I think you’ll agree with me when I say:

 

“I want to start a great new anime, but having thousands of different shows and upwards of 50 new shows a season, I just don’t know where to start!”

 

Even if you know exactly what you want to watch, I bet you want to keep up with what anime is being watched in Japan, right?

 

First things first, you might either ask a friend, or just head to Google and search “popular anime in Japan” or “trending anime in Japan.”

 

However, I noticed that the second method isn’t always that efficient. The results you’ll get from search engines are not entirely accurate.

 

Well, in this post, I will talk about four rankings that Japanese people use.

 

These rankings will help you find what anime is popular in Japan right now (Winter 2023). And maybe even help you decide what anime to watch.

 

Nicovideo

 

Nicovideo is like the Japanese YouTube. They also have a great anime ranking chart.

 

If you didn’t know, most Japanese watch anime late at night. The “primetime” for anime is between 00:00 and 02:00.

 

In my opinion, this ranking is the most accurate. It shows you the most popular anime that are airing specifically during anime primetime.

 

The highest-rated late-night anime are:

 

  1. The Eminence in Shadow
  2. Di Gi Charat
  3. Yowamushi Pedal Limit Break
  4. Spy Classroom
  5. Tomo-chan Is a Girl!
  6. Boku to Roboco
  7. The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World
  8. My Life as Inukai-san’s Dog
  9. Play It Cool, Guys
  10. ONIMAI: I’m Now Your Sister!

 

Spy Classroom

 

Boku to Roboco

 

ONIMAI: I’m Now Your Sister!

 

The complete top rank list can be seen here 

 

 

Akiba Souken

 

 

Another excellent anime ranking site is Akiba Souken.

 

What I like about this page is that you can filter according to the genre: (action, comedy, fantasy, etc.)

 

For example, below are the highest-rated action anime currently airing in Japan:

 

  1. REVENGER
  2. Shinobi no Ittoki
  3. LUPIN ZERO
  4. Bungo Stray Dogs (Season 4) 🔥
  5. One Piece 
  6. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: STONE OCEAN
  7. Unbreakable Machine-Doll
  8. BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War

 

 

REVENGER

 

Bungo Stray Dogs (Season 4)

 

 

The complete top-rank list can be seen here.

 

 

My two recommendations for this season are Blue Lock (second-cour) and Bungo Stray Dogs (Season 4)!!!

 

Blue Lock (second-cour)

 

Watch them, you can thank me later.

 

Video Research

 

One of the ways to know which anime has the best rankings is through the company Video Research. Founded in 1962, Video Research is a company that measures Japanese TV rankings.

 

Every week they publish Japanese Anime TV Rankings within Japan’s Kanto region (including Tokyo).

 

However, this ranking has two issues:

 

  • Data is only taken from the Kanto region
  • Includes long-running anime for kids like Chibi Maruko-chan or Anpanman

 

So, take these rankings with a grain of salt, as they are for a limited region and include shows many will either already know about and be watching (One Piece) or are not interested in.

 

According to Video Research, the most-watched anime in the Kanto region is:

 

  1. Sazae-chan 
  2. Detective Conan
  3. Chibi Maruko-chan 
  4. My Hero Academia (season 6)
  5. Delicious Party♡Precure  
  6. Doraemon 
  7. One Piece  
  8. Crayon Shin-chan 
  9. Oshiri Tantei
  10. SPY x FAMILY

 

My Hero Academia (season 6)

 

The complete rank list can be seen here.

 

 

Dimora

 

Dimora is one of the most popular ranking sites in Japan.

 

According to Dimora’s ranking,

 

The most popular anime in Japan right now are:

 

  1. SPY x FAMILY
  2. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury
  3. Urusei Yatsura (2022)
  4. Chainsaw Man
  5. My Hero Academia (season 6)
  6. BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War
  7. Blue Lock
  8. To Your Eternity Season 2
  9. Beast Tamer
  10. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: STONE OCEAN

 

Urusei Yatsura (2022)

 

Chainsaw Man

Source (Japanese).

 

 

Finally, the most popular Isekai (another world) right now in Japan are:

 

  1. Overlord IV
  2. The Eminence in Shadow
  3. I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss
  4. Black Summoner
  5. Management of a Novice Alchemist

 

Overlord IV

 

 

The complete rank list can be seen here.

 

 

Trending Anime in 2022

 

 

If you want to know what was the most-watched anime for people from Japan in 2022, check out:

 

 

Most Popular Anime in Japan (2022)

 

 

If you are looking for Manga recommendations check out:

 

Best Selling Manga Right Now in Japan

 

Or you can also check:

 

Best Selling LIGHT NOVELS in Japan Right Now

 

 

 

Which anime are you watching now? Did you find something new? Or did you find something you were watching that Japan likes or doesn’t? Let me know in the comments below!

 

I’m watching this season:

 

  • Boruto (Code’s Arc)
  • Blue Lock (second cour)
  • My Hero Academia (season 6)
  • Bungo Stray Dogs (season 4)
  • Tokyo Revengers (season 2)
  • Vinland Saga (season 2)
  • Ayakashi Triangle
  • Spy Classroom
  • NierR:Automata
  • Trigun Stampede
  • Mononogatari