“Swimsuit” Character? 3rd: Kitahara Iori from Grand Blue, 2nd: Kaipan Keiji from Kochira Katsushikaku Kameari Kouen-mae Hashutsujo, 1st is…【Male Characters Edition】＜2025 Version＞

Anime! Anime! conducted a reader survey titled “Who is your favorite ‘Swimsuit’ Character?” following up on last year’s poll. This article presents the results for male characters.

August 14th is designated as Swimming Day.

This commemorative day was established by the Japan Swimming Federation with the aim of promoting and developing swimming, as well as preventing water accidents.

In the world of anime, episodes centered around swimming, whether at the beach or a pool, are a classic staple of summer. Scenes where characters appear in their swimsuits truly add a summery vibe to any series.

With that in mind, Anime! Anime! conducted a reader survey titled “Who is your favorite ‘Swimsuit’ Character?”, following up on last year’s poll. We received 172 responses during the survey period from July 29th to August 4th. The gender ratio was approximately 45 percent male and 55 percent female, with a slight majority of female respondents. Regarding age, about 35 percent were 19 or younger, and about 25 percent were in their 20s, indicating a focus on younger age groups. This article will present the results for male characters.

Table of Contents

• First Place
• Second Place
• Third Place
• Other Noteworthy Mentions!
• Top 10 Ranking

Characters Who Shine in Swimsuits Gather!

First Place

Nanase Haruka from Free! secured the first spot, gathering approximately 35 percent of the votes and once again receiving the most votes, just like last year.

Readers showered him with comments such as, “He loves water more than anyone, and he’s always in his swimsuit, no matter what. I love the series of exchanges where his childhood friend, Tachibana Makoto, has to stop him from trying to swim in the most ridiculous places.” Another fan gushed, “He enters the bath in his swimsuit, grills mackerel with an apron over his swimsuit, tries to swim even in fish tanks, and attempts to buy identical-looking swimsuits claiming the ‘tightness is different’… Haru-chan truly is the No. 1 swimsuit character!” These comments highlight his eccentric yet endearing nature as a genius swimmer.

Furthermore, his rival, Matsuoka Rin, also ranked, tying for 6th place. As a competitive swimming anime, Free! naturally boasts a wealth of swimsuit scenes. One enthusiastic comment even recommended the series itself: “Every single swimmer is amazing, so if you haven’t seen it yet, you absolutely must! You’ll definitely find your favorite character!”

Second Place

Kaipan Keiji (meaning “Swimsuit Detective”) from Kochira Katsushikaku Kameari Kouen-mae Hashutsujo claimed the second position with approximately 6 percent of the votes.

Kaipan Keiji is an elite detective who belongs to the Special Criminal Investigation Division. Fans praised him, saying, “He only wears a swimsuit, a necktie, and a holster, and combined with his well-trained physique, he leaves an unforgettable impression. His 100 percent arrest rate is certainly impressive, but even Ryou-san (Kankichi Ryotsu) finds him a handful.” Another comment noted, “When I think of male swimsuit characters, he’s the first one that comes to mind. I loved the three aces of the Special Criminal Investigation Division, including Dolphin Keiji and Gekkou Keiji.” Truly, a character whose name perfectly describes him has made it to the top.

Third Place

Kitahara Iori from Grand Blue secured the third spot, with the difference from second place being very small.

Iori, the protagonist of this series, ends up joining the diving club “Peek a Boo” (Piikabuu) after entering university. Readers commented, “He wears a diving suit for club activities. Though, more often than not, he’s not wearing anything at all,” and “While it’s a diving anime, he’s more of a nude character than a swimsuit one.” These comments suggest that his drunken antics at parties left a stronger impression than his actual scuba diving. It’s great to see a title currently airing its second season make it into the rankings!

Other Noteworthy Mentions!

For Urayasu Tekkin Kazoku Osawagi Kotetsu, a fan commented, “He’s a protagonist who loves summer vacation and is always in just his swimsuit. It’s amazing that he wears it by default, not just when going to the beach or pool.”

Regarding Pocket Monsters Kaipan Yarou: “The unexpected appearance and naming shocked me when I first encountered him in the game, and now it’s a fond memory. He’s a regular trainer who has appeared since the first generation.”

About ONE PIECE Franky: “He’s known for his swimsuit and Aloha shirt combo. Even though his voice actor changed from Yao Kazuki-san to Kimura Subaru-san, Aniki (Big Bro) is still a pervert and a real man!”

And for Summer Pockets Takahara Hairi, a voter said, “The protagonist visited Torishirojima to sort through his grandmother’s belongings. He was a former swimming club member but had a trauma related to swimming, and it was great to see him overcome it through his interactions with the islanders.” This shows that titles currently airing their TV anime adaptations also received votes.

This survey saw a diverse range of characters make it into the rankings, from protagonists to guest characters. We’ve also revealed all the characters who received votes.

Please proceed to the next page to see the complete list!

Top 10 Ranking

[“Swimsuit” Character? Male Characters Edition 2025]

1st: Nanase Haruka 『Free!』

2nd: Kaipan Keiji 『Kochira Katsushikaku Kameari Kouen-mae Hashutsujo』

3rd: Kitahara Iori 『Grand Blue』

4th: Kaipan Yarou 『Pocket Monsters』

5th: Akai Shuuichi 『Meitantei Konan』

6th: Franky 『ONE PIECE』

6th: Matsuoka Rin 『Free!』

6th: Gojou Satoru 『Jujutsu Kaisen』

9th: Osawagi Kotetsu 『Urayasu Tekkin Kazoku』

9th: Cloud Strife 『Final Fantasy VII』

9th: Sogoru Kyou 『Zegapain』

(Response period: July 29, 2025 – August 4, 2025)

Next Page: All Characters Who Received Votes Revealed

※This survey is part of an awareness study regarding readers’ “current interest and attention to anime works and characters.” The results are not intended to determine superiority or inferiority among any characters or works. We hope this article serves as an opportunity to discover new works and characters, or to deepen your understanding and interest.

《Takahashi Katsunori》