by September 15th is “Sekigahara Day.” It originates from the Battle of Sekigahara, which took place on September 15th, 1600 (October 21st, 1600). The Eastern Army, led by Tokugawa Ieyasu, defeated the Western Army led by Ishida Mitsunari, marking a turning point in the establishment of the Edo Shogunate.
Anime also features numerous warrior/samurai-themed characters. From meticulous portrayals of real-life warlords to fantasy samurai and the human drama of wandering swordsmen, Anime offers a diverse range of appealing perspectives. Following on from last year, Anime! Anime! Conducted a reader survey titled “What’s Your Warrior/Samurai Character?” We received 369 responses from August 28th to September 3rd. The gender ratio was approximately 35% male and 65% female, with a female preponderance. By age group, roughly 50 percent were under 19, with approximately 15 percent each in their 20s and 30s.
A gathering of samurai with uncompromising principles! Number one is Sakata Gintoki from “Gintama.” He has a support rate of roughly 25 percent, making him the top choice for the second year in a row. Readers commented, “He’s usually carefree, but when he gets serious, he’s so cool it’s unfair! I was particularly thrilled by the scene at the end of chapter 322, “Ten Years,” where he confronts his former comrade-in-arms, Takasugi, and pulls out his wooden sword! “He’s always complaining, but he has a samurai heart and sticks to his beliefs for his comrades. He usually has dead fish eyes, but when he’s in battle, they have souls.”
The contrast between his personality and his battle personality has captured the hearts of fans. “His line, ‘I’m the dumbest samurai in the universe, you bastard!’ says it all. It’s precisely because of his troubled past that he’s the protagonist, steadfast in his samurai spirit, striving to protect the irreplaceable days he spends with his comrades,” one commenter said, expressing his attraction to his bushido. Coming in second place is Himura Kenshin from “Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story.” He received a support rate of approximately 8 percent, the same as last year. “He has a gentle and airy air about him, but when he picks up a sword, he reveals his true spirit as the assassin Battousai… I’m moved by Kenshin’s transformation from an assassin to a remorseful one,” and “His reverse-blade sword, with the blade and ridge reversed, represents his vow never to kill again.” Samurai living at the turning point from the Edo to the Meiji eras ranked highly. “His way of speaking, such as ‘I am,’ is the ultimate samurai. When I was a child, I would draw a cross on my cheek with a red pen and imitate him,” one commenter said, highlighting his friendliness as a reason for his popularity. Coming in third place is Goemon Ishikawa from “Lupin the Third.”
With a support rate of approximately 6%, he moved up from seventh place last year. Goemon Ishikawa is the thirteenth-generation descendant of a family of thieves from the Warring States period. He initially appeared as an enemy of Lupin the Third, but now fights alongside him as a member of the gang. His popularity garnered votes, with comments such as, “He’s well known, not just for himself, but for his beloved sword, the Zantetsuken. His catchphrase, ‘I’ve cut down something worthless again…’ is so famous,” and “He’s the very image of the samurai character, with his earnestness, loyalty, and quest for truth, and his dislike for women.”
The release of the new film “LUPIN THE IIIRD THE MOVIE: Immortal Bloodline” this year also boosted his popularity. Here are some other comments! Regarding Hojo Tokiyuki from “The Young Master Who Ran Away,” he said, “It’s quite rare in Anime to have a medieval samurai character from the Kamakura to the Northern and Southern Courts period. He’s captivatingly cute, but he also shines with his indomitable spirit, never losing the pride of the Hojo family and getting back up time and time again.”
Regarding Kanzaki Souma from “Ensemble Stars!”, he said, “He was born into a samurai family and always carries a sword, and his old-fashioned way of speaking and seriousness are the very definition of a samurai. He also has a slightly dangerous side, such as when he tries to apologize by committing seppuku when he makes a mistake…” Regarding Mr. Bushido from “Mobile Suit Gundam 00,” he said, “He’s a mysterious pilot who hides his face behind a mask. It’s interesting how he embodies the wrong image of a samurai. With Nakamura Yuichi’s voice, his true identity is obvious (laughs).” Miyamoto Musashi from “Fate/Grand Order” also received votes for characters that boldly adapted historical facts, with one saying, “The famous swordsman is a female character in ‘Fate’. I can’t count the number of times the bright and cheerful Musashi has saved me… Her choices during her journey are hard to talk about.” In the 2025 edition, samurai characters with strong determination in their hearts dominated the top spots. Another notable feature is the fact that multiple characters from the same works, such as “Gintama,” “One Piece,” and “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba,” have made the list.
Top 10 Rankings [What comes to mind when you think of “samurai” characters? 2025 Edition] 1st Sakata Gintoki “Gintama” 2nd Himura Kenshin “Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story” 3rd Ishikawa Goemon “Lupin the Third” 4th Tetsujin “YAIBA” 5th Hijikata Toshizo “Hakuoki: Shinsengumi Kitan” 6th Hojo Tokiyuki “The Master of the Warrior” 6th Roronoa Zoro “One Piece” 8th Tsugikuni Yoriichi “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” 9th Kasumi “I don’t like getting hurt, so I’ll max out my defense.” 9th Fukuzawa Yukichi “Bungo Stray Dogs” (Response period: August 28th – September 3rd, 2025)
Top 20 Rankings [When you think of “samurai” characters, what comes to mind? [2025 Edition] 1st place: Sakata Gintoki “Gintama” 2nd place: Himura Kenshin “Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story” 3rd place: Ishikawa Goemon “Lupin the Third” 4th place: Tetsujin “YAIBA” 5th place: Hijikata Toshizo “Hakuoki: Shinsengumi Kitan” 6th place: Hojo Tokiyuki “The Master of the Shield Hero” 6th place: Roronoa Zoro “One Piece” 8th place: Tsugikuni Yoriichi “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” 9th place: Kasumi “I don’t want to get hurt, so I’ll max out my defense.” 9th place: Fukuzawa Yukichi “Bungo Stray Dogs” 11th place: Date Masamune “Sengoku BASARA” 12th place: Gravekeeper Weatheremon “Shangri-La Frontier” 13th place: Katsura Kotaro “Gintama” 13th place: Kanzaki Souma “Ensemble Stars!” 13th place Kozuki Oden “One Piece” 16th place Kaedehara Manyo “Genshin Impact” 16th place Kokushibo “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” 16th place Matsukaze “Dr. Stone” 19th place Okita Sougo “Gintama” 19th place Takasugi Shinsuke “Gintama” 19th place Hijikata Toshizou “Blue Mibro” (Response period: August 28th to September 3rd, 2025)
This survey is part of a survey of readers’ opinions on their “interest and attention in 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.
