Japanese TV series about folklore

List of the best Japanese TV series about folklore according to viewers: Gosick, Golden Kamuy, Prison School, Nisekoi, Sailor Moon Crystal, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Love Stage!!, Fuuka, Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions, Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories.

In the top there are new series of 2023, a plot description and trailers for series that have already been released.

Country
Markimdb: 7.3
Genrecomedy, cartoon, detective, anime
CountryJapan
Duration10:00

Set in a fictional European country in 1924, a Japanese exchange student meets a mysterious, brilliant girl who only leaves the library to sleep. Her brother, a detective, relies on her exceptional mind to solve difficult mysteries.

Markimdb: 8
Genreaction, adventure, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan

Saichi Sugimoto is a tough soldier who participates in the Russo-Japanese War and who earned the nickname "Sugimoto the Immortal." Honors in combat are of little use to him when he is expelled from the army for a certain incident, but he has a goal to fulfill, a promise to keep, and for that he will need money. His first idea to get it will be to join the recent Hokkaido gold rush and try his luck, but destiny prepared him a more interesting challenge and at the same time, more profitable. When a strange man tells the story of how a thief stole a large amount of gold from a group of Ainu to later hide his booty, his eyes light up. Is it a false story? The man tells him that the only way to find the stolen gold is to locate a number of men who were in prison with the thief and who carry the tracks tattooed on their own bodies. But Hokkaido is a tough region and its relentless nature, so when you're still deciding if such a story is more than a Chinese tale, you'll have to fight to protect your life from a huge bear ... and who will come to your rescue is a Ainu girl who seems to know something about the story told by the old man.

Markimdb: 7.6
Genrecomedy, melodrama, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration00:30

There was a time when the Hachimitsu Private Academy was a revered and elite all-girls' boarding school on the outskirts of Tokyo but a recent policy revision is allowing boys into the student body. On his first day, Kiyoshi Fujino discovers that he's one of only five boys enrolled at the school. Completely overwhelmed by the thousands of girls on campus, the few boys find that their situation is less than ideal.

Markimdb: 7.3
Genrecomedy, melodrama, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration00:25

Nisekoi follows high school students Raku Ichijo, the son of a leader in the yakuza faction Shuei-Gumi, and Chitoge Kirisaki, the daughter of a boss in a rival gang known as Beehive. They unexpectedly meet when Chitoge hops a wall and knees Raku in the face. After she runs off, Raku realizes he has lost his locket which was given to him by his childhood sweetheart with whom he made a secret promise. After discovering Chitoge is a new transfer student in his class, he forces her to help him look for the locket. During the search, they begin to dislike each other.[8]Upon returning home, Raku learns that the Shuei-Gumi and Beehive gangs have agreed to settle their feud by pairing their leaders' children. Raku learns that his girlfriend-to-be is none other than Chitoge. For the next three years, they must pretend to be in a relationship to maintain peace between the gangs. This turns out to be quite a challenging task, not only because of their hatred for one another, but also because Raku has a crush on another schoolmate, Kosaki Onodera, whom he secretly wishes was the girl who bears the key to his locket. Various developments complicate the situation, including Chitoge's over-protective bodyguard, a female hitman, a girl who claims to be Raku's fiancée, and the existence of multiple keys.

Markimdb: 7.8
Genreaction, fantasy, comedy, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan

Usagi Tsukino is chosen to be a guardian of justice and is sent on a quest to locate a Silver Crystal before the Dark Kingdom invades the Earth.

Markimdb: 8.7
Genreaction, fantasy, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration01:37

It is the Taisho Period in Japan. Tanjiro, a kindhearted boy who sells charcoal for a living, finds his family slaughtered by a demon. To make matters worse, his younger sister Nezuko, the sole survivor, has been transformed into a demon herself. Though devastated by this grim reality, Tanjiro resolves to become a “demon slayer” so that he can turn his sister back into a human, and kill the demon that massacred his family.

Markimdb: 7.4
Genrecomedy, melodrama, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration00:25

Izumi was born in a family of celebrities. His father is a singer, his mother an artist, his older brother the lead vocalist for the popular band Crashers. Izumi himself, however, is just a nerdy college student. He loves the manga "Magical Girl Lala Lulu" and dreams of becoming a manga writer himself. One day he is roped into filming a commercial where he wears a dress. Another actor on the set, Ryoma Ichijo, mistakes him for a woman and falls in love at first sight. As it turns out, though, they met ten years in the past. And Ryoma feelings don't change when he finds out Izumi is a boy.

