Tokyo, Japan – Classic animated series Sazae-san once again claimed the top spot in Japanese television rankings for the week of December 1-7, 2025, securing a 7.4% average household rating in the Kanto region. The enduring family-friendly program continued its consistent performance, outranking popular action and children’s anime.
The latest data, compiled by Video Research, highlights the continued dominance of long-running titles while also showing strong performances from newer and current seasonal anime.
Top Japanese TV Anime for December 1-7, 2025
The following list details the top-ranked Japanese animation programs based on average household ratings in the Kanto region:
- 1. Sazae-san (Fuji TV, December 7, 18:30) – 7.4%
- 2. Detective Conan (NTV, December 6, 18:00) – 6.0%
- 3. Chibi Maruko-chan (Fuji TV, December 7, 18:00) – 5.9%
- 4. My Hero Academia final season (NTV, December 6, 17:30) – 3.4%
- 5. Doraemon (TV Asahi, December 6, 17:00) – 2.8%
- 5. Crayon Shin-chan (TV Asahi, December 6, 16:30) – 2.8%
- 5. One Piece (Fuji TV, December 7, 23:15) – 2.8%
- 8. You and Idol Precure♪ (TV Asahi, December 7, 08:30) – 2.5%
- 8. Tougen Anki (NTV, December 5, 23:15) – 2.5%
- 10. Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray (season 2) (TBS, December 7, 16:30) – 2.0%
- 11. Animated O-saru no George (Curious George) (NHK-E, December 6, 08:35) – 1.6%
- 12. Oshiri Tantei (NHK-E, December 4, 19:00) – 1.3%
- Special Mention: Ringing Bell (NHK Educational, December 6, 16:00) – 0.6%
Analysis of the Week’s Rankings
The top three spots were once again dominated by long-running staples of Japanese television. Sazae-san, a consistent chart-topper, maintained its strong viewership, followed closely by Detective Conan and Chibi Maruko-chan.
The final season of My Hero Academia garnered a respectable 3.4% rating, indicating strong continued interest as the popular shonen series nears its conclusion. Several titles, including Doraemon, Crayon Shin-chan, and One Piece, tied for the fifth position with a 2.8% rating, showcasing the broad appeal of these established franchises across different demographics.
Newer titles like Tougen Anki and the second season of Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray also made appearances in the top 10, with ratings of 2.5% and 2.0% respectively, demonstrating audience engagement with current seasonal offerings. Additionally, a broadcast of the classic anime film Ringing Bell on NHK Educational on December 6 secured a 0.6% rating.
Understanding the Kanto Region Ratings
These television ratings represent an estimated percentage of the population that watched a given program live. The data is collected by Video Research from a survey of households exclusively within Japan’s Kanto region. It is important to note that these ratings do not account for recordings that viewers may watch at a later time. This methodology provides a snapshot of immediate broadcast viewership rather than comprehensive engagement across all viewing platforms.
