New Week in Japanese TV Rankings: "That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime" and "Ascendance of a Bookworm" Approach the Top

Weekly animation TV rankings in Japan showed which productions viewers turned to between June 8-14, 2026. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime ranked 5th, while Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3 placed 7th. Both series have maintained a loyal audience since their previous seasons.

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, an anime adaptation of the light novel series of the same name by author Fuse, quickly became a phenomenon after its first season in 2018. The story follows the adventures of Satoru Mikami (now known as Rimuru Tempest), who is reincarnated as a slime after death. The series returned for its third season in spring 2024 and is still airing. Its 5th-place position indicates continued interest, especially among viewers who enjoy action and world-building.

On the other hand, Ascendance of a Bookworm (Honzuki no Gekokujō: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan o Erandeiraremasen) is based on the light novel series by Miya Kazuki. The third season (Part 3) aired in late 2025 to early 2026, depicting the struggle of a book-loving girl who is reincarnated into a medieval-like world and dreams of making books. The series stands out for its slow-paced but deep character development and world-building. Its 7th-place success reveals that Japanese viewers continue to have interest in drama and detailed stories.

These rankings are based on live viewing rates in households measured weekly by Video Research in Japan. Although ratings only reflect a slice of the audience, they are an important reference point for measuring the popularity of long-running series. As both productions continue with new seasons, these rankings are likely to change in the coming weeks. In particular, rumors that That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is approaching its season finale could boost it higher in the rankings. Anime fans continue to follow both series on popular platforms.