Tokyo, Japan – The latest Japanese television animation rankings for the week of September 1-7, 2025, reveal the continued dominance of beloved, long-running franchises, with Sazae-san once again securing the top spot. Classic anime such as Detective Conan and Chibi Maruko-chan also maintained strong viewership, alongside a special broadcast of Doraemon boosting its presence.
Top-Performing Anime for the Week
According to Video Research, which surveys households in Japan’s Kanto region, traditional family-friendly animation continues to draw significant audiences. The rankings provide an estimate of the percentage of the population watching a given program, not including recordings viewed later.
Here’s a breakdown of the top animated programs:
- Sazae-san (Fuji TV, September 7, 6:30 p.m.): 5.8%
- Detective Conan (NTV, September 6, 6:00 p.m.): 4.7%
- Chibi Maruko-chan (Fuji TV, September 7, 6:00 p.m.): 3.7%
- Doraemon Tanjōbi Special (TV Asahi, September 6, 6:56 p.m.): 2.9%
- One Piece (Fuji TV, September 7, 11:15 p.m.): 2.8%
- Yaiba: Samurai Legend (NTV, September 6, 5:30 p.m.): 2.7%
- Doraemon (TV Asahi, September 6, 5:00 p.m.): 2.5%
- Crayon Shin-chan (TV Asahi, September 6, 4:30 p.m.): 2.4%
- You and Idol Precure♪ (TV Asahi, September 7, 8:30 a.m.): 2.4%
- Oshiri Tantei (NHK-E, September 6, 9:00 a.m.): 1.7%
Consistent Favorites Maintain Strong Holds
Sazae-san, a fixture in Japanese households for decades, once again led the pack with a 5.8% rating. Its enduring appeal highlights the cultural significance of these long-running series. Similarly, Detective Conan and Chibi Maruko-chan consistently appear in the top rankings, demonstrating their steady popularity among diverse age groups.
Doraemon’s Special Broadcast Boosts Viewership
The Doraemon Tanjōbi Special on TV Asahi garnered a notable 2.9% rating, indicating that special programming for established characters can significantly boost viewership. This special allowed the Doraemon franchise to secure two spots in the top 10 for the week.
Yaiba: Samurai Legend’s Performance
Yaiba: Samurai Legend registered a 2.7% rating, indicating a solid performance for the series. The anime is slated to finish airing by the end of September, with My Hero Academia taking over its slot in October for its final season.
Understanding the TV Rating Methodology
The television ratings presented are an estimation of the percentage of the population that watches a particular program. This data is meticulously gathered by Video Research from a survey of households located within Japan’s Kanto region. It is important to note that these ratings specifically account for live viewership and do not incorporate recordings that viewers might watch at a later time. This methodology focuses on immediate broadcast impact, providing a snapshot of real-time audience engagement.
