Yokozawa has never had luck when it comes to dating, with his long-time best friend and crush turning to a different man for love. When the handsome Kirishima, who works at the same company, takes an interest in him, Yokozawa is annoyed. As time goes on, however, he finds that perhaps it is possible to love again.

Yokozawa is the overprotective friend of Takano, one of the main characters of another of Nakamura Shungiku’s works. While she has several stories with a large number of hot guys kissing in the same universe, Yokozawa and Kirishima stand out as being both very adult. It’s also very nice to see the grumpy and Takano-obsessed Yokozawa find someone that truly makes him feel loved. After sharing a number of kisses, the final scene of the movie has Kirishima and Yokozawa looking at each other. Yokozawa grumbles that he might be a pain to Kirishima if they’re together, but Kirishima assures him it’s the ‘annoying’ parts he fell in love with. They lock eyes and take a moment as if to steel themselves for whatever comes next, and kiss. It’s a short kiss, but the gradual closing of distance and dismissal of worries really makes it feel special.

Shima has dealt with a lot in his life, and when his grandfather who was raising him dies, Shima continues to close himself off from the world. While walking along a cliff over the ocean, the picture of his grandfather he was holding blows away and without thinking, Shima jumps into the ocean after it. He’s saved from drowning by a most unlikely savior; a merman. Isaki decides to live with Shima in a kiddie pool in his house, bringing laughter and joy to the once desolate house. Despite his best efforts to keep people at arm’s length, Shima finds himself falling for his mysterious new friend.

In the last scene, Shima has once again dived into the ocean but this time, in search of Isaki. Isaki tries to hide his own feelings for the boy and tells Shima he should forget about their time together and go live with his human friends. Shima tells him he has no such desires as he already has someone he likes. At this point, you’re on the edge of your seat waiting to see which of these dripping wet guys clinging to each other is gonna kiss the other. Isaki shows a frightened side of him we’ve never seen before as Shima reassures him he doesn’t need to feel alone. With their feelings properly conveyed, they kiss against the background of the setting sun. The kiss itself is short, but the sun shining through their silhouette combined with the beautiful, unique artwork of this anime makes it notable.

Masahiro is a kind but timid boy who’s made the servant of a no-good gang. Masahiro feels grateful that anyone even thinks of him and feels that he doesn’t deserve real friends. One day, he encounters a feared gang-attacker known as the “Bear Killer”. After taking out the gang using Masahiro, Bear Killer takes Masahiro under his wing. Masahiro considers Bear Killer, or Kousuke, to be a precious leader he wants to repay and Masahiro finds his desire to protect becoming a desire to kiss!

In episode 7, after getting into a fight with a neighborhood gang, Masahiro and Kousuke are resting at home. They already know the other’s feelings for each other, so there’s a bit of awkwardness on Masahiro’s part as he seems eager yet nervous for their relationship to progress. Kousuke has the fidgety boy sit on the couch next to him. Kousuke strokes Masahiro’s face and takes his hand, indicating he wants to be closer. Despite normally being shy, Masahiro bravely says ‘please be gentle with me’. Kousuke’s eyes shoot open at how surprisingly direct his younger partner is but his shock soon turns to glee. He chuckles and says that seems possible and kisses him. After pulling away for a moment he warns that because he’s waited so long, Masahiro shouldn’t be mad at him if it’s not too gentle. He kisses Masahiro again, pushing him down on the couch.

Season 2 of Ling Qi, Tanmoku Ki and You Keika are continuing to fight demons and grow stronger together. In order to confront new enemies and save his family and familiars, Tanmoku Ki must explore his past. You Keika will also have to face whatever truths he may learn even if it means accepting he’s not the only person Tanmoku Ki has loved.

For a variety of reasons both in the first and second season, Tanmoku Ki and You Keika have kissed; be it to enable Keika to interact with solid objects or to increase their spiritual power. Until episode 12 of the second season, however, they have failed to make a proper pact connection, binding their fates together and increasing their power. As Keika shouts at their attacker Sekijin that he will never abandon Ki, he is reminded of this fact. Keika walks over to Ki, whose power has slowly been draining away and tells him to make a real pact connection. Ki tries to resist knowing that if he dies, it will kill Keika too. Keika tells him to just do it, kissing him once quickly as if to reassure him it’s alright. Ki’s eyes widen in surprise and Keika kisses him again to start the ritual. Ki complies and clings to Keika as their bodies are enveloped in light.

