If you loved
NANA
Ai Yazawa · Series · 2006
What hooked you in NANA was the way the messy, beautiful reality of female friendship anchors the unpredictable journey of young adulthood.
Books on the same thread
Ghost World
Daniel Clowes · Book · 2001
Shares a thread with NANA: Female friendship.
Like NANA, this story captures the specific, bittersweet tension of two best friends growing up and inevitably growing apart as they navigate the complexities of their shifting identities.
Kitchen (キッチン)
Banana Yoshimoto · Book · 1988
Shares a thread with NANA: Coming-of-Age.
Fans of NANA will recognize the raw, intimate domesticity here, where the characters use their living spaces to process the profound grief and life transitions that define their adulthood.
Norwegian Wood (ノルウェイの森)
Haruki Murakami · Book · 1987
Shares a thread with NANA: Coming-of-Age.
Readers drawn to the emotional depth of NANA will appreciate how this novel explores the weight of past loss and the intense, melancholic bonds formed between young, introspective individuals.
The Women: A Novel
Kristin Hannah · Book · 2024
Shares 2 threads with NANA: Female Friendship, Coming-of-Age.
If the unbreakable, evolving bond between women in NANA resonated with you, this story offers a similar focus on the enduring power of friendship during periods of personal trauma.
Films on the same thread
Your Name.
Makoto Shinkai · Film · 2016
Explores: Fate, Interconnectedness, Rural vs. Urban Life.
NANA fans will find the same sense of urban longing and the fated interconnectedness of two strangers’ lives reflected in this poignant story of memory and shifting personal perspectives.
Whisper of the Heart
Yoshifumi Kondo · Film · 1995
Shares 2 threads with NANA: Coming-of-age, Slice of Life.
This film mirrors the creative drive found in NANA, highlighting how the pursuit of artistic passion and self-discovery shapes the early, vulnerable romances of young, ambitious protagonists.
Josee, the Tiger and the Fish
Film · 2020
Shares 2 threads with NANA: Coming-of-age, Slice of Life.
Similar to the character growth in NANA, this story shows how two people can challenge one another to overcome personal barriers while navigating the difficult path toward their dreams.
Look Back
Film · 2024
Shares 2 threads with NANA: Coming-of-age, Slice of life.
The intense creative rivalry and evolving friendship in this film echo the professional and personal dynamics that drive the central relationship between the two leads in NANA.
Podcasts on the same thread
This American Life
This American Life · Podcast · 2026
Explores: The human condition, Personal narrative, Social observation.
Those who value the honest, character-driven storytelling of NANA will connect with these personal narratives, which capture the same messy, big feelings and unpredictable turns of the human condition.
Anime Grind
Podcast
Explores: Personal Growth, Goal Setting, Positive Mindset.
If you were inspired by the relentless ambition of the characters in NANA, this podcast provides the practical motivation needed to apply that same drive to your own life.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the premise of NANA?
NANA follows Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu, two women with the same name who meet while traveling to Tokyo. They decide to become roommates while pursuing their personal dreams, navigating the complexities of their friendship as they balance their individual goals with their bond as best friends.
Is NANA about the relationship between two roommates?
Yes, NANA centers on the lives of Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu after they meet on a train to Tokyo. The story explores how these two drastically different people become close roommates and whether their personal ambitions can coexist with their deep friendship.
Does the story of NANA take place in Tokyo?
Yes, the narrative of NANA begins when the two main characters meet while traveling to Tokyo. The city serves as the setting for their shared living arrangement and the pursuit of their respective dreams, which forms the core of their experience as roommates.
How does the friendship evolve in NANA?
In NANA, the two protagonists start as strangers who meet while traveling to Tokyo. They decide to live together despite their contrasting personalities. The series documents how they grow closer and test whether their individual dreams for the future have enough space to accommodate their best friend.