Japanese Kids Shows

Last Updated on August 6, 2024 by Kay

Wondering what are the most popular Japanese shows for kids? I’ve got you covered!

I’m a mom who’s been living in Japan for over a decade now so I’m constantly exposed to whatever is currently trending with Japanese youth. And I will admit, I’m a fan of Japanese media as well.

In this article, I’ll share the top shows for kids in Japan. Many of these have English subtitles while some have been dubbed in English and can be found on various streaming platforms, as well as YouTube.

I think these shows are a great way to learn Japanese as well if you’re just starting out. (Although some language isn’t necessarily reflective of everyday Japanese, especially when it comes to fantasy and action shows.)

Although these shows are popular with kids from elementary school and up, if you’re a parent, please use your own judgment when it comes to whether you’ll allow your child to watch them.

I’ve also written an article about Japanese shows for babies and toddlers, so if you’re interested, please take a look!

Popular Shows for Younger Kids in Japan

Pretty Cure or Precure (プリキュア)

I think all toddlers in Japan know about Pretty Cure or Precure, which is a magical girl anime like Sailor Moon. The show’s name in Japanese is pronounced poo-ree-kyua.

Produced by Toei Animation, the show changes every year with a brand-new story and new characters, which probably makes them a lot of money when it comes to merchandise.

Available to stream on Crunchy Roll, Netflix Japan, and Amazon Prime Video Japan. Some episodes are on YouTube as well.

Kamen Rider (仮面ライダー)

Kamen Rider, which means “masked rider”, is a popular live-action show with young boys in Japan. The main character transforms into the Masked Rider (Kamen Rider), an insect-like hero, and battles enemies.

Like Pretty Cure, the characters and storylines change yearly.

Available to stream on Amazon Prime Video (US), Shout! Factory TV and Amazon Prime Video Japan. Some episodes are on YouTube as well.

Super Sentai (スーパー戦隊)

If you’re familiar with the Power Rangers, then you’ll know this show. Power Rangers is the Westernized version of Super Sentai, a long-running show about costumed heroes who fight space villains.

Similar to the aforementioned shows, the characters and storyline are different every year.

Available to stream on Shout! Factory TV and Amazon Prime Video Japan. Some episodes are on YouTube as well.

Doraemon (ドラえもん)

Originally a manga, this is a long-running anime about a boy named Nobita and a blue robot cat from the future, Doraemon.

It’s a cute and humorous show without any violence, which is probably why it has remained incredibly popular in Japan for decades.

Available to stream on Netflix (US), Netflix Japan, Amazon Prime Video Japan, and U-NEXT.

Shimajiro (しまじろう)

Aimed at toddlers, this is an educational show about a tiger named Shimajiro and his family and friends. Every episode ends with a lesson, making it a top pick with parents as well.

Available to stream on U-NEXT, Hulu Japan, and Amazon Prime Video Japan.

Hana Kappa (はなかっぱ)

This show is about a little water demon named Hana Kappa who has a flower on his head that constantly transforms. The show is quite humorous and slapstick, which appeals to younger kids.

Available to stream on U-NEXT and Hulu Japan.

Anpanman (アンパンマン)

This is an extremely popular show with toddlers in Japan. The story focuses on a superhero named Anpanman who has a head shaped like a bean-paste bun (called anpan in Japanese).  In fact, he sometimes tears off a piece of his head for someone to eat. (It’s not as horrifying as it sounds, I swear!)

Other characters are also based on types of bread, and the villain is a literal germ.

Available to stream on Amazon Prime Video Japan.

Popular Shows for Older Kids in Japan

Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba)

Based on a manga, this anime was hugely popular when it first aired in 2016. It follows the story of a boy whose family is killed by a demon; however, his sister has survived and become a demon herself.

This is a violent anime but that hasn’t stopped my daughter’s Japanese preschool friends or my Japanese nieces in elementary school from watching it. I guess anime violence isn’t as big of a deal in Japan as it is in the West.

Although the manga has ended, the anime is still currently running.

