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    Home/Browse/TV Shows/1980s TV Shows/1980s Japanese TV Shows

    1980s Japanese TV Shows

    The 40 most popular 1980s japanese TV shows, ranked. Click any show for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.

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    Dragon Ball Z
    TMDB4.2

    Dragon Ball Z

    1989

    country: Japan

    Now happily married and with a son, martial arts champion Goku must defend Earth from a series of extraterrestrial invaders bent on destruction.

    Ranma ½
    TMDB4.3

    Ranma ½

    1989

    country: Japan

    Ranma Saotome, a teenage martial artist, and his father Genma travel to the 'cursed training ground' of Jusenkyo in China. There, despite the warnings of the Chinese guard, they fall into the cursed springs. From now on, whenever Ranma is doused in cold water, he turns into a girl and a cute, well-built redhead at that. Hot water changes him back into a man again, but only until the next time. To make matters worse, his father engages him to Akane Tendo, a girl who hates boys.

    Obake no Q-tarō
    TMDB4.0

    Obake no Q-tarō

    1985

    country: Japan

    Q-taro, a monster, is living with the Ohara family. He can fly and make his body transparent, but he cannot turn his body into other things like other monsters do. He is a scattered mind, and he always makes mistakes and causes trouble. Sequel of Shin Obake no Q-tarou.

    Kiteretsu Daihyakka
    TMDB4.0

    Kiteretsu Daihyakka

    1988

    country: Japan

    The main character is a scientific genius boy named Kiteretsu, who has built a companion robot named Korosuke. He frequently travels in time with his friends and Korosuke in the time machine he built. Miyoko is a girl in his neighborhood who is basically his girlfriend. Tongari is his rival, who happen to share some similar traits of Honekawa Suneo. Buta Gorilla is a typical neighborhood bully, who also share similar traits of Gian except that he often antagonizes Korosuke (though they are in grade school).

    Yawara!
    TMDB3.3

    Yawara!

    1989

    country: Japan

    Inokuma Yawara is just another young high school girl. Well, not quite - for Yawara is being raised by her grandfather, 7th dan Judo master Inokuma Jigorou, to be Japan's great hope for the women's Judo competition at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. All the same, Yawara just wants to live a normal life...

    Chiisana Tabi
    TMDB4.5

    Chiisana Tabi

    1983

    country: Japan

    No overview available

    Armored Trooper VOTOMS
    TMDB3.5

    Armored Trooper VOTOMS

    1983

    country: Japan

    The story of stoic Armored Trooper pilot Chirico Cuvie and his quest for answers after a sudden betrayal leaves him on the run from his own military.

    Spaceship Sagittarius
    TMDB3.3

    Spaceship Sagittarius

    1986

    country: Japan

    Uchūsen Sagittarius is a 77-episode Japanese science fiction anime series directed by Kazuyoshi Yokota and created by Nippon Animation and TV Asahi. It aired from January 10, 1986 to October 3, 1987. The series is based on Altri Mondi, an Italian comic book drawn by physicist Andrea Romol.

    Dr. Slump
    TMDB4.0

    Dr. Slump

    1981

    country: Japan

    Senbei Norimaki, known by his nickname Dr. Slump, a genius yet under-respected inventor and roboticist, creates an android by the name of Arale, and poses her as his little sister. What starts as an experiment in robotics turns into an adventure every day for the residents of Penguin Village, a wacky rural community with several colorful characters interacting with Arale and her creator.

    Fist of the North Star
    TMDB4.0

    Fist of the North Star

    1984

    country: Japan

    It's the year 199x, and Earth burns with the fires of a nuclear holocaust. On the charred remains of the planet's surface, humans struggle desperately to survive a fearful world. The young wanderer Kenshiro rises to stand against the violent reality. Upon his chest are seven scars in the shape of the North Star!

    SUPERKID
    TMDB4.0

    SUPERKID

    1983

    country: Japan

    Mitsuo encountered Superman, an alien who is a part of a federation that tries to maintain peace in the galaxy. He then received a helmet (that also serves as a mask) that gives superhuman strength, a cape that enables the wearer to fly, and a badge that allows him to breathe underwater and communicate with his fellow comrades whom he met soon after he utilized these gifts. Superman made it clear to all Permans that their identity must be kept a secret or their brain will be destroyed should it ever be revealed and they are given a special doppelganger robot that can replace them while they are away to achieve this feat, although it is not entirely foolproof nor is it free from potential problems. These equipments then allowed them to be young Permans who try to maintain peace and help the people who are in need.

