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Welcome to the NHK! - Recommendations
Alt title: NHK ni Youkoso!
If you're looking for anime similar to Welcome to the NHK!, you might like these titles.
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Arakawa Under the Bridge
- TV (13 eps)
- 2010
Holding strictly to his family's creed, Kou Ichinomiya has never once, in his life of privilege, owed anything to anyone – that is, until a self-proclaimed Venusian named Nino saves him from drowning in the wake of a dire accident involving Kou's pants. Eternally indebted to the supposed extraterrestrial, Kou moves into her little community under the bridge along the Arakawa river. Ripped from his life of luxury and success, the young Tokyo U graduate now must adjust to his well-appointed hovel, strange new neighbors, and peculiar lover, Nino.
Reasons you might like Arakawa Under the Bridge...
![yukichii]()
yukichii says...
If you liked Arakawa's weird yet enjoyable characters then you would like to watch Welcome to the NHK! (or vice versa) because both series have some cracked and unique characters who are living isolated from the society. Everything they do is extreme yet you get used to it while wathing these series.
![FreakyHiki]()
FreakyHiki says...
I'm not very good at writing...
Both life lesson animes (to me at least)
Both changed the way I think about life
![blue1r1s]()
blue1r1s says...
I feel the same delusional type of story from both anime.NHK has a more paranoid plot because of the main character's delusions where he goes to extremes to lie and apear what he thinks is "normal" making for comic situations,While in Arakawa, the main character is also paranoid (for not wanting to owe anibody anything), but here the delusions come from the rest of the cast that each have their quirks making for very funny situation comedy.
The Flowers of Evil
- TV (13 eps)
- 2013
Takao Kasuga is a lonely boy who spends his days immersed in books to escape his frustration with life. His only source of joy is the beautiful Saeki, who he secretly admires from afar. However, Takao's obsession goes too far one day when, in a moment of emotional folly, he steals the girl's gym clothes and takes them home with him. Worse, his terrible deed is spotted by Sawa Nakamura, a mysterious outcast who sits behind him in class who threatens to reveal the boy's secret unless he promises to engage in a contract with her. At first it seems Sawa just wants some companionship, but soon it becomes clear that this "contract" involves more than mere afternoon chats. In fact, Takao is about to discover just how dangerous his bond with Sawa is and how it threatens to tear everything - his life, his love, and even his sanity - apart.
3 votes
Reasons you might like The Flowers of Evil...
![Morwen]()
Morwen says...
As soon as I started watching Flowers of Evil, it reminded me of Welcome to the NHK! Flowers Of Evil is slower paced, and doesn't have as much comedy as Welcome to the NHK!, but the main character in both series, with their dysfunctions and twisted relationships with the women in their lives, are pretty similar. In particular, there's parts of both Nakimura and Saiki (Flowers of Evil) in Misaki (Welcome to the NHK!), both in terms of her actual personality and in terms of how Satou reacts to her.
In general, both of these series are about characters on the fringe of society that feel trapped and lonely, and about damaged people that seek each other out (whether or not the relationship they have with each other is actually healthy). And they both feel a little removed from the typical anime series, with slower pacing and a story that actively defies escapism.
I absolutely think that fans of one have a high chance of liking the other. If you like one, I totally recommend the other.
![hexxx]()
hexxx says...
Both Aku no Hana and Welcome to the NHK! deal with a young male who fall outside the 'norm' of typical society - one a hikikomori, the other a closet pervert - and a young female partner who attempts to 'help' strengthen and discover himself.
Both the shows challenge what is viewed as 'acceptable' by collective society and provide an insight into the characters' 'unhealthy' world in juxtaposition to the 'real' world.
You'll laugh, you'll cry, it'll change your life, and you won't feel so alone.
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subparalien says...
The depression of adolescent, and it's sibling, the depression of early adulthood. In tone, Flowers of Evil is far more serious and probably a better picture of what depression feels like to those inside it. Welcome to the NHK! is deeply relateable and captures the more ridiculous side of mental illness.
Hitohira
- TV (12 eps)
- 2007
Asai Mugi's everyday life is very much impacted by a singular problem: she suffers from extreme shyness. Her sole friend Touyama Kayo would like to help her out as they've just entered high school, but Mugi's shyness is the sort that steals her voice entirely. It is too bad for Mugi that a freak shout on her part attracted the attention of Nono Ichinose. Nono is on a mission to save her Drama Research Society, and she isn't prepared to accept shyness as excuse from on-stage performances! With a small group of close friends to encourage and educate her, Mugi will be given a chance to be more than she is now. But, can someone so terribly shy really become a stage actress in just a few short months?
2 votes
Reasons you might like Hitohira...
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JAhU says...