Markimdb: 6.2
Genrecomedy, melodrama, cartoon, music, anime
CountryJapan

Yuu Haruna, a loner and an avid Twitter user, has just transferred to a new school in Tokyo. He ends up befriending a unique high school girl named Fuuka Akitsuki, despite some initial conflict, and the two wind up forming a band together with their classmates. Their relationship becomes strained however when Koyuki Hinashi, Yuu's childhood friend who has become a popular idol, contacts Yuu on Twitter and attempts to rekindle long lost feelings.

Markimdb: 7.5
Genrecomedy, melodrama, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan

As one of the thousands of Japanese students afflicted with "chunibyo," a state where they're so desperate to stand out that they've convinced themselves that they have secret knowledge and hidden powers, Yuta spent most of his middle school years living in a complete fantasy world. He's finally managing to overcome his delusions but his chunibyo have attracted the attentions of another sufferer, and she's decided that this makes him her soul mate.

Markimdb: 8.4
Genredrama
CountryJapan

In a restaurant opening from midnight to 7AM, there is no menu but the chef cooks anything the customer wants. Each episode is about a different customer.

Markimdb: 5.6
Genrecomedy, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration00:25

The story follows a Roman architect named Lucius, who is having trouble coming up with ideas. One day, he discovers a hidden tunnel underneath a spa that leads him to a modern Japanese bath house. Inspired by the innovations found there, he creates his own spa, Roma Thermae, bringing in the modern ideas to his time.

Markimdb: 7.7
Genrefantasy, comedy, melodrama, drama, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration04:24

Although there are still traces of the brief period he became a vampire, third-year high school student Koyomi Araragi is human again. He happens upon others with their own supernatural problems and finds that he can empathize. Koyomi becomes involved in their lives, seeking to help them and occasionally asking for advice from Meme Oshino, the homeless man who helped him become human again.

Genrehorror, fantasy, comedy, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan

She can see dead people…she just chooses to ignore them. That’s Miko’s plan, anyway, with horrifying (and sometimes hilarious) results.

Markimdb: 8.4
Genrehorror, fantastic, cartoon, detective, anime
CountryJapan
Duration00:30

The one adored as the mother is not the real parent. The people living here together are not actual siblings. The Gracefield House is where orphaned children live. An irreplaceable home where 38 siblings and Mom live happy lives, even with no blood relations. However, their everyday life suddenly came to an abrupt end one day...

Markimdb: 8.8
Genrehorror, thriller, fantasy, drama, cartoon, detective, anime
CountryJapan
Duration00:24

At the request of Tanyuu Karibusa, Ginko sets off to investigate a phenomenon that might be related to a dangerous mushi, much to the chagrin of Kumado Minai, the current head of a long line of mushishi, who’s in charge of the area. As Ginko and Kumado get to the bottom of the Path of Thorns, the secret of the Minai line of mushishi is revealed.

Markimdb: 7.8
Genreadventure, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan

She’s a thief. A killer. A saint and a scandal. She’s whatever you need her to be to get the job done. She takes your breath away to get what she wants. She takes everything else just because she can. It’s all in a night’s work for the woman called Fujiko Mine. She’s the slinky, sultry thread that holds Lupin III’s crew together—and this is the heist that started it all.

Markimdb: 6.6
Genrecomedy, melodrama, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan

She is Yoshiko Hanabatake, and she's an idiot through and through. She loves bananas, and she loves her childhood friend Akkun. That is all!

Markimdb: 8.8
Genrefantastic, thriller, drama, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration10:25

A group of friends have customized their microwave so that it can send text messages to the past. As they perform different experiments, an organization named SERN who has been doing their own research on time travel tracks them down and now the characters have to find a way to avoid being captured by them.

Markimdb: 8.1
Genrecomedy, melodrama, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan

A secret life is the one thing they have in common. At school, Hori is a prim and perfect social butterfly, but the truth is she's a brash homebody. Meanwhile, under a gloomy facade, Miyamura hides a gentle heart, along with piercings and tattoos. In a chance meeting, they both reveal a side they've never shown. Could this blossom into something new?

