Ultimate Guide to Learning Japanese through Anime
By Kah Mun Fu | January 9th, 2026
Learning Japanese by watching anime can be a fun, unconventional way to learn the language, but you might be wondering, how can you effectively study Japanese through anime without getting distracted? How should you learn Japanese while trying to listen to the dialogue? Is it even effective to learn the language through anime?
Whether you are a beginner who’s just getting into learning Japanese, or a near-native speaker wanting to immerse themselves in Japanese media, this guide has got you covered. In this guide, we will show you why you should learn Japanese through anime, recommendations according to language level, and the best tips to learn the language while watching anime. Let’s get started!
This article is a part of our extensive series on Learning about Japan through Online Japanese Lessons at Japan Switch.
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Why should you learn Japanese through Anime?
It can help you improve your listening skills
Just listening to the conversations happening while watching anime can help improve your listening comprehension. Many, if not most, characters in anime speak in a slow and clear manner, which makes it easy for learners to listen to the dialogue and comprehend what is going on. It’s also a great way to hear how certain words or grammar are used and in which contexts.
You can pick up useful vocabulary that you can use in Japanese conversation
While you listen to your favorite characters speak, they might say something that could be useful to you in daily conversation, such as a specific vocabulary you want to remember for future conversations, or grammar that may be useful when you try to articulate your thoughts and opinions.
Talking about anime in Japanese can be a great conversation topic for making Japanese friends
Once you have improved your speaking skills, you can try to make Japanese friends by speaking to them in their native language. When you’re starting to learn how to speak in Japanese, it can be difficult to continue a conversation with others. However, anime and manga are both very popular mediums in Japan, and this is a great conversation topic to help with conversation. You can talk about your favorite anime series to your Japanese friends as a conversation starter! Plus, watching anime can also help you to learn how Japanese speakers talk to each other as well.
You can learn about Japanese culture through anime
The most important thing about learning a language is learning about the culture the language originated from. You often can’t cleanly translate Japanese culture into your native language, and often you will encounter that some cultural points simply do not exist in other cultures, so you need to learn about Japanese culture; how people greet each other, customs, and manners. Watching anime, especially some genres of anime like slice of life, can help to learn about Japanese culture and mannerisms that you can pick up and apply to your Japanese learning.
Read our guide to Japanese Culture to learn more about manners, customs, and more!
Where can I find anime according to Japanese level?
It can be difficult to find anime based on Japanese difficulty online, however websites such as LearnNatively and JPDB have been compiling a list of anime based on Japanese difficulty. With JPDB, the website sorts and categorizes anime based on unique words and kanji, as well as average and peak difficulty, so it makes it easy to find anime based on how difficult the vocabulary is going to be.
Similarly, LearnNatively categorizes anime according to difficulty, however this is done by the community. You have the option to compare two anime series next to each other to see which one is easier to understand, or whether you want to challenge yourself by watching the more difficult option. Do note that not all anime is available for analysis for both options, however.
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Best anime to learn Japanese according to level
Best anime to learn Japanese for beginners
At this level of Japanese, it is recommended that you watch children’s anime, as their clear, easy to understand language will be beneficial for Japanese learners aiming to get a foundation of the language. There are some anime out there that aren't children’s anime that can be useful for beginner Japanese learners, however.
Doraemon
Nobita Nobi, a ten-year old schoolboy, is struggling with academics and sports. Doraemon, a robot cat sent from the future, comes to take care of Nobita by providing him with gadgets and inventions to overcome a variety of problems. The series follows Doraemon and Nobita on their various adventures along with Nobita’s friends, Shizuka, Takeshi, and Suneo.
As one of the most iconic children’s anime of all time, Doraemon is perfect for beginners who want to get a grasp of Japanese. Its simple, easy to follow language makes it easy to understand, (plus, there will be opportunities to expand your vocabulary while watching the anime. Plus, the opening theme has the lyrics written on the screen, making it easy for learners to learn new vocabulary.
Chibi Maruko-chan
The premise of this anime is simple; elementary school student Momoko Sakura, otherwise known as “ Chibi Maruko-chan,” lives with her family in a small town and goes to school with her many friends. This anime is about enjoying the mundane and living a simple life.
The frequent use of plain form; futsuu-kei (普通形), makes it easy for beginners to understand daily conversations between Japanese speakers. Characters speak to each other in a way that feels natural, and the usage of general vocabulary also makes it easy for beginner learners to understand.
