Anime viewer ratings in Japan?

[C.A.]

Great to see that Mazinger Z is doing pretty well compared to the other series that the west seems to prefer. I guess while mecha will never catch up over seas, Japan will always embrace it well.

[Destinyblade]

Yeah, sorry about not keeping up with posting the ratings. I considered just posting the Top 10 in this thread from now on since I got lazy and didn't want to do all that formatting to post it all, but if someone else will do it, that's fine too.

Here's a link that has ratings for the shows up to the second week of March I think. If you want to take a look at it, here it is (though you would have to translate the titles): http://p2.chbox.jp/read.php?host=cha...3-663&nt=73849

Originally Posted by Katapan

- FMA2, dropping and dropping again... we're back to the mediocre ratings Geass R2 has received in the timeslot, after the second season of G00 had managed to do pretty damn well. Doroku may have failed, but replacing it by Nichigo isn't working that well, even when bringing back a popular series. Now what next? If the ratings don't get better once the series stops being a retelling of season 1, I feel that nothing but a Gundam series will be able to keep the only TBS-MBS golden anime timeslot alive - and I doubt one will be made before the end of FMA2. Time to gamble on an original series, once again? Hey, the producers can always ask for a new mecha show from Sunrise, that wouldn't be too big of a gamble...

From what I have read, Sundays at 5pm is simply not a good timeslot because most people are out at that time of the day. There's also the possibility that people simply don't want to watch the parts that the first FMA series already animated, though I bet the timeslot is the bigger issue.

I don't know... if FMA fails ratings-wise, I wonder if they'll just cancel the timeslot altogether. I mean, if one of the most popular shounen titles isn't getting you the ratings you're looking for, what else from the anime side can you try? Original productions hardly work... We've already seen how shows like Blood+ and Ayakashi Ayashi tanked. It usually has to be something from a franchise like Gundam, unless you get lucky and the director manages to pull off something that brings about Evangelion level popularity.

I hope that they don't cancel the slot after FMA, but anime just isn't the ratings grabber it used to be. I mean, even 10 or 15 years ago, in Japan, there were a ton of anime that were airing weeknights at 7pm or 7:30pm. In fact, there were so many of them that you could probably watch anime every evening at 6 and 7pm, as long as you turned on the right channel. Now, the only anime you see on primetime are Doraemon and Crayon Shin-chan, plus a few TV Tokyo shows. It really shows how times change.

[blewin]

the rating for FMA2 might get higher as the series move away from the plot line of the first anime. I only just picked up FMA from ep 4 when it shows some deviation.

well, fingers-crossed.

[Katapan]

Ratings are really being posted sporadically, these days. But here was the first week where almost all shows had ratings (unless I missed one), since Kaoru Chujo's last post.

Week of May 18-24 2009:

