3 Must-Watch Anime for Learning Japanese

Do you enjoy anime? While studying with textbooks is an effective and essential method for learning Japanese, when you start to feel tired, watching anime can offer a pleasant and enjoyable way to continue your studies.

Today, we’ll explore three anime that are perfect for learning Japanese. Improve your Japanese skills while enjoying these must-watch shows!

Anime is loved by Japanese learners all around the world.
One of its greatest charms is that you can pick up real, natural Japanese while simply enjoying the story. The characters often use expressions you’d hear in everyday life, allowing you to learn greetings, emotional reactions, and casual conversations through the natural flow of the plot.

In addition, the visuals make comprehension easier — the characters’ facial expressions and situations often allow the meaning to be inferred, which is more helpful than simply reading sentences in a textbook. Subtitles can also serve as a powerful tool for catching phrases that might be missed by ear.

Through anime, many aspects of Japanese culture can be explored — from school life and seasonal events to the ways families interact.

Now, let’s explore some recommended anime by proficiency level. Find the one that suits you best and continue improving your Japanese while enjoying the stories!

The anime most suitable for beginners is Doraemon. It’s one of Japan’s most iconic and beloved series, known all over the world and loved by people of all ages — from children to adults.

The story follows the everyday life of Doraemon, a cat-shaped robot from the future, and Nobita, an elementary school boy. The episodes mainly depict school life, family interactions, and neighborhood scenes. While you may not encounter many complex expressions, you will frequently find practical and useful conversational phrases that are ideal for beginners.

Example Scenes from the Anime

・Scene: Nobita asking Doraemon for help

のび太：ドラえもん～、テストで0点だったんだ。助けてよ！
Doraemon~ testde zerotendattanda tasuketeyo
Nobita: Doraemon, I got a zero on my test! Help me!

ドラえもん：また0点？ しょうがないなあ。じゃあ、この『暗記パン』を使ってみて。
Mata zeroten? shouganaina ja kono ankipanwo tsukattemite
Doraemon: Another zero? You never learn, huh? Well, try using this “Memory Bread.”

・Scene: Interaction with friends

ジャイアン：のび太、俺のボール返せ！
nobita oreno bo-ruwo kaese
Gian: Nobita! Give me back my ball!

のび太：ご、ごめん！ 今返すよ！
go、gomen ima kaesuyo
Nobita: S-sorry! I’ll give it back right now!

しずか：二人とも、けんかしないで。
futaritomo kenka shinaide
Shizuka: You two, don’t fight!

*Gian and Shizuka are Nobita’s friends.

・Scene: Conversation at home

のび太のママ：のび太！ 早く宿題をしなさい！
Nobita! hayaku shukudaiwo shinasai
Nobita’s mom: Nobita! Do your homework right now!

のび太：え～、あとでやるよ。
E~ atode yaruyo
Nobita: Ehh, I’ll do it later.

ドラえもん：のび太くん、いつも「あとで」って言うよね。
Noibta-kun itsumo atodette yuyone
Doraemon: Nobita, you always say “later,” don’t you?

・Scene: Inviting a friend to play

のび太：しずかちゃん、一緒に遊ばない？
Shizuka-chan isshoni asobanai?
Nobita: Shizuka, want to hang out with me?

しずか：ごめんなさい。今日はピアノの練習があるの。
gomennasai kyouwa pianono renshuga aruno
Shizuka: Sorry, I have piano practice today.

のび太：そっか、また今度ね。
sokka mata kondone
Nobita: I see. Maybe next time, then.

It’s perfect for learning expressions used in everyday life, since the conversations are short and frequently include expressions with easily readable emotions, which makes understanding them much easier.

The anime we recommend for intermediate learners is Detective Conan (also known as Case Closed).
This mystery series follows Shinichi Kudo, a brilliant high school detective who is transformed into a young boy and takes on the name Conan Edogawa as he continues to solve numerous cases.
It’s an extremely popular and long-running series, loved by fans both in Japan and around the world.