Class president and vice president Kokusai and Chiga are unlikely friends who bring out the best in each other. Kokusai’s honest and kind personality helps take the edge off Chiga’s cold, biting words and Chiga helps protect Kokusai from those that would take advantage of him. When disaster strikes, Kokusai finds himself relying on Chiga but he finds he wants more than just a friend to comfort him.

In episode 2, Kokusai is getting over being molested by an unknown assailant and tries to put on a brave face despite feeling terrible. In this scene, Chiga has managed to lighten the mood enough to where the two of them are joking together when he learns Kokusai had a dirty dream about him. Sensing that Kokusai is overly aware of his presence, Chiga decides to test his luck. Kokusai’s mouth opens in shock and Chiga draws near and Chiga slips his tongue inside. Kokusai’s eyes shoot open and he blushes but as their mouths part slightly, both guys are entwining their tongues together. Chiga closes the distance again and Kokusai closes his eyes as pleasure takes over. The sudden but welcome kiss fills you with excitement and anticipation seeing how readily Kokusai accepts it!

Usagi may be the famous novelist, but it seems each year Misaki is the one getting more and more declarations of love. Usagi tries to be mature but the very thought of Misaki being stolen away makes him want to whisk Misaki off to somewhere they can be alone. Nowaki and Hiroki are finding more success in their careers but more time working means more time apart. Shinobu and You find that despite their differences, they can find ways to better understand each other.

This scene is between Misaki and Takahiro, and it’s a hot one! You can’t see everything but Misaki is sitting on Usagi’s lap at night in the dark as he’s moaning about not being used to it. Usagi teases him a little before giving him a peck on the cheek. He tells the 22-year-old that he’s still cute even at that age before giving him another cheek kiss. Misaki complains that that’s not what men want to hear but Usagi tells him it can’t be helped and kisses him quickly on the lips. They may not be long, passionate kisses, but their quick nature combines with Usagi’s piercing gaze gives the impression that he’s so taken with Misaki that he doesn’t know whether to look in his teary eyes and kiss him.

Sajou is a diligent student but due to his bad eyesight, he’s forced to try to study for chorus class by himself. The much more musically inclined Kusakabe overhears him one day and surprising even himself offers to tutor Sajou. As they spend more time together, they find themselves growing closer. Will a sudden kiss between them ruin everything or change their relationship for the better?

We find our two high schoolers spending time outside the school at night after quite a few practice sessions. After knocking over a bottle, they both reach for it and end up touching hands. This flips a switch in Kusakabe’s mind as he grabs Sajou’s neck and pulls him into a kiss that seems to stop time. Despite the dark surroundings, the screen goes white as if a revealing light has enveloped the two. It’s a simple, spur of the moment kiss broken only when Kusakabe’s embarrassment wins over, and he runs off.

In the second season of Super Lovers, Ren, Haru, and the twins Aki and Shima continue living and working together. Haru is still far too close to his youngest brother, Ren, but most everyone has grown to accept it considering Ren’s desire to be seen as a love interest instead of a relative. Their relationship is still undefined with Haru wanting to give Ren the space to be a kid but also finding that he always wants to be hugging and kissing Ren. When yet another relative pops up, it may further strain their already fragile relationship.

In this scene episode 5, Haru has sprained his wrist. Haru finds it hard to control himself and asks if Ren wants to kiss him which the younger boy denies. Haru tries to push Ren down on the couch but again Ren stops him, worried for Haru’s wrist. Haru pouts so Ren leans over and kisses Haru so that he doesn’t have to move but this just further excited Haru. He sits Ren on his lap and kisses him while asking what their relationship is and Ren grumpily answers he doesn’t know. Of course, Ren has made it clear he wants Haru to see him romantically and not as a brother, but Haru is torn between not wanting to keep his hands off Ren and also to provide for and protect him. Haru admits to the sadistic part of him that wants to make Ren cry and Ren thinks to himself that if that’s what it takes, he’ll use it. Then the twins walk in and kindly pretend to not notice their brothers fooling around on the couch while Ren and Haru silently freeze.

