Sanrio Character Ranking 2013 Results Announced! Hello Kitty Wins First Place Again?!

FEATURED
Jul. 28, 2013 04:00 PDT

On July 20, the results of the Sanrio Character Ranking 2013 were announced at the amusement park Sanrio Puroland in Tama, Tokyo. The Sanrio Character Ranking is an annual event that ranks many of the characters created by the well-established character goods shop Sanrio via a public poll. This year, among the characters that have been announced, 100 characters were nominated. Fans were able to vote online, at Sanrio shops, and at Puroland.

Many Sanrio fans gathered in the assembly hall to await the results. The lights dimmed and the top 10 characters made their way to appear on the stage as the results were announced. Kuromi, Go Chan, Fukuchan, Jewelpet, Turfy, Cinnamoroll, Little Twin Stars, Pompompurin, My Melody, and Hello Kitty were seen taking the stage to great applause from the audience.

As the top 10 characters took to the stage, the assembly hall was filled with the cheers of the audience.

In addition to the top ten, a new character award was also announced. Bonbonribbon, who appeared just this January, won the award. Being a Sanrio character for less than a year, she still promisingly ranked in 15th place. Together with the dance team made up of her and her friends, she introduced an easy dance on stage. The prominent new character seemed to be able to appeal to the fans who visited Puroland.

Furthermore, this was the first time a division for collaborations with Sanrio characters was held. A collaboration between the characters Pen-chan and Penko-chan of Nomura Cleaning, a large cleaning business in Kansai, and Hello Kitty ranked in first place. Pen-chan also made an appearance in the assembly hall to the delight of fans.

Sanrio Character Ranking 2013 Results
10. Kuromi (46,916)
9. Go Chan (47,411)
8. Fukuchan (57,146)
7. Jewelpet (57,652)
6. Turfy (65,404)
5. Cinnamoroll (79,520)
4. Little Twin Stars (116,511)
3. Pompompurin (132,739)
2. My Melody (179,835)
1. Hello Kitty (188,697)

Hello Kitty continued her first place rank from last year. Hello Kitty designer Yuko Yamaguchi commented on Hello Kitty and My Melody’s number of acquired votes saying that as for the number of votes for both, many were from Rino Sashihara, who acquired first place in a popularity poll of the popular idol group AKB48 and its sister groups, and that because of this, both are winners.

“Both are winners,” commented designer Yuko Yamaguchi.

After the results were announced, thanks were given and a surprise hug was prepared with the top three characters. The fans gathered in the assembly hall were gifted with the lucky chance to hug each loved character.

The complete result of all 100 characters can be viewed on the Sanrio Ranking 2013 official site. Even if you’re not a Sanrio fan, but do like Japanese characters, definitely take a look.

Sanrio’s Global Site

This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article.