by November 8th is “Shigaraki Tanuki Day”. This commemorative day was established by the Tourism Association of Shigaraki Town, Koka City, Shiga Prefecture, where Shigaraki ware is produced.
Tanuki, an ancient Japanese animal, has been loved for many years and appears in fairy tales and proverbs. There are also characters related to tanuki in anime. They are depicted differently depending on the work, such as surprising people with their transformation techniques, living in human society, and having a tanuki-like appearance. So Anime! Anime! Conducted a reader survey titled “When you think of “Tanuki” characters?” following last year. During the survey period from November 1st to November 3rd, we received responses from 130 people.
The gender ratio was about 35 percent male, about 60 percent female, and about 5 percent no response, with more women. The age group was mainly young people, about 35 percent under 19 years old and about 20 percent in their 20s. Tanuki characters in games are also popular! The No. 1 character is Doraemon from “Doraemon”. With a support rate of about 28 percent, he has been at the top for four consecutive years.
“Even though he is a cat-shaped robot, people who meet him for the first time always mistake him for a tanuki,” “His round body is more like a tanuki than a cat. He has even been called a blue tanuki because of the color of his body,” and “In the “Doraemon the Movie” where guest characters appear, he is often mistaken for a tanuki. When children in the audience hear him scream, “I’m not a tanuki!” they laugh and get excited.”
This national character is once again at the top of the list. In March 2025, “Doraemon the Movie: Nobita’s Picture World Story,” a 45th-anniversary work of the “Doraemon the Movie” series, is scheduled to be released. In second place, Tanukichi from “Animal Crossing” came. With a support rate of about 9 percent, it has risen from last year’s tied 4th place. Tom Nook runs a shop and a real estate agency in the village. “He’s a famous raccoon character who gets players who move to the town to take out loans.
I think many people know him even if they don’t play the game,” and “The twins Mamekichi and Tsubukichi have big, wide eyes, but Tom Nook has sleepy eyes. Even 4 years after its release, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is still popular,” so characters that are indispensable to games made it to the top. 3rd place 3rd place goes to Futatsuiwa Mamizou from Touhou Project. With a support rate of about 7 percent, it has dropped from 2nd place last year.
Readers commented, “Among the orthodox and venerable monster Tanuki, he is like a leader who brings his friends together. His big, fluffy tail, which represents his power, looks warm. ” They also said, “He originally lived in the outside world, but he is a monster tanuki that came to Gensokyo. Tanuki may have a stupid image, but he is competent as a leader.” His cute appearance and high supernatural power are attractive. Game characters took second and third place.
Here are some other comments! Shimogamo Yasaburo from “The Eccentric Family”: “The third son of the Shimogamo family, a prestigious tanuki clan that lives in Tadasu-no-Mori, Kyoto. His inherited “idiot blood” makes him an impressive sight as he runs through modern-day Kyoto, toying with tengu and humans. When I walk around Kyoto, I can’t help but think that Yasaburo, disguised as a rotten college student, is hiding somewhere.” For the raccoon dog from “SUPER LOVERS,” “It’s the pet dog of the Kaito family, and it’s a real Pomeranian, but it’s a cute dog that was named after Rei, who had never seen a real raccoon dog, misunderstood it.”
For Daikokutei Mameda from “My Master Has No Tail,” “Since the manga has ended, I voted for it with the hope that the second season of the anime and the end of the original will be made into a film!” For Tanukizuka Mamekichi from “I’ve Started Being a Teacher at a Yokai School!”, “It’s a small raccoon yokai, but it’s adorable, and it’s a good boy who treats Seimei, who has just arrived as a new teacher, cheerfully! I just got hooked on the anime, but I look forward to Mamekichi every week because he can get along with anyone.”
There were also votes for titles currently airing. In the 2024 edition, the top-ranked “Doraemon” and other characters mistaken for raccoons were also ranked because of their appearance and characters with a somewhat raccoon-like atmosphere. The results show that raccoons are familiar animals.
Top 10 rankings [When you think of a Tanuki character, what comes to mind? 2024 edition] 1st: Doraemon “Doraemon” 2nd: Tanukichi “Animal Crossing” 3rd: Futatsuiwa Mamizou “Touhou Project” 4th: Shukaku “NARUTO” 5th: Shimogamo Yasaburo “The Eccentric Family” 5th: Sletta Mercury “Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch of Mercury” 5th: Tanukizuka Mamekichi “I’ve Started Being a Teacher at a Yokai School!” 5th: Watanuki Manri “Inu x Boku SS” 9th: Shigaraki Tanuki-Otoko “Run for Money” 10th: Shigaraki “Gurukuru! Kokkuri-san” (Response period: November 1st to November 3rd, 2024) Overall rankings [When you think of a tanuki character, what comes to mind? 2024 Edition] 1st Doraemon “Doraemon” 2nd Tanukichi “Animal Crossing” 3rd Futatsuiwa Mamizou “Touhou Project” 4th Shukaku “NARUTO” 5th Shimogamo Yasaburo “The Eccentric Family” 5th Sletta Mercury “Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch of Mercury” 5th Tanukizuka Mamekichi “I’ve Become a Teacher at a Yokai School!” 5th Watanuki Banri “Inu x Boku SS” 9th Shigaraki Tanuki-Otoko “Run for Money” 10th Shigaraki “Gurukure! Kokkuri-san’ 11th Tanuki ‘Tanuki to Kitsune’ 11th Raphtalia ‘The Rising of the Shield Hero’ 13th Tony Tony Chopper ‘One Piece’ 13th Pokemon ‘Dorabase Doraemon Super Baseball Gaiden’ 13th Yamada Nuki ‘The Daily Life of Urashima Sakatasen’ (Response period: November 1st to November 3rd, 2024)
This survey is part of a survey of readers’ “interest and attention to current anime works and characters.” The results are not intended to determine the superiority or inferiority of any character or work. This article will help you learn about new works and characters and deepen your understanding and interest.