Markimdb: 7.3
Genrecomedy, melodrama, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan

"A girl in a lower grade just made me cry!" One day, Senpai visits the library after school and becomes the target of a super sadistic junior! The name of the girl who teases, torments, and tantalizes Senpai is "Nagatoro!" She's annoying yet adorable. It's painful, but you still want to be by her side. This is a story about an extremely sadistic and temperamental girl and you'll feel something awaken inside of you.

Markimdb: 7.2
Genrecomedy, melodrama, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration01:20

In the story, Mitsuyoshi Tada, a boy who has never known love, is taking pictures of the cherry blossoms in full bloom when he meets Teresa Wagner, a transfer student from Luxembourg. Upon arriving in Japan, she got lost, separated from her travel companion. Mitsuyoshi helps her and brings her to his grandfather's coffee shop.

Markimdb: 8.2
Genrefantasy, drama, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration04:13

When Yadomi Jinta was a child, he was a central piece in a group of close friends. In time, however, these childhood friends drifted apart, and when they became high school students, they had long ceased to think of each other as friends.One of the friends from that group, Honma Meiko, now has a wish she asks Jinta to fulfil. The problem is, she can't remember what her wish is anymore. As Meiko won't cease to bother Jinta about it, he gives in and decides to try to grant this wish he knows nothing of; for that, however, the help of his other former friends, now all very estranged from himself and from each other, may turn out to be necessary. He hasn't spoken to Anjou Naruko, Matsuyuki Atsumu, Tsurumi Chiriko, or Hisakawa Tetsudou in a long time; as he struggles to grant Meiko's wish and gathers his old friends together in the process, all the old feelings that still exist between them and have long been stashed away are bound to come up again.

Markimdb: 7.8
Genrefantasy, comedy, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration01:27

When she was a little girl, Atsuko "Akko" Kagari saw a magic show performed by a witch named Shiny Chariot. From that day on she wanted to be just like her. Enrolling at Luna Nova Magical Academy and having no magical background, can she become a witch like her idol Shiny Chariot?

Markimdb: 6.6
Genreaction, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan

We don't have an overview translated in English. Help us expand our database by adding one.

Mark
Genrecomedy, adventure, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration05:00

Set in a futuristic world, there exist "Toys" which grant people superhuman abilities. This is responsible for a wave of crimes and necessitates employing Toy-using detectives to help solve them. Opera Kobayashi runs a detective agency, Milky Holmes, staffed by four aspiring young girl detectives who attend the Holmes Detective Academy, and each girl possesses their own unique Toy.

Markimdb: 6.1
Genrecomedy, melodrama, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration05:00

We don't have an overview translated in English. Help us expand our database by adding one.

Markimdb: 7.5
Genrefantasy, drama, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration02:04

All thanks to the special ability that he developed, Yuu was able to cheat his way into a very prestigious high school. With his power, he thought nothing was going to stand in his way, until he met a mysterious girl named Nao Tomori and other students with special abilities just like him. It was the beginning to a new life.

Markimdb: 7.8
Genrethriller, fantasy, drama, detective
CountryJapan
Duration01:32

After finding his mom killed, Satoru's time-traveling ability takes him back 18 years for a chance to prevent her death and those of three classmates.

Markimdb: 6.1
Genremelodrama, drama, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan

In a futuristic society, Japan has implemented a complex system referred to as "The Red Threads of Science" to encourage successful marriages and combat increasingly low birthrates. Based on a compatibility calculation, young people at the age of 16 are assigned marriage partners by the government, with severe repercussions awaiting those who disobey the arrangement. For Yukari Nejima, a teen that considers himself average in every way, this system might be his best shot at living a fulfilling life.However, spurred by his infatuation for his classmate and long-time crush, Misaki Takasaki, Yukari defies the system and confesses his love. After some initial reluctance, Misaki reciprocates his feelings in a moment of passion. Unfortunately, before the two can further their relationship, Yukari receives his marriage notice. He is then thrown into a confusing web of love and lies when his less-than-thrilled assigned partner, Ririna Sanada, becomes fascinated with his illicit romance.

