Best Japanese documentary series
Get ready to binge. We've found a collection of must-watch documentary shows from Japan, now streaming on Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Prime Video, and other top services!
10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki (2019)
10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki (2019)
A chronicle of the creative process of the legendary Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, a passionate artisan, a steadfast trailblazer, and a father butting heads with his son…
Begin Japanology (2008)
Begin Japanology (2008)
BEGIN Japanology invites you into the world of Japanese culture, both traditional and modern, explaining how traditions evolved and the part they still play today in people's everyday lives.
Japanology Plus (2014)
Japanology Plus (2014)
Host Peter Barakan delves into various aspects of Japanese culture; exploring practices, history, and modern innovations in such areas as ramen, rice, sushi, geisha, bonsai, and so much more. Local experts discuss their passions at fascinating length, and American Japanophile Matt Alt experiences the food, practices, and cultures in each episode in depth. Viewers will finish each half hour episode with a new understanding of an area of Japanese life through demonstrative videos and explanations, all delivered respectfully and true to the Japanese way of life.
Amazing Dinoworld (2019)
Amazing Dinoworld (2019)
New discoveries of dinosaur fossils are completely changing what we know about the animals that lived on our planet millions of years ago.
Hyper HardBoiled Gourmet Report (2017)
Manben: Behind the Scenes of Manga with Urasawa Naoki (2015)
Manben: Behind the Scenes of Manga with Urasawa Naoki (2015)
Documentary TV series examining the process of drawing manga from an insider's perspective. Urasawa Naoki no Manben is hosted by veteran manga artist Naoki Urasawa (Monster, Pluto, 20th Century Boys) and follows different artists each episode, watching them draw their manga from scratch and exploring what differentiates their styles.
Japanese Style Originator (2008)
Train Otaku Michiko, 20,000 km. (2022)
Train Otaku Michiko, 20,000 km. (2022)
Ohganeku Michiko, who works in the planning sales department of a famous furniture maker, had a traumatic experience with her ex-boyfriend in the past. Being a railway otaku for 10 years, she uses her free time to visit train stations on local lines nationwide where she meets various people, enjoys the scenery and delicacies.
Naoki Urasawa's Manben neo (2020)
Naoki Urasawa's Manben neo (2020)
Reboot of the original Manben series from 2014-2017. Naoki Urasawa is returning to visit eight different manga authors, observe them in their daily work and discuss the creation of manga.
Japan Railway Journal (2015)
A Cat's-Eye View of Japan (2022)
A Cat's-Eye View of Japan (2022)
Globe-trotting wildlife photographer and filmmaker, Iwago Mitsuaki, offers the best of a vast collection of cat footage he took in Japan. On this unique trip around the country, discover the lesser-known charms and customs of regions through the eyes of cats!
Kamen Rider Zi-O: Supplementary Plan (2018)
Kamen Rider Zi-O: Supplementary Plan (2018)
The Heisei Kamen Riders have passed through this era. It's time to pass that power down to the future. Rejoice at the birth of the new king!
Document 72 Hours (2006)
Document 72 Hours (2006)
An unusual documentary series that delves into human dramas through chance encounters with ordinary people at selected spots. Filmed over 72 hours in a single location, the show captures glimpses into people's lives as they open up and share their stories.Japanese Broadcast Version
Deep Ocean (2015)
Deep Ocean (2015)
Once you pass 1,000 meters, the water is completely devoid of light, and you have reached the deep ocean. Down here, temperatures plummet to 39 degrees Fahrenheit, and constantly stay near freezing. The pressures at these depths range from about 40 to over 110 times the pressure of Earth's atmosphere. We know more about outer space than the ocean floor. Want to learn more about the ocean? Start with this mind-blowing series! , narrated by ... David Attenborough
Journeys in Japan (2010)
Journeys in Japan (2010)
Journeys in Japan provides an eye-opening look at the many unique places to visit in Japan. English-speaking visitors travel the length of the country, exploring the culture, meeting the local people, visiting historic sites and offering travel hints rarely found in guidebooks.
M-1 Grand Prix (2001)
M-1 Grand Prix (2001)
The next generation of Manzai duos compete in a fierce battle of wits and laughter, unleashing their best material for a chance at comedic glory.
Dive in Tokyo (2022)
Dive in Tokyo (2022)
Tokyo: where both tradition and the latest trends coexist. Join us on a journey to discover the real Tokyo as we dive into its historic old towns and encounter many fun surprises along the way.
Seasoning the Seasons (2012)
Mysterious Planet (2020)
Mysterious Planet (2020)
Our Planet still hides many mysteries. Why does the world’s largest gathering of whale sharks happen in just one special place off the coast of Mexico? What has it got to do with a meteorite hurtling through space? Why are komodo dragons only found where they are? How did one of the planet’s most exquisite rainforests become forgotten? From the strangest animals of Sulawesi, to the spooky creatures of the Mayan underworld; from the haunt of Pumas and the Mars - like high Andes, to a lost world in the African clouds and a war of Baboons: Mysterious Planet embarks on a series of epic journeys into the wild, across continents, through millennia, to uncover the answers to the mysteries that shape life.
DESIGN TALKS (2014)
DESIGN TALKS (2014)
Hosted by Andrea Pompilio; magazine style intellectual aesthetic voyage, exploring art and philosophy in Japanese designs from antiques to high-techs, commodities and fashions.
Somewhere Street (2012)
Somewhere Street (2012)
A close-up look at cities worldwide, as seen by a walking tourist. Viewers visit places off the beaten path, meet ordinary people, and enjoy a travel experience that's only possible on foot.
Trails to Oishii Tokyo (2019)
Cycle Around Japan (2014)
Cycle Around Japan (2014)
Proposes a new journey of Japan, and provides useful information to enjoy the adventure on a bike. Join us on the trip to see inside of Japan that you won't find in the guidebooks
ARASHI's Diary -Voyage- (2019)
Japanese Style Originator (2008)
Japanese Style Originator (2008)
Find out everything there is to know about Japanese tradition, from food to culture to objects and arts, and the people who are continuing it today.
Core Kyoto (2013)
J-Trip Plan (2016)
J-Trip Plan (2016)
This travel show aimed at overseas visitors offers info on where to go, what to see, and how to experience Japan, like an expert.
J-MELO (2005)
J-MELO (2005)
J-MELO is a weekly Japanese music television program broadcast by NHK. It is recorded entirely in the English language. It began broadcasting on October 7, 2005. The program is available on NHK's World Service television station, Radio Japan, Digital Educational TV and on its Domestic General Channel.
Caligula (2018)
Caligula (2018)
"Caligula" is a psychological phenomenon in which you want do things that are prohibited. Featured here are numerous pitches rejected by multiple TV stations. However, there are some treasures buried among them. Proposals once buried in the darkness revived here!
Diggin' in the Carts (2014)
Diggin' in the Carts (2014)
Diggin' In The Carts shines a spotlight on the composers who created a style of music that has had an immense impact on modern pop culture. From the personal studios of these legendary composers, to the concert halls of Japan where symphony orchestras are performing their compositions to sold-out crowds today - the series will document how the music of video games was created, what inspired it, and how it evolved into its own cultural phenomenon. Peppered with commentary from some of modern music’s finest DJ’s, musicians and electronic producers from around the world, the documentary also shows the influence these Japanese composers had on the world - and the world of music.