18.1%(16.8%) 05/24 18:30-19:00 CX* Sazae-san
13.1%(12.3%) 05/24 18:00-18:30 CX* Chibi Maruko-chan
12.6%(11.9%) 05/22 19:30-19:54 EX* Crayon Shin-chan
10.0%(*9.4%) 05/22 19:00-19:30 EX* Doraemon
*9.8%(10.6%) 05/24 *9:30-10:00 CX* One Piece
*9.2%(*9.3%) 05/24 *9:00-*9:30 CX* Dragon Ball Kai
*7.9%(*6.9%) 05/24 *8:30-*9:00 EX* Fresh Precure！
*7.2%(*8.7%) 05/23 18:00-18:30 NTV Detective Conan
*5.6%(*5.9%) 05/21 19:00-19:30 TX* Pokemon DP
*5.0%(*3.3%) 05/21 24:45-25:15 CX* Higashi no Eden
-------------------------------
*4.7%(*4.7%) 05/24 *7:00-*7:30 NTV Yatterman
*4.6%(*4.4%) 05/21 19:30-19:57 TX* NARUTO Shippuuden
*4.2%(*5.1%) 05/23 11:20-11:45 EX* Atashin'chi
*4.0%(*3.7%) 05/24 17:00-17:30 TBS FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST
*3.9%(*3.7%) 05/20 19:26-19:55 TX* Inazuma Eleven
*3.8%(*3.4%) 05/24 22:54-23:24 TX* Golgo 13 Best Selection
*3.7%(*4.3%) 05/23 18:00-18:25 ETV Major
*3.5%(**.*%) 05/24 *7:00-*7:30 EX* Battle Spirits
*3.2%(*4.7%) 05/23 10:00-10:30 TX* Keroro Gunsou
*3.1%(**.*%) 05/19 18:00-18:30 TX* BLEACH
*3.0%(--.-%) 05/18 19:28-19:54 TX* Hikaru no Go Selection
*3.0%(**.*%) 05/24 *6:30-*7:00 EX* Negibouzu no Asatarou
*3.0%(*2.9%) 05/24 10:00-10:30 TX* Cross Game
*2.9%(**.*%) 05/19 25:29-25:59 NTV Hajime no Ippo New Challenger
*2.9%(*2.2%) 05/20 19:00-19:26 TX* Mainichi Kaa-san
*2.9%(*3.2%) 05/21 18:00-18:30 TX* Gintama
*2.9%(*3.3%) 05/24 *8:30-*9:00 TX* Metal Fight Beyblade
*2.8%(*2.5%) 05/23 18:25-18:50 ETV Kemono no Souja Erin
*2.7%(--.-%) 05/18 19:00-19:28 TX* Lilo and Stitch
*2.7%(**.*%) 05/19 24:59-25:29 NTV Souten Kouro
*2.6%(*1.9%) 05/22 16:30-17:00 NTV Soreike! Anpanman
*2.6%(*3.6%) 05/23 10:30-11:00 TX* Kateikyoushi Hitman REBORN!
*2.6%(*1.7%) 05/23 23:20-23:45 TX* Shin mazinger Z-Hen on television
*2.5%(*3.3%) 05/22 25:23-25:53 TX* Hayate no Gotoku!!
*2.4%(*4.1%) 05/23 *9:30-10:00 TX* Shugo Chara!! Doki
*2.4%(*1.6%) 05/22 25:55-26:25 TBS Basquash!
*2.3%(*3.3%) 05/23 *9:00-*9:30 TX* Gokujou!! Mecha Mote Iinchou
*2.3%(*1.6%) 05/24 *9:30-10:00 TX* Jewel Pets
*1.7%(**.*%) 05/19 17:30-18:00 TX* Uchi no San Shimai
*1.7%(**.*%) 05/20 18:00-18:30 TX* Yugioh 5D's
*1.7%(*2.0%) 05/21 17:30-18:00 TX* NARUTO ~Shounen Hen~ (Rerun)
*1.7%(*1.4%) 05/24 10:30-11:00 TX* Live-on cardliver
*1.7%(*1.3%) 05/24 26:00-26:30 TX* Saki
*1.6%(*1.7%) 05/22 26:25-26:55 TBS Sengoku BASARA
*1.6%(*2.1%) 05/21 25:59-26:29 TBS K-On!
*1.6%(*1.2%) 05/22 17:30-18:00 TX* Inazuma Eleven Encore
*1.5%(**.*%) 05/20 17:30-18:00 TX* NARUTO ~Shounen Hen~ (Rerun)
*1.4%(*1.8%) 05/21 25:29-25:59 TBS PandoraHearts
*1.4%(*1.1%) 05/24 25:30-26:00 TX* Natsu no Arashi!
*1.2%(**.*%) 05/20 27:39-28:09 TBS Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (Rerun)
*1.1%(**.*%) 05/18 18:00-18:30 TX* Dora
*0.8%(**.*%) 05/18 25:30-26:00 TX* Sora wo Kakeru Shoujo
*0.8%(*1.3%) 05/21 26:40-27:10 EX* Kurokami The Animation
*0.7%(**.*%) 05/20 26:40-27:10 TX* 大グレン団祭“春” (?)
*0.7%(*1.0%) 05/22 26:45-27:15 TX* Arad Senki
*0.3%(*0.8%) 05/21 26:15-26:45 TX* Phantom ～Requiem for the Phantom～

---

I know TV Tokyo late-night ratings don't mean much, but god, Phantom's ratings are abysmal. In no way do they reflect the show's quality.

Pandora Hearts is back to kind of mediocre ratings. I always valued these two late-night TBS timeslots: they hit as high as 4.0% thanks to shows like xxxHOLiC and Oofuri (that's as far as I can remember, I know the slots have been going on for much longer than that, but I don't remember older ratings). But the numbers nose-dived with Yozakura Quartet (though the first episode did great, I guess many disappointed watchers didn't wish to go on?), then Asu no Yoichi. We'll see if Taishou Yakyuu Musume can bring back some viewers this summer, but I'm doubtful (I don't think it is official yet, but it's fairly obvious that it'll be taking over K-On!'s timeslot).

