Top 10 Most Popular Anime in Japan

In the time it takes to do a transformation sequence, Sailor Moon became one of the most iconic anime brands ever made. And, to think, it was only supposed to air for six months. However, the shows balance of cool fights, heartwarming characters, and optimistic themes extended it into a legendary five-year run. Plus, some spin offs and sequels, just for good measure. With overwhelming praise and record-breaking merchandise sales, its no surprise that Sailor Moon is still ubiquitous to this day. At this point, its basically the face of the whole magical girl genre, both in and out of Japan.

Yuji Itadoris cursed clashes are entertaining in every language. But, something about the high-octane fights and devilish storylines have kept Japanese audiences in particular coming back for more. Maybe its because the show takes place in Japan. Or, maybe, seeing Yuji clock someone with a Black Flash is just that cool. Either way, its obvious Jujutsu Kaisen is a household name among even casual anime watchers. The manga is a best-seller, the movie made bank, and the show is ranked as one of the most in-demand in the entire world. Given all that, itd be strange if Japan didnt love Jujutsu Kaisen.

In stark contrast to high-stakes battle anime, this is a simple story about a simple Japanese kid going about his simple, everyday life. Oh, and its aired for over a thousand episodes and counting. While the setup sounds mundane, Shin-chans mischievous life is just zany enough to keep Japanese viewers glued to their screen. Its just a shame more people cant get on board. Since most of the series humor relies on linguistic puns and cultural references, Crayon Shin-chan has never really caught on outside of its native country. Then again, considering its aired almost non-stop for over thirty years, wed say Shin-chans doing just fine.

If you thought Tanjiro and the others were prominent overseas, you may want to sit down. In Japan, Demon Slayer isnt just a hit show. Its a full-on cultural phenomenon. Each new episode is like a country-wide holiday, and it has the ratings to prove it. Demon Slayer is so impactful, its even making it into Japanese textbooks. Although, that makes sense when you remember how many records its broken, including the title of highest-grossing Japanese film. Like, ever. Live-action included. Given that Demon Slayer is still in its prime, odds are good itll stay on top for years to come.

When you look into the eyes of this time-traveling, robotic cat, youre looking at a complete cultural celebrity. We arent joking. While starring in three self-titled anime series definitely helped his brand recognition, Doraemons success goes way beyond television screens. Its influence on Japanese media is unshakeable, to the point we may not have had series like One Piece or Naruto without Doraemon. Then, in 2008, Japans foreign ministry appointed the earless cat as the countrys first ever anime ambassador. Thats right, Doraemon is so absurdly well-known, its capable of representing Japan as a whole. You cant get any bigger than that.

Even a wish on Shenron himself wouldnt be enough to do Dragon Balls legacy justice. Japans tried, though. On top of several anime series, movies, video games, and a truly staggering amount of merchandise, they officially anointed May 9th as Goku Day. So, yeah, you could say Dragon Balls pretty big over there. Its creative footprint is simply unmatched, especially in the anime industry. Youd be hard-pressed to find any modern shounen that doesnt owe something to Akira Toriyamas groundbreaking work. Even if Goku eventually retires from world-shaking fights - and thats a big if - Dragon Balls impact on Japan isnt going anywhere any time soon.

He may not be King of the Pirates just yet, but Monkey D. Luffy still stumbled on a massive treasure trove of success in Japan. Yes, the anime is an explosive trailblazer, and yes, the series has off-the-charts name recognition. But, the real kicker is that One Piece is the best-selling manga series of all time, and its not even close. Luffys swashbuckling adventures fly off the shelves faster than they can be printed. That demand has created a typhoon of a franchise; one where keeping up isnt just a recommendation anymore; its a societal necessity. There may be other hit shows, but there will never be another One Piece.

Theres nothing to investigate here; the only mystery is why this show isnt bigger. Japan has the right idea; Detective Conan - also known as Case Closed in some territories - is the quintessential detective program. Its frequently dark, exceptionally smart, and always a good time from start to finish. Despite being transformed into an elementary kids body, Conan has been solving cases on a weekly basis since 1996. The shtick hasnt gotten old yet. If anything, Detective Conans longstanding history just proves why its one of Japans best and brightest. Theres always a new twist, a new culprit, and a new case to keep you hooked.

This show lives and breathes on the idea that less is more, which is incredibly ironic when you look at how long its been on the air. But, theres a good reason Marukos antics have stood the test of time. Chibi Maruko-chan isnt frivolous or shocking or anything like that; its just honest. Sure, theres a few laughs, and usually a good moral at the end of the episode. But its all tied into an earnest story about Japanese life. As a result, Chibi Maruko-chan has a uniquely broad appeal for all ages, and its used that to stay at the top of the charts for decades now.

Here it is; the undisputed champion of Japanese anime. Sazae-san is more than a show to its country; its practically an everyday part of life. For one, its stayed on the air for over sixty years, becoming the longest-running animated program of all time. Secondly, its aired in its Sunday time slot for so long, its created a phenomenon called Sazae-san syndrome where people associate new episodes with the end of the weekend. Something about the way it characterizes traditional Japanese values through humor has clearly resonated with people. So, it makes a lot of sense why Sazae-san is often cited as the national anime.





Which of these series deserve more global recognition? Let us know in the comments below!