Drama & Slice of Life Anime Winter 2017 - Police, Restaurants, Rakugo, & Shogi?!

Fall seems like a distant memory. It feels like yesterday that we were sitting down in front of our TVs and Computer Screens to catch the latest Ajin episode on Netflix. Suddenly, boom. We are now in Winter and it’s already in full swing. As you may have noticed here at Honey’s Anime, we make these genre introduction articles each season, and Winter 2017 is no different. Drama is a classic staple within the anime community as is Slice of Life. While they do not go hand in hand always, they are still entertaining nonetheless. One could even go so far as to assert that drama is usually just a deeper look into the interpersonal relations that do exist in Slice of Life, but SoL does not go that far. Regardless, though, if you are here looking for Drama or Slice of Life, you are in the right place. Let’s take a look at the Winter 2017 anime genre block!


7. Trickster

  • Episodes: 24
  • Aired: October 4, 2016

Somehow, Trickster survived from Fall and is now making its way into Winter. TMS Entertainment and Shin-ei Animation have come together to make this one. Trickster follows Yoshio Kobayashi who has a bizarre obsession with wanting to die. No really, he became a detective so that he would die. He joins the Boy Detectives Club at the behest of Kensuke Hanasaki a member and the boys are all out solving mysteries. Kensuke is fascinated with Yoshio who cannot die because he came into contact with a “Mysterious Mist”.

Trickster is 24 episodes and actually received an OVA in the middle of the series. It does feature the famous Japanese singer Gackt as not only the OP artist but also a seiyuu in the series. It does have a very predominantly male cast, so for those who do enjoy drama anime with mostly male casts, *hint, hint, wink, wink* this show is going to be your kind of entertainment. It does feature Peach-Pit in charge of character design so there is that good quality about it.

Trickster PV

Anime Database Page

Trickster


6. Piace: Watashi no Italian (Piacevole: My Italian Cooking)

  • Episodes: TBA
  • Aired: January 11, 2017

Morina Nanase is a high school student looking for a part-time job. One day, she stumbles across an Italian restaurant that is hiring! Lucky for her, she walks in, and gets the job at Trattoria Festa. A little bit naïve, she thinks this will be a piece of cake. That is so until she meets the head, genius chef Maro who is great at making sauces and has a saucy personality. Then there is Kirihide who has a fetish(?!?) for quality ingredients. Oh and we cannot keep going without mentioning Ruri, the super-sexy accountant who has only two loves in life: money and booze.

It does not stop there either as there is a colorful assortment of characters that will debut in this comedy, slice of life anime. For those who love cooking and a little bit of humor along the lines of Yume-iro Pâtissière and Koufuku Graffiti, Piace: Watashi no Italian will be your slice of Pizza. Don’t expect too much heavy stuff from this piece as it is not drama, but rather Slice of Life. Prepare to laugh and be hungry while watching! Buon Appetito!

Piace: Watashi no Italian PV

Anime Database Page

Piace: Watashi no Italian


5. Nyanko Days

  • Episodes: TBA
  • Aired: January 8, 2017

Do you like cats? Do you like girls? Do you like little cat girls? Then you should love Nyanko Days! Yuuko Onagai is a quiet girl who is raising three cats at home. However, they are not your normal cats. These are anthropomorphic cats! They look like tiny, little, cute girls but they have adorable personalities, cat ears, and tails. Maa, the first cat, is a munchkin cat and is cheerful. Maa likes to tease others.

Roo, the second cat, is a Russian blue and a total bookworm. She is also very shy. Shii, the final cat, is a Singapura but is a total crybaby. Together these three cat-girls greet Yuuko when she comes home each day. Cute, light, and adorable, this one will be a blast for those who like cute things!

Anime Database Page

Nyanko Days



4. One Room (OneRoom)

  • Episodes: TBA
  • Aired: January 11, 2017

One Room is a short anime shot from the perspective of the main character who does not speak. Rather, the girls whom you meet in One Room, are somehow connected to you. There is Yui Hanasaka, a recent Tokyo transplant from Hokkaido. She is trying to get into university, but she lives with her sister. Slightly airheaded, she tries her best. Momo Hanatsuki is the next girl who is 14 and a high school student. She is supposed to be “helping” her brother but she ends up becoming the housekeeper. The last girl is Moka who is chasing her dreams by night and working part time jobs by day. Moka is also your best friend from childhood, sweet and determined, she has big dreams. Together you spend your daily life with these three girls.