---

Also, since I love to watch the evolution of the Nichigo ratings, here are the latest news: FMA's doing better and better, especially this week with a 5.8% rating! though I suspect the show hit the highest rating it could for now, but I'd love to be proved wrong next week.

Here is a comparison with its predecessors, Code Geass R2 and the second season of Gundam 00:

　　　　 　 R2　　 002　　 FMA
第01回…3.0%● 4.5%○ 3.8%●
第02回…2.6%● 4.4%● 5.3%○
第03回…2.8%● 4.2%○ 3.3%●
第04回…1.4%● 3.0%○ 2.6%●
第05回…1.8%● 5.1%○ 3.4%●
第06回…2.4%● 4.3%○ 3.3%●
第07回…1.9%● 3.9%○ 3.7%●
第08回…2.0%● 4.3%○ 4.0%●
第09回…3.3%● 4.8%● 5.8%○
第10回…2.1%　 4.4%　 -.-%
第11回…3.2%　 6.3%　 -.-%
第12回…2.9%　 3.7%　 -.-%
第13回…2.2%　 5.2%　 -.-%
第14回…2.7%　 5.3%　 -.-%
第15回…2.2%　 4.3%　 -.-%
第16回…2.1%　 4.9%　 -.-%
第17回…1.8%　 4.5%　 -.-%
第18回…2.2%　 3.7%　 -.-%
第19回…3.6%　 5.0%　 -.-%
第20回…3.7%　 5.2%　 -.-%
第21回…2.6%　 4.4%　 -.-%
第22回…3.9%　 4.6%　 -.-%
第23回…4.0%　 4.4%　 -.-%
第24回…2.8%　 3.9%　 -.-%
第25回…3.5%　 3.5%　 -.-%
------------------------
AVG　　2.67%　4.47%　3.91%

---

And finally, for something still TBS-related, but in no way connected to anime... I have a question concerning the latest J-Drama ratings. You can view them (in English) for this spring on this page.
... so, does anyone have a clue why MR. BRAIN is doing so wonderfully? 24.8% then 22.0%?! Previous shows on the same timeslot did fairly good (notably Bloody Monday), but never that good... this even beat Tenchijin two weeks in a row, and even with my extremely limited drama knowledge, I know that the NHK taiga drama usually tops the rankings. This is simply a huge increase from the predecessors, and I'd love to hear an explanation for it.

[ZODDGUTS]

One reason and one reason only Kimura Takuya.

http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Kimura_Takuya

He is extremely popular he's in a boy band called Smap and he's dramas always has high ratings even upwards of 30.0 tv rating share in several of he's dramas that he was in.

http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Good_Luck!!

http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Hero

[Katapan]

Whoa. I didn't know a single actor could have that effect. I did know that members of Arashi and KAT-TUN had been getting plenty of leading roles these days, and I always thought they were as popular as one could get these days, but the ratings never increased that much thanks to them (or rather, they sometimes remained mediocre too, see Kami no Shizuku...), so I wouldn't have suspected a SMAP member could pull it off that magnificiently. Maybe I shouldn't be comparing different generations, though?

Thanks a lot, that's definitely interesting. Sorry for the off-topic too.

---

Ratings for week of May 25-31:

