Half of Japanese Anime Streamers Use Prime Video; Netflix Officially Loses Ground as Viewing Hours Tie

Survey favors Prime Video

Anime! Anime! published its 2026 oshikatsu reader survey on November 5. Among respondents who subscribe to streaming services, about half cited Prime Video and roughly three in ten cited Netflix for anime viewing.

U-NEXT and Hulu were each around 10%. Respondents could use multiple services, so the survey examined anime-focused usage rather than treating subscriptions as exclusive.

Survey limits matter

The published respondent group was 65% male and 35% female. About 30% were in their 30s, while roughly 25% were 19 or younger. The survey did not disclose its total sample size. Those limitations make the findings difficult to generalize, though they do not rule out a substantial anime audience for Prime Video.

Viewing data shows a tie

By the first half of 2026, Prime Video and Netflix each had approximately 42% of anime viewing hours in Japan. That comparison supports the survey’s indication that the services are close competitors there.

Prime benefits from its bundle

Netflix has a large slate of original anime, while Prime Video offers anime alongside films, dramas and other programming. In Japan, Prime Video is also included with the broader Amazon Prime membership.

That bundle gives people who already have Prime for shipping access to the video library as well. The available figures point to strong competition in Japan, rather than a clear overall victory for either service.