Which anime characters come to mind when you think of the color “gold”? 2nd place is Sakata Kintoki from “Gintama”, 1st place is from a series with a new work currently airing… <2026 Edition>

Golden Characters Shine Bright: Reader Survey Results for “Gold” Day

January 24th is “Gold Day.”

This date commemorates the discovery of gold in California, USA, in 1848, which sparked the famous Gold Rush as people flocked hoping to strike it rich.

Gold, with its dazzling brilliance, has long been a symbol of authority and wealth. In the anime world, characters that evoke the color gold are a common and memorable sight. Think of captivating blondes, those clad in golden outfits, characters whose names include “kin” (gold) or “gold,” or those who literally glow with a golden aura.

To mark the occasion, Anime! Anime! conducted a reader survey titled: “Which character comes to mind when you think of the color ‘gold’?” The survey ran from January 20th to January 22nd, with a nearly even split between male and female respondents. The age breakdown was roughly 20% under 19, 25% in their 20s, and 25% in their 30s.

■ Characters Who Dazzle with a Golden Aura, Inside and Out!

1st Place

The top spot goes to Gilgamesh from ‘Fate/stay night’, with about 11% of the vote.

(C)TYPE-MOON・ufotable・FSNPC

Gilgamesh is a heroic spirit from Mesopotamian mythology, known as the “King of Heroes.” Readers commented, “His golden armor and hair are symbols of his royal power. Everything about him, from his accessories to his Noble Phantasms, shines with gold. His arrogant and self-absorbed personality is also a perfect match for gold,” and “He’s visually dazzling and incredibly wealthy—truly golden in every sense.” It seems his regal demeanor, not just his glittering appearance, solidifies his status as the ultimate “golden” character.

As a side note, the ‘Fate’ series spin-off ‘Fate/strange Fake’, based on the light novel, is currently airing.

2nd Place

In 2nd place is Sakata Kintoki from ‘Gintama’, trailing the top spot by a very small margin.

Sakata Kintoki is a mysterious figure who suddenly appears before the protagonist, Sakata Gintoki. Unlike Gintoki, he has straight blond hair and is beloved as the leader of the Yorozuya. Readers said, “In the episodes where Kintoki appears, they even changed the title from ‘Gintama’ to ‘Kintama’—his takeover was so complete and shocking! The contrast between silver and gold is just incredibly impactful.” He clearly left a strong impression as a seemingly perfect being who overshadows the main character.

(C) Hideaki Sorachi / Gekijouban Gintama Seisaku Iinkai

‘Gintama’ has a new film, ‘Shin Gekijouban Gintama -Yoshiwara Dai Enjou-‘ (which can be translated as *New Theatrical Version Gintama: The Great Yoshiwara Fire*), set for release on February 13th.

3rd Place

3rd place was a three-way tie between Oshino Shinobu from ‘Bakemonogatari’, Kintolesky from ‘Futari wa Precure Splash☆Star’, and Giorno Giovanna from ‘JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken: Ougon no Kaze’ (also known as *JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind*).

(C) Nisio Isin / Kodansha, Aniplex, Shaft

Oshino Shinobu from ‘Bakemonogatari’ is a girl who lives with the aberration expert, Oshino Meme. Readers noted, “She’s a blonde, blue-eyed vampire. Before becoming a vampire, she was called the Princess of Fairness and captivated many people,” while others cited her favorite food: “because she loves golden chocolate donuts.”

Kintolesky from ‘Futari wa Precure Splash☆Star’ is an executive in the enemy organization. True to his name (which hints at weight training), he loves working out. His support seems to come from his unexpectedly honorable nature and his shining, muscular golden physique, which stands out even for a villain.

(C) LUCKY LAND COMMUNICATIONS / Shueisha, JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken GW Seisaku Iinkai

Giorno Giovanna is the protagonist of Part 5 of ‘JoJo’. As one reader put it, “His Stand is named Gold Experience. The Stand itself is gold, and he has blond hair too.” His very power evokes the image of gold. The latest anime adaptation, ‘Sutīru Bōru Ran: JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken’ (*Steel Ball Run*), is scheduled to stream on Netflix starting March 19th.

■ Let’s Hear More Reader Comments!

“Gekijou Senkou-ban Anime ‘Golden Kamuy’ Sapporo Beer Koujou-hen [Zenpen]” Main Visual

For Lieutenant Tsurumi from ‘Golden Kamuy‘: “His terrifying boldness in stopping at nothing to get the gold is unforgettable. In the Sapporo Beer Factory arc, he even says the title ‘Golden Kamuy’ as a line, which was so impactful. The way he attracts such unique subordinates also fits the ‘gold’ image.”

For Uesugi Fuutarou from ‘Go-toubun no Hanayome‘ (also known as *The Quintessential Quintuplets*): “As a kid, he was a bit of a delinquent with blond hair and piercings. He was even caught by Nino wearing a blond wig during a costume event and blurted out that his name was ‘Kintarou, a relative’. Also, due to his family’s tight finances, he was pretty money-hungry at the beginning.”

For Quattro Bajeena from ‘Kidou Senshi Z Gundam‘ (*Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam*): “While his true identity, Char Aznable, is associated with red, the Mobile Suit Quattro pilots is the fully golden Hyaku Shiki. Only someone with the confidence not to be shot down would ride in a suit that stands out so much in space!”

For Ryotsu Kankichi from ‘Kochira Katsushikaku Kameari Kouenmae Hashutsujo‘ (also known as *Kochikame*): “Ryo-san loves money and is always diving into different business ventures. Of course, his greed often leads to failure. But his relentless willingness to try again and again shows his deep obsession with cash.” Votes also came in for this title, which has a new anime project in the works.

(C) Osamu Akimoto, Atelier B-Daman / Shueisha, ADK

In this survey, many readers focused not just on visual traits like hair color, but also on inner qualities like wealth, ambition, and presence.

■ The Top 10 Ranking

[“Which character comes to mind when you think of the color ‘gold’?” 2026 Edition]

1. Gilgamesh — ‘Fate/stay night’
2. Sakata Kintoki — ‘Gintama’
3. Oshino Shinobu — ‘Bakemonogatari’
4. Kintolesky — ‘Futari wa Precure Splash☆Star’
5. Giorno Giovanna — ‘JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken: Ougon no Kaze’
6. Izanami Hifumi — ‘Hypnosis Mic: -Division Rap Battle-‘
7. Kirimaru — ‘Nintama Rantarou’
8. Kujou Karen — ‘Kiniro Mosaic’
9. Surb Go — ‘Pocket Monsters’ (Pokémon)
10. Francis F. — ‘Bungou Stray Dogs’

(Survey Period: January 20–22, 2026)

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