After losing his mother and the loss of his dominant hand in a car crash, Tamahiko Shima was exiled by his strict father to an estate in the mountains of Chiba. Becoming a pessimist and determined to waste away in his uselessness, Tamahiko gets a surprise one night when his father bought a young girl from those who owed him a debt and sent her to live with him as his new bride. Although he laments her having to marry someone like him, his new betrothed Yuzuki and her wealth of kindness become rehabilitating.
A romance in any era is still a romance, and thus, just as sweet. If you are looking for more anime recommendations like Taisho Maiden Fairy Tale, then head on down below.
Anime Like Taisho Maiden Fairy Tale
For Fans of Caretakers and Their Unconditional Love
The Duke of Death and His Maid
After being cursed by a witch as a child, any living thing that the young duke touches will wither and die. Feared by his mother, he is sent to live in a mansion in the woods. While secluded, he is not entirely alone. He was accompanied by his aging butler Rob as well as his maid, Alice. Despite not being able to touch him, Alice enjoys teasing the young lord and her lack of fear allows them to grow closer, eventually spurring the duke’s desire to lift his curse.
While there is some supernatural aspects in The Duke of Death and His Maid, it essentially has the same setup as Taisho Maiden Fairy Tale. A guy is shunned off by his family to live somewhere remote, and a girl who loves him comes to live there and takes care of him. However, The Duke of Death is more teasing-oriented, but still pretty tender.
Meddlesome Kitsune Senko-san
Nakano is a salaryman that works for a company that greatly exploits him. He returns to home each day exhausted, and one day, returns home to find an 800-year-old fox girl has invaded his home. She cooks, she cleans, and she states that she will heal his exhaustion with her occasionally questionable care.
While Senko-san is distinctly more of a comedy rather than a romance, it still features the same sort of relationship. A guy that is worn down by the world is taken care of by a person that is filled with unconditional love.
Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid
Miss Kobayashi is a programmer that lives alone in her apartment. However, one day a giant green dragons ends up on her doorstep and transforms into a women in a maid outfit. Apparently Kobayashi had gotten drunk one night and ended up saving this dragon. Now, dragon Tooru intends to repay her debt through housework.
While Kobayashi may be about dragons, it is still an extremely similar premise. An office lady ends up living with a dragon that dotes on her isn’t all that difference of a premise at heart. While Kobayashi still has plenty of wholesome, fluffy moments, it is more of a comedy.
For Fans of the Taisho Era
Demon Girl Zakuro
Kei Agemaki is the son of a famous general, and as such joined the government upon becoming an adult. However, he has had a secret fear of the paranormal his entire life. This becomes a big issue when he is assigned to work in the Ministry of Spirit Affairs where he must work side-by-side with spirits. Alongside half-spirit girl Zakuro who has a distaste for the increasing abandonment of spiritual beliefs spreading around Meiji Era Japan, Kei, Zakuro and the rest of the ministry work to solve a variety of paranormal cases.
While not quite the Taisho era, Demon Girl Zakuro features the same sort of clothing and style to it. Furthermore, a story about co-existence between people is not so different from a story about two people just getting to know each other.
Taisho Baseball Girls
In the Taisho era, baseball is still relatively obscure in Japan and only a few male teams exist. However, after being told by a baseball player that women should become housewives, Akiko invites her friend to start a female baseball team. However, in a time where even running was considered uncouth for a woman, they face many challenges.
Both series are Taisho era stories where women in Japan are just starting to get that desire and real potential for freedom from their traditional role. Think of this series more like Yuzuki’s flashbacks to her girls’ school.
For Fans of Betrothed Romance
Kakuriyo – Bed and Breakfast for Spirits
Since she was a child, Aoi could see spirits. After one day feeding a hungry spirit, she is whisked off to the hidden realm where an ogre states she will be his bride. It seems her grandfather sold her off to marry him in order to satisfy his debt. Instead, Aoi refuses and works off the debt owed in a bed and breakfast.
Ignoring the supernatural element in Kakuriyo, both shows follows two people that were betrothed moving in together. One person seems happy with the potential marriage, while the other is a little hesitant. While Kakuriyo has more plot than just their relationship, the two parties growing closer is a huge part of each show.
Tonikawa – Over the Moon For You
After being ridiculed for his strange name, Nasa, like the space agency, decides he will become a man even greater than the starry sky. However, one night, that all changes when he sees a beautiful girl. She ends up saving him from being fatally hit by a truck while crossing the street to talk to her. Having chased her down despite his serious injuries, he asks her out. She says she will go out with him if they marry. He agrees, and passes out. Waking up to find her gone, he abandons his ambitions until one day when she shows up with their marriage registration.
Both shows follow newlywed or newly-to-be-wed people living together. Tonikawa is all cuteness, fluff, and good vibes, while Taisho Maiden Fairy Tale throws a little more drama in there. Regardless, both highlight cute new relationship moments.
Ai Yori Aoshi
College student Kaoru Hanabishi has met a girl at a train station and offers to guide her to a home in his neighborhood. However, when her destination turns out out be a vacant lot, he invites her back to his home. It turns out that she is actually Aoi Sakuraba, his childhood friend and his betrothed who has come to live with him.
Both series are actually pretty similar in their plots. A guy was banished or left his family, and he eventually gets a to-be wife sent to him. However, in Ai Yori Aoshi, she loved him since they were children, so there is no hesitation on her part.
The Ancient Magus’ Bride
After being abandoned by her family, Chise Hatori is a 16-year-old teenager without hope. In order to not have to worry about herself, she sells herself to slavers, only to be purchased by Magus Elias Ainsworth. There she is told she will become his apprentice and, in the future, his bride. Together they work together to build a relationship and work to control her own magus powers that will eventually result in her early death.
While there is a fantasy element at play in Ancient Magus’ Bride, both series are about girls that were sold off to be brides. However, their marriage-partner-to-be is more the wounded type that needs taking care of and takes care of her as well.
Do you have more anime recommendations like Taisho Maiden Fairy Tale? Let fans know in the comments section below.
