Highlights
- Action and Battle topped genre preferences with 59% of the vote, followed by Adventure and Fantasy at 54.7%, in a survey of 300 Japanese viewers conducted Jan. 30 to Feb. 2 by Ouchi Cinema via PR Times.
- Unlimited video streaming is now the preferred format for 67.7% of respondents, while recorded TV broadcasts drew just 12.3% and DVDs 0.3%.
- Frieren: Beyond Journey's End and Jujutsu Kaisen were the top two recommended titles of the winter season, with 15% and 13.3% of votes respectively.
Action and adventure still dominate what Japanese anime viewers choose to watch, but the infrastructure underneath those habits has shifted dramatically toward on-demand streaming, according to a new survey from video-on-demand outlet Ouchi Cinema.
The survey, conducted Jan. 30 through Feb. 2 via PR Times, polled 300 Japanese respondents (104 men, 196 women) on their genre preferences, viewing habits, and discovery methods. The results show an audience loyal to traditional genre pillars while abandoning the broadcast and physical-media formats that once delivered them.
Action and Battle was the clear leader, with 59% of respondents naming it their preferred genre. Franchises like Dragon Ball and Jujutsu Kaisen continue to anchor the category. Adventure and Fantasy followed at 54.7%, carried by long-running properties such as One Piece and the breakout hit Frieren: Beyond Journey's End.
Genre preferences among Japanese anime viewers
- Action & Battle - 59.0%
- Adventure & Fantasy - 54.7%
- Slice of Life & Heartwarming - 37.7%
- Gag & Comedy - 28.7%
- Dark Fantasy - 27.3%
- Sports - 27.3%
- Mystery & Deduction - 26.7%
- Romance & Romantic Comedy - 25.3%
- Isekai - 23.3%
- School & Youth - 21.0%
Crunchyroll
The softer end of the spectrum held steady. Slice of Life and Heartwarming took third at 37.7%, followed by Gag and Comedy at 28.7%. Dark Fantasy and Sports tied for fifth at 27.3% each. Mystery and Deduction (26.7%), Romance and Romantic Comedy (25.3%), and School and Youth (21%) filled out the remaining top-10 spots.
One result that may surprise international observers: isekai, the portal-fantasy subgenre that has become a fixture of global streaming catalogs, placed ninth at 23.3% among domestic Japanese viewers. Sci-Fi and Mecha came in at 19%, Suspense and Thriller at 14.3%, and Horror at 11.3%.
Winter Season Standouts: The Most Recommended Anime
When asked which specific titles they would recommend, respondents placed Frieren: Beyond Journey's End at the top with 15% of votes, followed by Jujutsu Kaisen at 13.3% and Oshi no Ko at 8.3%.
Most recommended anime, winter 2026 season
- Frieren: Beyond Journey's End - 15.0%
- Jujutsu Kaisen - 13.3%
- Oshi no Ko - 8.3%
- Hell's Paradise - 6.0%
- Medalist - 5.0%
- Golden Kamuy - 4.7%
- You and I Are Polar Opposites - 3.3%
- MF Ghost - 3.0%
- Tamon's B-Side - 2.7%
- The Apothecary Diaries - 2.3%
Amazon Prime
The remaining recommendations ranged from Hell's Paradise (6%) and Medalist (5%) to Golden Kamuy (4.7%). The Apothecary Diaries, whose third season is not scheduled until October 2026, still drew 2.3% of recommendations, per CBR, suggesting its audience remains engaged between seasons.
Streaming dominates; physical media nearly gone
The distribution shift was the survey's starkest finding. Unlimited video streaming is now the preferred format for 67.7% of respondents. Recorded TV broadcasts, once the default delivery method for anime in Japan, drew just 12.3%. Physical media like DVDs were preferred by 0.3% of participants.
Viewing volume varied widely. The largest group, 35.3%, watches between one and three hours of anime per month. At the other end, 7.7% reported consuming more than 40 hours monthly.
What starts a new series
Source-material loyalty is the single strongest driver of new viewership: 67% of respondents said they will start a series because it adapts a manga, light novel, or game they already follow. An interesting synopsis drew 55.3%, while 55% said they tune in for sequels. Half the respondents said genre alone is reason enough to try something new.
