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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Japan’s 2024 nationwide character survey does not publish a verifiable anime-only top 10 in its accessible report text. Instead, the Nippon Research Center (NRC) ranked liking across 61 character franchises from several categories. Kumamon led that combined ranking at 32%, while My Neighbor Totoro was described as nearly tied for second. The results offer useful evidence about popular manga and anime franchises, but they should not be read as a definitive ranking of Japan’s ten favorite anime characters.
What the 2024 survey actually ranked
NRC’s 11th Nationwide Character Survey measured recognition and liking for 61 character franchises divided into four groups. Its overall ranking combined all four groups; it was not limited to anime, manga, or individual characters. NRC reported that manga and anime franchises made up nine of the overall top 20, while game franchises appeared in fourth and fifth place. The report’s accessible text does not provide a complete ordered top 10 or every chart rate, so the missing positions cannot be responsibly filled in. NRC’s overall ranking and survey methods
The published figures identify Kumamon at 32%, Doraemon at 29%, Pokémon at 28%, Super Mario Bros. at 27%, Tom and Jerry at 25%, and Mickey & Friends and Winnie-the-Pooh at 24%. NRC describes My Neighbor Totoro as almost tied with Kumamon for second place but does not state Totoro’s exact percentage in the report text. These are liking rates in NRC’s survey, not shares of votes in an anime-only contest.
How NRC conducted the survey
NRC surveyed 1,200 men and women aged 15–79 across Japan from July 14 through July 27, 2024. It says the sample’s regional, city-size, sex, and age composition was allocated to match Japan’s population composition. Interviews used a visit-placement method, rather than an online panel.
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Participants saw character names without illustrations or photographs and could select multiple characters they both recognized and liked. As NRC puts it: “All characters were presented by name only; no illustrations or photographs were shown.” The result therefore reflects prompted recognition and liking among a broad age range, not unaided recall, a single favorite, or a poll restricted to anime fans. NRC’s report
What NRC says about manga and anime franchises
NRC also published a separate report on a 15-franchise manga and anime group. In that subset, My Neighbor Totoro and Doraemon each had liking rates around 30%. Recognition exceeded 90% for Doraemon, Anpanman, Crayon Shin-chan, Lupin the Third, Chibi Maruko-chan, My Neighbor Totoro, GeGeGe no Kitaro, and Detective Conan. Those are subset findings, not placements in a complete anime-only top 10. NRC’s manga and anime character report
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The report also notes differences by age and sex. Totoro and Doraemon were more popular among women than men, while Dragon Ball and One Piece were more popular among men. Several franchises drew stronger liking in particular age groups; the broad national figures do not mean every franchise appeals equally across the population.
Why other 2024 rankings give different answers
Japanese character surveys from the same year used different questions, age ranges, and units of comparison. Their results should not be combined with NRC’s percentages as if they were one ranking.
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| Survey | Who and when | Question and reported result |
|---|---|---|
| NRC | 1,200 people aged 15–79; July 14–27, 2024 | Prompted recognition and liking across 61 franchises in four groups; the overall ranking includes non-anime categories. NRC report |
| Yano Research Institute | 4,350 residents aged 15–69; November 2024 | For its favorite-IP ranking, 2,200 people who liked at least one of 98 selected character IPs named the one they liked best. The leaders were Sanrio, Disney & Pixar, and Chiikawa. Yano release |
| Kodansha C-Station | 1,015 people aged 3–74; February 16–20, 2024 | Unaided recall: respondents wrote up to three favorite characters. Leading works included Pokémon, Doraemon, and Snoopy. C-Station analysis |
The differences matter: a prompted liking rate asks whether someone recognizes and likes a named franchise, while an unaided-recall question asks respondents to produce favorites themselves, and a single-choice question forces a different kind of selection. Sample ages and whether the unit is a character, franchise, or intellectual property also shape what each ranking can say.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to read the headline accurately
- Supported: NRC’s 2024 survey found Kumamon was the most liked of the 61 tested franchises overall, with several anime and manga franchises among the leading results.
- Supported with qualification: Doraemon and My Neighbor Totoro were strong performers in NRC’s manga/anime subset; the report describes their liking rates as around 30%.
- Not established by the accessible report text: a complete ordered top 10 of anime characters, or exact rates and placements for every entry.
- Not what the poll measured: a vote among anime fans, unaided recall, or a single favorite character.
For readers exploring one of the franchises named in the results, NRC’s manga and anime report provides context on Doraemon and other titles. The survey measures public recognition and liking; it does not rank a franchise’s artistic quality or recommend what to watch or read.
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