If you like anime with interesting character development, you could try watching Hitohira (just keep in mind that it's a much lighter series than Welcome to The NHK!). There isn't much that connects those two series, but I would consider both to be motivating. If Welcome to The NHK! was motivating for you then you might like Hitohira, but then again if NHK was a comedy for you, you won't find Hitohira very entertaining (even though it has a bunch of comical scenes).
P.S. Also the main character from Hithohira does look bit alike one of the characters from NHK. Guess which one! ^^
![Ran]()
Ran says...
In both Hitohira and Welcome to the NHK, the plain character is half forced to do something that is in contradiction with his/her normal personality, but will eventually become a passion after working on it sometimes. Both are also the stories of friendships that revolve around those passions and involve more than mere common projects, but also influence on each other's personalities and dreams. If you liked one, you'll also like the other.
Tokyo Godfathers
- Movie (1 ep x 92 min)
- 2003
On a chilly December evening, Hana, a transgender woman; Misaki, a teenage runaway; and Gin, a retired bike racer, found little Kiyoko in the trash. For three homeless people, finding an abandoned baby might not have been the best of luck, but with good intentions and two cents to chip in, the trio set out to find the parents of the child. But locating the mother will not be an easy task, and all they have to go on is a small key...
2 votes
Reasons you might like Tokyo Godfathers...
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ace52387 says...
Stories about the misfits society leaves behind make very good sob stories. By cruel twists of fate or psychological problems, the characters in NHK and Tokyo Godfathers have sunk to the depths of low. Each character in both these titles has a tragic past to explore. Tear jerkers alternate with jokes, sometimes within seconds of one another, to keep everything light enough to be pleasant.
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valondar says...
Welcome to the NHK and Tokyo Godfathers are both sharp comedies with elements of drama (or is it the other way around?) about the outcasts of society - social recluses, or hikikomoris, in NHK, and the homeless in Tokyo Godfathers. They're also, to various extents, about people helping the less fortunate to fill some void of their own. Some of the funniest and, at times, some of the most touching anime out there. Strongly recommended.
Kino's Journey
- TV (13 eps)
- 2003
In another world, there exist many countries, each with different cultures, customs, and traditions. From technological marvels to folk legends, each location yields a vast wealth of insight of its people: their hopes and their dreams, their failures and fears. Kino is a traveler whose goal is to visit as many new places as possible, learning about others' ways of life, but also making sure to stay clear of their affairs. Together with the talking motorrad Hermes, Kino sets out to explore the beautiful world and meet its inhabitants, wherever they may be.
2 votes
Reasons you might like Kino's Journey...
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LxTrix says...
After watching this you'll think wow that's life for you. Thats what life is about. When you watch Kino's Journey it'll also make you think "wow thats their life." It's very psyxhological and lonely at the same time.
![bokusenou]()
bokusenou says...
Probes deeper into some of the psychological and philosophical questions NHK brought up.
Rozen Maiden
- TV (12 eps)
- 2004
In an era when ordering on the internet has become the norm, online vendors have a new favorite customer: Sakurada Jun! From voodoo dolls to x-ray specs, there's nothing this middle schooler can't get enough of -- until a strange package arrives one day. Inside is a sentient doll named Shinku, who is one of a special hand crafted set of dolls called Rozen Maiden. Luckily for Jun, not only does he get to keep her, but she's decided he'll be... her new servant?! Join Jun as he struggles to keep his sanity in a house full of dolls who all want his servant skills for themselves!
2 votes
Reasons you might like Rozen Maiden...
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Menchi says...
The main theme in NHK and Rozen Maiden is being a hikikomori and dealing with it in everyday life. Both of these anime are pretty dark and sometimes harsh, but there are some good moments and smiling faces in them too. After all, you only get one life...
![eaper]()
eaper says...
Rozen Maiden's lead male is. like Sato from NHK, a hikikomori. Beyond that, each of these series have a darker focus that are more or less centered around trying to get someone to fully live their life.
Otaku no Video
- OVA (2 eps x 48 min)
- 1991
Ken Kubo is a normal man with a normal job who is besotted in a normal way with a female friend. But life turns distinctly abnormal when he meets an otaku, Tanaka, and is indoctrinated into the obscure world of anime, model guns, and garage kits. As Kubo finds himself shunned by those he cares about, he becomes only more determined to evolve into the ultimate being - the Otakuking! But Kubo is not the only one coming to terms with society. While he strives to mould the world into a perfect haven for people like him, otaku all across Japan are laying bare their strange, lonely lives for the first time… and it’s not a pretty sight.
2 votes
Reasons you might like Otaku no Video...
![valondar]()
valondar says...
Both Welcome to the NHK! and Otaku no Video deal with social isolation and nerd culture. They treat these subjects with simultaneous blend of savage honesty and side-splitting hilarity. They are strongly recommended for each other and are strongly recommended, period.