Markimdb: 6.8
Genremelodrama
CountryJapan
Duration09:05

After graduating from high school, Sota Koyurugi (Jun Matsumoto) studies bakery at an institute. In high school, he fell in love with beautiful Saeko. Because of Sota's effort, he is able to have a romantic relationship with Saeko right before Christmas. Saeko though tells Sota that she will be unable to meet him on Valentine's Day, but can meet him on the day before Valentine's Day. On that day, Sota gives Saeko chocolate that he made, but she doesn't accept his gift. Saeko tells him that she didn't think they were dating. Sota is heartbroken, but he doesn't give up hope.To make Saeko love him, he travels to France with little money and studies chocolate there. This is because Saeko loves chocolate. 5 years later, Sota becomes a first-class Chocolatier. Now back in Japan, Sota opens his very own store.

Markimdb: 6.9
Genrefantastic, action, cartoon, short, anime
CountryJapan
Duration01:35

In the early 2050s, unknown life forms called “Oracle cells” begin their uncontrolled consumption of all life on Earth. Their ravenous appetite and remarkable adaptability earn them first dread, then awe, and finally the name “aragami”. In the face of an enemy completely immune to conventional weapons, urban civilization collapses, and each day humanity is driven further and further toward extinction. One single ray of hope remains for humanity. Following the development of “God Arcs”—living weapons which incorporate Oracle cells—their wielders are organized into an elite force.

Markimdb: 7.1
Genrefantasy, drama, adventure, detective
CountryJapan

Comic creator Rohan Kishibe, along with his partner-cum-editor, Kyōka Izumi, challenge various incidents beyond human knowledge.

Markimdb: 6.7
Genrefantastic, action, fantasy, cartoon, short, anime
CountryJapan

Ren Amamiya is about to enter his second year after transferring to Shujin Academy in Tokyo. Following a particular incident, his Persona awakens, and together with his friends, they form the “Phantom Thieves of Hearts” to reform hearts of corrupt adults by stealing the source of their distorted desires. Meanwhile, bizarre and inexplicable crimes have been popping up one after another… Living an ordinary high school life in Tokyo during the day, the group maneuvers the metropolitan city as Phantom Thieves after hours. Let the curtain rise for this grand, picaresque story!

Markimdb: 8.1
Genremelodrama, drama, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration10:25

Chihayafuru is  about a school girl, Chihaya Ayase, who is inspired by a new classmate to take up Hyakunin Isshu karuta competitively.

Markimdb: 7.1
Genrefantastic, adventure, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration00:23

The story revolves around Shu Ouma, a high school boy who inadvertently obtains an ability called "The Power of the Kings" that enables him to draw out items called "Voids" from other people. He is then thrown into the conflict between a resistance group called Funeral Parlor which aims to restore Japan's independence from a quasi-governmental organization known as the GHQ. In the process, Shu has to deal with the burden his ability puts on his shoulders and the horrific mystery of his past.

Markimdb: 6.4
Genrehorror, fantastic, action, thriller, fantasy, cartoon, anime
CountryUSA, Japan
Duration04:48

Legendary half-vampire, half-human vampire hunter Blade is tracking Deacon Frost, a very powerful and influential vampire who killed his mother and who heads Existence, a secretive vampire organization that operates in Southeast Asia.

Markimdb: 6.6
Genrefantasy, comedy, melodrama, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration01:46

Touya Mochizuki was accidentally killed, and as an apology, God allows him to be reborn in a fantasy world and will grant him any one wish he desires. And so, Touya chooses to keep his smartphone in the next world. In his second chance at life, he befriends many important figures and comes across the world's secret. He inherits the legacy of an ancient civilization and travels around nonchalantly while possessing powers that rival this world's kings.

Markimdb: 6.9
Genrecomedy, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration01:44

High school girl Maika Sakuranomiya has trouble finding a part-time job because of how scary she looks when smiling. However, she is scouted one day by an Italian man who is also the manager of Stile, a café where its waitresses are given unique traits such as tsundere and younger sister. Maika is given a sadist trait because of her looks and has to adopt a dominant and cruel persona when servicing customers, particularly masochist ones.

Markimdb: 7.3
Genrethriller, drama
CountryJapan

Blamed by some, hailed as heroes by others, those involved with Fukushima Daiichi face a deadly, invisible threat an unprecedented nuclear disaster.

