June 2 is known every year in Japan as “Betrayal Day,” inspired by the historical Honnoji Incident in which Akechi Mitsuhide rebelled against his lord Oda Nobunaga. To mark the occasion, Anime! Anime! asked readers, “Which traitor character comes to mind first?” The survey ran from May 18 to 24, 2026, and received 238 responses. The gender ratio was nearly even, while respondents under 19 made up the largest age group at around 40%. Respondents in their 20s, 30s, and 40s each accounted for around 15%.
Spoiler warning: This article discusses major plot points from several works. Please read with caution.
No. 1 – Wataru Kudo from Blue Lock
Taking first place with around 7% of the vote is Wataru Kudo from the anime Blue Lock. He ranked second last year and moved up to the top spot this year. Kudo is one of the participants in the Blue Lock project, which aims to create a world-class striker. During the first selection, he belongs to Team Z alongside protagonists such as Rin Itoshi and Yoichi Isagi.
Many fans commented, “Because Kudo always seemed calm and caring toward his teammates, his betrayal in the match against Team W was shocking.” Others praised him, saying, “Even though I was angry at his betrayal, the final match where he accepts a red card to help Team Z win left a strangely moving impression.” His complexity, which does not end with betrayal but continues into atonement, is why Kudo claimed first place.
No. 2 – Kanjuro Kurozumi from ONE PIECE
Kanjuro Kurozumi from ONE PIECE ranked second with around 6% of the vote, down from first place last year. Kanjuro is a samurai of Wano Country and one of the Nine Red Scabbards who followed Kozuki Oden. He worked alongside Luffy and the Straw Hats until it was revealed that he was a spy for the Kurozumi family, which has deep ties to the Kozuki family.
Many readers said, “I trusted him completely, so I was shocked when he revealed himself as a spy. Looking back, there were so many hints, and I was shocked that I had not noticed them. It felt like I had been betrayed too.” The collapse of long-built trust in an instant is what made Kanjuro unforgettable to fans.
No. 3 – Reiner Braun from Attack on Titan
Reiner Braun from Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) ranked third with around 5%, the same position as last year. Reiner was a member of the 104th Training Corps alongside Eren and was loved by his comrades before revealing that he was the Armored Titan.
Fans commented, “After training and fighting together, his confession was unbelievable,” and “As the story goes on, you come to understand that Reiner is also a victim of war. The Marley arc, which digs into his past and mind, is especially powerful, and the way his position and Eren’s reverse is impressive.” Reiner’s painful humanity and internal conflict are his true appeal.
Other Notable Characters
- Suguru Geto from Jujutsu Kaisen – “He was Satoru Gojo’s close friend as a student, but later came to hate non-sorcerers and chose a path of creating a world for sorcerers alone. Becoming the ‘worst curse user’ was a major turning point.”
- Cancer Cell from Cells at Work! (Hataraku Saibou) – “Because voice actor Akira Ishida first plays him as an ordinary cell, the reveal of his true identity was shocking. His sad background also made him unforgettable.”
- Akira Fudo from Devilman – “A protagonist who is of the demon race but fights for humanity. He reflects an era with many works about betraying an evil organization to become a force for good.”
- Kain Highwind from Final Fantasy IV – “He switches sides multiple times and takes his weapons with him whenever he leaves the party. Even though he is mind-controlled, the image of betrayal has always stuck to him.”
Overall Top 10 Results
- No. 1 – Wataru Kudo (Blue Lock)
- No. 2 – Kanjuro Kurozumi (ONE PIECE)
- No. 3 – Reiner Braun (Attack on Titan)
- No. 4 – Gin Ichimaru (BLEACH)
- No. 5 – Sosuke Aizen (BLEACH)
- No. 5 – Osamu Dazai (Bungo Stray Dogs)
- No. 7 – Yuka Aoyama (My Hero Academia)
- No. 8 – Gen Asagiri (Dr. STONE)
- No. 8 – Buriburi Zaemon (Crayon Shin-chan)
- No. 10 – Athrun Zala (Mobile Suit Gundam SEED)
- No. 10 – Kain Highwind (Final Fantasy IV)
The poll shows that the “traitor” characters fans remember most are often not straightforward villains. They tend to be characters with complex reasons, internal conflict, and later growth or atonement, which makes them even more memorable than ordinary antagonists.
Source: aniani
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