    Urusei Yatsura
    TMDB3.6

    Urusei Yatsura

    1981

    country: Japan

    The invasion of an alien race known as the Oni begins a new life for Ataru Moroboshi, a lecherous trouble-making tenth grader in the small town of Tomobiki. After unwittingly proposing to the Oni princess Lum Invader instead of his sweetheart Shinobu, Ataru becomes a conduit for aliens arriving on Earth, causing all sorts of havoc for him and his companions, not to mention his own reputation!

    Saint Seiya
    TMDB4.2

    Saint Seiya

    1986

    country: Japan

    Ages ago, the goddess Athena was served by fighters called Saints who channeled the power of the Cosmos within them. Now a youth named Seiya has trained to become a Saint himself by earning the mystical Cloth of Pegasus. He is joined by other Saints with Cloths of their own to fight for Athena.

    Ninja Hattori-kun
    TMDB3.2

    Ninja Hattori-kun

    1981

    country: Japan

    11-year-old Kenichi Mitsuba is an average kid who goes to secondary school and struggles with his studies, he is very stubborn and is very lazy and therefore always ends up frustrating his parents and teacher. He loves to find an easy way of things. He befriends Hattori Kanzo, a ninja from the Iga Clan, and he becomes part of the Mitsuba family along with his brother, Shinzo and his ninja dog, Shishimaru. Hattori helps Kenichi with his problems, and constantly keeps an eye on him, as a good friend. The main antagonist Kemumaki, a Koga ninja and his ninja cat, Kagechiyo always troubles Kenichi, mainly because of their feud over one girl, Yumeko. Kenichi asks Hattori to take revenge as a recurring storyline in many episodes. Although Hattori is a good friend, Kenichi sometimes fights with Hattori due to misunderstandings created by Kemumaki. Sometimes Jippou, Togejirou and Tsubame help him.

    Onihei Hankachō
    TMDB3.9

    Onihei Hankachō

    1989

    country: Japan

    Hasegawa is a chief police of big heart who leads a band of samurai police and cultivates reformed criminals as informants to solve difficult crimes.

    Mashin Hero Wataru
    TMDB3.5

    Mashin Hero Wataru

    1988

    country: Japan

    Mashin Hero Wataru is a comedy/adventure Super Robot multimedia franchise originally consisting of 45 episode anime series created by Sunrise first aired on April 15, 1988. Sunrise credited "Hajime Yatate" for the storyline and Shuji Iuchi directed the series. The series employs a kinetic visual gag style, often employing characters running with their feet over their shoulders derived from Sunrise's previous Super Robot anime series Choriki Robo Galatt.

    The Mysterious Cities of Gold
    TMDB3.9

    The Mysterious Cities of Gold

    1982

    country: Japan

    The adventures of a young Spanish boy named Esteban who joins a voyage to the New World in search of the lost Cities of Gold and his father.

    Oshin
    TMDB4.1

    Oshin

    1983

    country: Japan

    Oshin is a Japanese serialized morning television drama, which aired on broadcaster NHK from April 4, 1983 to March 31, 1984. The series follows the life of Shin Tanokura during the Meiji period up to the early 1980s. Shin was called "Oshin", which is an archaic Japanese cognomen.

    City Hunter
    TMDB3.9

    City Hunter

    1987

    country: Japan

    Ryo Saeba works the streets of Tokyo as the City Hunter. He's a "sweeper" and with his sidekick Kaori Makimura, he keeps the city clean. People hire the City Hunter to solve their dangerous problems, which he does with a Colt Python. When Ryo's not working on a case, he's working on getting the ladies, and Kaori must keep him in check with her trusty 10 kg hammer.

    Blue Comet SPT Layzner
    TMDB4.3

    Blue Comet SPT Layzner

    1985

    country: Japan

    Blue Comet SPT Layzner, sometimes translated as Blue Meteor SPT Layzner, is an anime series produced by Sunrise and Tatsunoko Production between 1985 and 1986. Its original creator was Ryousuke Takahashi of Armored Trooper Votoms fame who served as the writer and wrote the scripts for such shows as Panzer World Galient, Tetsuwan Atom, Zero Tester, Fang of the Sun Dougram, Cyborg 009, Gasaraki and Blue Gender.

    Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
    TMDB3.6

    Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ

    1986

    country: Japan

    The year is Universal Century 0088. Directly after the end of the Gryps War, Haman Karn and her army of Zeon remnants on the asteroid Axis begin their quest of reviving the lost empire of the Zabi's, and proclaim themselves as the Neo-Zeon. With the Earth Federation as hapless as ever, only the Anti-Earth Union Group (AEUG) is able oppose the plans of Neo-Zeon. In need of all the help it can get after being decimated in the previous war and losing many of its key members, the AEUG ship Argama enlists the aid of a young junk collector from the Side 1 colony of Shangri-La named Judau Ashta to pilot its newest mobile suit, the ZZ Gundam.