Ryouma and Izumi have come a long way in their relationship. Unfortunately for Izumi, their last physical encounter was painful for him as a bottom, and he now is extremely apprehensive about seeing his lover again. Ryouma knows nothing of Izumi’s concerns and counts down the days until his recording schedule is clear so he can go on a proper date with his cute lover. Izumi enlists the help of his manager Rei and brother Shougo to help keep things PG, but Ryouma is determined to have a night together!

After finding out the cause of Izumi’s hesitation, Ryouma studies day and night on how to be a more considerate sex partner. When the two reunite, Ryouma still takes the lead but makes sure to ask Izumi at different times if he’s ok. Izumi feels much more comfortable talking about how he’s feeling with Ryouma being so kind and careful. As they lay in bed together Izumi tells Ryouma that he loves how good Ryouma’s kisses feel. At this moment, they both feel very relaxed and connected and share a kiss as they smile.

Actor and model Takato has been loved by the entertainment world for years, going so far winning “Most Huggable No.1” 4 years in a row. Year 5 comes alone and a newcomer takes the title?? Junta has little experience but a lot of passion for acting that greats on Takato’s nerves. Anger will turn to fear, though, as Takato realizes it’s not the title Junta’s after, it’s Takato himself!

This scene takes place in episode 3 where Takato is trying to take an early location bus back home. Junta hops on too after realizing everyone else is staying late to drink and he’ll have private access to Takato. Despite having been sexually involved several times, all instigated by Junta, Takato looks horrified when Junta reaches into his pants. Takato harshly whispers for him to stop and refuses to move his hands or open his legs. Junta’s voice takes on an almost dangerous tone as he teases Takato and moves his hand to Takato’s butt. Takato flinches and his mouth hangs open in disbelief. Junta positions Takato in such a way that he can’t be seen by the driver and lifts Takato’s chin and kisses him hungrily. Takato glares and with flushed cheeks and teary eyes demands Junta stop. Junta just smiles and asks if Takato really wants to stop but Takato rushes to close the distance between them and kisses Junta himself. While it seems very one-sided at first, seeing Takato’s super erotic face and enthusiastic change of heart really makes this a kiss you won’t wanna miss!.

Star Driver: Kagayaki no Takuto is a shounen mecha anime by BONES that is rife with fanservices for everyone. The story revolves around the mystery that sleeps in the Southern Cross Isle, where Tsunashi Takuto had gone to spend his youthful high school age, and discovers the mysteries and legends kept in the island: the sleeping Cybodies, the four maidens whom, one of them, is his friend Agemashi Wako, and the King of Cybody’s Driver, Shindou Sugata.

As an anime with tons of fan service for both male and female audience, Star Driver has various heavily BL-hinted scenes. One of the best is in episode 14, where the Night Flight drama club president Endou Sarina announced that their newest production will have a kissing scene, and Wako goes ahead to imagine a kissing scene between half-naked Takuto and Sugata!

Wako’s imagination fades before Sugata and Takuto’s lips touch, but with the sparkles and roses and the almost non-existent gap between them, it’s pretty much clear how detailed Wako had imagined them kissing, leaving her flushing beet red to the roots of her hair, even more so when Jaguar sent her a thumbs up for her imagination. Good job, Wako! This scene is so popular that when a Star Driver collaboration café opened up in Japan several years ago, you could order a dessert called Wako’s Fantasy which came with a free card of this scene!

It feels almost impossible to watch anime without ever having heard, watched, or read Naruto. And of course, the relationship between Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke is one of the things heavily highlighted in the series, resulting in a no small number of fans of these two. Considering how popular these two as a ship is even after the series ended, and how this was probably a lot of people’s first BL ship, it seems fair to put their hilarious first kiss scene onto this list.

