Love and anime go together like the sun and the sky; in every series, there is some sort of romantic relationship that intertwines characters' hearts and destiny. Whether it be a prince falling for a commoner, or a goddess falling for a devil, love is a constant force in anime, just like in life.
While there are many forms of romance in anime, very rarely do these emotions blossom into a full-fledged relationship, much to fans' dismay; even rarer is a relationship ending in a break-up after two characters finally make it official. However, when two lovers' time together comes to an end, it leaves a wound in viewers' hearts everywhere. Here are some of the most devastating break-ups in the genre.
9 Bulma And Yamcha – Dragon Ball Z
Bulma and Yamcha’s romance started in the early days of the Dragon Ball anime; at the time, Bulma was a brilliant yet air-headed young girl, and Yamcha was a grizzled ex-bandit with nothing to lose. The two had volatile chemistry until opposites attracted, and the two stopped fighting like cats and dogs and became love birds.
Unfortunately, this “power couple” would disappear in the second iteration of the series, Dragon Ball Z. While issues had been piling up, it's rumored that Yamcha’s continuous infidelity drove Bulma away, and the two split for good. While it seemed to be amicable, Yamcha bore a bit of jealousy when Bulma began her relationship with Vegeta.
8 Eri And Shuichi – Gravitation
The relationship between Eri Yuuki and Shuichi Shindou had its ups and downs, to say the least; the rocky roller coaster of Eri’s mood swings and Shuichi’s music career created quite the drama that had viewers biting their nails.
The two, while together, was a somewhat cringe-worthy power dynamic at the start. Eventually, it led them to split apart rather venomously, with Yuki abandoning Shuichi and going back to his hometown. The break-up resulted in Shoichi becoming emotionally jaunted and caused him to lose his voice.
7 Miki And Yuu – Marmalade Boy
Marmalade Boy was a precarious series that explored the relationship between Miki, a hopeless teenage romantic, and Yuu, an egocentric young man who became bonded when their parents' spouse-swapping made them related through marriage.
The two sparks a relationship after both try to avoid the burden of their own feelings for each other. However, the stress of their love being overbearing because of their familial situation is worsened when Yuu moves to the West for school. The space between them causes a rift of insecurity and sadness, which results in their break-up.
6 Nana And Ren – NANA
NANA is perhaps the most known slice of life relationship anime with fans both in and outside of Japan. The series followed two young women with vastly different lives but the same name: Nana Komatsu, an air-headed unemployed socialite, and Nana Osaki, a hot-headed, stoic punk rocker with a rising career.
The two women's lives become intertwined, with Nana K looking for love and Nana O running from it. Nana O had a long-lasting relationship with Ren Honjo that broke down any obstacles in its way until Ren gained a musical opportunity in another city, which forced the couple's hand. While Ren and Nana’s break-up was on good terms, the emotional damage both endured was insurmountable, wreaking havoc on both them physically and mentally.
5 Kikyo And Inuyasha – Inuyasha
Inuyasha and Kikyo’s break-up spans over 50 years (the shonen manga is still going strong). Betrayed by each other by the meddling of a third party, the forbidden love between a priestess and a demon was never supposed to last. While the love that Inuyasha and Kikyo shared was great, it was hidden behind the responsibilities of their stations.
When placed against each other, Kikyo pierced Inuyasha with an Arrow and sealed him to a tree before her supposed death, cursing him over his false betrayal. Even when Inuyasha awoke from his prison, Kikyo’s rage was still hot as fire as she repeatedly tried to end his life.
4 Tataki And Akari – 5 Centimeters Per Second
The long path of Tataki and Akari is a long road of intense love and heavy sorrow told realistically. Sometimes a loving relationship is not meant to be in the end, but what remains is a chain of despair linking the two former lovers across endless amounts of space.
5 Centimeters Per Second follows two childhood sweethearts across a journey of distance, uncertainty, and time showing the two slowly but surely fall apart and out of love. The story is told from Tataki’s point of view, which is filled with hardships and unresolved feelings that he carries with him into adulthood.
3 Mafuyu Sato And Yu Yoshida – Given
Given follows Mafuyu Sato coming off of a devastating break-up with his childhood friend and first significant other. In an attempt to deal with unresolved feelings and near-crippling emotional pain he’s been left with, Mafuyu decides to join a band. Mafuyu isn't very music savvy and has never played an instrument, even with carrying one around everywhere he goes. But he’s determined to chase this gnawing feeling trapped in his heart to see where it leads.
Mafuyu was dating Yu Yoshida; the two were attached at the hip ever since they were young. Unfortunately, a bad day and one fight between the two lovers led to Yu taking his own life, which blindsided Mafuyu and left him feeling responsible, regretful, and resentful.
2 Kyoichi And Chiharu – Boys Be…
Boys Be… is a romance anime that tells multiple chapters of the romance life of several male and female characters. The main two characters of the series are Kyoichi and Chiharu, who begin somewhat dating in the middle of the series.
Their relationship comes with many ups and downs. Kyoichi is a very withdrawn and distant individual, and Chiharu is a take-it-or-leave-it type who is constantly harassed for her stature and athleticism. The two play around the dating line, but Kyoichi’s lack of assertiveness drives them apart, and Chiharu seeks attention elsewhere. This causes a rift between the two characters that heal slowly, albeit incompletely.
1 Takumi And Natsuki – Initial D
Takumi’s life is on an uptick; he has the car and career, now, all he has to do is get the girl. He and his crush, Natsuki, begin somewhat of a relationship, starting with late-night drives and trips to the beach.
But Natsuki is being held back by her checkered past, which is causing a rift between her and Takumi. While things were slowly becoming more open, Takumi sees Natsuki out with another man; this causes a dense amount of space between the two that never dissipates.