4/20: Where is Weed in Anime?

Weed is extremely popular in Japan. With over 20 million copies in circulation, Ginga Densetsu Weed is one of the best selling manga of all time. The popularity of actual cannabis is a different, but surprising story. The market for cannabis in Japan grew six times its previous size from 2019 to 2023, with a large focus on CBD products. Alongside this, marijuana alternatives are extremely popular with dappo habu—roughly translating to “loophole herb” in English—selling so well that the government keeps creating new laws to crack down on synthetic alternatives to weed. Long considered Japan’s second most popular drug after methamphetamine, pot-related arrests surpassed arrests involving stimulants for the first time in 2023.

Pot has also been having a moment in Japanese pop culture, as well. Famous actresses like Saya Takagi alongside groups like Green Zone Japan campaign for medical marijuana legalization in the country. The band NAMEDAMURA, despite some of its members facing charges for marijuana possession, continue releasing popular songs about enjoying weed. Rappers like Takuto put out songs like “WE SMOKE WEED” and rap artist nana remixed the song “Rude” by MAGIC! into a rap song about how much she loves Mary Jane.

Cannabis is growing increasingly popular in Japan despite laws cracking down on its usage more than ever. Usage of marijuana recreationally is forming its own unique counter culture in Japanese society. So with anime often embracing unconventional themes and niche subcultures, why is there such a lack of cannabis representation within it?

With many anime, like many cartoons being marketed towards kids, it might seem obvious why a drug illegal in Japan is rarely mentioned. But shojo shows like Tonde Buurin literally made jokes about psychedelic mushrooms on mainstream TV all the way back in 1994¹. It’s not like weed hasn’t found its way into anime adaptations either. Samurai Champloo, Heavenly Delusion, Black Lagoon, Assasination Classroom, Afro Samurai, and Detroit Metal City, multiple anime marketed towards a variety of ages and gender groups, all have featured marijuana use. Sarazanmai literally shows a minor making money by selling weed.

These examples show that while it may be difficult with television censorship and the government being so against marijuana—as they leverage characters like Kamen Rider and the cast of Ace Attorney in anti-marijuana PSAs—it’s possible to depict pot and its use in animated form.² Still, these are small depictions of the plant in shows, are nothing like the anime version of Up in Smoke is releasing to spark the entire stoner comedy genre. 

So if it’s possible, even if an uphill challenge, for an anime with a marijuana focus to be made, why hasn’t it happened yet? The simple answer is that despite the ever growing popularity of pot and various cannabis related products in Japan, the market inside the country that might be interested in such a project is absolutely miniscule. Actual marijuana usage in Japan is low with only about 1.8% of Japan’s population ever trying cannabis, compared to 44.2% in the United States. Those are just people who have tried it at all, not the kinds of folks so into weed culture that they would watch a comedy purely focused on it.

While the chances of seeing a stoner comedy anime are low, steps are being made to build up a Japanese weed-based genre catalog. In 2017, Smokin’ on the Moon was released, allowing Japanese viewers to “finally see the funny side of pot.” While far more psychedelic, action packed, and violent than anything Cheech & Chong have ever been a part of, director Yuichiro Tanaka has created a first of its kind movie that is unforgettable. While it currently lacks a widespread release, it has been shown in the United States. If Smokin’ on the Moon manages to achieve a cult following, or becomes more popular internationally, perhaps more Japanese media makers, in anime spaces included, will consider the possibility of cannabis focused stories.

Header Image: Lupin the 3rd: Goemon’s Blood Spray, Original work by Monkey Punch, ©TMS

1. Tonde Buurin, “Shoot of Love and Youth” (愛と青春のシュート), created by Nippon Animation, Season 1, Episode 2, Artland, Trans Arts, Asatsu DK, Mainichi Broadcasting System, 1994  ︎
2. Yu-Gi-Oh has also previously been leveraged for anti-marijuana PSAs in the United States to hilarious results. ︎

4/20: Where is Weed in Anime? – Borealis Capps