Newsweek Japan's August 11/18, 2026 double issue is now on sale.
From the editor
Heroes may differ from country to country, but the power of Japanese anime to capture hearts around the world does not change, writes the issue's editor. In the Philippines, where the editor once lived, Voltes V is still sung as a karaoke staple today. For Filipinos who saw their own struggle against the Marcos dictatorship reflected in its story, the series remains beloved as a symbol of resistance, hope, and family bonds.
The editor's own earliest anime memory is watching Ranma 1/2 on TV every day before kindergarten. During the pandemic, a friend who always says "anime is culture" recommended one series after another. Lines that might sound overly earnest or embarrassing in a live-action drama or film land straight in the heart when delivered through anime — a charm the editor sees as unique to anime and manga.
In the special report "The Anime the World Loves" in the issue on sale from August 4, writers from the United States, France, Italy, China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and the Philippines each describe, in their own words, how Japanese anime spread in their countries and why certain titles resonate there. What strikes a chord differs from place to place.
People all over the world wait eagerly for the next installment of the same series. People everywhere share the memory of being pushed forward by a protagonist who never gives up alongside friends, or of crying over the death of a favorite character. None of that knows borders. Putting the feature together, the editor found themselves thinking anew, "this is simply amazing" — anime truly connects the world.
This summer, readers are invited to use the feature to discover a new anime to watch next, or to revisit an old favorite and talk about it with someone.
Special Report: The Anime the World Loves
From Neon Genesis Evangelion to Saint Seiya and Crayon Shin-chan, experts from around the world introduce the works the world loves.
- United States — How anime became a common language for the world
- France — How Grendizer opened a new door to imagination
- Italy — Anime's "real stories" that resonated with traditional culture
- Brazil — The shonen manga worldview that captivated South America's largest nation
- Saudi Arabia — The generation that grew up admiring Captain Tsubasa now co-produces anime with Japan
- South Korea — How anime slipped past government restrictions to take root in daily life and culture
- China — From a rare treat to an everyday presence
- Genre — The power of Japan's "healing" anime that has the world hooked
- Translation — Translating "Hidebu": the French edition of Fist of the North Star's battle with onomatopoeia
- Philippines — How that robot anime became bound up with memories of dictatorship
Latest issue
Newsweek Japan, August 11/18, 2026 issue, "The Anime the World Loves"
Print edition: ¥530 (tax included) | Digital edition: ¥430 (tax included)
