Anime Anime Global

Jul. 28 is known as “Naniwa Day”.

In order to achieve “a bright place fitted to live” in Naniwa-ku of Osaka, this day was set as the commemoration based on the numbers 7 (Na) and 28 (Niwa). In the anime, Kansai dialect is known as one of the traits of the characters. Thus, there are various Kansai dialect characters, including those that speak heavy Kansai dialect , those that speak in Kansai dialect when they get emotional, and those that were not even from Kansai at all.

So, in Anime!Anime!, we had conducted our annual reader survey on “Who is your favorite Kansai dialect characters in anime?”. We received a total 174 responses during the period from Jul. 10 until Jul. 17.
The gender ratio is mainly female which is approximately 75% while male is approximately 25%. The age distribution tilted to the younger side with approximately 60% from 19 years old and below, and approximately 25% from those in their twenties.

■Few characters with the same voice actor have ranked in!
1st place
The 1st place goes to Hattori Heiji from “Detective Conan”. The supporting rating is approximately 25% taking the top for four consecutive years.

The comments received, include “He is a good rival of Kudou Shinichi. I like how he always makes jokes like a typical Osakan”, “I can't forget his heavy Kansai dialect. Even during the times when he is making deduction and during the times when he is interacting with Kazuha-chan, Heiji-kun is always amazing.”, and “He is amazing as he has physical strength, his deduction ability is on par with Conan, and his high school student-like trait where he can't be honest to Kazuha.” This shows that his popularity is from his skillful deduction ability and the causal talk with his childhood friend.

2nd place
The 2nd place goes to Toujo Nozomi from “Love Live!”. The supporting rating is approximately 8% and she remained on the same ranking as last year.

There are various comments regarding her soft speaking manner that fits her voice such as “Unlike the normal Kansai dialect, Nozomi-chan is speaking in the Kyoto style that is similar to the gentle and older sister element, which fits her perfectly.”, and “Despite she is not from Kansai, but her easygoing personality and her verbal expression give off a mysterious presence.”.

3rd place
3rd place goes to Toyama Kazuha from “Detective Conan”. She had ranked up from 5th place last year.
We had received comments such as “When it comes to Kansai dialect, Kazuha-chan comes to my mind! I like her ponytail and her cute Kansai dialect. I also like the couple quarrel (?) with Heiji in Kansai dialect.”, and “Not only is she cute and strong, her natural airheadedness is also quite charming.” It seem there are many readers that is curious about her relationship with Heiji.

■Let's introduce the other comments!!
For Hino Akane from “Smile PreCure!”: “When we are talking about the Kansai dialect PreCure, Cure Sunny (Hino Akane) is the first one that comes to mind. Her bright personality like the sun and her talkativeness are her good points.”
For Takemoto Tetsu from “Chie-chan Funsenki: Jarinko Chie”: “Ookini, Nanshika, Karumera… There are so many Kansai dialect that I learnt from 'Chie-chan Funsenki: Jarinko Chie'.”

For Cerberus from “Cardcaptor Sakura”: “I like the gap between its actual appearance and the temporary appearance! How he speaks in Kansai dialect even in his true form is so funny, haha.”
For Tentomon from “Digimon Adventure”: “Tentomon is cute and funny but his evolution make him look cool. His voice actor is Sakurai Takahiro-san, who is from Aichi Prefecture, but his Kansai dialect doesn't seem weird at all”. This shows that there are votes for non-human characters as well. Moreover, Kusanagi Izumo from “K”, also voiced by Sakurai Takahiro-san, is tied on the 11th place.

Oda Sakunosuke “Bungo and Alchemist -Gears of Judgement-” at 8th place, Hirako Shinji “BLEACH” tied at 11th place, and Azazel “You're Being Summoned, Azazel” and Sendo Takeshi “Hajime no Ippo” tied at 16th place are all voiced by Onosaka Masaya-san. This shows that there are various votes received for characters that are voiced by the same voice actor.

■Top 20 Ranking
[Who is your favorite Kansai Dialect character? 2020 ver.]
1st Hattori Heiji “Detective Conan”
2nd Toujo Nozomi “Love Live!”
3rd Toyama Kazuha “Detective Conan”
4th Naruko Shokichi “Kuroko's Basketball”
5th Miya Atsumu “Haikyuu!!”
6th Imayoshi Shoichi “Kuroko's Basketball”
7th Cerberus “Cardcaptor Sakura”
8th Oda Sakunosuke “Bungo and Alchemist -Gears of Judgement-”
9th Kita Shinsuke “Haikyuu!!”
9th Hino Akane/ Cure Sunny “Smile PreCure!”
11th Kagehira Mika “Ensemble Stars!”
11th Kuonji Ukyo “Ranma 1/2”
11th Kusanagi Izumo “K:
11th Hirako Shinji “BLEACH”
11th Yagami Hayate “Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha”
16th Aoyama Nanami “The Pet Girl of Sakurasou”
16th Azazel “You're Being Summoned, Azazel”
16th Iijima Yun “NEW GAME!”
16th Ichimaru Gin “BLEACH”
16th Ushigome Rimi “BanG Dream!”
16th Kiryuuin Van “Uta no☆Prince-sama♪”
16th Sendo Takeshi “Hajime no Ippo”
16th Tentomon “Digimon Adventure”
16th Midousuji Akira “Yowamushi Pedal”
16th Tatsuki “Curious Play”

(Survey Period Jul. 10 ~ Jul. 17, 2020)