Tokyo, Japan – The Japanese animation television rankings for January 6-12 have been released, revealing a mix of beloved classics and new premieres. Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s Howl’s Moving Castle film soared to the top spot, while the debut of The Apothecary Diaries second season also made a strong showing.
Classic Film Leads the Pack
Howl’s Moving Castle, which aired on NTV on Friday, January 10 at 9:00 PM, captivated audiences, achieving an impressive 11.0% rating. The enduring popularity of Miyazaki’s work continues to resonate with viewers of all ages, demonstrating its timeless appeal. This strong rating underscores the film’s status as a classic within Japanese animation and its power to draw in significant viewership.
TV Series Maintain Strong Presence
While Howl’s Moving Castle took the lead, several ongoing anime series maintained a solid presence in the rankings. Sazae-san, a long-running family-oriented anime, secured the second position with a 7.5% rating, airing on Fuji TV on Sunday, January 12 at 6:30 PM. This shows the continued appeal of established series in the Japanese TV landscape.
Detective Conan and Chibi Maruko-chan Follow Closely
Detective Conan, a popular mystery anime, landed in third place with a 6.5% rating, broadcasting on NTV on Saturday, January 11 at 6:00 PM. Chibi Maruko-chan, another family favorite, followed closely, earning a 5.2% rating on Fuji TV on Sunday, January 12 at 6:00 PM. These series’ consistent performance highlights their significant fanbase.
New Season Premiere Impresses
The premiere of The Apothecary Diaries second season on NTV on Friday, January 10 at 11:40 PM, made a notable impact, securing a 4.8% rating. This shows a strong start for the new season of the popular series. This series, set in a semi-historical romantic comedy in medieval China, revolves around an expert apothecary named Maomao and her adventures within the palace.
Other Notable Series
Several other series also held their ground in the rankings:
- Doraemon on TV Asahi, airing Saturday, January 11 at 5:00 PM, achieved a 3.8% rating.
- Crayon Shin-chan, also on TV Asahi, airing Saturday, January 11 at 4:30 PM, received a 3.6% rating.
- Blue Miburo, on NTV, airing Saturday, January 11 at 5:30 PM, secured a 3.2% rating.
- Wonderful Precure! on TV Asahi, airing Sunday, January 12 at 8:30 AM, earned a 2.7% rating.
- Phoenix on NHK, airing Wednesday, January 8 at 11:00 PM, gained a 2.6% rating.
Children’s Anime and Educational Programs
The list also included children’s and educational programming:
- Animated O-saru no George (Curious George) on NHK-E, airing Saturday, January 11 at 8:35 AM, earned a 1.6% rating.
- Oshiri Tantei, also on NHK-E, airing Saturday, January 11 at 9:00 AM, also received a 1.6% rating.
Ranking Methodology
These television ratings are an estimate of the percentage of households in Japan’s Kanto region that watched a particular program. The data is provided by Video Research and does not include recordings watched later. This means that the figures reflect real-time viewership during broadcast.
What’s Next in Anime?
The anime landscape is ever-evolving, with new series emerging and established favorites maintaining their popularity. While the January 6-12 rankings provide a snapshot of what viewers were watching, the following weeks brought changes with the second episode of The Apothecary Diaries second season receiving a 4.0% rating.
Winter 2025 Standouts
While TV ratings offer one perspective, other platforms and rankings offer different insights into the popularity of anime. According to recent reports, Medalist, a sports anime, is currently the top series of the Winter 2025 season. Zenshu, produced by MAPPA, is in second place, followed by Momentarily Lily and Sakamoto Days. These rankings suggest that new anime series are also quickly gaining popularity and traction.
Streaming Popularity
Streaming services also offer another measure of anime popularity. U-Next, a major streaming platform in Japan, has named The Apothecary Diaries as the most-streamed anime of 2024 in their “Unlimited viewing” category, followed by Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc, and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. This indicates that while some series perform well on traditional television, others thrive on streaming platforms.
Viewer Preferences
Viewer preferences vary, with some preferring deep storytelling and character development while others lean towards visuals and action scenes. This difference in preference can influence which series gain popularity on different platforms.
Manga to Anime
There’s a significant interest in seeing manga adapted into anime. AnimeJapan 2025 is currently running a “Manga We Want To See Animated” ranking, which highlights the titles that fans are most eager to see adapted into animation. The top 10 entries will be exhibited at the event, showcasing the powerful connection between manga and anime in Japan.
Voting and Fan Engagement
This initiative allows fans to directly participate in shaping the future of anime. The voting process, which is open until February 12, 2025, shows the active role that fans have in determining which manga will be animated. This reflects a broader trend of fan engagement in the anime community.
Conclusion
The Japanese animation TV rankings for January 6-12 demonstrate a mix of classic films and ongoing series that continue to dominate viewership. Howl’s Moving Castle‘s remarkable performance highlights the enduring popularity of classic anime, while new premieres such as The Apothecary Diaries second season shows that new series can also make a strong impact. As the anime landscape evolves, it is clear that a variety of factors, including traditional TV broadcasts, streaming services, and fan preferences, shape the popularity of these beloved shows.