16.4%(18.1%) 05/31 18:30-19:00 CX* Sazae-san
12.4%(12.6%) 05/29 19:30-19:54 EX* Crayon Shin-chan
10.8%(10.0%) 05/29 19:00-19:30 EX* Doraemon
*9.6%(13.1%) 05/31 18:00-18:30 CX* Chibi Maruko-chan
*9.3%(*9.8%) 05/31 *9:30-10:00 CX* One Piece
*9.3%(*9.2%) 05/31 *9:00-*9:30 CX* Dragon Ball Kai
*6.7%(*7.2%) 05/30 18:00-18:30 NTV Detective Conan
*5.8%(*4.0%) 05/31 17:00-17:30 TBS FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST
*5.6%(*7.9%) 05/31 *8:30-*9:00 EX* Fresh Precure!
*5.1%(*5.6%) 05/28 19:00-19:30 TX* Pokemon DP
-------------------------------
*4.9%(*4.7%) 05/31 *7:00-*7:30 NTV Yatterman
*4.8%(*3.7%) 05/30 18:00-18:25 ETV Major
*4.7%(*4.6%) 05/28 19:30-19:57 TX* NARUTO Shippuuden
*4.4%(*3.2%) 05/30 10:00-10:30 TX* Keroro Gunsou
*4.3%(*3.9%) 05/27 19:26-19:55 TX* Inazuma Eleven
*4.1%(*4.2%) 05/30 11:20-11:45 EX* Atashin'chi
*4.1%(*2.4%) 05/30 *9:30-10:00 TX* Shugo Chara!! Doki
*3.9%(*5.0%) 05/28 24:45-25:15 CX* Higashi no Eden
*3.7%(*3.8%) 05/31 22:54-23:24 TX* Golgo 13 Best Selection
*3.7%(*2.7%) 05/25 19:00-19:28 TX* Lilo and Stitch
*3.5%(*2.9%) 05/28 18:00-18:30 TX* Gintama
*3.5%(*2.6%) 05/30 10:30-11:00 TX* Kateikyoushi Hitman REBORN!
*3.4%(*2.9%) 05/27 19:00-19:26 TX* Mainichi Kaa-san
*3.3%(*3.0%) 05/25 19:28-19:54 TX* Hikaru no Go Selection
*3.3%(*2.6%) 05/29 16:30-17:00 NTV Soreike! Anpanman
*3.1%(*2.8%) 05/30 18:25-18:50 ETV Kemono no Souja Erin
*2.9%(*2.9%) 05/31 *8:30-*9:00 TX* Metal Fight Beyblade
*2.7%(*2.6%) 05/30 23:20-23:45 TX* Shin mazinger Z-Hen on television
*2.6%(*2.3%) 05/30 *9:00-*9:30 TX* Gokujou!! Mecha Mote Iinchou
*2.4%(*1.4%) 05/28 25:29-25:59 TBS PandoraHearts
*2.3%(*3.5%) 05/31 *7:00-*7:30 EX* Battle Spirits
*2.1%(*1.7%) 05/28 17:30-18:00 TX* NARUTO ~Shounen Hen~
*2.2%(*1.6%) 05/28 25:59-26:29 TBS K-On!
*2.2%(*2.5%) 05/29 25:23-25:53 TX* Hayate no Gotoku!!
*2.2%(*3.0%) 05/31 *6:30-*7:00 EX* Negibouzu no Asatarou
*1.8%(*1.6%) 05/29 17:30-18:00 TX* Inazuma Eleven Encore
*1.7%(*0.8%) 05/28 26:40-27:10 EX* Kurokami The Animation
*1.6%(*2.3%) 05/31 *9:30-10:00 TX* Jewel Pets
*1.5%(*3.0%) 05/31 10:00-10:30 TX* Cross Game
*1.4%(*0.7%) 05/31 26:45-27:15 TX* Arad Senki
*1.1%(*1.7%) 05/31 10:30-11:00 TX* Live-on cardliver
*1.0%(*1.6%) 05/31 26:00-26:30 TX* Saki
*0.9%(*1.4%) 05/31 25:30-26:00 TX* Natsu no Arashi!
*0.5%(*0.3%) 05/28 26:15-26:45 TX* Phantom ～Requiem for the Phantom～

---

Can't say Cross Game is doing great, either. They could have played the Adachi card so much better, seeing how successful previous adaptations have been... this probably isn't the right timeslot for the series (especially after two years of Hayate no Gotoku and Zettai Karen Children, which share so little with Cross Game). I know it is hard to score high ratings nowadays, but... 1.5%...

[kkxprs]

im really happy to see dbz doing so well again, especially after this many years of already being out! what is Sazae-san? seems popular! is it good?

[Irenicus]

Originally Posted by kkxprs

im really happy to see dbz doing so well again, especially after this many years of already being out! what is Sazae-san? seems popular! is it good?

Sazae-san is from a legendary comic strip in Japan, and is (I think) among the longest running cartoons ever. Character summaries can be googled since I don't really know much about it to tell you the truth.

Essentially, it's something of a cultural institution. Like Tom & Jerry or the Looney Tunes to Americans. Nostalgia, ease-of-access, everyone watches it, etc., hence the consistently massive, un-anime like ratings.

[solomon]

Actually surprised that Eden is doing so well, was not expecting that.

[Haak]

I was hoping it would stay in the top ten. But it dropped down to it's usual place. Hoping for an increase again. It deserves to be the the top ten, me thinks.

[solomon]

It's the highest rated of all late night shows, although that is to be expected scince it comes on an hour earlier than the rest of the bunch.

I am just surprised that it does so well despite being an original work.

