Summary
Sports and romance may seem like an odd pairing of genres, but more than a few anime have managed to make it work. After all, the world of anime has shown fans that love can blossom in all sorts of environments - outer space, post-apocalyptic dystopias, medieval fantasy worlds, and yes, even the playing field.
While mostsports anime focus on the importance of teamworkand friendship, these shows put the spotlight on the main characters' romantic relationships as well. They’re not just winning the gold medal in their respective sports; they’re also winning the hearts of their love interests.
Updated July 18, 2025 by Mirza Aaqib Beg:Sports romance anime continues to be a popular genre with not enough shows as anime fans would like. The delicate balance between the two genres still stands as a hurdle, as it is tough to create a story that seamlessly combines the emotional depths of romance and the intensity of sports. But there are still a few good anime that have somewhat achieved this intricate balance, and this updated article highlights them.
10Suzuka
The Boy From The Countryside Who Falls For A Field Athlete
Suzukais a captivating story of two people with conflicting personalities and backgrounds who are brought together by a unique twist of fate. As their paths converge, their differences spark tension and growth while also allowing them to be vulnerable and more open to one another.
Suzuka leaves viewers fascinated with its realistic portrayal of an athlete’s life and the sacrifices, emotional challenges, weight of expectations, and struggles that come with it. The series beautifully blends romance into the overall narrative, capturing the pressure ofhandling personal desires and ambitions, while also highlighting how love can be a transformative force.
Baby Stepsfollows honor student Eiichirou Maruo, who joins a tennis club solely to get fitter and become more active. But as the young perfectionist starts playing regularly, he develops a fascination for the sport that eventually turns into an obsession. Determined to compete with the best players in the world, Maruo devises his own technique that slowly transforms the way he looks at life.
So no matter how far my goal is, no matter how small a step I’m taking, as long as I keep moving forward, someday I’ll get there!
WhileBaby Stepsprimarily focuses on Maruo’s dramatic conversion, the series also highlights the romance that develops between him and the first-year tennis player that he meets at the club. The romance adds more layers to the show’s narrative and enriches Eiichirou’s journey from a diligent honor student to a potential tennis star.
Sports romance anime tends to overfocus on one of the two genres, often leaving the other underdeveloped.Blue Boxis one of those rare showsthat don’t fall into this trap, as it masterfully balances both genres to recount a captivating story of two teenagers driven to find success while hopelessly falling in love with each other.
You gotta rise to the challenge. Because you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
Through the deuteragonist, Kouji Miura, the series explores the delicate tension between ambition and romance, all the while realistically showcasing the hardships and sacrifices faced by a sportsperson. It wouldn’t be far-fetched to argue thatBlue Boxis most likely one of the best sports romance seriesever made. Packed with action and emotional drama, the series has all the bases covered and leaves a lasting impression.
Itsuki Minami is a delinquent middle schooler with a history of violent street fights and a rebellious attitude. Together with Kazuma Mikura and Onigiri, he is emboldened to act impulsively and likes to do things his way, irrespective of the inherent nature of the act. Itsuki’s life takes a dramatic turn when he gets his hands on a pair of Air Trecks, motorized inline skates, that give users access to a new world of extreme sports. While a community of daredevils uses it to attain more control over the streets, Minami, on the other hand, dreams of ruling the skies.
AlthoughAir Gearis primarily focused on sports, romantic relationships emerge as the story progresses. Simca, Kururu, and Ringo have actively shown a romantic interest in Itsuki, who, in turn, has appeared to have feelings for one of them.
6Ginban Kaleidoscope
An Ice Skater Falls In Love With A Ghost Who Possessed Her
Yuri on Icewasn’tthe first ice-skating anime with romantic elements.Ginban Kaleidoscopeis about a Japanese figure skater named Tazusa Sakurano. After taking a nasty fall during a performance, she gets possessed by the ghost of a Canadian stunt pilot named Pete Pumps. Tazusa, forced to spend every moment of her life with Pete for a hundred days, eventually develops feelings for the cheery ghost.
Ginban Kaleidoscopeflips the typical shojo couple dynamic on its head, featuring a cold and cynical female protagonist and a happy-go-lucky love interest. Their contrasting personalities and Pete’s support for Tazusa’s dreams strike the perfect balance of heartwarming and hilarious.
5Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl
Judoka Would Much Rather Find A Boyfriend Than Practice Judo
Fans may be surprised to learn thatNaoki Urasawa, the legend behind mystery thrillerslike20th Century BoysandMonster, also wrote the lighthearted sports romantic comedyYawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl. It follows a girl named Yawara Inokuma, who’s pressured into practicing Judo by her grandfather, even though she’d much rather do normal, teenage girl things like shopping and finding the boy of her dreams.
Yawara!tells a far simpler story than Urasawa’s more well-known works, but it isn’t any less entertaining. The show is less about sports than the characters' hijinks, and there’s a ton of romantic tension between Yawara, her playboy coach, Kazamatsuri, and sports reporter, Matsuda.
A lot of sports romances are also coming-of-age stories, andTouchtells one of the most heartfelt ones.It follows baseball-playing twin siblingsTatsuya and Kazuya Uesugi, who are both in love with their childhood friend, Minami Asakura. The story mainly revolves around the trio’s complicated relationship, as well as the siblings' need to prove themselves on the baseball field.
Despite it being a bit of a slow burn,Touchis an easy anime for anyone to get into, even if they’re not into sports. The show balances its sports and romance elements well, ensuring that neither overshadows the other. It’s the perfect watch for fans of both genres.
Possibly the most well-known sports romance anime,Yuri On Icehas been praised as one of the first mainstream sports anime to prominently feature a same-sex relationship. The story centers around a Japanese figure skater named Yuri Katsuki and his growing relationship with his coach, world-famous Russian figure skater Viktor Nikiforov.
Win Or Lose, We Call Everything On The Ice Love.
Yuri!!! On Icebeautifully portrays the world of figure skating with its stellar animation, courtesy of MAPPA. With its sensitive portrayal of an LGBTQ+ relationship and memorable soundtrack, the show would go on to becomeone of the most popular anime of 2016.
CrossGamewas created by Mitsuru Adachi, the same person behind other sports romances likeTouch. It tellsthe story of two high school baseball players, Ko Kitamura and Aoba Tsukishima. Aoba initially resents Ko because of how close he and Aoba’s sister were during their childhood. However, their similarities and shared love of baseball bring them closer together.
The anime’s portrayal of baseball is incredibly true to life, although one doesn’t need to be a fan of the game to appreciate the heartfelt story. LikeTouch,Cross Game’s emotional storytelling and dynamic characters are enough to bring even non-sports anime fans on board.
For a series about a really niche sport,Chihayafuruhas attracted a pretty large fanbase. Revolving around a traditional Japanese card game called karuta, Chihayafuru follows a girl named Chihaya Ayase who seeks to become the best karuta player. Soon enough,she gets caught in a love trianglewith two of her childhood friends and fellow karuta players, Arata Wataya and Taixhi Mashima.
Chihayafuruis so much more than a show about an obscure poetry-themed card game. The karuta matches are portrayed with the same intensity as a regular sports anime, and the show’s cast of lovable characters, gorgeous art style, and stellar soundtrack will keep viewers coming back for more.