Available to stream on Netflix (US), Netflix Japan, Amazon Prime Video (US) and Amazon Prime Video Japan.

Case Closed or Detective Conan (名探偵コナン)

Another show based on a manga, Detective Conan (also known as Case Closed) is one of the longest-running anime series with more than 1110 episodes and numerous movies. In fact, the most recent movie released this year, The Million-dollar Pentagram (名探偵コナン 100万ドルの五稜星) was the first movie my daughter watched in the theatre!

The main character, a high school student, is a detective who is transformed into a small child. He continues to solve mysteries while trying to return to his former self.

This show has some violence but it’s not that bad compared to Demon Slayer.

Available to stream on Netflix Japan, Amazon Prime Video (US) and Amazon Prime Video Japan.

Pokemon (ポケモン)

Unsurprising to anyone reading this article, Pokemon is a hit show for kids (and adults!) in Japan.

Currently in Japan, Satoshi (Ash) is no longer the main character and instead, a girl named Liko is the main character of the twenty-sixth season. (This also makes me wonder how Satoshi didn’t age for twenty-five seasons but anyway…)

If you visit Japan, you will see Pokemon goods everywhere. Despite not being in the current season of the anime, Pikachu remains wildly popular as well.

Available to stream on Netflix (US), Netflix Japan, Amazon Prime Video (US) and Amazon Prime Video Japan.

Chiikawa (ちいかわ)

Originally a manga featuring short stories, Chiikawa follows the everyday adventures of adorable characters that look like everyday animals such as a cat and a rabbit but are something else.

These characters are everywhere in Japan — it’s hard to go anywhere without seeing some kind of Chiikawa product, whether it be a stuffed toy or food.

Available to stream on Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime Video Japan, Netflix Japan, and Netflix (US).

My Hero Academia (僕のヒーローアカデミア)

Based on a popular manga, My Hero Academia focuses on a boy named Izuku Midoriya who lives in a world where people have powers, but unfortunately, he has none. However, his fate changes when he meets a superhero who sees the potential in the boy.

Haikyu!! (ハイキュー !!)

Anime about sports are quite popular in Japan and Haikyu!! is no exception. This show, also based on a manga series, is about a short-statured high school student named Hinata. Despite various setbacks and rivalry, he and his volleyball team are intent on being the best and winning the Japan National Championship.

My daughter isn’t as much of a fan of this show but my nieces, one almost finishing elementary school and the other almost in high school, both love it. My husband is a fan as well, which isn’t surprising since he enjoys Slam Dunk.

Available to stream on Crunchyroll and Amazon Prime Video Japan.

GeGeGe no Kintaro (ゲゲゲの金太郎)

This manga from the 1960s became a hit anime that ran from 1968 to 2020. The story focuses on Japanese folklore surrounding demons, which are called yokai in Japanese. Kitaro, a boy who is the last remaining member of the Ghost Tribe, battles different demons using his supernatural powers. There are lots of other interesting characters as well, including Kitaro’s father whose head is an eyeball.

Although the show focuses on demons, it’s not very scary so even my daughter’s friends in preschool watch it.

Available to stream on Netflix Japan, Crunchyroll, and Amazon Prime Video Japan.

Dragon Ball (ドラゴンボール)

Dragon Ball is a timeless and beloved anime that is popular with all generations and across multiple countries. My husband and I grew up watching this so it makes us happy that our daughter is a fan as well, although she likes the newer series more than the older ones.

The Dragon Ball series was revived in 2009 with Dragon Ball Kai and then continued with Dragon Ball Super. This autumn, the highly anticipated continuation of the story of Goku and his allies in Dragon Ball DAIMA will be released.

Available to stream on Crunchyroll, Hulu (US), Netflix Japan, and Amazon Prime Video Japan.

Wrap-up: Popular Japanese Shows for Kids

I hope this look at popular Japanese shows for kids is helpful to you. As you can see, there is a huge variety when it comes to shows, from action to comedy, so there’s something for everyone and every age.

Thanks for reading!