Best Kid Shows to Watch to Learn Japanese

Looking for the best kid shows to watch to learn Japanese? Whether you’re a parent raising a bilingual child, a beginner-level learner, or just love anime with simple vocabulary—this guide gives you the best options to start learning Japanese through fun and engaging kids’ shows.

These shows are:

• Easy to follow with basic vocabulary
• Often spoken slowly and clearly
• Great for listening practice
• Filled with everyday expressions
• Accessible via popular platforms like Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime

1. Shima Shima Tora no Shimajirō (しまじろう)

• 🎯 Level: Beginner
• 📺 Where to watch: YouTube, Netflix (JP)
• 💡 Why it’s great: Slow-paced speech, everyday situations, educational themes, polite language

Shimajirō is a beloved tiger character that teaches manners, daily routines, and kindness. Perfect for little learners—or adults who want to start from the basics.

2. Doraemon (ドラえもん)

• 🎯 Level: Beginner–Intermediate
• 📺 Where to watch: Disney+, Amazon Prime, YouTube
• 💡 Why it’s great: Repetitive patterns, useful expressions, modern vocabulary

Doraemon, the robotic cat from the future, uses gadgets to solve everyday problems. You’ll learn vocabulary about school life, family, and daily life.

3. Anpanman (アンパンマン)

• 🎯 Level: Beginner
• 📺 Where to watch: YouTube, Hulu Japan
• 💡 Why it’s great: Clear pronunciation, short episodes, tons of food and action words

A superhero with a red bean bun for a head? Yes, please. Anpanman uses simple phrases and battles food-themed villains—making language learning tasty and fun.

4. Chi’s Sweet Home (チーズスイートホーム)

• 🎯 Level: Beginner
• 📺 Where to watch: Crunchyroll, YouTube
• 💡 Why it’s great: Simple vocabulary, cat-life situations, heartwarming narration

Chi is a curious kitten navigating her new home. The dialogue is easy, repetitive, and adorable—perfect for passive listening and learning domestic vocabulary.

5. Sazae-san (サザエさん)

• 🎯 Level: Intermediate
• 📺 Where to watch: Fuji TV (Japan), YouTube clips
• 💡 Why it’s great: Japan’s longest-running anime with realistic family dialogue

Sazae-san reflects Japanese life and family values. A little faster-paced, but it’s filled with natural expressions and useful household vocabulary. It’s one of the most long running shows in Japanese television history and offers a real look into traditional Japanese family life.

6. Pokemon (ポケモン)

• 🎯 Level: Intermediate
• 📺 Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube
• 💡 Why it’s great: Iconic, energetic, tons of action-based language and repetition

Though not originally for preschoolers, Pokémon is loved by all ages. You’ll pick up commands, battle cries, and casual conversation in Japanese.

7. Nihongo de Asobo (にほんごであそぼ)

• 🎯 Level: All levels
• 📺 Where to watch: NHK World, YouTube
• 💡 Why it’s great: Designed to teach Japanese, includes songs, rhymes, and cultural phrases

This show is literally meant to teach Japanese to kids. It’s a mix of fun skits, kanji exposure, and Japanese idioms through music.

8. Peppa Pig (Japanese Dub)

• 🎯 Level: Beginner
• 📺 Where to watch: Netflix (Japan), YouTube
• 💡 Why it’s great: Familiar storylines + simple dialogue in Japanese dub

Since Peppa Pig is originally in English, watching the Japanese dub helps learners follow along with familiar stories and pick up new words contextually.

9. Crayon Shin-chan (クレヨンしんちゃん)

• 🎯 Level: Intermediate (with slang)
• 📺 Where to watch: Netflix, YouTube
• 💡 Why it’s great: Casual, comedic, fast-paced conversations

Warning: Shin-chan can be rude and cheeky, but it’s packed with modern, informal expressions used by kids and adults alike. Great if you want a taste of natural slang-filled dialogue that even Japanese children imitate for fun.

10. Totoro / Studio Ghibli Films (となりのトトロ 他)

• 🎯 Level: Beginner–Intermediate
• 📺 Where to watch: Netflix, HBO Max
• 💡 Why it’s great: Beautiful storytelling, clear enunciation, cultural immersion

Ghibli films like My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Ponyo use simple and poetic Japanese, ideal for learners of all ages. These fairy tales are legendary in Japanese culture and provide natural exposure to expressive, emotional language.