[Katapan]

Ratings for week of June 1-7:

16.4%(16.4%) 06/07 18:30-19:00 CX* Sazae-san
11.7%(*9.6%) 06/07 18:00-18:30 CX* Chibi Maruko-chan
11.5%(12.4%) 06/05 19:30-19:54 EX* Crayon Shin-chan
10.2%(10.8%) 06/05 19:00-19:30 EX* Doraemon
10.0%(*9.3%) 06/07 *9:30-10:00 CX* One Piece
*8.5%(*9.3%) 06/07 *9:00-*9:30 CX* Dragon Ball Kai
*5.7%(*5.1%) 06/04 19:00-19:30 TX* Pokemon DP
*5.6%(*5.6%) 06/07 *8:30-*9:00 EX* Fresh Precure!
*5.2%(*6.7%) 06/06 18:00-18:30 NTV Detective Conan
*4.9%(*4.9%) 06/07 *7:00-*7:30 NTV Yatterman
-------------------------------
*4.7%(*4.7%) 06/04 19:30-19:57 TX* NARUTO Shippuuden
*4.2%(*4.4%) 06/06 10:00-10:30 TX* Keroro Gunsou
*4.1%(*4.3%) 06/03 19:26-19:55 TX* Inazuma Eleven
*3.7%(*4.1%) 06/06 *9:30-10:00 TX* Shugo Chara!! Doki
*3.7%(*3.7%) 06/01 19:00-19:28 TX* Lilo & Stitch
*3.6%(*3.3%) 06/05 16:30-17:00 NTV Soreike! Anpanman
*3.5%(*3.5%) 06/04 18:00-18:30 TX* Gintama
*3.4%(*2.6%) 06/06 *9:00-*9:30 TX* Gokujou!! Mecha Mote Iinchou
*3.3%(*3.7%) 06/07 22:54-23:24 TX* Golgo 13 Best Selection
*3.2%(*3.9%) 06/04 24:45-25:15 CX* Higashi no Eden
*3.2%(*3.5%) 06/06 10:30-11:00 TX* Kateikyoushi Hitman REBORN!
*3.2%(*4.1%) 06/06 11:20-11:45 EX* Atashin'chi
*3.1%(*3.3%) 06/01 19:28-19:54 TX* Hikaru no Go Selection
*2.7%(*5.8%) 06/07 17:00-17:30 TBS FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST
*2.7%(*3.4%) 06/03 19:00-19:26 TX* Mainichi Kaa-san
*2.4%(*2.9%) 06/07 *8:30-*9:00 TX* Metal Fight Beyblade
*2.3%(*2.7%) 06/06 23:20-23:45 TX* Shin mazinger Z-Hen on television
*2.2%(**.*%) 06/02 18:00-18:30 TX* BLEACH
*2.0%(*2.2%) 06/04 25:59-26:29 TBS K-On!
*2.0%(**.*%) 06/02 26:09-26:39 NTV Hajime no Ippo New Challenger
*2.0%(*1.7%) 06/04 26:40-27:10 EX* Kurokami The Animation
*1.9%(**.*%) 06/01 25:30-26:00 TX* Sora wo Kakeru Shoujo
*1.9%(*1.5%) 06/07 10:00-10:30 TX* Cross Game
*1.8%(*2.2%) 06/05 25:23-25:53 TX* Hayate no Gotoku!!
*1.8%(**.*%) 06/03 18:00-18:30 TX* Yugioh 5D's
*1.8%(**.*%) 06/01 17:30-18:00 TX* Natsume Yuujinchou (Rerun)
*1.7%(**.*%) 06/02 25:39-26:09 NTV Souten Kourou
*1.7%(*2.6%) 06/05 25:55-26:25 TBS Basquash!
*1.7%(*1.8%) 06/05 17:30-18:00 TX* Inazuma Eleven Encore
*1.6%(*1.6%) 06/05 26:25-26:55 TBS Sengoku BASARA
*1.5%(**.*%) 06/02 17:30-18:00 TX* Uchi no Sanshimai
*1.5%(**.*%) 06/01 18:00-18:30 TX* Dora
*1.5%(**.*%) 06/03 26:59-27:29 TBS Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (Rerun)
*1.2%(*2.4%) 06/04 25:29-25:59 TBS PandoraHearts
*1.2%(**.*%) 06/03 26:40-27:10 TX* Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann (Rerun)
*1.1%(*1.6%) 06/07 *9:30-10:00 TX* Jewel Pets
*1.1%(*0.9%) 06/07 25:30-26:00 TX* Natsu no Arashi!
*1.0%(*1.7%) 06/04 24:45-25:10 NHK Tytania
*0.9%(*1.0%) 06/07 26:00-26:30 TX* Saki
*0.8%(*1.4%) 06/05 26:45-27:15 TX* Arad Senki
*0.8%(*1.1%) 06/07 10:30-11:00 TX* Live-on cardliver
*0.7%(*0.5%) 06/04 26:15-26:45 TX* Phantom ～Requiem for the Phantom～