Sazae-san
As the longest running series in the world, Sazae-san follows the titular character, a typical Japanese housewife, and her daily life living with her family. This series captures the simplicity of Japanese family life in the suburbs.
The characters mainly speak in plain form, making it easy to understand for beginners wanting to get a grasp of how Japanese people speak to each other daily. Topics mainly covered in Sazae-san pertain to daily life in Japan, such as going out to do groceries or anything about home life, which can be helpful for beginners to learn about typical Japanese culture. Characters also speak in a slow and clear manner as well.
Shirokuma Cafe
This series follows a polar bear named Shirokuma, as he runs the Shirokuma Cafe, a popular hotspot for humans and animals alike just located near the local zoo. He finds joy in serving his customers, always eager to start a conversation with them. Shirokuma is accompanied by his friends, Penguin and Panda as they go on a series of wacky adventures.
While it might seem like a slice-of-life anime that’s hard to understand, some characters speak slowly and clearly, making it easy to follow for beginner Japanese learners. The way characters speak reflects how Japanese people speak daily as well, but there are puns that simply cannot be translated into English, and there are jokes that beginners might have a hard time understanding.
Koupen-chan
The premise of this adorable anime is simple; Koupen-chan, a baby emperor penguin, wants to make sure that everyone, including the audience, feels good about themselves. Koupen-chan tends to praise the audience for performing even the most basic of tasks. such as getting up in the morning.
This series is perfect for beginner Japanese learners as the language used is extremely simple and easy to understand. Koupen-chan also speaks in a slow and clear manner, so it should be no problem picking up new bits of vocabulary while watching this series.
Read our Guide to Beginner Japanese to get a grasp of everything you need to know about the language!
Best anime to learn Japanese for intermediate learners
At this level of Japanese, you should be able to understand daily conversations as well as express your thoughts and opinions. It is recommended that you watch slice-of-life anime, as the language used reflects everyday conversations that you will hear on a daily basis.
Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku
Narumi Momose, a fujoshi (girl who loves Boy’s Love) who wants to keep her nerdy obsession a secret, encounters an old friend from middle school, Hirotaka Nifuji on her first day of work at a new company. Wanting to act normal, she invites him out for drinks, only to find out that he is just as nerdy as she is. What follows is a cute romance that follows the two otaku.
This anime is perfect for intermediate learners due to the corporate setting of the anime; you can watch characters speak formally and informally with each other. It’s perfect for those who want to learn keigo (敬語) (honorifics mainly used in the workplace), as well as those wanting to know how Japanese people speak to each other daily. In addition, there will be references to Japanese otaku culture which can be useful if you want to learn ‘real Japanese’, as these references will never show up in textbooks.
Chiikawa
Short for Nanka chiisakute kawaii yatsu (なんか小さくてかわいいやつ), Chiikawa is an adorable anime centered around the titular character, Chiikawa, and its friends. Chiikawa and its friends go around eating and playing together, occasionally working odd jobs such as weeding and monster hunting to earn money.
While it may look like a children’s show, the target demographic of this show is seinen (青年); young adult men, so some of the vocabulary used is more difficult for beginner learners of Japanese. However, a few of the characters, such as Hachiware; a blue and white cat-looking critter, speak in a way that is easy to understand for beginner to intermediate Japanese learners. Also, this is a great opportunity to learn meirei-kei (命令形) as there is a flying squirrel character named Momonga that talks almost exclusively in this form.
K-On!
The story follows the lives of the Sakuragaoka High School Light Music Club members; drummer Ritsu Tainaka, bassist Mio Akiyama, keyboardist Tsumugi Kotobuki, and inexperienced guitarist Yui Hirasawa. They live out their lives, spend time with each other, and practice every day with the sole purpose of saving their club from disbandment.
Most of the language used is filled with general and school-related vocabulary, which make it easy to follow for intermediate learners. Moreover, characters also speak in a slow, clear, but natural manner, reflecting how native speakers talk to each other.
Nichijou
Set in the town of Tokisadame, Gunma Prefecture, Nichijou follows the lives of three high school girls, as well as a genius professor, her robot caretaker, and their talking cat. They all experience both the ordinary and the absurd, whether it’s talking about their test scores, or watching the school principal suplex a deer.