    Miotsukushi
    TMDB5.0

    Miotsukushi

    1985

    country: Japan

    In the early Showa era, the town of Choshi in Chiba Prefecture was divided by the conflicts between the worlds of "land" and "sea". Born to Kyubei Bando, the owner of a long-established soy sauce brewery, and his mistress Rui, Kaworu was taken in by her father and raised as a prim and proper lady. As she grew up, she fell in love with Sokichi, the eldest son of an established fisherman; alas, their two families were in conflict. This is a story of pure love between two people that grew beyond the boundaries of the old customs that they were brought up with. It is a drama that depicts their turbulent journey of love and the bonds of the people from an old and established family working tirelessly to protect their naturally brewed soy sauce business through the ups and downs.

    Kimagure Orange Road
    TMDB3.3

    Kimagure Orange Road

    1987

    country: Japan

    It can be hard moving to a new school, and fifteen-year-old Kyosuke has it harder than most. He’s fallen head over heels for his classmate Madoka, a girl who won’t even give him the time of day, and unintentionally ended up dating her best friend, Hikaru, instead. Worst of all, Kyosuke and his family have amazing supernatural powers, but he has to keep them hidden from the rest of the world! How is Kyosuke ever going to balance the affections (or lack thereof) of two girls, schoolwork, and his secret abilities all at the same time?

    Jun-chan's Cheering Song
    TMDB3.5

    Jun-chan's Cheering Song

    1988

    country: Japan

    The year is 1947, August. Ono Junko's family is being evacuated to Wakayama and the father is going to war. A few years later, the father has returned from Manchuria but he also brought a boy that had been abandoned by his mother. The boy is Yuta and the family will adopt him.

    Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats
    TMDB3.2

    Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats

    1984

    country: Canada

    Heathcliff knows he is the best cat around! Never have we seen such self-confidence topped off with a heavy dose of vanity, cunning, ruthlessness, and a mischievous love of gags. He cruises and struts down the street and watch out any person, cat, or dog who gets in his way! Although he may terrorize the neighborhood, let an outsider try to push anyone around and he is a veritable tiger of defense. On the other side of town are The Catillac Cats, which typically revolve around leader Riff-Raff's get-rich-quick schemes or searches for food.

    Ronin Warriors
    TMDB3.8

    Ronin Warriors

    1988

    country: Japan

    Five young men with mystical armor fight to save the mortal from the evil Talpa.

    Legend of the Galactic Heroes
    TMDB4.3

    Legend of the Galactic Heroes

    1988

    country: Japan

    War rages between the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance. With two new brilliant young leaders at the helm, anything can happen in this military space opera.

    Maison Ikkoku
    TMDB3.8

    Maison Ikkoku

    1986

    country: Japan

    Godai is a ronin (someone who has failed university entrance exams) living in a run down apartment house called Maison Ikkoku. Among the other residents are the nosy Ichinose, the sexy Akemi Roppongi, and the mysterious Yotsuya. The others are given to having wild parties which makes it difficult for Godai to study. Into this mayhem comes the recently widowed Kyoko as the new live-in manager. Godai falls for her, but doesn't have the nerve to tell her. As time passes, their relationship slowly develops amid life at Maison Ikkoku, despite all sorts of romantic hurdles.

    Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
    TMDB4.0

    Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam

    1985

    country: Japan

    Universal Century 0087, 7 years have passed since the end of the One Year War between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon. The Earth Federation has created an elite task force, known as the Titans, who are responsible for hunting the remaining Zeon forces. However, the power-hungry Titans have spurred the creation of a rebellious faction called the Anti-Earth Union Group (AEUG).

    Captain Tsubasa
    TMDB3.9

    Captain Tsubasa

    1983

    country: Japan

    Tsubasa Ozora loves playing football since he was a little child. After moving to the japanese town of Nankatsu together with his mother, the 11-year-old boy quickly finds friends and joins the local football team of his elementary school. Together with his newly made friends and Brazilian mentor Roberto, Tsubasa starts his exciting journey to chase after his most desired dream - one day winning the FIFA World Cup.

    Dangerous Detective
    TMDB4.2

    Dangerous Detective

    1986

    country: Japan

    Abunai Deka, often shortened to AbuDeka, is Japanese television drama aired by Nippon Television between 1986 and 1987. Starring Hiroshi Tachi and Kyohei Shibata, the series became very popular and spawned films, spin-offs series, and books. The series follows a pair of detectives, Takayama and Oshita, from the Naka-ku branch of the Kanagawa Prefectural Police.

    Miss Machiko
    TMDB2.7

    Miss Machiko

    1981

    country: Japan

    The mischievous students of Arama Academy meet their match in a beautiful and clever new teacher, Miss Machiko! But they're determined to find a prank that will really humiliate her.

