Usagi-tei

Ten anime that genuinely made me cry, chosen by a lifelong otaku in Japan — from Violet Evergarden to Look Back. Includes where each one streams in the US as of July 2026.

Ten Japanese crime stories picked by a fan in Japan, from Odd Taxi and Psycho-Pass to Kurosawa's High and Low. Why the yakuza film is really about hierarchy, plus US streaming info.

Ten comedy anime picked by a fan in Japan, sorted by how the joke is built: manzai timing, gag density, parody. From Gintama to Eizouken, with current US streaming info.

Ten anime chosen for the single moment they pay off, picked by a fan in Japan, from Fullmetal Alchemist to Orb. How Japanese storytelling builds a chills moment, with US streaming info.

Ten Japanese stories chosen for the last five minutes, picked by a fan in Japan, from Seven Samurai to Frieren. What each one leaves in the room after the credits, with US streaming info.

Ten adventure anime picked by a fan in Japan, from Spirited Away to The Twelve Kingdoms. Why Japanese adventure is about the walking rather than the destination, with US streaming info.

Ten action anime chosen for animation quality, not hype — picked by a fan in Japan, from Ghost in the Shell to Samurai Champloo, with current US streaming info.

Akane-banashi is free on its official YouTube channel in North America and on Netflix with an English dub. A high schooler takes up rakugo to clear her father’s name, and the cast performs the routines for real.

I watched this for the first time in a Tokyo theater in 1995. I was a teenager, the internet was barely a thing, and the word "cyberspace" still

I almost skipped this one. The poster looked too cute, the premise sounded too sweet, and I'd just come off a streak of heavy psychological thrillers.