The Skin-Tech Devices Helping Execs Beautify in a HurryRead More

Scenes from Netflix's anime series Knights of Sidonia, Eden and Yasuke. Screengrabs via YouTube.

Netflix’s Anime Push Helps Drive Strong Growth Everywhere—Except in Japan

Photo: Scenes from Netflix's anime series Knights of Sidonia, Eden and Yasuke. Screengrabs via YouTube.

If you had to list all the factors that made Netflix a global success, near the top of the list would be the streaming service’s ability to make programs that travel well. Spanish-made shows such as “Money Heist” have done well in India, for instance. Millions of households across Southeast Asia and Japan watched the South Korean horror series “Sweet Home.”

Japanese anime looks to be another example: Viewership of anime shows on Netflix doubled in the U.S. last year and anime series are consistently among the top 10 shows in Peru and Chile. But what anime hasn’t done is helped Netflix become a major success in Japan, a sign that the streaming service hasn’t cracked the secrets to every major market.

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I’m always 29 at heart,” said Liyia Wu, CEO of ShopShops, a livestream shopping app for fashion, beauty and lifestyle products.