Arguably also one of the most hilarious boys kissing scene ever, Sasuke and Naruto accidentally stole each other’s first kiss in episode three. When Naruto had curiously and aggressively examined Sasuke upon their meeting in the exam room, trying to make sense why Sasuke is so popular among the girls, the small distance between them was closed when Tobio, from behind Naruto, swings his hand and bumps Naruto’s back, accidentally pushing him forward and onto Sasuke’s face—or lips.

It lasts about three seconds where everyone freezes, and it’s absolutely hilarious. Nonetheless, it does become some of the memories Sasuke or Naruto would remember fondly much, much later in the series, and definitely one that usually makes fans go “aaaaww”.

Loveless brings its audience into a completely normal world, except virgins have cat ears and tails, and special people can battle each other in the form of words. These people come in pairs: one that attacks, called the Fighter, and one who bears the pain, the Sacrifice. Aoyagi Ritsuka, who had lost his older brother, met with Agatsuma Soubi, who is not only a close friend of his brother, but also his Fighter, and now has become Ritsuka’s Fighter.

Considering kissing and intimacy is a normal way for Fighters to draw strength to fight from their Sacrifice, we get to see Soubi and Ritsuka kissing several times even in episode one, but the most significant one is definitely the one that happens in episode five. Facing the pair named Sleepless consisting of Kinka and Ginka, who taunts Ritsuka that they’ll give him an envelope with information Ritsuka wants to know. Knowing that Soubi will not tell him anything, Ritsuka lets Soubi engage the battle system and they face Sleepless. Ritsuka fiercely states that he wants the envelope to understand why his brother was killed. In response, Soubi leans down and kisses Ritsuka.

With the kiss strengthening their bond as Sacrifice and Fighter, Ritsuka orders Soubi to win—something he has not ever done before. The kissing scene is brief, but intense nonetheless, especially with Ritsuka’s dawning understanding of what he is getting into, which means a lot for his relationship with Soubi. Its significance is even more stressed when later in the same battle, Kinka manages to hurt Soubi and restrains him with a chain on his neck. Ritsuka willingly kisses the bleeding wound, and tells Soubi good luck.

Turning to the older series, our next selection came from the classic BL anime: Gravitation. Based on a manga with the same title, Gravitation tells the love story between Shindou Shuichi, the vocalist of a newly rising rock band Bad Luck, and Yuki Eiri, a famous, if cold, novelist who is popular among female readers. After their rather displeasing first encounter where Yuki told Shuichi that he has “zero talent”, Shuichi managed to break out of his slump and slowly realized that he had, indeed, fallen for Yuki.

Out of several kiss scenes in the anime, for this list, it’s the one that happened in the beginning of episode four that we’ll be highlighting. The episode began with Shuichi appearing suddenly on Yuki’s doorstep with all of his things, and, in Gravitation’s typical silly humour, proceeds to move in and makes space for himself, loudly announcing that he’ll be living with Yuki from now on. Having none of it, Yuki kicks him out, but Shuichi jams himself against the door and starts arguing until Yuki lets go of the door and the two tumbles down onto the genkan. Fondly exasperated at Shuichi, Yuki lets him have his victory, and leans up to kiss Shuichi briefly.

“Just for a week,” Yuki says, and we get to see him looking embarrassed a little! With this one heartwarming, yet adorable and somehow hilarious kiss scene, we get to see how Yuki is slowly letting Shuichi into his heart, and consequently into his life, which proves critical to the rest of the story.

Based on the manga by the popular duo Eiki Eiki and Zaou Taishi, Love Stage!! is a BL romantic comedy that revolves around the son of a successful, very famous actor/actress family, Sena Izumi, who dreams to be a mangaka, and the current heartthrob of an actor, Ichijou Ryouma. The two had worked together for an advertisement when they were kids, in which Izumi had crossdressed as a girl, and at the same time, stolen Ryouma’s heart. Now ten years later and reunited, Ryouma finds out that the ‘girl’ he had fallen for is a boy after all. Hilarity and adorableness ensue as these two dorks realize their feelings for each other.

