In addition to creating innumerable outstanding Japanese Tv shows, Japan has been regarded as a cinematic superpower for the greater part of the previous century. We believe that streaming platform programs are ripe for a revival.
You’ll discover everything you need right here, whether you desire to be swept off your feet by passionate love dramas or drool over exquisite meals in gourmet specials. These are the greatest Japanese TV Shows and Japanese movies now accessible with English subtitles on Netflix, ranging from heartwarming animation to engrossing new thrillers. Here are our top suggestions for the finest Japanese TV shows if you want to get started watching Japanese television, including timeless favorites and cutting-edge productions you can’t afford to miss! Below are the Tv Shows That Received Worldwide Appreciation.
20 of the Japanese Tv Shows
20.Rilakkuma and Kaoru (2019)
- Director: Aki Kondo
- Writer: Naoko Ogigami
- Cast: Veronica Taylor, Abby Trott, Barbara Goodson
- IMDb Ratings: 8.2
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Rilakkuma and Kaoru is a delightful narrative presented via exquisite stop-motion animation that elevates one of Japan’s most well-known icons to fresh life. It is the perfect series to enjoy with youngsters before visiting Japan. A lovely bear named Rilakkuma resides with his owner Kaoru, a 30-year-old office worker, and does his best to uplift and support her at all times. This delightful entertainment is exquisitely animated and suitable for the whole family.
19. Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan (2019)
- Director: Stephen Scott
- Cast: Hiro Kanagawa, Hayate Masao, Stephen Turnbull
- IMDb Ratings: 7.4
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Oda Nobunaga takes over as the Oda clan’s new leader after his father passes away, and he quickly begins to seize power in central Japan. However, Nobunaga does not represent the only daimyo who aspires to unify the country under his ultimate reign. The next decades of 16th-century Japan become a crucial period in history for the nation and its authorities due to political intrigue and bloody samurai warfare.
18. Ride or Die (2021)
- Director: Ryûichi Hiroki
- Writer: Ching Nakamura, Nami Yoshikawa
- Cast: Kiko Mizuhara, Honami Satô, Shinya Niiro
- IMDb Ratings: 5.6
- Rotten Tomatoes: 6.9
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Rei, a young woman from such a rich family, receives an unanticipated call one day from her old high school buddy Nanae. She is excited to see Nanae even though it has been ten years since they last spoke because they attended the same high school and she used to cherish romantic sentiments for her. Rei learns that Nanae is an abused wife who is locked in an abusive marriage when she reconnected with her buddy. The two friends gradually develop a new level of familiarity until Nanae approaches Rei whether she would assist her in killing her husband.
17. Change (2008)
- Creator: NA
- Cast: Takuya Kimura, Eri Fukatsu, Akira Terao
- IMDb Ratings: 7.5
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Streaming Platform: Dramacool.city
In Nagano, Keita was an elementary school teacher and enjoyed stargazing. Politics didn’t interest him at all. He grudgingly decided to campaign for office under Rika’s influence and the pressure from his family, but he had no ambition of succeeding. Nonetheless, with the aid of election strategist Nirasawa Katsutoshi, he could win by a slim margin of only 164 votes.
Kanbayashi came up with the plan to nominate the ineffective Keita to operate for the leadership of the party and serve as the next Prime Minister so when the Prime Minister was forced to step down due to allegations of sexual harassment because he believed it would be simple to manipulate him and use the circumstance to his obvious benefit. Meanwhile, Keita’s earnestness and diligence quickly persuaded every skeptic, and so as Kanbayashi discovered, he was not a doll controlled by him. Kanbayashi had to devise a new plan to eliminate Keita. How much further would he go to accomplish his goal? Can he be successful?
16. A Silent Voice (2016)
- Creator: Naoko Yamada
- Cast: Miyu Irino, Saori Hayami, Aoi Yûki
- IMDb Ratings: 8.1
- Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix and Prime Video
High school student Shoya Ishida, disillusioned with existence and battling emotions of uselessness, is on the point of taking his own life. Shoya chooses to handle some unresolved issues to repair some of the harm he’s wrought in the past, even if he feels unable to improve his own life. Shoya decides to become friends with Shoko, a former classmate whom he brutally harassed in middle school for just being deaf, in an attempt to atone for his previous deeds. A promising amine film worth watching by any age group.
15. Sekai no Hate Made Itte Q (2007)
- Creator: NA
- Cast: Ddf Crew, Razor Rizzotti, Yûya Tegoshi
- IMDb Ratings: NA
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Streaming Platform: NA
Nippon TV airs the well-liked serial “Sekai no Hate created Itte q.” Inside this program, comedians and Japanese celebrities travel overseas to discover other nations’ cultures by participating in various activities or celebrations. The comedians on the show are fantastic, and it’s a lot of fun to watch.
14. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2019)
- Creator: Gotōge Koyoharu
- Cast: : Natsuki Hanae, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka & Akari Kito
- IMDb Ratings: 8.7
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Streaming Platforms: Netflix and Hulu
Even though Tanjiro Kamado is still a young boy, a demon slaughters his whole family and saves his sister Nezuko, forcing him to grow up relatively rapidly in this Japanese Tv show. Tanjiro takes on the duties of a demon slayer while receiving instruction from the skilled slayer Giyu Tomioka. Tanjiro, motivated by more than just revenge, looks for a way to break the curse that has turned his sister into a monster. This Japanese tv show, created by Studio Ufotable and adapted from the best-selling manga from Koyoharu Gotge, has dynamic animation and unbelievable action.
13. Million Yen Women (2017)
- Director: NA
- Writer: Shunju Aono
- Cast: Yôjirô Noda, Rila Fukushima, Rena Matsui
- IMDb Ratings: 7.6
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Shin Michima, a hard-pressed author, receives a visit from five women at his home. Michima does not know why all these ladies are here, and the women won’t allow him to interrogate them about it either. They go on to give him a monthly amount of one million yen in return for housing as well as living costs.
12. JU-ON: Origins (2020)
- Creator: Takashige Ichise
- Cast: Yoshiyoshi Arakawa, Yuina Kuroshima, Seiko Iwaidô
- IMDb Ratings: 6.1
- Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
JU-ON (呪怨) is probably one of the best Japanese horror film series among lovers of the genre. The story takes place in an abandoned home where a terrible murder occurred. Even then, everybody who enters the house has been cursed and dies.
This year, Netflix Japan produced an original series centered on this cinematic story that, although deviating somewhat from the source material, received positive reviews and swiftly rose to the top of the list of most-watched shows in recent months.
11. Switched (2018)
- Director: Hiroaki Matsuyama
- Cast: Miu Tomita, Kaya Kiyohara, Daiki Shigeoka and Tomohiro Kamiyama
- IMDb Ratings: 7.1
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
This sci-fi narrative, which mostly targets young people, may have some similarities to Freaky Friday, but it is deeper and devoid of humor. Whereas this trope often involves a frivolous romance, Switched utilizes it to tackle subjects like body image, social expectations imposed on school-aged girls, and suicide. This Japanese tv show follows two schoolgirls from different polar ends of the social structure who exchange bodies. This offers an intriguing perspective on a TV and film subgenre that is ideal for binge-watching.
We first saw the body-switching idea in the well-known animated film Your Name; although with different gender, Switched now delivers the concept to the big screen. The series had a genuinely intriguing fantasy idea in addition to exploring problems like social anxiety and melancholy.
10. Giri/Haji (2021)
- Creator: Joe Barton
- Cast: Takehiro Hira, Kelly Macdonald, Yōsuke Kubozuka, Will Sharpe, Masahiro Motoki, Justin Long, Anna Sawai, and Charlie Creed-Miles
- IMDb Ratings: 7.8
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Despite officially being a British TV program, this outstanding criminal thriller is included on our list due to its wide distribution in Japan and predominantly Japanese ensemble. The story centers on a Tokyo police officer looking for his nephew, Yuto, who is suspected of killing a representative of a high-ranking Yakuza family. If you enjoy excellent detective stories, you’ll adore the distinctive twist this unquestionably classic gives the genre.
9. Samurai Gourmet (2017)
- Director: Michihito Fujii, Mamoru Hoshi
- Cast: Joji Matsuoka, Nobuhiro Yamashita, Shotarou Kobayas
- IMDb Ratings: 8.1
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Samurai Gourmet is a slice-of-life drama inspired by a well-known manga by Masayuki Kusumi. It is yet another Japanese television program highlighting the significance of food in Japanese society.
The program then Takeshi Kasumi, a salaried man from Japan, is having a hard time adjusting to his new career and calmer schedule until he realizes he is an old samurai fighter. But this spiritual guide advises the man to embrace life to its fullest and not to incite violence. This mostly entails indulging in lavish, mouthwatering-looking dishes that will make you want to visit Japan so you can do the same!
8. Followers (2021)
- Director: Mika Ninagawa
- Cast: Miki Nakatani, Elaiza Ikeda, Mari Natsuki, Yuka Itaya, KOM_I, Mika Nakashima, Tadanobu Asano, Shuhei Uesugi, Nobuaki Kaneko, Hidekazu Mashima, Sho Kasamatsu, Yutaro
- IMDb Ratings: 3.3
- Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
In the documentary Followers, the impact of social media on modern Japanese society is examined. The show centers on Natsume, an aspiring actress, and Limi, a fashion photographer, who by chance meet paths after Limi captures a shot of Natsume and uploads it all on Instagram. A thorough examination of the frequently egotistical realm of social media influencer behavior is provided below. This program is excellent to watch if you want to understand more about the Japanese social media scene.
