
Both of these animes couldn’t be any more different but, we all know that due to circumstances both of those characters will most likely end up together just like many other animes we have seen over the years but what matters is how they deliver it.
2. Sing “Yesterday” for Me
- Genre: Slice of Life, Drama, Romance
- Episode: 12
Synopsis
There comes a time in everyone’s life when you have nowhere to go but forward, but you hesitate. Both the shows male protagonist go through a similar state but not quite the same, where one person who loses their will to live because of a measly heartbreak or the fear of moving forward but are somehow saved by another person.
I have never felt so many emotions when watching any other show which emotions such as hatred, resentment, depression because one person who can bring salvation to you or bring you even deeper into despair.
Why it’s similar
Both the protagonist have similar stats in the show who are rejected by their crush or have fear which they built up don’t let them move any further. Both of them have given on pretty much any future goals and just live their life without wanting anything and are continually saddened by how everyone from their past has moved on to adult life.
both the female and male protagonists have no goals for the future and they’re both so dysfunctional you can easily picture them together and sorting out their problems but that is not the case.
3. The Garden of Words
- Genre: Slice of Life, Drama, Romance
- Episode: 1 (movie)
Synopsis
We have a high school student who doesn’t really fit in with his mates and is absent for the most part, he has goals for the future but doesn’t act on them. quite similar to our female protagonist from Higehiro who lost everything and doesn’t have an early idea of how to live but is eager to act give the opportunity.
Why it’s similar
Both of the teenagers have fallen in love with someone not their age and doesn’t care how the world sees because the heart wants what the heart wants. and they don’t know how to react and how to behave in order for the other person to like the, have they give too much and got nothing in return? or was it all a dream?
The most important scene in both anime shows is going to be how they deliver the ending and how impactful will it be, Garden of words was a blast of emotions that blew my heart away and I wasn’t sure if it was still the right thing to do or not.
4. ReLIFE
- Genre: Slice of Life, Romance, School
- Episode: 13
Synopsis
Both anime have a similar style to it, how can I say this, hmm.. Life isn’t easy and believes me I know how tough it can be when you grow up and have nowhere to go and no goals to look forward to it’s like your life has no meaning and all you want to do is disappear but when I’m over exaggerating a bit.
Why it’s similar
Both shows have a male character who has suffered through their problems has thought they can no longer find happiness or there is no one who is going to be there for them till the end until both of them are given an opportunity. In one’s case, it is not really an opportunity but rather a choice.
In both of the shows, there is a slight hint of romance which is shown a bit later where they learn to live with this new lifestyle around teenagers who learn to rely on them for basic needs or guidance.
I was getting really strong feelings about this anime when I was watching Higehiro maybe because I was thinking of another character who had no goals for the future but somehow find a way to survive.
5. Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School
- Episode: 13
Why it’s similar
There is romance, there is drama and both anime have a runaway girl who has to rely on a complete stranger to get her basic needs done Both the male and female protagonist are quite capable of handling situations on their own and have a good understanding of how everything should be between them.
Synopsis
Mai Sakurajima is a star of the TV industry but somehow due to a certain condition which “Adolescence Syndrome is that she became invisible and that her existence had been subconsciously forgotten by nearly everybody” and in quite a similar position is our Sayu Ogiwara who doesn’t have anyone to go to or look after her.
That’s where our male protagonist from bunny girl senpai comes in as he is someone who broke his connections to the internet world quite some time ago he was not affected by Adolescence Syndrome and he could see Mai Sakurajima in a library.
Our male lead from Higehiro decides to help Sayu and be someone who she can rely on, at-least until she can learn how to live properly on her own.
6. Domestic Girlfriend
- Genre: Drama, Romance, School, Shounen
- Episode: 12
Why it’s similar
Both animes have similar stories with the main characters not being happy with their current situation. Falling in love with someone with an age gap, trying to play the part of someone who can be the person they rely on. No goals for the future and having no reason to live if you can’t be with that special someone.
