August 10 is “Hat Day” in Japan — a date chosen as a wordplay on the English word “hat,” read in Japanese as ha-t-to (8–10). To mark the occasion, anime news outlet Anime! Anime! ran its annual reader poll asking: “Which character do you most associate with a hat?” The survey ran from July 23 to 29, 2026, collecting 351 responses. Respondents were approximately 60% female and 40% male; around 40% were aged 19 or under, while those in their 30s made up roughly 20%.
1st Place — Nakahara Chuuya, Bungou Stray Dogs
With roughly 15% of the vote, Nakahara Chuuya claimed the top spot for the fifth year in a row. A high-ranking executive of the Port Mafia, Chuuya is instantly recognisable by his signature black coat and black bowler hat — an item that carries deep personal significance in the story.
Fans highlighted the hat’s narrative weight: “The nickname ‘Mr. Lovely Hat’ that Edogawa Ranpo gave him fits perfectly. The hat is a keepsake from someone precious to him, and it’s also essential for activating his ability ‘Corruption.'” Another voter noted: “The hat is Chuuya — it even makes sense that Dazai calls him a ‘hat rack.'” The character is currently in the spotlight thanks to the ongoing spinoff Bungou Stray Dogs Wan! 2.
2nd Place — Ash (Satoshi), Pocket Monsters (Pokémon)
Securing second place for the second consecutive year with around 9% of the vote, Ash — the rookie Trainer from Pallet Town who set out with Pikachu to become a Pokémon Master — is inseparable from his iconic cap.
One fan shared a fun piece of trivia: “Ash’s first hat was a replica of the Pokémon League Official Cap — a limited run of just 100 pieces. Ash sent in 1,000 postcards to win one!” Others were nostalgic: “The design changed with every series, but there was always a hat on his head,” and “Flipping his cap backwards before throwing a Poké Ball is such a classic move — I went through a phase of wearing my own cap backwards because of him (laughs).”
3rd Place — Monkey D. Luffy, ONE PIECE
Rounding out the top three for the second year running with roughly 6% of the vote, Monkey D. Luffy — captain of the Straw Hat Pirates and aspiring King of the Pirates — is defined by his beloved straw hat.
Voters explained its significance: “It’s the hat Shanks entrusted to Luffy after saving his life, saying ‘Bring it back to me when you’ve become a great pirate.’ It’s the treasure that started everything.” Another reader pointed to the hat’s deeper lore: “The straw hat once belonged to Pirate King Gol D. Roger, then passed to Shanks, and then to Luffy. And there’s still that giant straw hat stored at Mariejois — a mystery yet to be fully revealed.”
Other Notable Mentions
- Hanako-kun (Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun) — “The shadow cast by his school cap makes his mischievous smile and sharp gaze even more striking. It feels like a fortress hiding his true feelings.”
- Ryoma Echizen (The Prince of Tennis) — “He always touches his cap when delivering his signature line ‘You still have a long way to go.’ When he’s embarrassed, he hides his face under it — it perfectly captures his slightly rebellious personality.”
- Simone (La Seine no Hoshi) — “When the heroine transforms into the swordswoman La Seine no Hoshi, she tilts her star-emblazoned beret at a dashing angle. I admired her so much I vowed to wear a beret when I grew up — and now it’s a staple of my autumn/winter wardrobe.”
- Cure Éclair / Hobane Kurea (Meitantei Precure!) — “Cure Éclair wears a tiny blue silk top hat, and her birthday is August 10 — Hat Day! The hat Kurea wears in everyday life also turned out to be a major clue to her true identity, which was such a thrilling reveal.”
Full Top 10 — Hat Characters 2026
- 1st — Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs)
- 2nd — Ash / Satoshi (Pocket Monsters)
- 3rd — Monkey D. Luffy (ONE PIECE)
- 4th — Hattori Heiji (Detective Conan)
- 5th — Ryoma Echizen (The Prince of Tennis)
- 6th — Kujo Jotaro (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
- 6th — Saionji Ukyo (Dr. STONE)
- 8th — Mario (Super Mario Bros.)
- 8th — Misumi Hatsuhana (BanG Dream! Ave Mujica)
- 10th — Jigen Daisuke (Lupin the Third)
(Poll period: July 23–29, 2026)
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