Takao Akizuki is a 15-year-old aspiring shoemaker. On a rainy morning, he decides to skip classes, and goes to a beautiful garden in order to draw some shoes sketches. There, he meets Yukari Yukino, a beautiful and mysterious 27-year-old woman. Takao offers to make her new shoes, and so they keep meeting on rainy days. Without even realizing it, those meetings become each other's salvation from their personal struggles. When the rainy season comes to an end though, their relationship is bound to be severely tested...

Kotonoha no Niwa is one of the most beautiful movies by Makoto Shinkai. It shares with Doukyuusei the main concept of a difficult romance. In Doukyuusei there's a relationship between two boys, in Kotonoha no Niwa the hardships of a love story with a huge age gap between the two parties. Both these movies depict a slice of life where two people struggle with their own demons, while trying to go on in spite everything. These movies are literally rare gems, wielding a lighthearted atmosphere that can hit where it hurts, though. If you like Doukyuusei, Kotonoha no Niwa must be the next step!

Shima Kawauchi is a lonely teenager, who by mistake dropped his grandfather's picture in the ocean and jumped in to try to get it back. About to drown in the water, Shima is quickly saved by a strange individual... a merman, called Isaki. Then, after moving in with Shima, Isaki begins to show his immature and childish behaviors, yet, on the other hand, the two of them manage to create a deep bond. Will their differences affect their relationship, eventually?

Doukyuusei and Kono Danshi, Ningyo Hiroimashita are both shounen-ai, slice of life shows which maintain their focus on a slow-paced relationship. The main characters, Sajou and Shima, too, are similar: both socially awkward and shy, will begin to open up to people after meeting their counterparts. These two shows are both full of touching moments and drama, faced lightheartedly. Shima and Isaki, exactly like Sajou and Kusakabe, will learn step by step how to count on the other. Give Kono Danshi a try, if you loved Doukyuusei!

Kurumi is a young woman who lost her will to live after her boyfriend–Hal–died in an airplane accident. Kurumi doesn't want to deal with her loss, she just wants to hole herself up, in a gloomy state. The situation changes when her grandfather requests the humanoid robot Q01 to take on the appearance of Hal. The robot's efforts seem pointless, but step by step, Kurumi will begin to open up and, possibly, overcome her depression.

Hal shares with Doukyuusei the main concept of a difficult romance, even though the premises differ altogether. Both these movies are slice of life romance, focusing on a slow-paced relationship, which becomes the starting point for the main characters to grow up, and change. Hal and Doukyuusei are both sweet, touching and full of introspective moments. If it's true that they differ in the plot, it's also true that they share some important themes and the atmospheres, so if you like one, you'll enjoy the other all the same!

Kurage no Shokudou revolves around a high school boy, Yotarou Misaki, who finds himself lying on the beach one day. Arashi Mutou is a man in his thirties, managing a restaurant called Kurage no Shokudou. Arashi finds Yotarou on the beach, and decides to pick him up and take him to his restaurant. When he asks the young boy who he is, Yotarou says he doesn't remember. But that's a lie, as Yotarou remembers everything and is only trying to escape a sad reality: his twin brother's tragic death.

Even though, by the premises, Kurage no Shokudou may look more serious than Doukyuusei, both these shows share some similarities. Firstly, they are both slice of life involving teenagers who have to deal with changes. Secondly, in both Kurage no Shokudou and Doukyuusei, some delicate themes are addressed softly, with a light touch. These two shows aren't sad, but both encourage thinking and give a positive message, which is the importance of relying on others, in time of need. All in all, we can safely affirm that in Kurage no Shokudou you'll find the same good vibes you found in Doukyuusei!

This story is set at Sakuragaoka High School, and it revolves around Natsuki Enomoto and her love toward her childhood friend Yuu Setoguchi. When Natsuki mustered all her courage to confess, the awkward moment that followed made her say that it was just a practice confession. Yuu then promises to help Natsuki in her quest of love, but he is left dealing with his own feelings. In the meanwhile, Koyuki Ayase – Natsuki's classmate – enters the picture with one goal: to win Natsuki's heart over!

Zutto Mae Kara Suki Deshita and Doukyuusei are both romance, slice of life movies revolving around teenage antics. In both we can witness the blooming of a new feeling, driving the main protagonists' actions. Each of the characters is likable, and relatable: they can make the viewers recall their teenage years. Zutto Mae Kara Suki Deshita wields a comedy trait that is lacking in Doukyuusei, but all in all both these shows can give the viewers the same good vibes!

Zutto Mae Kara Suki Deshita had a sequel, and it revolves around Yuu Setoguchi's younger sister, Hina. She fell in love with her upperclassman Koyuki Ayase, and while confused at first, she gradually musters the courage to confess her feelings to the kindhearted Ayase. Kotarou, Hina's childhood friend and Natsuki Enomoto's younger brother, begins to realize that he may actually hold feelings for Hina, as well...

Once again, we deal with a high school romance, slice of life show, exactly like Doukyuusei. Hina and Kotarou are both confused about their own feelings, as it's their first time falling in love with someone; the same happens to Sajou and Kusakabe, faced with a same sex relationship, to boot. So, both stories follow teenagers facing their first trouble and changes, in a slow-paced evolution that will make them understand a lot of things about themselves. We can guarantee that Suki ni Naru Sono Shunkan wo wields the same good vibes as Doukyuusei, and comedy parts as an extra. This is one you will love all the more when you loved Doukyuusei!