4 Best Japanese Anime Show You Should Try

Five must-see spots for Ghibli fans

2023年7月18日

Ninja & Samurai experience in Japan

2023年8月22日

Published by kakeru on 2023年8月3日

Demon Slayer

It is set in Japan in the midst of the Industrial Revolution.　It is characterized by a good mix of old Edo culture and the more modern culture of recent years.　Buildings and architectural styles reminiscent of old Japan are beautifully depicted, with tatami rooms, kimono, and prestigious houses.

Source: Demon Slayer

As those who have seen anime know, the water effects are like a drawing of the “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” by Katsushika Hokusai, an ukiyoe artist from the late Edo period (1603-1868); the animation is not three-dimensional as if it were made with computer graphics, but is really beautiful despite its flatness.

Source: Hokusai

Source: Demon Slayer

Princess Mononoke

Princess Mononoke” is made by a film production of the world-class Japanese animation Ghibli. Hayao Miyazaki spent 16 years planning and 3 years producing this film.

The catchphrase of the film is “生きろ” which means “Live”. Princess Mononoke does not divide good and evil. There is justice for both San, who fights to human desperately for the forest, and Eboshi and her friends, who fight the forest for the sake of human life.

Source: Ghibli

In a world that cannot be divided only between good and evil, how should we live and what should we be? In “Princess Mononoke,” there are no solutions to be found.

There are no answers, and the path you believe in is the answer. After watching this film, you will be deeply moved by its message.

BLEACH

Battles are the main focus of this anime, the hot battle scenes are appealing. The main character Ichigo and other Shinigami fight mostly with a sword called a “zanpakuto,” but they also fight with a variety of fighting techniques and a magic-like art called “Kido”.

Source: Bleach

In “Bleach,” there are many cool techniques such as “Bankai,” “Shikai,” “Hado,” etc. Especially, Ichigo’s Zanpakuto which is “Tensa Zangetsu” and his special move “Getsugatensho. If you see the scene, you will absolutely love this anime and Ichigo!

Gintama

The last one I would like to introduce is Gintama.

Many of the characters in “Gintama” are real historical figures. First, the main character “Gintoki Sakata” is believed to be “Kintoki Sakata,” the motif of the children’s story “Kintaro.

The “Shinsengumi,” the police force that protects the city of Edo, is based exactly on the “Shinsengumi” of the Bakumatsu period (the last days of the Tokugawa shogunate). The character names are also similar to famous figures such as Isamu Kondo, Toshizo Hijikata, Soji Okita, and Jojo Yamazaki.

Source: Gintama

What is fascinating about Gintama is not only the history of Edo in Japan, but also the way the family is organized.　It is also suitable for learning Japanese sense of humor. Gintama is basically a comedy anime, so it is suitable for knowing humor.