During the week of November 24-30, traditional favorites continued to dominate Japanese animation television rankings, with “Sazae-san” securing the top spot. “Detective Conan” and “Chibi Maruko-chan” also maintained strong viewership, according to the latest figures from Video Research, which measures household ratings in Japan’s Kanto region.
Top-Rated Animated Programs
The long-running family anime “Sazae-san” on Fuji TV once again led the pack, airing on November 30 (Sunday) at 6:30 p.m. with an impressive 6.9% average household rating. Following closely was “Detective Conan” on NTV, which garnered a 6.8% rating for its November 29 (Saturday) 6:00 p.m. broadcast. “Chibi Maruko-chan,” another Fuji TV staple, secured a 5.7% rating on November 30 (Sunday) at 6:00 p.m.
Notable Series and Their Performance
The final season of “My Hero Academia” on NTV, airing November 29 (Saturday) at 5:30 p.m., earned a 4.3% rating. While still a significant figure, it places it behind the veteran programs. “Doraemon” on TV Asahi, broadcast on November 29 (Saturday) at 5:00 p.m., achieved a 3.4% rating. “One Piece” on Fuji TV, shown later on November 30 (Sunday) at 11:15 p.m., recorded a 2.8% rating. Other popular animated series in the top rankings included “Crayon Shin-chan” (TV Asahi, 2.6%), “You and Idol Precure♪” (TV Asahi, 2.3%), “Animated O-saru no George (Curious George)” (NHK-E, 2.0%), and “Oshiri Tantei” (NHK-E, 1.6%).
Feature Films and Live-Action Specials
The week also saw strong ratings for several films and live-action specials. Mamoru Hosoda’s critically acclaimed anime film “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” aired on NTV on Friday, November 28, at 9:00 p.m. and achieved a solid 5.4% rating. This indicates continued interest in popular anime films when broadcast on national television.
In the live-action category, a marathon rerun of the third season of “A Solitary Gourmet” on TV Tokyo on Monday, November 24, at 5:50 p.m. earned a 5.1% rating. Additionally, the live-action film “Thermae Romae II” was broadcast on Fuji TV on Saturday, November 29, at 9:00 p.m., achieving a 5.7% rating.
Understanding the Ratings
These television ratings are estimates of the percentage of the population watching a given program. They are based on data collected from a survey of households within Japan’s Kanto region by Video Research. It’s important to note that these figures represent live household viewership and do not account for recordings watched at a later time. This methodology often favors programs aired in prime-time slots and those with broad, consistent family appeal, which helps explain the enduring popularity of shows like “Sazae-san” and “Detective Conan.”
