Best Boys Love Sports Manga

Boys love manga have grown significantly over the years, overtaking several popular themes. While most BL manga are limited to real-life snippets, sports stories are another emerging theme for BL stories. Newer BL titles like Yuri on Ice may have popularized this theme, but Boys Love sports manga date back to the early 2000s.

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Featuring a same-sex romantic adventure set against the backdrop of a sports arena, these Boys Love mangas present dynamic premises that balance both intimacy and athleticism. Whether it’s budding romance among baseball teammates or passionate sparks between runners, this ever-expanding theme has something for everyone.

7 Takeover zone

Anime Planet Rating: 3.59/5

Although it is limited to ten chapters, Takeover zone presents a mature boys’ love relationship, albeit not without its fair share of love debacles. While the story mainly follows former athlete Hashimoto and his renewed interest in athletics, each individual character is given extensive spotlight, making room for a few supporting couples.

While Takeover zone may not be Masara Minase’s best work, but it’s still an outstanding piece of art for a ten-chapter BL sports manga. The budding romance between coach Wada and team captain Takashima is also an intriguing subplot, and there’s a chance the two could get a spin-off manga.

6 Baseball Heaven

Anime Planet Rating: 3.69/5

Baseball Heaven is a BL manga set on a baseball field and centers around a whirlwind romance between two teammates. Tokyo Elephants shortstop Ogota and pitcher Uno don’t seem to get along, with the latter being cold and distant. What initially seems like a case of homophobia develops into a budding romance.

However, their romance cannot continue unless Uno pitches a perfect game, a twist that naturally connects the baseball premise to the BL theme. Even with limited chapters, the manga does not rush the story and keeps readers hooked until the end.

5 Gift

Anime Planet Rating: 3.71/5

On the surface, Gift is a BL manga about a trainer’s efforts to help a young delinquent get off the streets by teaching him boxing. However, the manga soon loses its initial facade in favor of a much darker premise filled with blackmail, abuse, and trauma.

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Despite these dark themes Gift promises a fascinating romance between Yutaka and Kei, two characters who become more and more attached to each other over time. Unlike its lightweight counterparts, Gift represents a mature interpretation of the usual BL sports narrative and presents a rather refreshing premise.

4 In!

Anime Planet Rating: 3.78/5

Instead of the usual high-stakes team sports, In! revolves around the tranquil, albeit challenging sport of archery. The manga follows a second-year student named Katsura, a timid archer who can’t control his nerves. Instead of seeking professional help, he turns to his brother’s best friend, Sou, whose hugs banish all of Katsura’s fears.

While the premise may seem a bit strange, the book’s lessons about growing apart and learning to rely on one’s own strength make it well worth the read. In! shares his mangaka with the popular BL manga Only the ring finger knows itSatoru Kannagi’s artistic flair shines through in this boys love sports manga.

3 18.44

Anime Planet Rating: 3.80/5

Baseball is a sport with high stakes and exciting moments, but that doesn’t stop love from finding its way onto the field. 18.44 is all about an innocent affair between a pitcher and a catcher, both of whom are dealing with their newfound feelings for each other.

The romance between Yudai and Shotaro is a defining aspect of the manga, but 18.44 focuses mostly on baseball elements and sometimes even ignores the romance. For sports fans, this BL manga offers a balanced narrative full of baseball and boys’ love bliss.

2 Perfect XXX

Anime Planet Rating: 3.84/5

Since baseball is a popular sport in Japan, it’s not surprising that most BL sports manga use it as a background. Perfect XXX revolves around the hot romance between Ayato and Kenshiro, a love that comes with one condition: Kenshiro has to play a perfect game.

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While the premise of Perfect XXX seems very similar to Baseball Heavenit sets itself apart by the dynamics between its main characters. Additionally, the manga explains its baseball elements quite thoroughly, making it a better choice for those new to sports manga.

1 Repetition

Anime Planet Rating: 4.02/5

Repetition revolves around two childhood friends and their continued connection to baseball as they say goodbye to the sport. As Ritsu and Yuta come to terms with moving on with their lives, they discover new feelings for each other, giving way to a heartfelt love story.

Although baseball is not a focus in the manga, it serves as a catalyst to bring Ritsu and Yuta together. With themes of acceptance and progress, Repetition has a relatively mature premise with nuanced subtexts.

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