Detective Conan Overtakes Sazae-san to Top Japanese Animation Ratings
A historic shift has occurred in Japan's weekly animation TV ratings. Detective Conan rose to the number one spot with its episode aired between June 22 and June 28, 2025, dethroning Sazae-san, which had held the top position for a long time. According to a report by Anime News Network based on Video Research data, Conan achieved this success particularly with a major episode.
Detective Conan is a detective series created by Gosho Aoyama that has been airing since 1996. With over 1,000 episodes and annual theatrical films, it has become an integral part of Japanese pop culture. On the other hand, Sazae-san is a family comedy that has been airing continuously since 1969 and has been the ratings leader almost every week. Therefore, Conan surpassing it has caused a major stir in the industry.
So why is this success so significant? Sazae-san has been a staple of Japanese households for decades. An anime surpassing it highlights both the increase in the series' popularity and the shift in the audience demographic. As we approach the 30th anniversary of Detective Conan, this victory came as a big surprise to fans. In particular, the main story episodes and theatrical films released recently have reignited interest in the series.
Looking to the future, it is a matter of curiosity whether Conan can maintain this success. While it is likely that Sazae-san will return to the top thanks to its deep-rooted audience, the popularity of Detective Conan, especially among younger viewers, is noteworthy. We will see together how the ratings battle shapes up in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, fans of the series are looking forward to the new theatrical film and manga chapters.
