May 30th marks Kugimiya Rie-san’s birthday.
Kugimiya Rie-san debuted in the latter half of the 1990s. She won the Best Supporting Actress Award at the 2nd Seiyuu Awards and the Best Lead Actress Award at the 3rd Seiyuu Awards.
In 2025, she has appeared in a wide range of titles such as Botsuraku Yotei no Kizoku dakedo, Hima datta kara Mahou wo Kiwamete Mita, Zenshuu., Majin Souzouden Wataru, Witch Watch, and Kidou Senshi Gundam GQuuuuuuX. She is also reprising main characters in the latest installments of popular series like Ninja Batman Tai Yakuza League and 3-nen Z-gumi Ginpachi-sensei.
To celebrate Kugimiya Rie-san’s birthday, we conducted a reader survey titled “Which character voiced by her is your favorite?”, continuing from last year. We received 610 responses during the survey period from May 21st to May 25th.
The gender distribution was almost equal. Regarding age groups, those under 19 and in their 40s each accounted for about 15 percent, while those in their 20s and 30s each made up about 35 percent.
Table of Contents
■From Classic Hits to Recent Series: A Gathering of Popular Heroines!
First Place
Coming in at number 1 is Oosaka Taiga from Toradora!. With approximately 23 percent support, she maintains the top spot from the previous year.
Oosaka Taiga, the heroine, is a high school student whose rough personality contrasts with her doll-like appearance, earning her the nickname “Palmtop Tiger”. She forms a cooperative relationship with the protagonist, Takasu Ryuuji, after discovering they each have a crush on the other’s best friend.
Readers commented, “Kugyuu’s tsundere voice perfectly matches the petite and cute Taiga, it’s the best!” and “Seeing the clumsy Taiga, who is actually a crybaby, earnestly confronting her feelings for love touched my heart countless times. She is the only character I’ve wanted to cheer for this much.” These voices show that many resonated with the portrayal of the awkward heroine growing through her friendships.
Second Place
Taking second place is Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière from Zero no Tsukaima. Her support rate was approximately 17 percent, moving up from 4th place last year.
Louise is a young girl born into a noble family but lacks magical talent, leading her to be scorned as “Louise the Zero”. The story begins when she accidentally summons Hiraga Saito, a Japanese boy, through summoning magic and makes him her familiar.
Saito is called “idiot dog” by the quick-tempered Louise, who is rough around the edges but also holds a complex about her inability to use magic and a lonely side, creating a charming contrast. Many fans were drawn to Louise’s tsundere personality, which even led some to awaken their otaku interests!
Third Place
In third place is Sieglinde Sullivan from Kuroshitsuji. With approximately 14 percent support, she ranks among the favorites from the new series airing in 2025.
Sullivan makes her first appearance in the currently airing Kuroshitsuji -Midori no Majo-hen-. She is the leader of the village known as the Wolf’s Valley and is the very “Green Witch” mentioned in the title. Though still young, she initially presents a calm demeanor, but her highly curious personality gradually comes to light.
Notably, in episode 2, there was a scene where she tried to enjoy a sweet moment in bed, causing Ciel some trouble, which seems to have left a strong impression on viewers. Furthermore, her use of “boku” (a masculine pronoun for “I”) adds to her distinct presence. It’s notable that a key character from the latest series has landed in the top ranks.
■Other Comments!
For Kagura from Gintama, one comment read: “You can enjoy it by thinking, ‘Kugimiya-san is saying these lines…’. I’m impressed by the breadth of her acting, whether she’s yelling, laughing, crying, or even doing impressions. Most of all, I love how cute she is!”
Regarding Nishimiya Momo from Jujutsu Kaisen: “She’s a student at Jujutsu Kousen Kyoto Branch, and despite her cute appearance, she’s a third-year. Like a witch, she rides a broom and looks after her kouhai, Zenin Mai and Miwa Kasumi. She’s a nice girl.”
For Hana from Ramen Akaneeko: “Her strong professional attitude towards her work and her tsundere yet companionable side are great. Before working at the ramen shop, she was an influencer idol cat… I shed tears over her sad past.”
And for Angela Balzac from Rakuen Tsuihou -Expelled from Paradise-: “Kugimiya-san has played many heroines, but perhaps she’s a bit rare in that she’s a protagonist leaning towards the sexy side?” Votes were cast even for titles with sequels in production.
This survey saw characters from many titles spanning the 00s to the 20s gather in the rankings. It’s clear how she has played a diverse range of roles, not just heroines, but also boys, animals, and fairies.
Please also check out the top 20 on the next page!
■Ranking Top 10
[Which is your favorite character voiced by Kugimiya Rie-san? 2025 Edition]
- Oosaka Taiga (Toradora!)
- Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière (Zero no Tsukaima)
- Sieglinde Sullivan (Kuroshitsuji)
- Shana (Shakugan no Shana)
- Fenriisu (Lv2 kara Chieto datta Moto Yuusha Kouho no Mattari Isekai Life)
- Sanzenin Nagi (Hayate no Gotoku!)
- Kanzaki H. Aria (Hidan no Aria)
- Kagura (Gintama)
- Minase Iori (THE IDOLM@STER)
- Alphonse Elric (Hagane no Renkinjutsushi, also known as Fullmetal Alchemist)
(Response Period: May 21, 2025 – May 25, 2025)
Next Page: Top 20 Ranking Revealed
《Takahashi Katsunori》
