Over the past few years, U.S. television fans have "overcome the one-inch barrier of subtitles" and discovered the wide world of international TV, thanks in no small part to Netflix. According to the streaming giant, more and more U.S. subscribers are watching foreign series each year, with Korean, Spanish, and Japanese shows being the most popular. 2024 was a huge year for Japanophiles, between Shōgun's awards dominance and everyone you know planning a trip to Tokyo.
Excellent shows and movies have been coming out of Japan for decades, from thrilling anime series and action films to engrossing reality shows and everything Studio Ghibli. Netflix already has a solid catalog of Japanese series, and even more highly-anticipated shows are set to drop this year, including the long-awaited return to the show every Squid Game fan needs to watch. Below, read on for our selection of the best Japanese shows to watch on Netflix.