One Room came about from the creators of Makura Danshi and Anitore. So, while short, it should be shot from a rather distinct perspective. For those who enjoy this series, or would like something like Makura Danshi, but less bedtime, the male version of One Room comes out in Spring! Check this one out then to get a feel for what the male version will feel like.

One Room PV

Anime Database Page

One Room


3. 3-gatsu no Lion (March Comes in Like a Lion)

  • Episodes: 23
  • Aired: October 8, 2016

3-gatsu no Lion has already been on TV since Fall and if you are not watching it already, now is the time to pick up this gem. 3-gatsu no Lion may talk about March, but this Lion roared in and has done quite well for itself telling the story of Rei Kiriyama and his journey as a Shogi player. He is a pro and has dropped out of High School to be a professional. He has befriended Akari Kawamoto one evening and is now considered to be a part of their extended family of three sisters, a grandfather, and cats.

3-gatsu no Lion is a pure slice of life at its finest. It does have strong seinen vibes because the focus is often on Shogi and the matches that Rei is having. The Kawamoto cats are the only source of humor in the series, and one of the other standout point of this series is the artwork. Effort was put into this series to make it look different and to be honest, the series is very easy on the eyes. There are not a lot of sharp contrasts and the overall feeling conveyed is warm. Whether or not you like conflict with your drama/slice of life, 3-gatsu no Lion is very much the series leftover from Fall that can be enjoyed by all.

3-gatsu no Lion PV

Anime Database Page

Sangatsu no Lion


2. ACCA: 13-Ku Kansatsu-ka (ACCA: 13th Territory Inspection Department)

  • Episodes: TBA
  • Aired: January 10, 2017

ACCA is an organization that oversees a country. This country has a problem; it is broken up into 13 wards. The organization ACCA oversees the wards from day to day. Jean Otus is the main character and also the second in command at the inspections office. Jean is rather unique and works with an equally unique team. Nino likes chocolate, Rotta likes baked goods, Owl hates cars, Atori treasures snack time like no one else, and Moz observes snack time no like it’s nobody’s business. They work together and one day, Jean discovers something that would threaten the very fabric of society. Now, he has to take up the reigns and figure out what is going on and solve the problem.

Unique art once again abounds here. ACCA is definitely Drama with a fat slice of Seinen on top. Having a large Bungou Stray Dogs feel, this series is rife with Bishounen. If you take your coffee like you take your men, tall, then you are set. Political drama abounds as well too, so don’t think that this is going to be some fluffy anime! Remember that the fabric of society is being threatened by something. Check out the PV below to get more information!

Acca: 13-Ku Kansatsu-ka PV

Anime Database Page

ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka


1. Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu: Sukeroku Futatabi-hen (Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju)

  • Episodes: TBA
  • Aired: January 7, 2017

If you were anything like us, Sukeroku and Yakumo left you screaming at your screens when season one ended. This story about Rakugo, a form of traditional storytelling in Japan, took the anime community by storm for having an unexpectedly deep and moving story while making us crave for more last Winter. Well, we got our wish as here it is again to light a fire in our hearts this cold Winter!

In season two, we are coming back to the present issue of Rakugo in decline. Less and less people are coming to see performances. Trying to figure it all out is Sukeroku who has gained new title from his master. He also now has to fill the role of pseudo-husband to Konatsu who has a child. Suddenly, Sukeroku must grow up and mature to not only save the world of Rakugo but also help Konatsu with her child. No more parties and alcohol for him. He needs to succeed as much as possible. Drama, drama, storytelling, and more drama, await us in this new season, so check out the teaser below and then go watch the series!!

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu 2nd Season PV

Anime Database Page

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu 2nd Season


Final Thoughts

With Winter down to half of what Summer was and 2/3 of what Fall was, the gems do shine a bit more brightly this time around. There are so many good shows not only for Slice of Life and Drama but also all of the other genres! Be sure to check out those articles too now that you are done with this one! What are you watching on this list this season? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!

Piace-Watashi-no-Italian-wallpaper-692x500 Drama & Slice of Life Anime Winter 2017 - Police, Restaurants, Rakugo, & Shogi?!

Editor/Translator

Author: Nagareboshi

American by birth; international by choice. I am trying to bring attention to one of my favorite causes; me. I translate by day and write by night. Aspiring polyglot. My dream would be to be the personal translator for Amuro Namie. Other than that, my hobbies include languages, weightlifting, sleeping, karaoke, GOOD coffee and music. When I’m not doing any of the above, I am most likely laughing hysterically at Willam Belli videos or EV farming. I ain’t gunna Rupologize for it neither. Waifu are Shirai Kuroko & Euaerin.

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