■ Introduction

In Singapore, Japanese content, especially anime, enjoys high popularity, with many Japanese TV shows and movies being widely watched. While terrestrial TV broadcasts and cinemas are available in Singapore, various VOD streaming services have become widespread nationwide. Among them, Netflix has a large user base, and it is common to see Japanese productions ranking in the platform’s Top 10.

In this article, we will introduce some of the most popular Japanese content currently trending on Netflix in Singapore.

■ Netflix Trends in Singapore

With English and Chinese as official languages, Singapore has a broad audience for multilingual content, making Netflix a popular choice among viewers.

According to a report published by the data platform Statista in September 2024, approximately 89% of respondents in Singapore reported watching Netflix. Additionally, a survey released in January 2024 indicated that Netflix’s annual paid membership in the Asia-Pacific region, including Singapore, reached approximately 45.34 million by the end of 2023, a significant increase from about 6.5 million in 2017.

With the expansion of VOD streaming services, local cinemas, which had temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, have resumed operations. However, some theaters have struggled to regain audiences and were forced to shut down.

■ Anime

Japanese anime enjoys immense popularity in Singapore, with many titles attracting a dedicated fan base. For example, Attack on Titan and Demon Slayer are highly acclaimed and widely supported by anime enthusiasts.

As of March 20, 2025, the Singapore Netflix TV show rankings featured SAKAMOTO DAYS at 9th place, highlighting the strong interest in newly released Japanese anime.

Most anime titles are watched with Japanese audio and English or Chinese subtitles, with many young viewers developing an interest in learning Japanese through anime. Meanwhile, popular children’s shows, such as Pokémon, are often available with English-dubbed versions to cater to younger audiences.

■ Movies

Similar to anime series, Japanese films are widely watched in Singapore. Studio Ghibli films attract viewers across all age groups, and many titles are available with English and Chinese dubbed versions.

Due to the strong popularity of anime, live-action adaptations also perform well. Recently, titles such as Kingdom, Rurouni Kenshin, and City Hunter have gained significant attention, making it into the Singapore Netflix movie rankings TOP 10 after their release.

■ Dramas & TV Shows

In terms of dramas, “First Love: 初恋” and “Alice in Borderland”, starring actors such as Takeru Satoh and Kento Yamazaki, have attracted a large audience.
Notably, “First Love: 初恋” was filmed in Hokkaido, and during travel fairs and events where our office participated, many attendees brought it up in conversation.
Additionally, according to our local staff, past releases like “Terrace House” and “Midnight Diner” were highly popular and even ranked in the Top 10 on Singapore’s Netflix.

■ Conclusion

As of March 2025, my assignment has come to an end, and I will be returning to Japan.

Although my reports may have been humble, I sincerely appreciate everyone who has followed them over the past one and a half years. I hope they have helped you gain a better understanding of our office’s activities and life in Singapore.

This month, I introduced popular Japanese content on Netflix in Singapore, but our office will continue to publish resident reports on various topics. I would be grateful if you continue to read and support them in the future.

■Introduction

In this month’s report, we bring you a look at The Japan Rail Fair 2024 held in Singapore. Our office collaborated with Yotsuba Milk Products Asia (The Singapore branch of Yotsuba Milk) to showcase a Hokkaido booth, promoting Hokkaido’s food and tourism appeal.

■Event Highlights

The event featured 22 organizations, including municipalities such as Hokkaido, Akita Prefecture, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Azumino City, Akita City, as well as the Fukuoka Tourism Association, San’in Inbound Organization, Hoshino Resorts Tomamu, JR Kyushu, Air Japan, and KIRIN Holdings, each promoting their offerings. At the Hokkaido booth, our office distributed Hokkaido tourism brochures and held a lucky draw, while Yotsuba Milk provided free samples of four varieties of milk available at local retail stores (plain, strawberry milk, milk tea, and coffee milk), drawing many visitors. On the final day, we held a Hokkaido presentation, sharing information on Hokkaido tourism and the product lineup of Yotsuba Milk.

■ Visitor Comments

・”We’re planning a family trip to Hokkaido in December and we will be meeting family members who live in the U.S. over there.”

・”We’re planning a 10-day trip to Hokkaido in June next year and are looking forward to enjoying the natural scenery, hot springs, and gourmet foods.”

・”I love Yotsuba’s strawberry milk and buy it often. I’m thrilled to have had a chance to try the coffee milk this time.”

■Observations

This event served as an excellent opportunity to promote Hokkaido’s food and tourism through a joint effort between public and private sectors. We will continue to utilize similar events to actively promote the charms of Hokkaido.

■Introduction
For the first time, the Singapore Food Manufacturers’ Association (SFMA) participated in Hokkaido’s largest trade show, the “Hokkaido Products Trade Business Meeting” to promote “Made in Singapore” food products to the attending buyers. Established in 1967, SFMA is one of the influential industry association in Singapore, boasting over 450 members. In addition to organizing large-scale food fairs domestically, SFMA actively participates in food events overseas.

■Background
SFMA has been a crucial partner in promoting Hokkaido food products in Singapore. Key figures, including Chairman David Tan, have attended Hokkaido food promotions held in Singapore as honored guests. SFMA aims to expand the market for Singaporean food products in Japan, which led to their participation in the Hokkaido Products Trade Business Meeting.

■Venue Atmosphere
At the SFMA booth that was set up at the trade business meeting venue, a variety of Singaporean food samples, including noodles and the local coffee “Kopi,” were displayed. Among the offerings, the Chinese buns (Pau) filled with the Singaporean specialty “Chili Crab” received high praise from attendees, with comments such as “The rich crab flavor and the perfect mild spiciness are amazing.”

■Looking Ahead
Hokkaido aims to market its local food products in Singapore and the ASEAN region, while SFMA seeks to promote Singaporean food products in Hokkaido and Japan. Following this trade business meeting, both parties intend to further develop their existing relationship and leverage each other’s networks. This collaboration aims to foster mutual trade expansion and economic exchanges. Our office is committed to continuing to collaborate closely with SFMA and other stakeholders to further promote the charm of Hokkaido.

■Event Pictures

This month, we will introduce the “Scenery of Japan Photo Contest” that is currently being held in Singapore. This photo contest is organized by the Embassy of Japan in Singapore, among others, and our office is also participating in a supportive role.

■About the photo contest

This photo contest marks the first initiative led by the Embassy of Japan in Singapore to widely promote the charm of Japan to the people of Singapore. With the aim of introducing the unique attractions and experiences of Japan through the eyes of foreign tourists, they are inviting submissions of photos taken throughout Japan during all seasons.

The photos will be exhibited at the Japan Creative Centre, a hub for disseminating information about Japanese culture in Singapore.

There are also exciting prizes to be won, such as round-trip air tickets to Japan and high-performance digital cameras, etc. From our office, we are proud to offer Hokkaido-produced wine “Jewel of Tokachi”, which represents one of Hokkaido’s finest exports to the world.

■Observations

Japan has always been a popular travel destination for people living in Singapore, but recently, with the ongoing trend of a weaker yen, there has been a further increase in the number of travelers to Japan. Among travelers, Hokkaido stands out as a destination with delicious cuisine, magnificent nature, and a wide variety of activities, making it a favorite among repeat visitors. Therefore, our office believes that there are many opportunities for travelers to capture stunning photos. We would be delighted to receive as many submissions as possible of photographs taken in Hokkaido. We are eagerly looking forward to the announcement of the results to see which photographs will be awarded the prizes!