Japan Ranks the Top 20 Must-See Modern Anime to Watch Before You Die

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Starting in May 2019—the beginning of the Reiwa era in Japan—anime fans have enjoyed a constant stream of critically acclaimed series, such as Vinland Saga, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Solo Leveling, and Dandadan, among others. A popular Japanese website recently asked viewers to pick the one show from this impressive lineup that they considered essential viewing before they die.

CM Site Co. Ltd. recently surveyed around 1,772 anime fans, aged from teens to their 40s, to determine the best anime released since May 2019. The survey, titled “Ranking of Reiwa Era’s Best Anime to Watch Before You Die (2026 Edition),” covered both TV series and films. The resulting list includes a diverse range of genres like action, mystery, sports, and fantasy. You can find the complete rankings and vote counts below.

The Best 20 Reiwa-Era Anime to Watch Before You Die, Ranked According to Japanese Voters

  1. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — 158 votes
  2. The Apothecary Diaries — 87 votes
  3. Oshi no Ko — 73 votes
  4. Kaguya-sama: Love Is War — 67 votes
  5. The Dangers in My Heart — 66 votes
  6. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation — 65 votes
  7. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury — 64 votes
  8. The First Slam Dunk (2022 film) — 63 votes
  9. Lycoris Recoil — 62 votes
  10. Jujutsu Kaisen — 61 votes
  11. Summer Time Rendering — 60 votes
  12. The Quintessential Quintuplets — 59 votes
  13. To Your Eternity — 58 votes
  14. Ranking of Kings — 57 votes
  15. Skip and Loafer — 56 votes
  16. Spy x Family — 55 votes
  17. Bocchi the Rock! — 54 votes
  18. (Tied) Delicious in Dungeon and From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated — 51 votes
  19. Dandadan — 50 votes

The most popular choices show that Japanese viewers strongly prefer action, drama, and romance. Demon Slayer remains incredibly successful, topping the charts and continuing the franchise’s impressive performance after its latest film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle, broke box office records both in Japan and around the world. By November 2025, the film had earned approximately 106.4 billion yen (about US$685 million) globally, making it the first Japanese film—animated or live-action—to reach this milestone.

The anime, created by Studio Ufotable, follows the story of Tanjiro and Nezuko Kamado, siblings who become orphans when their parents are killed by demons. Nezuko is also turned into a demon herself, and Tanjiro sets out to find a way to restore her humanity, joining the Demon Slayer Corps – a secret organization dedicated to eliminating demons. Viewers were deeply moved by Tanjiro’s determination and the compelling, often heartbreaking, histories of the characters he meets. One viewer noted, “It’s not a simple story of good versus evil, but it’s full of meaningful stories and memorable lines.”

I’ve been looking at the rankings, and the shows that came in second and third – The Apothecary Diaries and Oshi no Ko – really stand out. What’s interesting about The Apothecary Diaries is its setting. The story unfolds in a world heavily inspired by Imperial China, and your family background and social standing basically define everything about your life there.

The series follows a commoner who uses her intelligence and knowledge of medicine to investigate mysteries within the Imperial harem. Its distinctive story, setting, and characters have attracted viewers even outside the typical anime audience. One viewer even admitted, “I don’t usually watch anime, but this series caught my attention.”

The anime Oshi no Ko begins with a unique premise. Dr. Gorou, a country doctor, delivers the baby of popular idol Ai Hoshino, and tragically dies shortly after. He is then reborn as Ai’s son, Aqua, retaining all his memories. Aqua grows up witnessing the harsh realities of the Japanese entertainment world as Ai navigates its challenges. When Ai is murdered, Aqua vows revenge by entering the industry himself, determined to become an actor and uncover the truth behind her death.

I’m completely hooked on Oshi no Ko! It really dives into some of the darker sides of the Japanese entertainment industry, but it does so within a seriously gripping story. Honestly, the plot twists are incredible – one viewer put it perfectly, saying it’s impossible to look away! It first came out in 2023, and we’re now enjoying the third season, which started airing on January 14th, 2026.

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2026-01-23 19:39