While the climate right now may not be the best for travel, anime fans still dream of one day visiting the Land of the Rising Sun. With that in mind, every foreign otaku wonders what they'll exactly need for the big trip. Which dictionaries are best for translating? Is it a good time for a jacket or sunscreen? Is now a good time to start practicing with chopsticks?
However, if there's one necessity to out rule them all, it's which anime someone should watch before even touching the soil that mastered the 2D character. While people can have their own tastes in regards to what shows they watch, Japan has developed an entire culture around some of the country's most defining shows, some of which may surprise foreign fans for their popularity and style. This list will be going over a few of the animated essentials to watch before going to Japan.
10 Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed anime around. And while foreign fans can certainly appreciate the masterpiece for its artistic ambition and influence on the anime industry as a whole, the series touched a certain sweet spot in Japan.
Neon Genesis Evangelion was made in direct response to the tumultuous social and familial unrest that resulted from Japan's arduous work culture. Evangelion was a brutal calling card for it and connected deeply with its immediate community. Not only is this anime essential for understanding a little more about Japanese home life, but it may also very well the epicenter of a lot of paraphernalia.
9 Naruto
It should go without saying for a lot of anime fans outside of Japan that Naruto is a pretty popular series. It is one of the defining franchises of Shonen Jump's Big Three and is a huge reason why a lot of fans even want to go to Japan. The series' cultural inspirations between Japanese mythology and modern life are perfectly blended into a surprisingly nostalgic yet action-packed shounen series.
It shouldn't be too hard to find plenty of Naruto paraphernalia across Japan, and one can even go hunting for the ramen shop that inspired Ichiraku Ramen.
8 One Piece
With that being said, if there was an anime to not only rival Evangelion's break into the Japanese zeitgeist but still floods Japanese shops and streets to this day, it's One Piece. While One Piece may have had a lukewarm response in the rest of the world (thanks, 4Kids), it took off like a wildfire in Japan.
With Japanese sales alone, One Piece's manga sales rival that of Western comic book giants Batman and Superman. There are several stores dedicated to the pirate adventure found around Japan, and even a mini-amusement park found within the Tokyo Tower. If there's one anime that children and adults alike have seen in Japan, it's One Piece.
7 Gundam Series
For those looking for a more niche yet ever prevalent cultural phenomenon in Japan, think look no further than the hobbyist's dream that is the entire Gundam series. Gundam is one of the longest-lasting and most prevalent mecha anime in Japanese history, and its influence on the culture can still be found today in its dedicated fans and various dedicated stores selling what are essentially giant robot Legos.
One could watch the entire Gundam franchise, but given the series' massive length, it might be easier to just watch one of the latest series. In Japan, it shouldn't be that hard to find a fan of any one of them. Don't be confused, however, not every giant robot anime is Gundam.
6 Princess Mononoke
If one were to think of the Japanese equivalent of Disney, one company that would quickly come to mind would be Studio Ghibli. This eclectic animation studio is responsible for several family favorites that have not only cast wonder to millions of people but have defined and inspired several elements of the anime industry.
While any of the company's beloved movies are a must-watch, the best one to see for a trip to Japan may be Princess Mononoke. Though Spirited Away was a bigger, global success, Princess Mononoke was bigger in Japan and continues to be more heavily referenced within its media today.
5 Dragon Ball
If one is looking to unify the people of Japan, they should immediately start practicing the Kamehameha and wait for people to start joining in.
Dragon Ball is such a prevalent series in Japan that it is commonplace for a lot of its citizens, at one time or another, to have practiced the Kamehameha in front of their T.V. or in the privacy of their own room. This is one of the most beloved anime in Japanese history and is often regarded for influencing a lot of the shounen franchises beloved today.
4 Doraemon
A lot of countries have famous cartoon characters that have been widely propagated and beloved since childhood. In the West, this has meant cartoon favorites like Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, and Spongebob Squarepants. Japan has a lot of beloved cartoon mascots, many of which have come from their own special brand of comic strips and video games.
However, the most beloved one of them all has to be Doraemon. This funny little, blue cat has been bringing kids on fun time-traveling adventures since the '70s and is still fondly referenced in a lot of media. For those wanting a taste of what Japanese childhoods are like, give this robotic Garfield a shot.
3 Love Live! School Idol Project
If there's a cultural craze that may surprise a lot of foreign fans to Japanese culture, it would be the country's strong, almost obsessive affinity for idol culture. Japanese idols are pop stars whose looks, attitudes, and music are perfectly curated for looking as cute and energetic as possible and are propagated throughout Japan as some of the most unique celebrities one may ever see.
For those looking for what the general attitude and tone for idols are like, Love Live! School Idol Project may be a pretty good series to pick up and catch some good tunes.
2 Mr. Osomatsu
For any anime fan, it should come as no surprise that Japan has very distinct tastes when it comes to comedy. It tends to steer towards more silly and slapstick brands of humor that revel in their absurdity much more than their realism, though a good portion of them do exaggerate a social observation here and here.
For those looking for an idea as to what Japanese comedy is like, as well as a series that may have very well defined a good portion of the country's humor today, then try giving Mr. Osomatsu a shot. This eccentric adventures of the sextuplets have been adapted several times since the '60s, including a recent anime that modern fans can check out.
1 Tiger & Bunny
While My Hero Academia may have received recent acclaim for the Japanese take on the Western superhero, it was far from the first. One of the most popular adaptions of which in Japanese history has to be Tiger & Bunny. This action-packed comedy features a world where heroes are commercialized and their actions are broadcast across television.
Two heroes look to improve their status by working together to earn more hero points so that they can one day become the "King of Heroes"...or at least get some credibility. Not only is this anime pretty fun to watch, but it was even voted as Japan's most popular anime after the country's national public broadcast station, NHK, hosted a fan poll back in 2017.