Top Ten

Digital manga distributer releases its top ten ranking of shonen and seinen series for April

Need a little more action, adventure, and spying in your life? Try checking out free sample chapters from one of these current hit series in Japan.

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Retro reveals: Men choose the top ten anime series of the 1970s

These iconic series, spanning sci-fi to sports, were instrumental in paving the way for anime of subsequent decades.

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Meow’s that? 2022’s ranking of the top cat names in Japan

For the third year in a row, this particular name takes the top spot for all felines, male or female.

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The Top 10 anime theme songs that Japanese people jammed to at karaoke in 2021

Both the opening and ending theme of this particular anime made it into the Top Three.

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Japanese fans pick their top 10 fave dastardly anime protagonists in online poll

Japan’s netizens club together to crown fictional stars who are flies in your soup, pebbles in your shoes, peas beneath your bed, or just plain evil!

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Top ten sweets and snacks you’d eat at a Japanese grandmother’s house

Obaachan knows best, especially when it comes to popular Japanese snacks that have stood the test of time. 

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Top 10 ranking of Weekly Shonen Jump’s most beautiful male characters revealed

Don’t be afraid to take in the eye candy with these characters who originally graced the pages of Japan’s best-selling weekly shonen manga magazine.

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Japanese people list their top ten fish, and tuna isn’t number one

Land of the Rising Salmon, as survey respondents choose their favourite fish.

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Expat Insider’s Quality of Life survey 2017 reveals Japan has slipped down the rankings, but why?

Japan moves down the list from 3rd place to 6th.

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Top ten “Legendary deceased manga artists whose new work I wanted to read” 【Ranking】

Japanese manga fans look back fondly at some of the legendary giants in the field.

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Stray animals, trash cans and national dress: 10 things you probably never realised about Japan

Last summer, I was riding the subway with some friends from home who were visiting me here in Nagoya, Japan. Suddenly, my friend pointed at a sticker on the window behind us. “What’s that?” he asked, staring wide-eyed at the image of a smiling cartoon golden dragon wearing a train conductor’s uniform. “That’s the mascot of the Nagoya Transportation Bureau,” I replied, happy to be imparting local knowledge. “Oh,” he said. “And why does the Transportation Bureau need a mascot?” 

You see, it’s the little things that can be most surprising about a culture that’s not your own. Today, we bring you a list of 10 quirky things that you probably didn’t know – or may not have realised – about everyday life in Japan.

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