---

I don't know when the past week's ratings will be posted, though... the figures for the latest episodes of Eden and FMA have yet to surface (they already have by Tuesday, usually).
On the other hand, I was a bit surprised to see the ratings for Tytania posted, for once. I'd like to see what kind of numbers Hanasakeru Seishounen and Guin Saga are pulling now.

[Knowledge Seeker]

That's hilarious, one of my favorite shows (Phantom) is on the very bottom. But at least FMA is enjoying a mid-spot; I thought the ratings for it would be a little higher, but not complaining.

[SeijiSensei]

Originally Posted by solomon

It's the highest rated of all late night shows, although that is to be expected scince it comes on an hour earlier than the rest of the bunch.

I am just surprised that it does so well despite being an original work.

It's a Noitamina show. We've discussed how well these shows perform before in this thread. Eden's current rating of around three is pretty average for that block. This post by Woland provides some excellent comparative data.

I'd add Kemono no Souja Erin to Katapan's list of shows for which I'd like to see current data.

[Guardian Enzo]

Nice spike for "Cross Game" there.

[Haak]

Originally Posted by Katapan

I don't know when the past week's ratings will be posted, though... the figures for the latest episodes of Eden and FMA have yet to surface (they already have by Tuesday, usually).

Kaoru-senpai says the ratings for Eden of the East jumped to 4.4%

I'm happy.

[Katapan]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

I'd add Kemono no Souja Erin to Katapan's list of shows for which I'd like to see current data.

The data for Erin does get posted, usually. Last week was a rare case of the show not appearing in the list. I compiled the past few weeks:

01 - 01/10 - 3.8%
02 - 01/17 - 3.3%
03 - 01/24 - 2.3%
04 - 01/31 - 3.1%
05 - 02/07 - 3.0%
06 - 02/14 - 2.9%
07 - 02/21 - 4.1%
08 - 02/28 - 3.8%
09 - 03/07 - 2.8%
10 - 03/14 - *.*%
11 - 03/21 - 2.8%
12 - 03/28 - 3.3%
13 - 04/04 - 2.4%
14 - 04/11 - 3.4%
15 - 04/18 - 3.8%
16 - 04/25 - 3.1%
17 - 05/02 - *.*%
18 - 05/09 - *.*%
19 - 05/16 - 2.5%
20 - 05/23 - 2.8%
21 - 05/30 - 3.1%
22 - 06/06 - *.*%

These aren't mindblowing ratings, since the show airs right after Major, which has been getting ratings between 4.9% and 7.1% for the same weeks - a good part of the kids don't feel like sticking around for Erin, it would seem.

This trend of ratings dropping for the post-Major slot has been going on for years, though. For a quick comparison, the lowest and highest ratings for the previous shows on this timeslot (from most recent to oldest): Telepathy Shoujo Ran: 1.9 - 3.4% ratings, Dennou Coil: 1.7 - 3.6%, Tsubasa Chronicles: 1.8 - 4.8% (but this can date back as far as 2005, since the show has 52 episodes with the two seasons combined, + the usual NHK rebroadcasts which still happen for Major).

Most of the data originates from this site, which remains ever so helpful.

[Kurai~]

I tend not to pay attention to viewer ratings in Japan. They loved FMA over there. I didn't. I love Trigun. The Japanese, not quite so much.

[kkxprs]

Originally Posted by Irenicus

Sazae-san is from a legendary comic strip in Japan, and is (I think) among the longest running cartoons ever. Character summaries can be googled since I don't really know much about it to tell you the truth.

Essentially, it's something of a cultural institution. Like Tom & Jerry or the Looney Tunes to Americans. Nostalgia, ease-of-access, everyone watches it, etc., hence the consistently massive, un-anime like ratings.

oh, ya thanks for the breakdown. i looked it up n i honestly thought it was a joke at first. lol, the art is very very basic. but since it's so old i guess they r jus stayin true to the design. i was really shocked though caus when u compare it to something like naruto or dbz. which anime r u watchin right now?

[blewin]

oh, Natsume Yuujinchou's getting a rerun? *hopeful for a 3rd season*