# Learn Japanese with Princess Mononoke

> How hard its Japanese is, real words from it with kana and romaji, where to watch it, and what to watch before and after.

[Anime by Japanese level](https://ikkimi.app/anime-by-japanese-level/) › [N2](https://ikkimi.app/anime-by-japanese-level/#n2)

**The short answer:** Ikkimi rates **Princess Mononoke** N2 for learning Japanese: a film, old-fashioned speech. **Good for a beginner? Not for beginners.** It suits learners who already follow easier shows. Expect to click a lot of words at first.

Ikkimi lists Princess Mononoke on Netflix. What each service carries varies by country. On Netflix, turn on Japanese subtitles and every word becomes clickable.

The Ikkimi web app and Chrome extension come on one plan. The iPhone app is coming soon.

## How hard is the Japanese in Princess Mononoke?

Ikkimi rates Princess Mononoke at **N2** (fast talk on many topics). What sets its level: a film, old-fashioned speech. Of the 192 anime Ikkimi rates by hand, 139 are easier and 15 are harder.

Levels follow the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, from N5 (easiest) to N1 (hardest). They are Ikkimi’s estimate of how hard a show’s Japanese is to follow, from how fast people talk, how many unusual words there are and how clear the voices are. They are not official JLPT ratings.

| Fact | Princess Mononoke |
| --- | --- |
| Ikkimi’s level | N2 (fast talk on many topics) |
| Why | a film, old-fashioned speech |
| Japanese title | もののけ姫 |
| Format | Film |
| Running time | 2 h 14 |
| Released | 1997 |
| Genres | Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy |
| Where to watch | [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/search?q=Princess%20Mononoke) |

Format, episodes, year and genres are from [AniList’s entry](https://anilist.co/anime/164).

## The words in the title

The Japanese title, もののけ姫, is a first lesson in itself. Its 2 words, as a dictionary lists them:

| Word | Kana and romaji | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 物の怪 | もののけ mononoke | evil spirit; (vengeful) ghost; specter Written もののけ in the title. |
| 姫 | ひめ hime | young lady of noble birth; princess (esp. in Western contexts, tales, etc.) |

## How to learn Japanese with Princess Mononoke

Ikkimi lists Princess Mononoke on Netflix. What each service carries varies by country. Ikkimi does not stream anything: you watch on your own account, in Chrome on a computer, and Ikkimi adds a Japanese line you can click on top of the player.

### On Netflix

On Netflix, turn on Japanese subtitles in the player, where your country’s Netflix has them for this title, and Ikkimi makes the line clickable. If there are none, open the Ikkimi popup, choose Find Japanese subtitles, and search Jimaku’s catalogue or load a file from your computer.

1. Add Ikkimi to Chrome: Get the extension from the [Chrome Web Store](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ikkimi-%E2%80%94-learn-japanese/kknpmodmojiodjhbgapdgpabdehpnfcb) and sign in.
2. Play the film: Open Princess Mononoke on Netflix. The Japanese line appears on top of the video.
3. Click the words you keep hearing: The video pauses and the word opens: kana, romaji, meaning, JLPT level and a recording by a native speaker where one exists (never a computer voice; otherwise the line from the show plays again). At this level, turn on the English line under the Japanese at first, and keep only the words that come back.
4. Review them later: Kept words come back as flashcards on the Ikkimi website, with the scene and the line they came from, just before you would forget them.

The film runs about 2 h 14, so you can split it over a few evenings and rewatch the scenes you liked.

## Easier and harder shows

Shows within a level of Princess Mononoke, with the most genres in common first.

### Easier

| Show | Level | Why | Where |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **[Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-](https://ikkimi.app/anime/re-zero-starting-life-in-another-world/)** Re:ゼロから始める異世界生活 | N3 to N2 | fast emotional monologues, fantasy words | Crunchyroll |
| **[Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind](https://ikkimi.app/anime/nausicaa-of-the-valley-of-the-wind/)** 風の谷のナウシカ | N3 to N2 | a film, formal and old-fashioned speech | Netflix |
| **[ONE PIECE](https://ikkimi.app/anime/one-piece/)** | N3 | loud and clear, pirate words that repeat | Crunchyroll, Netflix |

### Also N2

| Show | Level | Why | Where |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **[Demon Slayer](https://ikkimi.app/anime/demon-slayer/)** 鬼滅の刃 | N2 | old-fashioned speech, a lot of shouting | Crunchyroll, Netflix |
| **[Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood](https://ikkimi.app/anime/fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood/)** 鋼の錬金術師 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST | N2 | alchemy and military words | Crunchyroll, Netflix |
| **[Attack on Titan](https://ikkimi.app/anime/attack-on-titan/)** 進撃の巨人 | N2 | military words, fast | Crunchyroll |

### Harder

| Show | Level | Why | Where |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **[Fate/Zero](https://ikkimi.app/anime/fate-zero/)** | N2 to N1 | formal, archaic speeches about ideals | Crunchyroll, Netflix |
| **[Code Geass](https://ikkimi.app/anime/code-geass/)** コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ | N2 to N1 | formal speeches, politics and military words | Crunchyroll, Netflix |
| **[Neon Genesis Evangelion](https://ikkimi.app/anime/neon-genesis-evangelion/)** 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン | N2 to N1 | military, science and psychology words | Netflix |

See [every N2 anime](https://ikkimi.app/anime-by-japanese-level/#n2) or all 192 [anime by Japanese level](https://ikkimi.app/anime-by-japanese-level/), and read [how to learn Japanese by watching anime](https://ikkimi.app/learn-japanese-with-anime/) from zero.

## Questions

### Is Princess Mononoke good for learning Japanese?

Not for beginners. Ikkimi rates it N2 (fast talk on many topics). What sets its level: a film, old-fashioned speech. It suits learners who already follow easier shows. Expect to click a lot of words at first.

### What Japanese level is Princess Mononoke?

N2, on Ikkimi’s scale from N5 (easiest) to N1 (hardest). Of the 192 anime Ikkimi rates by hand, 139 are easier and 15 are harder. The level is Ikkimi’s estimate, not an official JLPT rating.

### Where can I watch Princess Mononoke with Japanese subtitles?

Ikkimi lists Princess Mononoke on Netflix. What each service carries varies by country. On Netflix, turn on Japanese subtitles in the player where they are offered, and Ikkimi makes every word clickable.

### What does the title もののけ姫 mean, word by word?

物の怪 (mononoke) means “evil spirit; (vengeful) ghost; specter”; 姫 (hime) means “young lady of noble birth; princess (esp. in Western contexts, tales, etc.)”. Words the title writes in another form are shown here as a dictionary lists them.

### How long is Princess Mononoke?

AniList lists Princess Mononoke as a film of about 2 h 14, released in 1997.

### What should I watch before Princess Mononoke?

Shows a little easier than Princess Mononoke, with genres in common: Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- (N3 to N2), Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (N3 to N2) and ONE PIECE (N3).

Sources: show details from [AniList](https://anilist.co); meanings from JMdict (EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0); readings and word splits from kuromoji.js with IPADIC; JLPT word levels from Jonathan Waller’s unofficial lists. See [Credits](https://ikkimi.app/credits/). Spotted a mistake? Tell us at [hello@ikkimi.app](mailto:hello@ikkimi.app).

Tonight’s episode is a lesson.

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Source: https://ikkimi.app/anime/princess-mononoke/ · Updated 2026-10-30 · Contact: hello@ikkimi.app · More: https://ikkimi.app/llms.txt
