September 6th marks “Kuro no Hi” (Black Day) in Japan. This special day, pronounced “ku-ro” (9-6), was established by the Kyoto Sumizome Kogyo Kyodo Kumiai (Kyoto Black Dyeing Industry Cooperative) to promote traditional black formal wear, such as *kuro monpuku* and *kuro tomesode* kimonos. In the vibrant worlds of anime and games, black often serves as a striking image color for countless characters. Whether it’s through their distinctive black hair and eyes, a sleek all-black outfit, or names and nicknames incorporating words like ‘kuro,’ ‘black,’ or ‘dark,’ the ways these characters embrace black are incredibly diverse and always make an impact.
To celebrate this dark and dazzling aesthetic, Anime!Anime! conducts its annual reader survey: “Who comes to mind when you think of a character whose image color is ‘black’?” This year, we received 547 responses during the survey period from August 18th to August 25th. The gender ratio was approximately 40% male and 60% female, indicating a slightly higher participation from female readers. As for age, a significant portion—around 55%—were 19 years old or younger, with 20-somethings making up about 15%, highlighting a strong interest among the younger demographic.
Table of Contents
- ・First Place
- ・Second Place
- ・Third Place
- ・Other Notable Mentions!
- ・Top 10 Rankings
- Previous Year’s Results (2024): https://animeanime.jp/article/2024/09/06/86403.html
Black is the Strongest! Enemies and Allies Alike Make a Huge Impact
First Place
Taking the top spot with approximately 9% of the votes is Jin from Meitantei Konan. This marks a significant jump from his second-place ranking last year, securing him the coveted first position!
As a high-ranking executive of the Black Organization, Jin’s presence is simply overwhelming. Many reader comments explicitly referenced the organization, with fans praising his formidable aura. Remarks like “His all-black attire, contrasting with his silver hair, looks incredibly cool despite him being an antagonist” and “The fact that he shows no mercy even to his companions is terrifying” highlight his dangerous appeal, making him a chilling yet undeniably charismatic figure. He might be the embodiment of fear, but his magnetism is undeniable. “He was so scary when he first appeared, and his actions are terrible, but the fact that he’s loved by fans despite being an enemy is truly something!” commented one reader, pointing to his unique charisma as a key reason for his popularity.
Second Place
Coming in at a very close second, with just a few votes shy of the top spot, is Kirito from Sword Art Online. He’s climbed significantly from last year’s sixth place, showing his enduring popularity!
Kirito is the protagonist who found himself trapped in the world’s first VRMMORPG, Sword Art Online. He’s widely known by his in-game moniker, the Black Swordsman. Readers shared their admiration, saying things like “Black is the color that symbolizes Kirito. I think it embodies his vast kindness that envelops others like the night sky” and “He loved wearing a black coat in the SAO world and prefers black in other games too. He was even nicknamed ‘Blacky’!” The idea of a ‘jet-black solo player’ who doesn’t party up really appeals to the romantic side of gamers. Fans love his image as a lone wolf. Adding to the excitement, a new original theatrical film for Sword Art Online has been announced, promising even more thrilling developments.
Third Place
Securing third place is Akutagawa Ryuunosuke from Bungou Stray Dogs. While he dropped a few ranks from last year’s first place, he still firmly holds a spot in the top three with about 7% of the votes!
As a member of the Port Mafia, Akutagawa Ryuunosuke is strongly associated with the dark attributes of the mafia and his signature black coat. He stands in stark contrast to the protagonist, Nakajima Atsushi, who is characterized by white hair and attire. Comments included, “From his abilities to his outfit, he’s entirely black. Including the ruthlessness of someone living in the shadows, no other character suits black this perfectly!” and “I love how he manipulates his coat with his special ability, Rashoumon, transforming it into a black beast. The episodes related to his coat are fantastic.” With the anime’s 10th anniversary approaching in April 2026, Bungou Stray Dogs continues to garner significant attention.
Other Notable Mentions!
Let’s take a look at some of the other characters who garnered attention in our survey!
For Nagi Seishirou from Blue Lock, a reader commented, “When I think of Nagi, I usually picture his white hair, but his image color is black! His black aura during his shoots was incredible, and the black bib he wore during selections suited him perfectly.”
Regarding Yozakura Kyouichirou from Yozakura-san Chi no Daisakusen, a fan wrote, “Each member of the Yozakura family has a distinct color, and Kyouichirou-niisan (older brother) is entirely in a black suit, except for his white shirt. His hair and gloves are also jet black. He truly stands out and looks unique when lined up with his colorful younger siblings.”
Sebastian Michaelis from Kuroshitsuji received votes for being “the quintessential black butler, perfectly suited for a swallowtail coat. While he appears loyal to his master, his dark side truly fits the image of black. Plus, a new season aired this year, which kept him fresh in everyone’s minds.”
And from Kimi to Aidoru PuriKyua♪, Kyua Kissu / Meroron was mentioned: “Since Kyua Burakku, a PuriKyua with black as her member color has been born! It’s wonderful to see the active collaboration of black and white PuriKyua, just like the original pair, especially with Kyua Zukyun being white.” This title also received votes as its movie premiere is scheduled for September 12th.
This year’s survey saw a wide range of characters making the ranks, from protagonists to antagonists, showing strong support for the diverse symbolism of black. The intense shifts in rankings also highlighted the impressive depth of characters associated with black as their image color. Don’t miss the full top 20 on the next page!
Top 10 Rankings
[Who comes to mind when you think of a character whose image color is “black”? 2025 Edition]
1st Place: Jin Meitantei Konan
2nd Place: Kirito Sword Art Online
3rd Place: Akutagawa Ryuunosuke Bungou Stray Dogs
4th Place: Kuroo Tetsurou Haikyuu!!
5th Place: Sebastian Michaelis Kuroshitsuji
6th Place: Diablo Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken
6th Place: Misumi Nagisa / Kyua Burakku Futari wa PuriKyua
8th Place: Aizawa Shouta Boku no Hero Academia
8th Place: Nagumo Tetora Ensemble Stars!
8th Place: Yozakura Kyouichirou Yozakura-san Chi no Daisakusen
Survey Period: August 18th, 2025 – August 25th, 2025
Next Page: Top 20 Rankings Revealed
- Looking for other survey themes? Tell us what you think!＞＞https://animeanime.jp/special/1898/recent/
《Takahashi Katsunori》
