Fans of anime commonly celebrate their favorite character’s birthday in order to express their love for them. You may have come across at least one of these photos on social media of fans upload party pictures of cakes surrounded by goods and illustrations including words of congratulations.
Anime! Anime! asked its readers ‘Which January-Born Anime Character’s Birthday Do You Want to Celebrate?’. Fans could write their answers in an open text field. The survey took place from 28 to 30 December 2017. 238 people participated. About 30% of the readers were male and about 70% were female. About 60% of the users were under 19 and about 24% in their 20s.
No.1 is Love Live! Sunshine!!‘s member of Aqours Dia Kurosawa. Dia is a third-year student and the student council president. She is a cool and proud perfectionist. Dia is a big fan of μ’s and after joining Aqours she passionately poured herself into their activities. She is kind to her younger sister Ruby, and we see her real side as the story progresses. Mostly fans from 10 to 19 years old voted for her and she’s popular with both genders.
Next is Kuroko’s Basketball‘s main character Tetsuya Kuroko, who came in at No.2. Tetsuya got the nickname ‘phantom’ as the sixth member of the ‘Generation of Miracles’ because of his skills of misdirecting passes and being ‘invisible’ to his opponents. Although he doesn’t really express his emotions and lacks energy, he gets hyped up during a game and doesn’t give up until the end. Female readers in their 10~20’s would like to celebrate his birthday.
No. 3 is Six Gravity’s leader Hajime Mutsuki from Tsukiuta The Animation. He’s a genius who has an imposing presence and good manners. Hajime is called ‘king’ by others because he is sweet and takes good care of younger mates and animals. He was enthusiastically supported by women of a wide age range.
1. Dia Kurosawa Love Live! Sunshine!!/ 1 January
2. Tetsuya Kuroko Kuroko’s Basketball/ 31 January
3. Hajime Mutsuki Tsukiuta. The Animation/ 8 January
=4. Portgas D. Ace One Piece/ 1 January
=4. Hanayo Koizumi Love Live!/ 17 January
=6. Yukino Yukinoshita My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected/ 3 January
=6. Camus Uta no Prince-sama/ 23 January
=8. Asahi Azumane Haikyuu!!/ 1 January
=8. Kaede Kayano Assassination Classroom/ 9 January
=10. Ritsu (Autonomous Intelligence Fixed Artillery) Assassination Classroom/ 1 January
=10. Kido (Tsubomi Kido) Kagerou Project/ 2 January
=10. Mio Akiyama K-On!/ 15 January
Here are some other characters that received votes in the poll:
Kako Takafuji The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls/ 1 January
Yoshiko Hanabata Aho-Girl/ 1 January
Gakuho Asano Assassination Classroom/ 1 January
Eins von Glanzreich The Royal Tutor/ 1 January
Anzu Kadotani Girls und Panzer/ 1 January
Alexandria Meat Kinnikuman/ 1 January
Tsubaki Servamp/ 1 January
Arata Kirishima Tokyo Ghoul/ 1 January
Hajime Shinoda New Game!/ 1 January
Hajime Saito Hakuouki/ 1 January
Natsume Asahina Brothers Conflict/ 1 January
Yuki Aito The Comic Artist and His Assistants/ 1 January
Jun Fuyumi Idolmaster SideM/ 2 January
Aiichiro Nitori Free!/ 4 January
Kyusaku Yumeno Bungo Stray Dogs/ 4 January
Mei Narumiya Ace of Diamond/ 5 January
Ozma Lee Macross Frontier/ 5 January
Ryo Yoake ReLIFE/ 5 January
Iji Koga Saiyuki/ 6 January
Oluo Bozado Attack on Titan/ 6 January
Kyoko Shimizu Haikyu!!/ 6 January
Ichika Usami Kirakira PreCure a la Mode/ 7 January
Tsugumi Hazawa BanG Dream!/ 7 January
Masamune Makabe Masamune-kun’s Revenge/ 7 January
Gomora (Mikazuki Kuroda) Ultra Monster Anthropomorphic Plan/ 8 January
Matako Kijima Gintama/ 8 January
Nichirin Gintama/ 8 January
Yui Kanakura Nisekoi/ 8 January
Ittetsu Takeda Haikyu!!/ 10 January
Kyoyo Ozaki Bungo Stray Dogs/ 10 January
Yukichi Fukuzawa Bungo Stray Dogs/ 10 January
Arad Mölders Macross Delta/ 10 January
Akane Makabe Fafner in the Azure/ 11 January
Tatsuhiro Nome B-Project: Kodou Ambitious/ 11 January
Shoto Todoroki My Hero Academia/ 11 January
Marina Ismail Mobile Suit Gundam 00/ 12 January
Makoto Hanamiya Kuroko’s Basketball/ 12 January
Schneizel el Britannia Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion/ 12 January
Koji Mihama King of Prism/ 14 January
Yuni Katekyou Hitman Reborn! / 15 January
Norio Kunato Knights of Sidonia/ 15 January
Krista Lenz Attack on Titan/ 15 January
Masahiro Setagawa Hitorijime My Hero/ 15 January
Ray The Promised Neverland/ 15 January
Asuha Kusunoki Battle Girl High School/ 18 January
Gaara Naruto/ 19 January
Edgar Allan Poe Bungo Stray Dogs/ 19 January
Dian Jewelpet/ 20 January
Takane Shijo Idolmaster/ 21 January
Azuma YukishiroA3/ 22 January
Hifumi Takimoto New Game!/ 23 January
Kikyou Kushida Classroom of the Elite/ 23 January
Shiki Takamura Tsukipro the Animation/ 25 January
Mikado Sekimura B-Project: Kodou Ambitious/ 25 January
Shizuo Heiwajima Durarara!!/ 28 January
Mei Irizaki High School Fleet/ 28 January
Kotaro Takebayashi Assassination Classroom/ 29 January
Itsuki Tadano Ace of Diamond/ 29 January
Anzu Yukimura Da Capo II/ 29 January
Megurine Luka (Vocaloid)/ 30 January
Aoi Kiriya Aikatsu!/ 31 January
Franz Schubert ClassicaLoid/ 31 January
Utaha Kasumigaoka Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend/ 31 January
Rei Kijima Ace of Diamond/ 31 January
Ryunosuke Uryu Fate/Zero/ 31 January
(Voting Period: 28-30 December 2017)
The first season of the new year is just one month away from its finale. It was a great start with many amazing titles that made these past months worth the extra hours we put in front of our sets. Now, it is time for the cold wind to give way to the pink hues of the sakura tree and for the Winter 2018 season to give the anime baton to Spring 2018.
