Most Popular Podcasts in Japan - February 2026
The top 100 podcasts in Japan right now, ranked by combined chart data from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and PodcastIndex. Updated monthly.
Updated: February 20, 2026
How does the PodRanker Score work?
Every podcast gets a PodRanker Score from 0 to 100 based on its chart performance across multiple platforms.
- We collect chart rankings from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and PodcastIndex each month.
- Each source carries a different weight -Apple and Spotify count the most, reflecting their larger listener base.
- The country score reflects how well a podcast ranks on each platform's chart for Japan specifically.
- A score of 100 means #1 on every platform. A score of 50 means solid rankings on most platforms.
Top podcasts in Japan right now
Japan is one of the world's largest media markets, but podcast adoption has been slower here than in the US or Europe. Traditional radio and variety TV still have a strong hold. That said, podcast listening in Japan is growing, and this chart ranks the most popular podcasts in Japan using Apple Podcasts Japan, Spotify Japan, and PodcastIndex data.
The Japanese podcast charts lean toward news, business, and language learning. English-learning podcasts are consistently some of the top podcasts in Japan, which reflects the demand for language education. NHK and other broadcasters produce news commentary that charts well. Tech and startup podcasts have a dedicated audience in Tokyo.
Apple Podcasts has historically led the Japanese market because iPhone market share is very high in Japan. Spotify has been gaining users, but discovery still happens mostly through word-of-mouth and social media rather than algorithmic feeds. For the best podcasts in Japan, the latest Japanese podcast rankings, or just to browse trending Japanese podcasts, this chart updates monthly.
We update these rankings every month. Check out the worldwide top 100 or pick another country from the selector above.