How popular is Ginga?

[BuddyDog15]

Just kinda curious how popular Ginga is in other countries like Japan. Is it well known or kind of obscure?

[Jinto]

I'd guess it has to be popular enough in Japan that it sells and continues this long. In other countries Ginga seems to be mostly unknown

[skinklegs]

It's pretty popular in Nordic countries! Mostly Finland I think.

I've met people at cons here in the USA that know what it is, but outside of anime conventions I wouldn't expect to run into anyone who's familiar with it. I'd be pretty surprised at least.

[Fino]

I've always been under the impression that Ginga as a whole is largely unknown. Though I was surprised to find out it's pretty popular in Nordic countries. I've met a few people who know what Ginga is, but they weren't necessarily fans themselves. "Isn't that the anime with the blue dogs?".

It's a shame really, but I can't say I'm surprised that it's not more popular in the US. It's sort of niche and due to a lack of manga being available in English the potential audience is limited. Of course, you can read it online, but you'd have to be actively looking for it, it's not the same as stumbling upon a manga in a store and getting curious.

I personally think the GDW anime is kind of goofy looking and isn't as charming as GNG. There's also the sexism aspect of the series and I guess it just doesn't go over well for most (understandably). I enjoy it mostly for nostalgia frankly, I haven't taken the time to even read all of the GDW manga or any of the new adaptations. I was surprised new merch came out in Japan even, as I didn't realize it was even popular in it's home country still.

[sword_cats]

It's not really known in Germany! There are fans, indeed, but we have like zero official translations and it's pretty hard to find anyone who knows this series here. I was quite surprised that it's quite popular in the Nordic countries and I kinda wish it'd be a bit known here too. But I don't think it's going to change, unless they make a new anime maybe? Possibly if there were more official English translations. Aside from that though, it feels like a pretty tiny chance of it getting any recognition whatsoever. Although I've been to cons in the past, I've never really met anyone irl who knows about Ginga.

[Spirit Tree]

Since Ginga is mostly popular in Finland and is just about popular in Japan, I think the popularity level is somewhere at 7 out of 10.

[Findog]

It's mostly popular here in Finland, but I think in Sweden it's almost as big, they got it before us after all. Also Hungary have some fans because cut version was released there too.

[Dolar]

I'm from Poland, some people which i met somehow heard about this series. Someone even create polish subtitles for series many years ago! It's not that big amount like in other countries but still something.

[WolfKing]

As other have mentioned it's greatly popular in Nordic countries, especially Finland.

Having lived in Norway I'd say it's also reasonably popular in Norway, with both cut and uncut versions available of the anime. Though it's out of print. Most people who know it i assume are late 80s and early-to late 90s kids.

It was ironically that version that was my introduction to the series

[4townie]

It's probably only popular in Japan and nordic countries, especially Finland. It's rare to find a Ginga fan in the wild.

[Ukaknir]

I have been lucky in that my best friend from high school already knew what Ginga Densetsu Weed was when I met her. Which is even more amazing considering that my high school was pretty small and I'm from the United States. I did have to introduce her to Ginga Nagareboshi Gin because she didn't know that it was the prequel of Ginga Densetsu Weed. She liked it just as much as Ginga Densetsu Weed. For her birthday last year I gave her my extra volumes of the Japanese Ginga Nagareboshi Gin manga that I bought individually since I bought all the volumes for a good price. She was VERY happy getting them.
There was a lady who used to work at a local arcade and I asked if she knew about the show. She said that her nephew liked watching it. This was back in 2012. Anyway aside from those instances, nobody here knows what this franchise is. I'm the one who has to introduce this show to people I know 99% of the time.

[Justarandomfan1]

Wouldn't say too popular, but I heard in some place (I forgot what it was) its extremely popular there.

[4townie]

I know that Ginga is really popular in Finland and other Nordic countries as well as Japan.