11. Chibi Maruko Chan (ちびまる子ちゃん)

• 🎯 Level: Beginner–Intermediate
• 📺 Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube
• 💡 Why it’s great: Slice-of-life, relatable vocabulary, family and school setting

ちびまる子ちゃん (Chibi Maruko Chan) is a classic long running anime that follows the daily life of a third-grade girl named Maruko. It’s full of conversations about school, chores, feelings, and family—making it a goldmine for beginners trying to absorb real, everyday Japanese. Plus, the nostalgic tone makes it a heartwarming pick.

📚 Tips to Learn Japanese with Kid Shows

Watching Japanese children’s shows is not just fun—it can be a powerful language-learning method when approached intentionally. Here’s how to maximize your learning and get the most out of every episode:

• ✅ Start with Japanese audio + English subtitles
  For beginners, this combo helps you follow the story while getting used to Japanese sounds. As you improve, switch to Japanese audio with Japanese subtitles to train your reading and listening skills together.

• ✅ Rewatch short episodes several times
  Shows like ちびまる子ちゃん (Chibi Maruko-chan) or しまじろう (Shimajirō) have short, repetitive storylines. Watching the same episode 2–3 times helps reinforce vocabulary, grammar patterns, and pronunciation.

• ✅ Write down new words and phrases
  Keep a dedicated notebook or digital note app to jot down useful expressions. Focus on common greetings, basic verbs, and everyday nouns—like “おはよう” (good morning), “たべる” (to eat), or “おかあさん” (mom). These words appear frequently in Japanese children’s language.

• ✅ Practice “shadowing” (echoing phrases)
  Shadowing means repeating what the characters say right after them. This builds pronunciation, intonation, and natural speaking rhythm. Choose a favorite character and mimic their voice—this is especially effective with slower-spoken series like Chi’s Sweet Home or Anpanman.

• ✅ Use language-learning tools and browser plugins
  Install tools like Language Reactor (Chrome extension) or LLN – Language Learning with Netflix to view dual subtitles and pause to analyze dialogue. These tools allow you to hover for definitions, build vocab lists, and even slow down playback for better comprehension.

• ✅ Pay attention to cultural cues
  Japanese kids’ shows often teach more than just language—they introduce cultural habits, polite speech levels, and social values. Shows like Sazae-san or Nihongo de Asobo reflect real Japanese family dynamics, manners, and traditional celebrations.

• ✅ Sing along with songs and opening themes
  Many shows have catchy opening or ending songs with repetitive lyrics. Singing along helps with intonation, memorization, and phonetic awareness. Look up lyrics online (often with furigana) and practice karaoke-style!

• ✅ Set realistic learning goals
  Decide whether you’re focusing on listening comprehension, vocabulary building, or pronunciation. Tailor your viewing style to your goal—e.g., slow listening and note-taking for vocab, or casual binge-watching for immersion.

• ✅ Create a habit, even if it’s just 10 minutes a day
  Consistency is more powerful than binge-learning. Even a single short episode a day can dramatically improve your ear for the language, especially if it’s long-running and full of simple, repeated phrases.

By turning screen time into study time—even lightly—you can absorb the Japanese language naturally, the same way Japanese children do when watching their favorite fairy tales and animated series.

✨ Why Kid Shows Work So Well

Kid shows are designed for repetition, clarity, and engagement. They’re not just easy—they’re effective. The rhythm of speech, visual clues, and cultural settings help you learn naturally—the way kids do. Most importantly, these shows reflect how Japanese children actually speak and interact, which is invaluable for learners of the Japanese language.

Final Thoughts

Language learning doesn’t have to be all textbooks and flashcards. With the best kid shows to watch to learn Japanese, you get the joy of storytelling and the benefit of passive immersion. From fairy tales to slice-of-life classics like ちびまる子ちゃん, there’s something here for every level.

Pick a show, start watching, and enjoy the journey—ひらがな (hiragana) and all.

Got a favorite kid show that helped you learn? Let us know in the comments or tag us on social media @avatalksapp!