Although this might look like your atypical slice-of-life anime, this is one of the more absurd options on this list due to its humor and use of puns, which can be difficult for non-native speakers to understand. However, the language used is mostly in plain form, and the high school setting of the show can help learners learn more about daily life in Japan.
Teasing Master Takagi-san
Nishikata, a middle school boy, is friends with his classmate, Takagi. The thing is, Takagi loves to tease Nishikata daily, so he tries to get back at her by teasing her back. Things don’t work out as planned, however, as Takagi is able to masterfully predict how Nishikata will enact his teasing, often turning the tables against him.
This anime has been recommended by many Japanese learners as the language used is mainly everyday vocabulary, mixed with school-related vocabulary. The dialogue is easy to follow, as characters speak to each other in a slow, clear manner, and the repetition of certain phrases can help with memorization.
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Our affordable online Japanese lessons are built for busy learners with small groups, real conversations, and flexible schedules that work for you.
Best anime to learn Japanese for advanced learners
At this level of Japanese, you should be able to understand most anime available to you. However, learning Japanese does not have to end with gaining near-native fluency in the language; there are a few anime series out there jam-packed with puns, slang, and pop culture references that may be difficult to understand at a lower level, in addition to complex vocabulary and grammar. If you are looking to challenge yourself, then these series might be a good place to brush up on your language skills.
Gintama
This anime is set in an alternate-history late-Edo period, where aliens called the Amanto have taken over and banned all swords in public. Gintoki Sakata, a freelancer who runs an odd-jobs business, is assisted by Shinpachi Shimura, Kagura and Sadaharu, who try to help others in any way they can, even if it doesn’t go according to plan.
Gintama mainly parodies almost everything Japanese culture related, from memes to popular anime and movies. Characters also talk at a fast pace, which makes listening a challenge for advanced learners. For near-native speakers who want to learn about Japanese pop culture references, Gintama might be the series for you!
The Apothecary Diaries
When Maomao, the daughter of an apothecary, is kidnapped and sold into service of the emperor and his court, she finds herself working as a lowly maid. However, all that changed when the emperor’s children fell ill, and she uses her skills to find the cause. She is then tasked to solve the various mysteries that occur within the imperial court.
The use of historicl vocabulary that isn’t heard as much in contemporary Japan makes this anime challenging for beginners and intermediate Japanese speakers. Not to mention, Maomao occasionally speaks fast when talking about the medicinal properties of ingredients. Regardless, if you are interested in history (keep in mind, this takes place in a land inspired by Tang Dynasty China), as well as medical vocabulary, then this might be the series for you.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
Known for its over-the-top dialogue, character design, and engaging plot, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure follows several generations of the Joestar family, who are locked in a never-ending battle against the main antagonist, DIO, and his allies. Throughout the series, the story focuses on the concept of Stands, the manifestation of one’s soul with incredible powers.
As mentioned before, the over-the-top dialogue, as well as some expressions used in the anime, can be challenging for lower-level Japanese learners, as most characters do not speak that way in real life. For near-native Japanese speakers however, if you want to learn about certain expressions and metaphors that simply cannot be translated into English, then this anime is for you. Plus, you get to hear the inner monologues of the characters as they fight their enemies while posing dramatically.
The Way of the Househusband
Ex-Yakuza member Tatsu, who was once known as the “Immortal Dragon,” now lives his life as a househusband. He cooks, cleans, and takes care of the house, all whilst supporting his wife’s career. He is often misunderstood by authorities due to his mannerisms, but he also encounters Yakuza members who try to recruit him back.
This may look like a comedic slice-of-life anime, but the use of Yakuza jargon will make it difficult for beginner and intermediate learners to understand. In addition, Tatsu, the main character, will also be speaking in the Kansai dialect, which is totally different to how standard Japanese is spoken. That is not to say that his way of speaking will be incomprehensible, however. Advanced learners can challenge themselves by learning the Kansai-dialect, as well as various Yakuza-themed vocabulary as well!
Delicious in Dungeon
After a dungeon crawl goes terribly wrong, Laios Touden, an adventurer, resolves to go back into the dungeon to save his little sister, Falin, from being digested by a red dragon. Accompanied by his allies, Marcille and Chilchuck, they realized that they won’t be able to make it far into the dungeons, until the dwarven warrior Senshi offers them a solution; eat the monsters that they slay.
