Today’s Sports Day, October 13, 2025, marks a day for celebrating physical activity!
This national holiday, once known as “Taiiku no Hi” (Health and Sports Day), was rebranded to its current name in 2020. Its date also shifted from October 10th to the second Monday of October.
Sports are an incredibly popular genre in anime, captivating audiences with a wide array of depictions. From familiar sports like baseball and soccer to lesser-seen athletic pursuits and even entirely fictional competitions unique to these animated worlds, the genre truly offers something for everyone.
To uncover what truly gets your heart racing, Anime! Anime! conducted another reader survey titled “What’s Your Favorite Sports Anime?” following up on last year’s poll. We collected 125 responses during the survey period from October 3rd to October 8th. The gender breakdown showed approximately 35 percent male and 65 percent female, with a stronger female presence. As for age groups, about 40 percent were under 19, while both the 20s and 30s age brackets each represented around 15 percent of respondents.
Ball Sports Dominate the Top: Volleyball, Soccer, and Baseball Lead the Pack!
1st Place
Taking the coveted 1st place is Haikyuu!!. With an impressive approximately 26 percent of the votes, it proudly holds onto the top spot for an incredible fifth consecutive year.
Based on the highly popular volleyball manga serialized in “Weekly Shounen Jump”, Haikyuu!! tells the thrilling story of protagonist Hinata Shouyou and the prodigious setter Kageyama Tobio as they strive to lead the Karasuno Koukou Boys’ Volleyball Club to the national championships. Readers poured out their hearts in comments, with one exclaiming, “The raw struggles and growth of these high schoolers who refuse to give up on their dreams really warm my heart! Watching them chase their goals ignited a fire within me!” Another fan praised the diverse cast, saying, “From the players grappling with their worries and conflicts in each school, to the managers who support them, and even the adults watching the matches – every single character is charming and easy to love.” The realism of the match depictions also played a huge role in its enduring popularity. One reader enthusiastically shared, “Haikyuu!! taught me all the rules and positions. Now I enjoy watching actual volleyball broadcasts so much more!” It’s clear that for many, the series sparked a genuine interest in volleyball. With the production of Gekijouban Haikyuu!! VS Chiisana Kyojin already confirmed, anticipation is soaring for further updates!
2nd Place
Securing the 2nd place spot is Blue Lock. It garnered approximately 15 percent of the votes, consistently holding its 2nd place position for the third year in a row.
Based on the intense soccer manga currently serialized in “Weekly Shounen Magazine,” Blue Lock follows the “Blue Lock Project,” where 300 high school forwards are brought together to create the ultimate striker who will lead Japan to World Cup victory. They must fight tooth and nail for survival in this high-stakes competition. Fans praised its refreshing and unconventional approach, with comments such as, “The story, which affirms an ego that’s usually denied, and the death-game-like selection process where failure means immediate elimination, felt incredibly fresh and resonated deeply with me!” Another fan raved, “All the players are eccentric egoists, and they just drop legendary quotes left and right – it’s amazing!” The series’ distinctive style, which sets it apart from traditional sports anime, clearly struck a chord with many. Furthermore, its strategic depth was also highly appreciated, with one reader noting, “It might be an unorthodox soccer anime, but the tactical descriptions are incredibly convincing.” With a TV anime sequel and even a live-action film adaptation already announced, all eyes are currently on this rapidly rising title.
3rd Place
Climbing into 3rd place is Major. Its support rate was approximately 6 percent, marking a significant jump from last year’s 8th place.
Based on the beloved baseball manga serialized in “Weekly Shounen Sunday,” Major chronicles the incredible life journey of protagonist Shigeno Gorou as he rises through the ranks, from little league all the way to the major leagues. Fans who have followed Shigeno Gorou’s legendary career for years cast their votes, with one expressing, “His baseball life was far from smooth sailing, but I absolutely love Gorou-kun who always plays with such joyous enthusiasm!” Another voter highlighted his resilience: “Even after injuries, he never gave up, switching from right-handed to left-handed pitching, and even transitioning to an infielder – his gritty determination is truly captivating. It’s a legendary work that follows the life of a single athlete.” This long-running series, spanning 154 episodes, truly stands as a monumental title in sports anime, rightfully earning its place in the rankings.
And Now, Let’s Hear from More of Your Favorite Anime!
For Kuroko no Basuke, one enthusiastic reader shared, “Kuroko TetSUYA’s playstyle, utilizing his ‘lack of presence’ characteristic, combined with his companion Kagami Taiga’s powerful breakthroughs, truly make them two sides of the same coin! In the movie LAST GAME, they even formed a dream team with the ‘Generation of Miracles’ from the opposing team, delivering an incredibly intense match against America!”
Regarding Ganbatte Ikimasshoi, a fan commented, “It’s a poignant coming-of-age drama depicting high school girls dedicated to their rowing club, with the fresh, vibrant performances of the cast and the beautiful depiction of the water’s surface being particularly impressive. You can truly savor the charm of rowing, where everyone works together as one to propel the boat forward.”
Tennis no Ouji-sama received this nostalgic feedback: “The first sports anime I ever watched in my life was Tenipuri! I got hooked not only on the anime but also on the musical, ‘Tenimyu,’ and even now, my sister and I still go to watch it together.”
And for Ao no Hako, a discerning reader noted, “While it might primarily be classified as a romantic coming-of-age story, the sports depictions are incredibly authentic. With boys’ badminton, girls’ basketball, and even rhythmic gymnastics, each sport is handled with such meticulous detail, making it a truly deserving sports anime!” A wide variety of titles indeed received votes!
The 2025 edition of our survey saw all of the top five spots claimed by ball sports titles! School-based club anime are a clear favorite, with stories that highlight growth alongside companions and the vibrant journey of youth proving particularly popular.
Don’t miss the full ranking on the next page!
Full Top 10 Ranking Revealed!
[What’s Your Favorite Sports Anime? 2025 Edition]
- Haikyuu!!
- Blue Lock
- Major
- Kuroko no Basuke
- SLAM DUNK
- Tennis no Ouji-sama
- Free!
- Inazuma Eleven
- Boukyaku Battery
- Medalist
- Ro-Kyu-Bu!
(Survey Period: October 3, 2025 – October 8, 2025)
Next Page: Full Ranking Revealed
- Other Ongoing Surveys: Tell Us Your Thoughts! >>https://animeanime.jp/special/1898/recent/
※This survey is part of our ongoing research into readers’ current interest and attention concerning 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 in existing ones.
Takahashi Katsunori
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