Ready to level up your Japanese language skills? Dive into the world of anime! From beginner-friendly series like Doraemon to advanced picks like Demon Slayer, there’s something for every learner. Check out our blog for tailored recommendations!
1. Doraemon:
Doraemon is a famous anime that almost everyone has heard of. The story revolves around a kid named Nobita who faces problems like bullying, academic stress and relationships. Nobita, however, has Doraemon as his guardian, a magical cat-robot who keeps helping him.
The usage of basic vocabulary and simple language structures makes Doraemon suitable for beginners.
Watch Now: Disney Hotstar
2. Shirokuma Cafe:
Shirokuma Cafe checks off all the boxes for Japanese learners and is quite popular among them. The story follows the adventures of a very chill panda bear and other animals who frequent a Polar Bear’s Café.
This anime features a ton of everyday conversations and vocabulary suitable for a wide range of common occassions. It is suitable for beginners.
3. Pokemon:
Pokemon! One of the most popular anime amongst children and adults alike! This series is recommended for beginners since most words and phrases used in this series are related to everyday conversations.
The franchise follows the story of Ash Ketchum, a 10-year-old Pokemon trainer from Pallet Town who dreams of becoming a Pokemon Master.
There are tons of episodes available making this series good study material for Japanese learners.
Watch Now: Jio Cinema
4. Spy X Family:
Set amidst a raging information war waged between two empires, Spy X Family is about a Spy, an Assassin and a Psychic who become a fake family for their own personal motives.
It is perfect combination of fun and action scenarios. Suitable for beginners as well as intermediate learners as it offers a variety of conversational scenarios.
Watch Now: Netflix
5. Haikyuu!:
Haikyuu! (Volleyball) is suitable for beginners to intermediate learners as it features a variety of high school and sports vocabulary.
The story follows Shoyo Hinata a short-statured boy. After watching a spectacular match, he is determined to become the next “Little Giant”. He joins his junior high volleyball club with his friends only to get destroyed by the “King of the Upper Court”, Tobio Kageyam. At his freshman debut he signs up for the High School volleyball club and learns that Tobio Kageyama will be both his classmate and teammate.
Watch Now: Netflix
6. Oshi No Ko:
Oshi No Ko is centered around Ai Hoshino, a 20-year-old Japanese idol who took a break from her career after being pregnant with twins. Ai secretly gives birth to her twins who are in fact her die-hard fans reincarnate.
The story is perfect blend of idol worshipping, plot twists & thrills, and biting social commentary. Suitable for intermediate and advanced learners as it uses entertainment industry vocabulary and internet slang.
Watch Now: Netflix
7. Attack on Titan (AoT):
Set in a terrifying post-apocalyptic world where the remnants of humanity live behind giant walls, Attack on Titan or Shingeki no Kyojin’s story revolves around 3 friends Eren Jeager, Mikasa Ackerman, and Armin Arlert. They join the military to protect the human race after the walls of their hometown are invaded by the giant humanoids called Titans.
Packed with action, flashbacks and exposition, AoT is suitable for intermediate to advanced learners.
Watch Now: Prime Video
8. Jujutsu Kaisen:
Recommended for intermediate to advanced learners, Jujutsu Kaisen is an anime that has been super popular for its’ intriguing story and excellent animation quality.
Yuji Itadori, a high school student, joins his school’s Occult Club for fun but ends up eating a cursed talisman to save his friends. As a result, he is dragged into a thrilling journey of becoming a jujutsu sorcerer and fighting cursed spirits.
Watch Now: Netflix | Prime Video
9. Naruto:
Naruto takes place in an imaginary world consisting of 5 countries. The long running anime’s story follows Naruto Uzumaki, a careless young ninja who always comes last in class and is treated with disdain by adults in the village. He is an orphan but there is a dark secret surrounding his birth, a nine-tailed demon fox is sealed within his body.
Naruto’s world has a unique historical background and consists of unique elements. It is recommended for advanced learners.
Watch Now: Netflix
10. Demon Slayer:
If you’re looking for something that is a bit challenging but super addictive, then Demon Slayer is the one for you!
Set in the Taisho era, Demon Slayer, or Kimetsu no Yaiba is suitable for advanced learners. The story follows Kamado Tanjirou whose entire family was slaughtered by demons except his sister Nezuko who turns into one.
Determined to avenge his family and cure his sister, Tanjiro sets out on a journey to become a demon slayer for the Demon Slayer Corps, a secret organization of extremely skilled fighters who have dedicated their lives to fighting these vicious creatures and protecting humans.
Watch Now: Netflix
Want to Take Your Japanese Further?
Visit The Oriental Dialogue’s website to explore their varied range of courses in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Sign up for a free online demo session to see how each language is taught and discover their unique specialties. Attend all three demo sessions (Chinese, Japanese, and Korean) and decide which language best complements your language journey and ignites your passion for learning.