    Furuya Ikkou's Great Detective Kindaichi Kousuke Series
    TMDB3.5

    Furuya Ikkou's Great Detective Kindaichi Kousuke Series

    1983

    country: Japan

    No overview available

    Attacker You!
    TMDB3.1

    Attacker You!

    1984

    country: Japan

    Attacker You! is the story of ambitious and energetic 13-year-old junior high schoolgirl You Hazuki (variously known as "Mila," "Jeanne" or "Juana" in Western dubbed versions of the anime), who moves to Tokyo from Osaka to live with her father Toshihiko, a cameraman recently returned from Peru, and attend school. You's mother is not in the picture, having left when You was very young. Also living with You and her father is her younger brother Sunny, who is very attached to his older sister and tends to follow her everywhere she goes, including to school and to her volleyball matches. You is also curious about Kyushi Tajima, the pretty blonde woman whom she sees covering volleyball games on television, and about why her father becomes very angry whenever You mentions her.

    Denshi Sentai Denziman
    TMDB4.4

    Denshi Sentai Denziman

    1980

    country: Japan

    Denzimen are warriors who fight against the Vader Clan, a clan that tries to pollute the Earth with sludge. Denzimen fight using the Super Science of the Denzi people.

    Touch
    TMDB4.5

    Touch

    1985

    country: Japan

    Twins Kazuya and Tatsuya, and their neighbor Minami have played together since they were children and built an unbreakable bond. But with puberty, the twins realized something: Minami is a girl, and three is a crowd. As the trio tries to preserve their relationship, Kazuya's pledge to make Minami's dream come true by taking her to Koshien with his baseball pitching skills makes the slackerish Tatsuya wonder about himself, and his own goals. But Minami has another dream she wants fulfilled, and as the twins continue to push themselves, with Minami in the middle, a life-changing tragedy leads one twin down a path he once never would've considered...

    Hanekonma
    TMDB4.0

    Hanekonma

    1986

    country: Japan

    Rin Tachibana, nicknamed Hanekonma, grew up in Soma, Fukushima. Together with her parents, her sister and brother, and her grandparents, the story revolves around the Tachibana family and Rin's life throughout many years.

    Pro Golfer Saru
    TMDB2.1

    Pro Golfer Saru

    1985

    country: Japan

    A series of fantastical tournaments in which players uses absurd powers and Saru remains determined to triumph. Amid kung-fu masters and fairway fairies, his opponents include Death himself.

    Mister Ajikko
    TMDB3.1

    Mister Ajikko

    1987

    country: Japan

    Mister Ajikko is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Daisuke Terasawa about a young boy cook. It was later adapted into anime series, produced by TV Tokyo and Sunrise. This show was broadcast from October 8, 1987 to September 28, 1989 with a total of 99 episodes. One of the earliest cooking/battle related manga and anime of its kind, there are some indications that this series is the inspiration for the live action competitive cooking show, Iron Chef.

    Dragon Quest: Legend of the Hero Abel
    TMDB2.5

    Dragon Quest: Legend of the Hero Abel

    1989

    country: Japan

    In the Ariahan village, on her 15th birthday, Tiala receives a red jewel from the elder Yogi. The jewel is the key to awaken the Great Dragon, whose blood grants eternal life. Due to this, the demon Baramos kidnaps Tiala. His childhood friend, Abel tries unsuccessfully to save her. He is given a blue jewel, the counterpart of the jewel that Tiala received, that can seal the Great Dragon and embarks on a mission to rescue Tiala.

    About 1980s Japanese TV Shows

    The 1980s

    1980s television saw the serialized primetime drama take hold and cable begin to fragment the audience that networks had held uncontested for thirty years.

    Japanese television

    Japanese television is dominated by anime and the dorama — short, tightly-run seasons that rarely outstay their premise. Anime in particular has become one of the most globally exported forms of television there is.

    In this list

    Best reviewed
    Ranma ½ (8.6)
    Most common genres
    Animation, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
    Longest run
    9 seasons

    Common questions

    What are the best 1980s Japanese TV shows?
    By popularity across Flickfolio and TMDB, the top picks right now are Dragon Ball Z, Ranma ½, and Obake no Q-tarō. The full ranked list of 40 sits above — open any show for ratings, reviews, and streaming availability.
    How is this list ranked?
    1980s Japanese TV shows are ordered by overall popularity, which blends how often a title is viewed, searched, and logged. It updates as viewing habits shift, so the list reflects what people are actually watching rather than a fixed critical canon.
    Where can I watch these TV shows?
    Every show page lists current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region, alongside community ratings and reviews from Flickfolio members.

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    1980s Japanese Movies