![VivisQueen]()
VivisQueen says...
In both Otaku no Video and Welcome to the NHK, we get a rare glimpse at the isolated and often mystifying lives of otakus, people who take the anime/manga fandom to extreme lengths. It's tragic, it's alien, and its above all goddamn hilarious. If you enjoyed the misadventures in one, you'll love the equally deranged treatement of the other. Mind you, Otaku no Video is more of an animated parody/pastiche mixed with live-action 'documentaries', rather than a fully developed plot like NHK. But still, similar laughs guaranteed.
Chaos;HEAd
- TV (12 eps)
- 2008
Takumi is a reclusive otaku who wants nothing more than to be left alone to play online games and watch anime. He only attends the minimum necessary to pass his classes, and rarely leaves his cramped room except to purchase the newest figurines. One evening, while Takumi is chatting online with his friend "Grim," a stranger called "Shogun" joins the channel and, after "Grim" leaves, posts a series of disturbing photographs depicting a man impaled to a wall with metal stakes. The following day, Takumi is horrified when he wanders into an alley and once again sees Shogun’s images – but this time, the gruesome scene is reality. From then on, Takumi sees the world through a new set of eyes; imaginary delusions meld with reality, and he isn't sure who he can trust. With suspicions and confusion at every turn, Takumi must struggle to determine what's going on - but most importantly, whose eyes are those eyes?
2 votes
Reasons you might like Chaos;HEAd...
![KiraRin]()
KiraRin says...
Chaos;Head is a true mix of genres. When first starting to watch it, the male protagonist reminded me of the lead from NHK. The geeky, hikkikomori who is afraid of the outside world and relies on the pc to live out his existence.
NHK is probably more to peoples tastes as it stays within one genre, but if you're open minded and enjoy some action, I would say you should give Chaos;Head a whirl too.
![funtoo2]()
funtoo2 says...
Both of the main characters are hikkikomoris. In Welcome to the NHK, Sato meets a mysterious girl who helps him recover from being a hikkikomori. While in Chaos;Head, Takumi's sister tries to help him from his ways. But unlike Welcome to the NHK, where the plot continues to lead you on with Misaki helping Sato to not be a hikkikomori, in Chaos;Head the main plot is for Takumi to discover what's happening in the world. Anyways, I totally recommend both animes, Welcome to the NHK for those who like normal stories, and Chaos;Head for those who like a bit more action and supernatural stuff.
Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu
- TV (12 eps)
- 2003
Sousuke Sagara is far from the average high school student - not only is he highly trained in military tactics, he puts his knowledge to use in every single applicable situation (and even those nonapplicable ones.) So, when confronted with high school, he tends to turn average high school experiences into off-the-wall adventures. Love letters become terrorist threats and field trips become commando operations; his survival depends on the watchful eye of his best friend and classmate, Kaname. Together, they may just make it out of high school alive...
Reasons you might like Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu...
![badazz5001]()
badazz5001 says...
both seris deal with over the top male charectors getting in over the top situations because of there deformed mind set and both have a simmiler seince of humer
![eaper]()
eaper says...
In each of these comedies, the male lead thinks different from society, with the female lead attempting to fix this, whilst creating budding romances. Also, they have extremely random pieces of humor.
Yamada's First Time: B Gata H Kei
- TV (12 eps)
- 2010
Fifteen-year-old Yamada has just entered high school and is gung ho about achieving her ultimate goal: to have one hundred sex partners! There’s just one problem: she’s a virgin, and she hasn’t even had a boyfriend! To get the ball rolling, Yamada decides to target a shy boy named Takashi from her school; but even though he is also a virgin and she ruthlessly aggressive with her feminine ways, it’s not as easy as Yamada hopes. Though they begin to have feelings for each other, will Yamada and Takashi ever get past first base?
2 votes
Reasons you might like Yamada's First Time: B Gata H Kei...
![Vazzaroth]()
Vazzaroth says...
Both anime, NHK and B Gata, have a main plot dealing with a certain subject, but sort of an underlying social aspect regarding young male-female interaction, and the plight of a young undersexed boy/girl coming to understand their emotions.
While not dealing with the same core subjects, I believe there is quite a bit of core intrest overlap between the series'.
![Jdogtoocool]()
Jdogtoocool says...
Similarities between Welcome to the NHK and Yamada's First Time:
-both are centered around romance and relationship building
-both use dark humor even though welcome to the NHK uses it far more
-the friends in both series are very supportive
-There's brief nudity in both animes
-Nothing over the top is used, both are very realistic, very slice of life
Basically the only big difference in both animes is the setting; one taking place in a school setting with younger characters and the other in a more mature, adult setting. Other than that if you liked one anime you'll love the other.