The best thing about this anime is that it showcases how a wide variety of characters speak — from detectives and police officers to criminals. It’s also great for improving your writing or preparing for speeches, as many of the characters use clear, logical expressions. Learners can acquire a balanced mix of practical conversational expressions and terminology related to crime, which enhances its overall appeal.

Another advantage is that most episodes wrap up a case within a single story, making it ideal for viewers who have limited time to watch at once.

Example Scenes from the Anime

・Scene: Conan Deduces the Culprit

コナン：犯人はこの中にいる！
hanninwa kononakani iru!
Conan: The culprit is among us!

・Scene: Everyday Conversation

蘭：コナンくん、今日はどこ行くの？
Conan-kun kyouwa dokoniikuno?
Ran: Conan, where are you going today?

コナン：博士の家に行ってくる！
Hakaseno ieni ittekuru!
Conan: I’m going to the Professor’s house!

蘭：そう、気をつけてね。
So kiwotuketene
Ran: I see. Be careful, okay?

*Ran is Shinichi’s childhood friend. She doesn’t know that Conan is actually Shinichi, and he currently lives with her family.

・Scene: At the Crime Scene

刑事：現場を調べろ！
genbawo shirabero!
Detective: Search the scene!

コナン：ここに足跡がある…。
kokoni ashiatoga aru
Conan: There are footprints here…

刑事：おい、写真を撮れ！
Oi shasinwo tore!
Detective: Hey, take a picture of that!

The conversations are relatively fast-paced, but repeated viewing of the episodes helps improve overall comprehension. Following Conan as he solves each case also promotes the development of logical thinking in Japanese.

The stories themselves are fascinating and really draw you in. By the way, I’ve personally never managed to guess who the culprit was before Conan did!

The last anime we recommend for advanced learners is Death Note.
This series follows Light Yagami, a highly intelligent high school student who comes across a supernatural notebook that can kill anyone whose name is written in it. He begins using it in an attempt to bring justice by punishing criminals.

It’s a globally popular series known for its intense psychological battles and suspenseful storyline.

This anime contains many abstract and complex Japanese expressions related to reasoning, psychological battles, and discussions about morals and ethics. It also features grammar patterns that express assumptions, speculation, and cause-and-effect relationships, making it excellent for practicing advanced grammar in a practical way. Despite the challenging content, most of the conversations are calm and composed in tone, which makes them relatively easy to follow.

Example Scenes from the Anime

・Scene: Psychological Battle Between Light and L

L：君がキラである確率は、今、7％だ。
kimiga kiladearu kakuritsuwa ima nanapercentda
L: The probability that you’re Kira is currently 7%.

月：それはおもしろいですね。根拠を聞かせてもらえますか。
sorewa omoshiroidesune konkyowo kikasetemoraemasuka
Light: That’s interesting. May I ask what your reasoning is?

*L is Light’s rival and is known as the world’s greatest detective.

・Scene: Light’s Monologue

月：新世界の神になるのは、この僕だ。
shinsekaino kamini narunowa konobokuda
Light: I will become the god of the new world.

・Scene: Planning a Strategy

月：もしこのまま警察が動けば、計画は崩れる。対策を考えなければ。
moshi konomama keisatsuga ugokeba keikakuwa kuzureru taisakuwo kangaenakereba
Light: If the police keep moving like this, the plan will fall apart. I need to come up with a countermeasure.

Understanding the intricate Japanese used in reasoning helps you develop logical reading skills. Furthermore, practicing discussions with your friends allows you to improve your conversational abilities as well.

Today, we explored three anime recommended for learning Japanese at different proficiency levels. Of course, there are many other anime titles available to explore. Find one that matches your style and learn Japanese effectively while enjoying the stories!

It’s also fun to discuss anime with your classmates and teachers. We hope your Japanese learning journey becomes even more enjoyable through anime. Why not join us at TCJ and level up your Japanese?

Sources:

Doraemon
© Fujiko F. Fujio / Shogakukan, TV Asahi, Shin-Ei, ADK

Detective Conan (Case Closed)
© Gosho Aoyama / Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, TMS 1996

Death Note
© Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata / Shueisha, VAP, Madhouse, NTV