Markimdb: 7.9
Genredrama, cartoon, music, anime
CountryJapan

Since the graduation of the senior members of the club, Takezou ends up being the sole member of the "Koto" (traditional Japanese string instrument) club. Now that the new school year has begun, Takezou will have to seek out new members into the club, or the club will become terminated. Out of nowhere, a new member barges into the near-abandoned club room, demanding to join the club. How will Takezou be able to keep his club alive and deal with this rascal of a new member?

Markimdb: 6.4
Genrehorror, thriller, cartoon, detective, anime
CountryJapan
Duration01:23

There is an urban legend that tells of a shinigami that can release people from the pain they are suffering. This "Angel of Death" has a name—Boogiepop. And the legends are true. Boogiepop is real. When a rash of disappearances involving female students breaks out at Shinyo Academy, the police and faculty assume they just have a bunch of runaways on their hands. Yet some students know better. Something mysterious and foul is afoot. Is it Boogiepop or something even more sinister...?

Markimdb: 7.5
Genrecomedy, melodrama
CountryJapan
Duration00:23

Ouran Academy is a prestigious school with most students coming from wealthy families. One of the few students who comes from a modest background is Haruhi Fujioka (Haruna Kawaguchi). Through unexpected circumstances, Haruhi Fujioka ends up joining the male "host club," while hiding her gender. Friendship and love grows between Haruhi Fujioka and the male "host club" members.

Markimdb: 6.5
Genrethriller, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration10:00

We don't have an overview translated in English. Help us expand our database by adding one.

Markimdb: 5.7
Genredrama
CountryJapan
Duration07:12

Tsuki no Koibito ~Moon Lovers~ is a Japanese television drama starting on Fuji TV on 10 May 2010. The drama is known also under the Japanese short name Getsukoi.

Markimdb: 7.5
Genreaction, cartoon, military, anime
CountryJapan
Duration10:00

Jonah is a child soldier and the newest bodyguard for Koko, an international arms dealer with an entourage of hired guns. The cold-blooded kid hates Koko’s line of work, but following her into the darkest corners of the black market might be the only way he can find those responsible for his family’s slaughter. Besides, his employer isn’t like most merchants of death. She uses guile and cutthroat tactics to keep her clients armed to the teeth—all while cultivating her own warped plan for the future of world peace. With the CIA desperate for her capture, assassins eager to collect her head, and the potential for every contract to end in ultra-violence, Koko and her comrades in arms bring the boom to every corner of the world.

Markimdb: 8.3
Genredrama, cartoon, sport, anime
CountryJapan

In the story, Kagami Taiga has just enrolled into Seirin High School when he meets Kuroko Tetsuya of the school's basketball team. Kuroko happens to be the shadowy sixth member of the legendary Generation of Miracles basketball team. Together, Kagami and Kuroko aim to take their team to the inter-high school championship - against Kuroko's former teammates.

Markimdb: 8.8
Genrecomedy, cartoon, sport, anime
CountryJapan

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...

Markimdb: 6.1
Genrecomedy, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan

Misha is a little girl who lost her mother at an early age, and now lives with her father. Her father employs a maid named Tsubame, who was a former Self-Defense Force official, and is also a lolicon.

Markimdb: 6.8
Genreadventure, cartoon, detective, anime
CountryJapan

The story centers on a little girl called Sana, who is one of the children that holds the power of "Alice's Dream," an ability that enables her to materialize anything she imagines. After escaping a lab where she was a test subject, Sana ends up in a normal world where she encounters an old man named Zouroku, but will he help her?

Markimdb: 6.3
Genrefantasy, comedy, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan
Duration01:53

A Kiss Note is a powerful notebook that makes anyone who has their name written together will instantly fall in love if they kiss each other regardless of any circumstances. This magical and very familiar item belongs to an angel named Guri whose job as cupid is to create couples. However, she accidentally writes down Aino Seiji, a regular high school student, and unless he kisses someone, Guri will die. She convinces Seiji to go kiss his crush, Hiyama Akane, the school's popular girl who turns out has even stronger feelings for him, bordering on obsessive and psychotic. Eventually Akane and Seiji come together but not before Guri decides that she likes Seiji as well. What seems awesome to most guys becomes hell for Seiji who just wants a normal relationship with girls.




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