7. Erased (2017)
- Director: Ten Shimoyama
- Cast: Reo Uchikawa, Yuki Furukawa, Rinka Kakihara, Mio Yūki, Tomoka Kurotani
- IMDb Ratings: 7.8
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Erased, a Netflix-exclusive live-action drama based mostly on the Japanese manga “The Town Where Only I Am Missing,” is a well-known tale that has inspired an anime adaptation and a cinematic film.
The protagonist of this fantasy/thriller involves 18-year-old Satoru, who learns he has the capacity to travel across time after discovering his mother has passed away. The drama that ensues, occasionally harrowing and frequently poignant, will grip you from Episode 1.
6. Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories (2016-2019)
- Director: Joji Matsuoka, Nobuhiro Yamashita, Shotarou Kobayas
- Cast: Kaoru Kobayashi, Mansaku Fuwa, Asako Kobayashi
- IMDb Ratings: 8.4
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
The Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories is the program for you if you enjoy Japanese cuisine, compelling stories, and the fusion of the two. Each stand-alone episode concentrates on a different patron there at Midnight Diner as they share their tales, which often revolve around food in a certain manner. This show is pleasant on several levels, including the ability to eat the delicious cuisine virtually and the sometimes moving and very human tales being presented.
5. Death Note (2006-2007)
- Director: Tetsurō Araki
- Writer: Tsugumi Ohba
- Cast: Mamoru Miyano, Ryô Naitô, Keiji Fujiwara, Kappei Yamaguchi, Aya Hirano, Shidô Nakamura
- IMDb Ratings: 9.0
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Death Note is a renowned Japanese TV series for a good reason and is a memorable anime masterpiece. The show centers on Light Yagami, a young man who discovers a magical notebook and that he can murder anybody by merely putting their name inside this book. Death Note is a complex examination of ethics, justice, and evil, and it amuses in addition to provokes thought, which is a big part of its popularity over time.
4. The Naked Director (2019-present)
- Director: Masaharu Take
- Cast: Takayuki Yamada, Shinnosuke Mitsushima, Tetsuji Tamayama
- IMDb Ratings: 7.7
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
The Naked Director is a humorous and frequently interesting peek into a mostly untapped counterculture for those of us that aren’t so fond of murder, devastation, and mind-bending metaphysical concerns; or for all of us who need to get some reprieve just after likes of the past several items on our list. A semi-autobiographical glimpse at the life and exploits of notorious Japanese pornographer Toru Muranishi is presented in The Naked Director. The Naked Director is the only Japanese Tv show you need to watch if you want something entertaining and easy to binge.
3. Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995-1996)
- Director: Hideaki Anno
- Cast: Megumi Ogata, Megumi Hayashibara, Yūko Miyamura, Tomokazu Seki, Akira Ishida, Fumihiko Tachiki, Motomu Kiyokawa, Kotono Mitsuishi
- IMDb Ratings: 8.5
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Neon Genesis Evangelion has become one of the most acclaimed Japanese TV shows of all time, and that has sparked virtually infinite excitement ever since its 1996 premiere. It is yet another cult classic animation series recently re-released on Netflix over the past several years. Shinji Ikari, a 14-year-old boy, must pilot the only device that can stop The Angels when they invaded Earth in 2015. The attack took place in 2015 and is referred to as The Angels. The 26-episode duration of show features several profoundly philosophical ideas that are interspersed throughout the gory, violent, and exhilarating action scenes.
2. Good Morning Call (2016-2017)
- Creator: Yo Kawahara, Takashi Fujio
- Cast: Haruka Fukuhara, Shun’ya Shiraishi, Moe Arai, Shûgo Nagashima, Kentaro Ito, Kôya Nagasawa
- IMDb Ratings: 7.5
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
The manga series-based television show Good Morning Call centers on a young woman called Nao who arrives at the city’s flat of her dreams. There is only one issue: Her favorite classmate Hisashi is also relocating. They grudgingly decide to become roommates to compensate for the spot after realizing they had been tricked into renting the same apartment. When Nao becomes attracted to Hisashi romantically, matters get even more difficult. The charming romantic comedy Good Morning Call is proof that opposites do attract.
Romantic comedy enthusiasts will like this endearing tale of the distant Hisashi and the sincere Nao. This play is a perfect location to explore relationships and emotions while keeping current with youth lingo and school terms.
1. Alice in Borderland (2020-present)
- Director: Shinsuke Sato
- Cast: Kento Yamazaki, Tao Tsuchiya, Nijirô Murakami
- IMDb Ratings: 7.6
- Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
This bleak and grim future sci-fi thriller with exhilarating action scenes, stunning cinematography, and an intriguing idea will leave you wanting more. In Alice in Borderland, Ryohei, a video game-obsessed young man without a job, discovers a doorway to another universe where he and his pals must struggle to survive. What follows is a sort of Hunger Games crosses The Matrix mash-up that is quite compelling to watch.
