Baidu, the developer behind the popular Japanese keyboard customisation app Simeji, has published its Simeji H1 2026 Trend Ranking, compiled from in-app survey data reflecting what young Japanese users are genuinely talking about — spanning music, influencers, events, news, and viral phrases.
Survey Overview
The survey, titled “Trends of the First Half of 2026 as Chosen by Generation Alpha and Z,” was conducted from 3 to 7 June 2026. Respondents were Simeji users across Japan aged 0–29 (Generation Alpha and Generation Z), with 6,664 valid responses collected from both male and female participants.
Anime Film “Cho Kaguya-hime!” Takes No. 2 in the “Buzzworthy Events” Category
In the “Buzzworthy Events/Things” category, the original animated feature film Cho Kaguya-hime! (超かぐや姫！) ranked second overall. The film reimagines elements of Japan’s oldest narrative, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (Taketori Monogatari), blending them with contemporary streaming culture and Vocaloid music into a full-length original anime feature.
After launching on Netflix in January 2026, the film gained momentum rapidly through word of mouth and became a major talking point on social media. Viewers cited recommendations from friends and praised the film’s distinctive world-building and soundtrack. A subsequent theatrical release further fuelled its popularity, particularly among younger audiences.
Jujutsu Kaisen’s “Have You No Heart?” Lands No. 3 in Trending Phrases
In the “Phrases Worth Knowing” category, the line 「人の心とかないんか？」 — roughly translated as “Don’t you have any human feelings?” or “Have you no heart?” — came in at third place. The phrase originates from a line delivered by Zen’in Naoya, a popular character in the manga and anime series Jujutsu Kaisen (呪術廻戦). Naoya made his long-awaited anime debut in Season 3’s “Death Painting Arc — Part One,” which began airing in January 2026, and the line quickly caught fire online.
The phrase has since spread widely as a reaction to shocking or unreasonable situations, finding use across anime, gaming, and idol fan communities. Many users noted that they “get the feeling immediately” or “find themselves using it without thinking,” cementing it as a go-to expression in everyday conversation and social media posts well beyond its source fandom.
Baidu’s Takeaway on H1 2026
Commenting on the results, Baidu noted that “the first half of 2026 saw ’empathy-driven memes’ and ‘fan-originated trends’ make a stronger showing than in previous years.” The company observed an accelerating pattern in which topics discovered on social media spill over into real-world conversations and daily behaviour among younger generations. Full ranking details are available via the Simeji Ranking page.
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