Netflix has found a new sports anime standout in Japan, and it is not Blue Lock. On November 5, Aoashi appeared in the country’s top 10 most popular TV shows on the streaming service
It was also the only sports anime on that day’s chart, making it Japan’s top-ranked sports title on the list. The showing gives the football series fresh attention as its second season brings Ashito Aoi back to the pitch, where his path to becoming a professional player takes a much tougher turn.
Netflix’s Aoashi Earns Its Place Among Japan’s Top 10 Shows
<a href="https://flixpatrol.com/top10/netflix/japan/2026-11-05/” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>FlixPatrol‘s November 5 chart covers the most popular movies and TV shows on Netflix in Japan. Aoashi made the TV top 10 (ranked 10th) alongside dramas, reality programming, and other anime. It was the only sports anime among the ten shows listed, making it the chart’s highest-ranked sports title despite sitting among a much broader mix of programmes.
The timing is no coincidence: Season 2 began airing in Japan on October 4, 2026, and Netflix is one of the services carrying it. The official schedule lists new episodes every Sunday at 11 p.m. JST . After a long wait between seasons, Ashito’s return gives longtime viewers a reason to tune in again, while the new episodes offer newcomers a fresh entry point
The story follows Ashito Aoi, a gifted but impulsive teenager from Ehime who dreams of making it in football. His talent catches the eye of Tatsuya Fukuda, coach of Tokyo City Esperion’s youth team, who invites him to try out in Tokyo. Ashito earns a place, but soon learns that being the standout player in his hometown does not mean he is ready for an elite academy.
The anime’s appeal comes from the details of the game. Instead of making every match about spectacular goals, the series spends time on positioning, movement, passing lanes, and decisions made away from the ball. Ashito’s unusually broad field of vision becomes central to his growth, while the supporting players make his progress feel like a team effort. The academy setting also lets the series show the work behind improvement: training-ground mistakes, difficult conversations, and the effort it takes to earn a teammate’s trust.
Why Aoashi Is Considered Blue Lock’s Biggest Soccer Anime Rival
Aoashi and Blue Lock are natural comparisons because both follow young footballers chasing a place at the top of the sport. Both debuted in 2022. But they tell very different stories about what makes a great player. The latter follows Yoichi Isagi and hundreds of young forwards in a radical programme designed to create Japan’s greatest striker. The players are pushed to embrace their egos, sharpen their individual strengths, and beat the competition. Its matches revolve around individual ambition and the constant fight to stay ahead.
The former takes a more team-focused route. Ashito begins by thinking football is about scoring goals, but his time at Esperion forces him to see the whole pitch. He has to read opponents, understand space, support teammates, and recognise what the team needs from him. His development is not about becoming the most selfish player on the field; it is about making his talent work within a system. That difference makes the comparison worthwhile. While Blue Lock turns football into a battle of individual ambition, Ao shows the discipline and awareness needed to succeed as part of a team. They offer fans two very different takes on the same sport.
Season 2 pushes Ashito into another demanding stage: after earning promotion from Esperion’s B team to its A team, he finds himself surrounded by players with greater speed, technique, physical strength, and tactical understanding. The official introduction highlights the challenge posed by Haruhisa Kuribayashi and Nagisa Akutsu as Ashito adjusts to Japan’s Premier League for youth teams.
Are you an Aoashi fan? We’d love to know in the comments below.
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Edited by:Apratim Chakraborty
