Learn Japanese by watching Netflix
Updated June 28, 2026
Japanese is a deep but hugely popular language to learn through media, and anime is the classic gateway. Graded subtitle immersion helps you connect spoken Japanese to meaning, building the listening foundation that textbooks alone cannot.
Why learn Japanese?
- Anime, film, and games drive enormous, motivated demand to learn Japanese.
- Netflix carries a large and growing anime and live-action Japanese catalogue.
- A gateway to one of the world's largest economies and richest pop cultures.
Best Japanese shows on Netflix
Ranked picks with difficulty and what makes each good for learners. See the full directory.
A few Japanese words to start
- ありがとう
- thank you (arigatou)
- おはよう
- good morning (ohayou)
- がんばって
- do your best, hang in there (ganbatte)
- おいしい
- delicious (oishii)
Japanese vocabulary guides
Frequently asked questions
- Is anime good for learning Japanese?
- Anime is great for motivation and listening, but the language can be stylised or casual. Mix in slice-of-life and live-action shows for natural speech, and use graded subtitles plus spaced review to actually retain vocabulary.
New to immersion learning? Start with how comprehensible input works.