Most of the kissing scenes in Love Stage!! are either extremely stupid and funny. The best one, though, has to be the ones that happen in the last episode. After realizing that he only wants Ryouma’s touch, and how he’d fallen for Ryouma, Izumi makes a dash to Ryouma’s place, and flies into his arms once Ryouma opens the door. Both of them fell on the genkan, and Izumi wastes no time to pull Ryouma into a kiss.

Or actually two. And casually, excitedly,Izumi invites Ryouma to go to bed with him for the first time. And while this is an exciting development between Izumi and Ryouma, it is also hilarious to note that Izumi got everything mixed up—he forgets to actually tell Ryouma that he loves him. Nonetheless, it’s a heartwarming conclusion to everything, and on top of that, the animation of the kissing scenes in this episode is really nice!

Set in the same universe as Junjou Romantica and written by the same mangaka, Sekaiichi Hatsukoi managed to get two seasons of an anime adaptation. Though it follows the story of three (not counting Yokozawa’s Cases that weren’t adapted into the anime) couples, it mainly highlights the relationship between Onodera Ritsu and Masamune Takano. In high school Takano left Ritsu brokenhearted for a reason he never told Ritsu. Years later, Ritsu entered the shoujo manga section for Marukawa Publishing as an editor, and surprise surprise, Takano is the chief!

The story of Ritsu and Takano mainly revolves around Takano trying to get Ritsu to fall back in love with him, but Ritsu’s being stubborn because the scar from their high school time is still too fresh. Gradually though, he warms up, and starts being unable to keep away from Takano’s advances. The kissing scenes in episode five are particularly heartwarming—when Takano kisses him in the darkness of the stopped train, Ritsu complains only a little but lets Takano hold his hand as they walk home. It gets better; after the two stumble upon Ritsu’s fiancée, An, later, Ritsu grows worried that Takano would misunderstand. He goes to Takano after seeing An off, tries to explain that their engagement is a family arrangement, and desperately asks Takano not to go to Yokozawa.

Takano answers Ritsu with a kiss instead. Ritsu, for once, accepts the kiss and lets himself be embraced afterwards. It’s a really heartwarming scene between the two of them, saying a lot in how Ritsu has begun to let Takano back into his life again. Clearly it’s only a matter of (hundreds of) days until Ritsu fall in love with Takano again!

Another one from Sekaiichi Hatsukoi—this time focusing on the other couple of the series: Kisa Shouta, the thirty year-old who is also a fellow editor in Marukawa Publishing, and Yukina Kou, the sparkling prince-like part-timer in Marimo Books who is really good-looking and really good with people.

There are several episodes in both seasons of the anime that focus solely in the relationship between Yukina and Kisa, especially because they hook up quite early in the series. Out of all the kisses these two share, though, a personal favorite would be their first one. After being introduced to Kisa, and later accidentally meets him in the café, Yukina enthusiastically asks about Kisa’s work and the manga he’s in charge of. Yukina’s praises of his works leave Kisa feeling warm, and he begins busily telling himself that he is not actually in love, he can’t be falling in love with someone nine years younger, and that he’s just very happy about being praised. Noticing that Kisa isn’t paying attention and is off on his own world, Yukina asks him what’s wrong, and is answered with Kisa’s adorable red face.

The whole scene has a very dazed, romantic feeling in it—from the slow animation when Yukina reaches out to Kisa, to the way he holds his sketchbook up to cover their kiss from other customers in the café. The scene feels very dreamy, very fitting to the shoujo manga parallel that Kisa and Yukina’s story sometimes refers to. It’s not their first time going out with someone, but it is definitely both Kisa’s and Yukina’s first love.

Shin Sekai Yori is a supernatural horror anime that is set in a dystopian society of Japan after the chaos that happened when 0.1% of the population discovered their psychokinetic ability, resulting in the outbreak of violence when a lot of them were unable to control it. After a long period of chaos, the psychokinetic society settles into a fragile, yet peaceful society bound with numerous rules. Shin Sekai Yori is about the coming-of-age of Watanabe Saki and her friends: Asahina Satoru, Aonuma Shun, Itou Mamoru and Akizuki Maria, how they awaken to their powers, and how they walk to the future.

