From 10 May to 15 June voting is being held of the 30th annual Sanrio Character Ranking. This is where the company pits their vast library of cute characters such as Hello Kitty against each other in a popularity contest.
You can expect to see the top-ranking characters get the most exposure through merchandising and spokesperson deals for the rest of the year. And now with two weeks past and the preliminary results announced, many are surprised to see the fictional visual kei (think glam rock) group Shingan Crimsonz at the top of the list of 100 characters well ahead of cuteness stalwarts such as Hello Kitty and Little Twin Stars.
This has caused tremors in the cute character community with many suspecting that Japan’s homo-erotic fan fiction loving girls known as fujoshi may have formed a powerful voting bloc.
Station of despair: What to do if you get stuck at the end of Tokyo’s Chuo Rapid Line
Japanese government will check and judge new baby name pronunciations, presents guidelines
Japanese company develops classy heavy metal band frames for glasses
This downtown Tokyo cafe is like a time machine that takes you back 50 years into the past
How to get all-you-can eat doughnuts at Mister Donut for just 12 bucks!
11 different ways to say “father” in Japanese
Japanese train station vending machine has the best souvenirs for rail otaku
Totoro towels gently glow in the dark to set the Ghibli nighttime mood in your home【Photos】
Line of foreign tourists leads us to Akihabara’s meatiest fatty ramen【Taste test】
The results are in! One Piece World Top 100 characters chosen in global poll
One of Japan’s rarest sweets is a sell-out hit that looks and tastes like frost
Studio Ghibli showcases traditional craftsmanship with new wallet range
Mysterious light-up rainy night-sound Totoro figure doesn’t actually show a scene from the anime
Major Japanese city is abolishing extracurricular activities at all of its middle schools
Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke plushies show a softer side of formidable Ghibli characters
Shakey’s is back! All-you-can-eat pizza chain returns to downtown Tokyo’s Shinjuku
Possessing Harry Potter’s Sword of Godric Gryffindor is now illegal in Japan
Uniqlo announces first-ever collaboration with horror manga master Junji Ito【Photos】
J-pop mega star Ado reveals she’s been living in the U.S., may not understand language acquisition
Starbucks Japan is calling it quits with paper straws
Studio Ghibli releases new range of cardigans for anime fans
Japan’s most popular castle raising ticket prices by up to 200 percent for non-local tourists
Furikake rice seasoning sales are soaring, which is bad news for Japan as a whole
Studio Ghibli heroine cardigans give you warmth and strength to face everyday challenges
Eight unforgettable hot springs, as recommended by Japan’s “Professor Bath”
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers
[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Studio Ghibli releases free-download board game — Here’s how to play it without reading Japanese
11 different ways to say “father” in Japanese
Japanese train station vending machine has the best souvenirs for rail otaku
Totoro towels gently glow in the dark to set the Ghibli nighttime mood in your home【Photos】
Line of foreign tourists leads us to Akihabara’s meatiest fatty ramen【Taste test】
The results are in! One Piece World Top 100 characters chosen in global poll
Mysterious light-up rainy night-sound Totoro figure doesn’t actually show a scene from the anime
Low price, free booze and curry, late check-out, and great location — Akihabara capsule hotel has it all
Nakano Broadway sells a fukubukuro lucky bag for foreigners, but is it a good deal or a scam?
New wave of “creative” Japanese names read more like riddles
Starbucks Japan releases a new Frappuccino that looks and tastes like a floral bouquet
Does Japan’s T.M. Revolution J-rock cake really look like the song it’s named after?
Japan now has a line of eyeglasses and sunglasses specifically designed for plus-sized women
Smoking marijuana is now illegal in Japan, can get you 7 years in prison