This anime contains a lot of fantasy-related jargon that is simply not used on a daily basis, making this anime a challenge for advanced speakers. On the bright side, for those who also want to learn about cooking-related vocabulary, then this anime is perfect as Senshi clearly speaks out the instructions on how to cook said monsters into delicious meals.
Supplementary tools to help with Japanese learning
Yomitan
Yomitan is a browser extension that allows you to see the definition of Japanese vocabulary. All you have to do is hover over the text while the extension is active, and the extension will automatically detect the vocabulary. Pair this extension with programs such as Subadub, which will make the subtitles highlightable.
Availability: Available for free for Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.
Anki
Anki is a program that you can use to create and utilize flashcards to aid in your Japanese study. The program uses spaced repetition, which means that once you learned and memorized certain vocabulary and grammar, the flashcard won’t appear as often. You can customize these flashcards to have images and audio on them, as well as how much you want to review these flashcards, and how many flashcards you want to review daily.
Availability: Available for free on the PC, however there is a mobile version available. Do note that you will have to pay 4000 yen to use the mobile version.
Jisho.org
Jisho.org is a website that is essentially a Japanese dictionary. You can search for specific vocabulary just by typing in English, Japanese characters or Romaji. In addition, the website will tell you about a word’s JLPT level, as well as whether it is a common word or not.
Availability: You can access the website on a phone, tablet or computer browser.
Language Reactor
Language Reactor is a browser extension that helps you learn languages from watching your favorite movies and series. You can use this extension with Netflix, as the extension will include dual subtitles to enhance your language learning, a popup dictionary, and video controls for you to go back on when you want to learn a specific word. The extension also works for YouTube, book apps, and almost all websites.
Availability: Currently, it’s only available on Chrome.
Check out our Guide to Japanese Learning Apps to find out what apps are out there to help you improve your Japanese!
Best techniques to learn Japanese from anime
Watch with Japanese subtitles
It may be difficult to pick up new words and grammar just by watching the anime of your choice, and that’s where watching with Japanese subtitles can come in handy. While you watch and listen for new vocabulary and grammar, you can use the subtitles to figure out what is being said. Pair this technique with browser extensions such as Subadub, which makes the subtitles highlightable (you can even pair this with Yomitan as well).
Flashcards
It’s important to create and review flashcards for new words and grammar points that you come across. Regularly reviewing flashcards helps with memory retention, and helps with figuring out what vocabulary and grammar you need to improve upon. While watching your favorite anime series, create a flashcard for every piece of vocabulary or grammar you come across, and review your flashcards daily. Also, try to incorporate an example sentence in your flashcards, so that you can remember the definition of a word or how to use this specific grammar point in your day to day conversation.
Shadowing
This is a technique that involves imitating a native speaker of the language you are learning; in this case, Japanese. This technique can help with improving your pronunciation, intonation, and the speed at which you talk. To effectively utilize this technique, pick a scene and character from your favorite anime, and mimic the way your character speaks as you watch the scene play out. Even if you think you might sound terrible, it might be helpful to record yourself mimicking said character just so you can hear how you sound.
Want more tips to improve your learning?
Check out our Guide to Japanese Study Tips for more ways to improve your Japanese studies!
Is learning Japanese through Anime effective?
The advantages of learning Japanese by watching anime is that it can be engaging compared to more conventional methods such as books and group classes. In addition, anime characters tend to be more natural sounding compared to textbook Japanese, as they reflect how ordinary Japanese people speak. Moreover, watching anime can be good for language immersion; which is to say, if you expose yourself to the language,
However, it doesn’t come without disadvantages. Watching anime can be distracting especially if you want to pick out new vocabulary and grammar. Furthermore, some phrases that might be said in anime are not necessarily used in everyday conversation; for example, if you are watching a history anime, there might be jargon that might not be used in day to day life, unless you were studying about Japanese history and would like to learn about specialized vocabulary.
In the end, whether you want to learn Japanese just by watching anime, or you want to supplement your learning with conventional tools such as classes and textbooks, it’s all about the commitment to learning Japanese. Put in the effort to learn Japanese, and you’ll yield results in the future.
Related articles:
Ultimate Guide to Otaku Culture
Top 15 Japanese Conversation Tips
Ultimate Guide to Japanese Pop Culture
Ultimate Guide to JLPT Practice and the Exam
Top 24 Things to do in Akihabara
