Last updated on January 17th, 2025 at 03:50 pm
Tonbo! is a very underrated anime with wonderful characters, a touching story, and beautiful animation. It really hurts me to see such a great anime not getting enough attention. But for those of you who have watched it, I’m sure you’ll be looking for more anime like it, and for those who haven’t yet, don’t think of it as just a golf anime. Honestly, I have very little knowledge about golf myself, but the way Tonbo! explains everything in detail makes it accessible and enjoyable for everyone. In this post, I’ve gathered some amazing anime like Tonbo that feature heartfelt stories, deep characters, and the power of sports to connect and inspire.
Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story
Birdie Wing: Golf Girls’ Story follows Eve, a fearless underground golfer known as the “Rainbow Bullet,” who dominates her matches using only three clubs. Her world is turned upside down after a game-changing encounter with Aoi Amawashi, a prodigy dubbed the “Innocent Tyrant,” who effortlessly defeats her opponents with grace and precision. Drawn to each other’s contrasting styles—Eve’s aggressive risk-taking and Aoi’s steady, elite play—the two form a rivalry that pushes them to new heights. Similar to Tonbo!, this anime explores golf as a source of connection and personal growth, making it a perfect pick for fans seeking anime like Tonbo.
Rising Impact
Rising Impact follows Nanaumi Gawain, a third-grader with a love for baseball, who discovers golf after meeting professional golfer Nishino Kiria. Realizing he can hit a golf ball farther than in any other sport, Gawain enrolls at Camelot Academy, a prestigious golf school, to pursue his dream of becoming the best professional golfer in the world. Using his natural talent and determination, he faces tough opponents and challenges along the way. Like Tonbo!, this anime showcases a young talent surprising others with their skills and highlights the joy and challenges of golf, making it a great pick for anyone looking for anime like Tonbo.
Chihayafuru
Chihayafuru follows Chihaya Ayase, who discovers her love for the competitive card game karuta after defending her childhood friend Arata Wataya. The game, based on the Ogura Hundred Poets anthology, requires sharp memory, agility, and endurance. Chihaya, driven by the goal of becoming the Queen of Karuta, forms the Mizusawa Karuta Club with her old friend Taichi Mashima and new members, aiming for victory in the national championship. Like Tonbo!, Chihayafuru highlights the personal growth and connections formed through a shared passion, making it a great choice for anyone looking for anime like Tonbo.
Yowamushi Pedal
Yowamushi Pedal follows Sakamichi Onoda, a cheerful otaku who rides his old, bulky city bike on a 90-kilometer round trip to Akihabara each week. His love for anime leads him to try to revive the school’s disbanded anime club, but his plans change when he meets Shunsuke Imaizumi, a determined cyclist. After being challenged to a race, Onoda discovers his talent for cycling and begins his journey into the world of high school bicycle racing. Like Tonbo!, Yowamushi Pedal focuses on personal growth through sports, with Onoda finding new strengths and forming meaningful connections, making it an ideal choice for fans of anime like Tonbo.
Ao Ashi
Ao Ashi follows Ashito Aoi, a talented but hot-headed soccer player from a small town. After causing his team’s loss due to his temper, he’s approached by a coach named Tatsuya Fukuda, who sees potential in him and invites him to tryouts in Tokyo. In the new, competitive environment, Ashito must push himself to grow and prove his worth to earn a chance at a professional career. Like Tonbo!, Ao Ashi focuses on personal growth through sports, showing how Ashito learns from his mistakes and builds important relationships. If you’re looking for anime like Tonbo, Ao Ashi offers a similar mix of self-improvement and sports.
Welcome to the Ballroom
Welcome to the Ballroom follows Tatara Fujita, a shy middle schooler with no clear plans for the future. After being saved from bullies by Kaname Sengoku, Tatara is introduced to ballroom dancing. He becomes fascinated with the idea of dancing in front of others and starts practicing with classmate Shizuku Hanaoka. As he works hard to improve, Tatara gains confidence and finds a new purpose in life. Like Tonbo!, this anime focuses on personal growth through a sport and how it helps characters connect with others and discover new sides of themselves, making Welcome to the Ballroom a great choice for fans looking for anime like Tonbo.
Tsurune: Kazemai High School Kyudo Club
Tsurune: Kazemai High School Kyudo Club follows Minato Narumiya, a high school student who starts practicing kyudo, a Japanese form of archery, again after quitting in middle school due to a past incident. He joins his school’s new kyudo club and reconnects with his childhood friends, Seiya and Ryouhei, along with new teammates Kaito and Nanao. Together, they train and work toward winning the prefectural tournament. Like Tonbo!, Tsurune focuses on personal growth through sports, highlighting how teamwork and support from friends can help characters rediscover their love for a sport and overcome challenges. Both anime are great for fans looking for anime like Tonbo.
Ace of Diamond
Ace of Diamond follows Eijun Sawamura, who loses his final middle school baseball game with a stray pitch but vows to reach the national tournament in high school. After being scouted by Tokyo’s Seidou High School, Eijun joins the competitive team, where he must prove himself among skilled players. As he competes with Satoru Furuya for the coveted role of the team’s ace, Eijun strives to improve and help Seidou become the best baseball team in Japan. Like Tonbo!, Ace of Diamond focuses on personal growth through sports, teamwork, and the challenges of rising through competition, making it a great pick for those looking for anime like Tonbo.
Big Windup!
Big Windup! follows Ren Mihashi, who was the ace pitcher of his middle school baseball team but was constantly bullied for his poor performance. The team’s losses made Mihashi lose all self-confidence, and he graduated with little belief in himself. Deciding to start fresh, he moves to Nishiura High, where he has no intention of playing baseball. However, he is reluctantly drawn into joining their baseball team as the starting pitcher. With help from his catcher, Takaya Abe, Mihashi begins to gain confidence and starts believing in his abilities. Like Tonbo!, Big Windup! focuses on personal growth, teamwork, and the way sports can help people overcome challenges, making it a great pick for fans looking for anime like Tonbo.
Run with the Wind
Run with the Wind follows Kakeru Kurahara, a former top runner who ends up in a rundown apartment after a shoplifting incident. There, he meets Haiji Kiyose, who reveals that the apartment is home to the Kansei University Track Club. Haiji dreams of running in the Hakone Ekiden, a famous marathon relay, but the other residents are beginners who aren’t interested in running. Haiji tries to convince them to join him, and together, they learn the value of teamwork and pushing through challenges. Like Tonbo!, Run with the Wind shows how sports bring people together and help them grow, making it a great pick for fans of anime like Tonbo.
Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club
Free! – Iwatobi Swim Club follows Haruka Nanase, who loves swimming and has a special connection to water. In elementary school, he and his friends Rin Matsuoka, Nagisa Hazuki, and Makoto Tachibana won a relay race together, but after that, they went their separate ways. Years later, they reunite in high school, but Rin, now at a different school, wants to prove he is a better swimmer than Haruka. To compete in an upcoming tournament, Haruka, Nagisa, and Makoto form the Iwatobi Swim Club and recruit Rei Ryuugazaki, a former track athlete. As they train for the competition, their friendship deepens and they work together to settle things between Haruka and Rin. Like Tonbo!, Free! focuses on personal growth, the importance of teamwork, and rediscovering a love for a sport, making it a great choice for anyone looking for anime like Tonbo.
These anime like Tonbo are sure to capture your heart just like Tonbo! did. Whether you’re into sports or just love great storytelling, these shows have something for everyone. Have you watched any of these anime? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!