Shopping Guide
The Sanrio Character Ranking is a well-established event for Sanrio fans held annually since 1986. This year, the event has evolved to include new systems.
The Sanrio Character Ranking is a public poll that determines the popularity rankings for each character through fan votes. Fans can vote for their favorite character several ways, such as by visiting Sanrio Shop locations or through Sanrio’s monthly magazine Ichigo Shinbun. With online voting also being possible in recent years, the event has become even more accessible to fans. In 2013, votes cast for all characters totaled over 1.8 million, and the top spot at 188,697 votes went to Hello Kitty.
This year, the Sanrio Character Ranking has announced that it will implement new systems. These new systems are as follows.
First, the 100 characters will be separated into five groups at a “Group Selection Event” being held on March 30 at Sanrio Puroland. Then, the first stage will be held from May 10 through June 15 and the top four in each group will go on to the final. The top winner will be selected from these 20 characters during the final stage, for which voting begins on July 8. In other words, this year’s vote will be split into two stages.
100 characters will take part this year, including the top 80 characters from the 2013 Character Ranking, three characters from the Food Character Poll, 11 revival characters and the characters of the band-themed Show By Rock.
Anyone thinking of voting should check the official site to see if you’ll be able to vote for your favorite character.
This year will also include a “Collaboration Category” where people can vote for company and regional government characters that are collaborating with Sanrio characters like Hello Kitty.
Information about the Group Selection Event and other events planned during the voting period, such as “Vehicle Wrapping & Live Character Appeal,” will be continuously made available on YouTube and Twitter. This will allow Sanrio fans who can’t make it to Tokyo to check out these events.
So, which character will take the top spot this year? The battle begins with the Group Selection Event, which will play a big role in who moves on to the final stage!
[Schedule]
March 30: Group Selection Event at Sanrio Puroland
May 10 (Sat.) - June 15 (Sun.): 1st Stage
July 8 (Tues.) - July 21 (Mon.): Final Stage
August 2 (Sat.): Results Announced
[How to Vote]
・Web Voting:
You can vote for a character from each group once per day from any device.
・Ichigo Shinbun:
Mail ballot postcard enclosed in Ichigo Shinbun
・Sanrio Shop:
1 ballot for each 1,000 yen spent (limit 10)
© 2014 Sanrio Co. Ltd.
© 2008, 2014 Sanrio Co. Ltd. / Sega Toys S, S/W, TX, JLPC
© 2011 TV Asahi Corporation, Sanrio Co. Ltd.
This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article.
