2025 was absolutely massive for Solo Leveling, with the series being crowned Anime of the Year at the Crunchyroll Awards by both the fans and jury. Outside of Japan, the Solo Leveling hype has been unmatched. However, in Japan, Solo Leveling is nothing out of the ordinary, with many preferring other new anime series to it.
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Most recently, it was revealed that Solo Leveling did not make it into Japan’s most searched anime titles of 2025, which is definitely shocking to many overseas fans. Instead, the most looked-up anime in Japan was Takopi’s Original Sin, followed by Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, and Sakamoto Days. Solo Leveling still has a long way to go to become an iconic series in Japan.
Solo Leveling Is Nowhere To Be Seen In Japan’s Most Searched Anime Titles of 2025
Solo Leveling has been growing in popularity overseas, especially with the enormous success of its anime adaptation. The series dominated at the Crunchyroll Awards, and fans have been eagerly awaiting new projects. Fans in Japan, however, don’t seem as excited.
In Japan, Solo Leveling wasn’t among the top 10 most searched anime titles, and naturally, international fans can’t comprehend how. Instead, a smaller, but more prominent Japanese series has taken the top spot.
Takopi’s Original Sin Dominates Searches In Japan In 2025
Takopi’s Original Sin has gained great popularity overseas, but even more so in Japan. In the West, it had one of the highest-rated episodes of the year. Meanwhile, in Japan, it ended up being the most researched title online.
It seems fans all around the world can’t get enough of the short 6-episode-long anime that is Takopi’s Original Sin. Its premise has fans both hooked and disturbed at the same time, but that's part of the charm.
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Besides Takopi’s Original Sin, other series smaller than Solo Leveling overseas also made it to the rest of the top 10. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, Sakamoto Days, The Summer Hikaru Died, The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity, and Orb: On the Movements of the Earth were all on the list. All these titles grabbed the interest of Japanese fans for one reason or another, while Solo Leveling failed to achieve that.
Solo Leveling Doesn't Have A Dominant Presence In Japan
It’s no secret to know that Solo Leveling is far bigger overseas than in Japan. Japanese fans, for some reason, don’t seem to care much for the series. Even Atsushi Kaneko, someone who works on Solo Leveling, knows that.
“While thrilled with the response, I personally don't feel like the series is known by everyone at this point. Solo Leveling isn't as universally recognized in Japan yet. As a Japanese person living in Japan, the anime is not at the level of Dragon Ball, One Piece, or Naruto. But if season three happens, that’s when I want to truly break that boundary.” - Atsushi Kaneko
One reason for this disinterest by some Japanese fans could have to do with the lack of good representation of Japanese characters. In the Jeju arc, for example, most of the Japanese S- S-Hunters were massacred, even their strongest, but it seems Solo Leveling is slowly making its presence known with Season 3 eyeing to break records eventually.