Tokyo, Japan – The latest television ratings for Japanese animation from September 15 to September 21, 2025, reveal familiar long-running series continuing their strong performance, with Sazae-san once again leading the pack. The data, based on household viewership in Japan’s Kanto region, highlights consistent engagement with beloved classics alongside some notable performances from newer entries and special broadcasts.
Top Animated Programs
During the week of September 15-21, 2025, several animated programs captured the attention of Japanese viewers. These rankings, provided by Video Research, offer insight into the broadcast landscape and viewer preferences, specifically excluding recordings watched later.
Dominance of Long-Running Series
Traditional anime powerhouses maintained their prominent positions in the weekly rankings. Sazae-san, a staple on Fuji TV, secured the highest rating, airing on Sunday, September 21, at 6:30 p.m. and achieving a 6.2% average household rating. Close behind was Detective Conan on NTV, which aired on Saturday, September 20, at 6:00 p.m., drawing a 5.1% rating. Chibi Maruko-chan, also on Fuji TV, rounded out the top three animated series with a 4.9% rating for its Sunday, September 21, 6:00 p.m. broadcast. These enduring shows consistently demonstrate their cultural significance and widespread appeal across generations.
Other Notable Performances
Doraemon on TV Asahi garnered a 2.7% rating for its Saturday, September 20, 5:00 p.m. slot. The family-friendly You and Idol Precure♪ on TV Asahi, airing Sunday, September 21, at 8:30 a.m., achieved a 2.6% rating, matching One Piece, which aired later on Fuji TV at 11:15 p.m. on Sunday, September 21.
The finale of a rerun of selected GeGeGe no Kitarō episodes, broadcast on Fuji TV on Sunday, September 21, at 9:00 a.m., earned a 2.3% rating. This placed it alongside Gachiakuta on TBS, which also scored a 2.3% for its Sunday, September 21, 11:30 p.m. airing. Yaiba: Samurai Legend on NTV, shown on Saturday, September 20, at 5:30 p.m., also recorded a 2.3% rating. Crayon Shin-chan on TV Asahi received a 2.2% rating for its Saturday, September 20, 4:30 p.m. broadcast, while Animated O-saru no George (Curious George) on NHK-E, airing Saturday, September 20, at 8:35 a.m., achieved a 1.6% rating.
Special Broadcasts and Live-Action Series Impact
While not strictly animation, NHK’s live-action Renzoku Terebi Shōsetsu (Serialized TV Novel), Anpan, saw significant viewership during the week. An episode aired on Thursday, September 18, at 8:00 a.m., earning a substantial 17.7% rating, with another showing on Saturday, September 20, at 12:45 p.m. achieving an 11.6% rating. This series, inspired by the life of Anpanman manga creator Takashi Yanase, demonstrates the strong performance of NHK’s morning drama slots. Additionally, the anime film The Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko aired on NHK-E on Sunday, September 21, at 3:15 p.m., earning a 0.9% rating.
Understanding the Ratings
These television ratings represent an estimated percentage of the population watching a given program, based on data collected from a survey of households exclusively in Japan’s Kanto region. It’s important to note that these figures do not account for programs recorded and watched at a later time. The Kanto region is a key demographic indicator for national television viewership trends in Japan.
