U-NEXT Climbs to #3 in Japan's Top Free Entertainment Apps

Overview

As of July 16, 2026, the Japan App Store has seen dynamic shifts in the Entertainment category. The Top Free Apps chart is particularly competitive, with several apps climbing and new entries making a strong impact. This report highlights the latest chart movements, showcasing the top climbers, new entries, and notable drops in rankings.

Top Climbers

• Playlet:ショートドラマとテレビを観る climbs to #18 (up 19 positions from #37).
• U-NEXT - 映画やドラマ、アニメなどの動画が見放題 moves to #3 (up 10 positions from #13).
• NHKプラス（NHK ONE対応） rises to #9 (up 6 positions from #15).
• zeta - AIキャラ・あなたの推しとロールプレイチャット advances to #6 (up 5 positions from #11).
• ABEMA(アベマ) 新しい未来のTV reaches #19 (up 4 positions from #23).

New Entries

The charts welcome a fresh contender:

• さと島 SATO-JIMA プレミアムアプリ debuts at #1, making an immediate impact on the landscape of entertainment apps.

Top Performers

The top performers in this week’s rankings are:

• さと島 SATO-JIMA プレミアムアプリ at #1.
• NetShort - 人気短編ドラマ at #2.
• U-NEXT - 映画やドラマ、アニメなどの動画が見放題 at #3.
• GoodShort(グッドショート)-ショートドラマいつでも at #4.
• BUMP - ショートドラマ / Short Drama at #5.

Notable Drops

Several apps have experienced significant declines:

• MOALA Pocket drops to #28 (down 18 positions from #10).
• ゲオ　クーポンが貰える！ゲーム予約もできる！ falls to #23 (down 6 positions from #17).
• e＋(イープラス)　チケット・ニュース・スマチケ slips to #10 (down 5 positions from #5).
• TikTok ティックトック descends to #12 (down 5 positions from #7).
• DramaBox（ドラマボックス） -ショートドラマ見放題 drops to #13 (down 5 positions from #8).

In conclusion, the Japan App Store's entertainment sector remains vibrant, with emerging trends indicating shifting viewer preferences. Developers should stay attuned to these movements to capitalize on potential opportunities within the market.