Founded in 2015 by AbemaTV, Inc. (CyberAgent 55.2% + TV Asahi 36.8%), ABEMA is one of Japan’s biggest free streaming networks, mixing more than 25 live linear channels with a deep on-demand library. Fans tune in for anime marathons, round-the-clock news, original Japanese dramas, romance-reality shows, music and live sport, including sumo and football. The catch for viewers elsewhere is simple: the entire service is geo-locked to Japan, so it is not officially available in your country. Open the app or website without a Japanese IP and you hit a blank wall instead of the schedule.
A reliable VPN solves the location problem. Connect ExpressVPN to a server in Japan, reload, and ABEMA streams its free channels in 1080p as if you were sitting in Tokyo. Because the platform has actively blocked many VPNs since 2019, a strong, well-maintained provider matters more here than almost anywhere else. The free ad-supported ABEMA tier works the moment your IP looks local. The optional Premium plan is a separate paid upgrade that still needs a Japanese payment method, so a VPN never makes Premium free.
Tested weekly by our team. Green: works, amber: partial, red: blocked.
| VPN Service | Price | ABEMA | Tested | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 ExpressVPNBEST | From $2.79/mo | ✓ Works | July 6 | Try it |
 NordVPN | From $2.99/mo | ✓ Works | July 4 | Open |
 Surfshark | From $1.78/mo | ✓ Works | July 6 | Open |
 IPVanish | From $2.19/mo | ✓ Works | July 1 | Open |
 ProtonVPN | From $3.59/mo | ~ Partial | July 2 | Open |
 Private Internet Access | From $1.79/mo | ~ Partial | July 6 | Open |
 CyberGhost | From $1.75/mo | ~ Partial | June 30 | Open |
✓ Works✓ Works✓ Works✓ Works~ Partial~ Partial~ PartialTakes about 2 minutes. Works on your phone, tablet, TV, PC, or laptop.
ABEMA is only available in Japan. To access it from anywhere else, use a premium VPN.
ABEMA is blocked in the United States, in the United Kingdom, in Australia, in Canada and in New Zealand, plus in 188 more countries. To access it, use a premium VPN like ExpressVPN.
ABEMA is a Japanese FAST (Free Ad-supported Streaming TV) network launched in April 2016 as a joint venture between CyberAgent (55.2%) and TV Asahi (36.8%). The free service runs more than 25 linear channels around the clock, covering news, anime, sport, variety, reality and original commissions. Paid Premium tiers, available both with and without ads, unlock the full archive and upgraded live coverage. Content is mostly in Japanese and the service is built for the domestic Japanese market.
3 tips from our ABEMA testing team · Updated June 21, 2026
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