Best Japan Comedy TV Shows

1999 • Rating 8.7 • action & adventure, comedy, animation

Years ago, the fearsome Pirate King, Gol D. Roger was executed leaving a huge pile of treasure and the famous "One Piece" behind. Whoever claims the "One Piece" will be named the new King of the Pirates. Monkey D. Luffy, a boy who consumed a "Devil Fruit," decides to follow in the footsteps of his idol, the pirate Shanks, and find the One Piece. It helps, of course, that his body has the properties of rubber and that he's surrounded by a bevy of skilled fighters and thieves to help him along the way. Luffy will do anything to get the One Piece and become King of the Pirates!

Genre: Action & Adventure, Comedy, Animation

Style:

Audience: Family, Teens

Plot: One Piece, Ocean, Sea, Boat, Treasure, Fight, Liberation, Ship, Friendship, Friends

Time: Year 1999, 1990S, 1999-10-20

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Mayumi Tanaka, Kazuya Nakai, Akemi Okamura, Kappei Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Hirata

1993 • Rating 8.7 • animation, comedy

Sakuragi Hanamichi is a junior high punk used to getting into fights and being rejected by girls but upon entering high school he meets the girl of his dreams, Haruko Akagi. He will do anything in order to win her heart including joining the school basketball team that is aiming to conquer the nation lead by Haruko's brother. The problem is that Sakuragi has never played basketball before and a freshman sensation is stealing the spotlight and Haruko's affection from him.

Genre: Animation, Comedy

Style: Mind Bending, Surreal

Audience: Family, Teens

Plot: Male Friendship, Sports, High School, Basketball, High School Sports, Slice Of Life, Based On Manga, Sport Competition, Nostalgic, Basketball Team

Time: Year 1993, 1990S, 1993-10-16

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Takeshi Kusao, Hikaru Midorikawa, Kiyoyuki Yanada, Yoku Shioya, Ryotaro Okiayu, Akiko Hiramatsu

2000 • Rating 8.6 • animation, comedy, drama

Makunouchi Ippo is an ordinary high school student in Japan. Since he spends most of his time away from school helping his mother run the family business, he doesn't get to enjoy his younger years like most teenagers. Always a target for bullying at school (the family fishing business grants him a distinct odor), Ippo's life is one of hardship. One of these after-school bullying sessions turns Ippo's life around for the better, as he is saved by a boxer named Takamura. He decides to follow in Takamura's footsteps and train to become a boxer, giving his life direction and purpose. Ippo's path to perfecting his pugilistic prowess is just beginning...

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Action & Adventure

Style:

Audience: Date Night, Family

Plot: Rags To Riches, Friendship, Sports, Based On Comic, Tournament, Based On Manga, Championship, Combat Sports, Comradeship, Shounen

Time: Year 2000, 2000S, 2000-10-03

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Kohei Kiyasu, Rikiya Koyama, Wataru Takagi, Keiji Fujiwara, Jurota Kosugi, Hidenobu Kiuchi

2012 • Rating 8.6 • animation, comedy, sci-fi & fantasy

Nanami was just a normal high school girl down on her luck until a stranger’s lips marked her as the new Land God and turned her world upside down. Now, she’s figuring out the duties of a deity with the help of Tomoe, a reformed fox demon who reluctantly becomes her familiar in a contract sealed with a kiss. The new responsibilities—and boys—are a lot to handle, like the crow demon masquerading as a gorgeous pop idol and the adorable snake spirit who’s chosen the newly minted god to be his bride. As the headstrong Tomoe tries to whip her into shape, Nanami finds that love just might have cute, pointed fox ears. With romance in the air, will the human deity be able to prove herself worthy of her new title?

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Style:

Audience: Family, Teens

Plot: Magic, Friendship, Supernatural, High School, God, Rivalry, Romance, Coming Of Age, School, Religion

Time: Year 2012, 2010S, 2012-10-02

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Yui Horie, Suzuko Mimori, Daisuke Namikawa, Daisuke Kishio, Satomi Sato, Vanilla Yamazaki

2026 • Rating 8.3 • animation, sci-fi & fantasy, drama

At an afterlife agency where angels guide lingering souls, Tetsuo and Misaki take on any challenge to help the dead find peace in their own offbeat style.

Genre: Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, Comedy

Style:

Audience: Date Night, Family, Teens

Plot: Afterlife, Based On Manga, Anime, At An Afterlife Agency Where Angels Guide Lingering Souls, Tetsuo And Misaki Take On Any Challenge To Help The Dead Find Peace In Their Own Offbeat Style

Time: Year 2026, 2020S, 2026-04-16

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Chikahiro Kobayashi, Megumi Han, Mamoru Miyano, Kazuhiko Inoue, Kensho Ono, Yuki Ono

2005 • Rating 8.1 • action & adventure, animation, comedy

Robotic cat Doraemon is sent back in time from the 22nd century to protect 10-year-old Noby, a lazy and uncoordinated boy who is destined to have a tragic future. Doraemon can create secret gadgets from a pocket on his stomach, but they usually cause more bad than good because of Noby's propensity to misuse them.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Kids, Family

Style: Futuristic, Mind Bending

Audience: Family

Plot: Gadget, Time Travel, Remake, Based On Manga, Anime, Animal Robot, Robotic Cat Doraemon Is Sent Back In Time From The, Nd Century To Protect, Year-Old Noby, A Lazy And Uncoordinated Boy Who Is Destined To Have A Tragic Future

Time: Year 2005, 2000S, Time Travel Era, 2005-04-22

Place: Japan, Japanese, Future City

Cast: Megumi Oohara, Wasabi Mizuta, Yumi Kakazu, Tomokazu Seki, Subaru Kimura, Chiaki

2012 • Rating 6.7 • animation, comedy, drama

Ichigo Hoshimiya is a regular, ordinary middle school girl. But when her best friend Aoi invites her to join the idol training academy, Starlight Academy, her whole world is turned upside down. As she encounters all kinds of rivals and learns what it takes to be an idol, she uses her Aikatsu Cards to challenge countless auditions.

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Kids, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Style:

Audience: Date Night, Family, Teens

Plot: High School, School, Shoujo, Card, Anime, Idol Group, Based On Card Game, Music, Idol, Ichigo Hoshimiya Is A Regular

Time: Year 2012, 2010S, 2012-10-08

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Sumire Morohoshi, Ayaka Ohashi, Azusa Tadokoro, Aya Suzaki, Minako Kotobuki, Tomoyo Kurosawa

2026 • Rating 6.5 • comedy, animation

Childhood friends Yukiya and Miku share everything…except their feelings. Ever since sixth grade, they've played a "love game": they take turns saying "I love you" and whoever gets flustered first loses. Now in high school, their hearts are closer than ever—but will they finally find the courage to confess?

Genre: Comedy, Animation

Style:

Audience: Family, Teens

Plot: Anime, Childhood Friends Yukiya And Miku Share Everything, Except Their Feelings, Ever Since Sixth Grade, They'Ve Played A, Love Game, They Take Turns Saying, I Love You, And Whoever Gets Flustered First Loses, Now In High School

Time: Year 2026, 2020S, 2026-04-14

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Kaito Ishikawa, Miku Ito, Wakana Maruoka, Yui Ogura, Kaede Hondo, Takehito Koyasu