When they reach the age of fourteen, most, if not all, the kids begin to enter relationships with those of the same sex. That includes Satoru and Shun—who seem to look very happy with one another. In episode 8, Saki, who still holds feelings for Shun even though she’s dating Maria, catches sight of Shun looking for his dog. She refrains from approaching Shun when she sees Satoru running after Shun, jumping on top of him, and the two of them playfully rolls around in the flower field before Satoru gains the upper hand, and leans down to kiss Shun.

For a moment, the two boys share a passionate kiss before Shun notices Saki looking at them from afar. He doesn’t let go of Satoru, though, and Saki is the one who turns away, and later runs away to find Maria. As the series goes on and the story turns darker, remembering this particular kissing scene makes it feel sadder upon rewatch, knowing what fate awaits Shun, and how both Satoru and Saki keeps loving him even as they grow into adults.

Originally based on a novel with the same title, No. 6 is a sci-fi anime with a dystopian setting where mankind lives in six different city-states surrounded with tall walls, which are supposed to be peaceful and perfect. No. 6 follows Shion, a resident of one of the city-states called No. 6, who once helped a fugitive called Nezumi when they were both kids, resulting in him and his mother being relocated and losing their ‘elite resident’ status. When he grew up, an incident brought Shion to meet Nezumi again, this time having his life saved by Nezumi, and through their eyes, the darker secrets and parts of No. 6 is slowly unveiled.

Throughout everything they go through together, Shion and Nezumi’s relationship becomes the highlight of the show; they are not lovers, but it was acknowledged in both anime and novel that they are each other’s most important person. In the course of the anime, the two of them share kisses twice, but the most touching one happened in episode 7, when Shion greets Nezumi home with a spread of delicious dinner. They eat together, have warm and light conversation where Nezumi teases Shion lightly about his childhood friend Safu, and Shion answers with a heartfelt confession of how glad he is that he had met Nezumi. Ending that, Shion stands up and bends down to press his lips against Nezumi.

Shion tells Nezumi it’s a ‘good-night kiss’ and calls it a night, but Nezumi could see through him completely and knows that it was a goodbye kiss instead, because Shion is planning to go and try to save Safu by himself. The kiss symbolizes the sort of relationship between Nezumi and Shion; brief but heartfelt and deep, and underlines how they understand one another so well despite the lies they try to hold. To the audience, it’s a kiss that is both painful and sweet at the same time, which really, that’s the best kind of ships, isn’t it?

This newest BL anime movie that was released last February is based on a popular slice-of-life BL manga with the same title by Nakamura Asumiko. Kusakabe Hikaru is a high school student who plays guitar for a band, and is helping his classmate Sajou Rihito, the quiet and shy honor student, to prepare for their class’ chorus performance. Somewhere along the way, the two fall into a quiet high school romance, and faces the typical love life problems that teenagers have together.

The kiss scene that snags the first place of this list is Kusakabe and Sajou’s first kiss—at night in the park, after they finished practicing the song for the chorus, Kusakabe, who has been fascinated and ensnared by Sajou’s general existence ever since they get closer, questions Sajou if Sajou works so hard for the chorus because of their male teacher, Hara-sensei. Surprised, Sajou drops the water bottle in his hand. They both scramble to reach for the bottle, at which point Sajou touches Kusakabe’s hand on the bottle, and Kusakabe, almost dazedly, turns and kisses him square on the lips.

The directing in this simply makes for a breathtaking kissing scene. The slow animation from when Kusakabe and Sajou’s hands touch one another, the seamless way Kusakabe turns around and pulls Sajou for a kiss without even realizing it, the brief three seconds where it felt like no one breathes as they kiss. The scene feels very quiet and suspended for eternity, very beautifully executed. To complete it, the next scene where we have Kusakabe sputtering nervously in shock because he had kissed Sajou without even thinking, was done in a blinking-manga-panels that preserves the lovely, quiet atmosphere Doukyuusei manga is widely known for.