According to a survey conducted by the Nippon Research Center from October to November 2020, Kumamon was the most popular character among people in Japan. The mascot of Kumamoto Prefecture received votes from 40 percent of the respondents. It was followed in popularity by Totoro, the eponymous figure of Hayao Miyazaki's animation movie "My Neighbor Totoro," which was released to Japanese cinemas in 1988.
Most popular fictional characters in Japan as of November 2020
area and city size as well as gender and age were sampled to reflect the Japanese population; multiple answers possible
Method of interview
Questionnaire
Supplementary notes
The respondents were able to choose among 84 different fictional characters of the following types: local characters, company characters, manga and animation characters, game characters, popular Japanese fictional characters, and popular international fictional characters.
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NRC. (December 17, 2020). Most popular fictional characters in Japan as of November 2020 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 27, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/811679/japan-favorite-fictional-characters/
NRC. "Most popular fictional characters in Japan as of November 2020." Chart. December 17, 2020. Statista. Accessed December 27, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/811679/japan-favorite-fictional-characters/
NRC. (2020). Most popular fictional characters in Japan as of November 2020. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 27, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/811679/japan-favorite-fictional-characters/
NRC. "Most Popular Fictional Characters in Japan as of November 2020." Statista, Statista Inc., 17 Dec 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/811679/japan-favorite-fictional-characters/
NRC, Most popular fictional characters in Japan as of November 2020 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/811679/japan-favorite-fictional-characters/ (last visited December 27, 2024)
Most popular fictional characters in Japan as of November 2020 [Graph], NRC, December 17, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/811679/japan-favorite-fictional-characters/