Synopsis
The female lead from Domestic girlfriend is a high school teacher who is quite beautiful and elegant where a ton of boys have a crush on her which is to be expected. while she cares deeply for one student but she can’t act on impulse because the student and teacher relationships aren’t allowed.
Now we have our teenage male protagonist who has a crush on the teacher but he realizes that he can’t just ask her to date him while he can’t support her. His goal in life is to become an author but everyone he does goes in vain, he loses faith and begins to fall deep in despair knowing he can’t be with the person he loves.
7. Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki
- Genre: Drama, Romance, School
- Episode: 12
Why it’s similar
Both the male leads are very socially awkward while one good one thing the story and plot are not exactly the same
Synopsis
The male lead is someone who has completely given up on life, he has no goals to look forward to, he doesn’t have a proper hairstyle, he lives like a slob not caring about anything or anyone. and blames society for treating him like this, he believes that his life was hard and made difficult and he had no say in this.
Until one day he meets another girl game who is not just good at games but also in real life, he is amazed by her ability to manage both the game life and real one. he understands nothing is given without hard work in this game of life and everyone needs to find a place to belong, but he doesn’t have the motivation to work for it.
He is saved by the female lead who plays the same game as him, she takes it upon himself to fix his miserable life and teach him to be better at this game of life.
8. Recovery of an MMO Junkie
- Genre: Game, Comedy, Romance
- Episode: 10
I really wanted to include Recover of an MMO Junkie to this list of anime like higehiro because both of these shows are very much alike is every day except the teenage girl part but let’s get started.
Why it’s similar
Both shows have a story of an adult who lived a tough life and who wasn’t happy with how their life was going where many people just bear the pain and keep living she decided to leave everything and live her life as a neet playing MMOs as an escape from reality which we all wanted to do.
Synopsis
Our male protagonist is someone who meets her on the game who doesn’t know her real identity because both of them use opposite gender characters for their online game they do care deeply for one another.
She meets someone cares for her in real life and in game and is always there to protect her no matter what happens.
9. The Town Where Only I am Missing, BokuMachi
- Genre: Mystery, Psychological, Supernatural, Seinen
- Episode: 12
Why it’s similar
Same story with both main characters but with a whole new plot which I had never really seen before I’m being honest. The Story is about regrets and all the mistakes you made in your past, what would you say if I tell you that you can go back and fix all those mistakes, start a new life I know you would say yes. I mean who wouldn’t.
Synopsis
Satoru is a delivery guy who lives with mom, he lives a normal life but everyone changes one day when he is teleported to his younger self in school but why? People live with many regrets and everyone wish they could go back to the time and fix those mistakes.
He wants salvation from someone dear, someone close to him, and someone he couldn’t protect back then, I believe if I say anymore it will be just become a spoiler so I will leave the introduction and here, and hopefully you will give this show a try.
10. After the Rain
- Genre: Slice of Life, Drama, Romance, Seinen
- Episode: 12
Do you have any control over who you fall in love with or with what? yes I mean that.
Why it’s similar
both animes have quite the big age gap and both shows have a young female lead who is quite beautiful. There nothing wrong with loving someone who is older than you.
both characters have give up something close to them and are looking for something or someone to fill that void, the empty space in their heart.
I wasn’t sure if this was a perfect for this list of anime like higehiro but I had felt very similar vibes from both shows so If you haven’t seen the show, I would recommend you give it a try.
Higehiro is has aired only the first episode right
As of right now, yes!
i loves ur show do they ever get together when she gets older
So far Ive watched 5 of them and I just had to say that Domestic Girlfriend is the only one I hated so far. I didnt like how the anime ended ( I am for Rui being happy btw) and went to the manga to satiate myself but I didnt like the way her character development was made to be hated by readers and the story directing towards her being the end game when it didnt pan out that way.
It made me sad and I never really remembered liking any malestudentXfemaleteacher story so far.
The rest, Ive been liking them so far especially Koikimo.