With the recent worldwide spark in interest for anime, series like My Hero Academiaare receiving more attention than ever before. From merchandise collaborations with franchises like Jujutsu Kaisen and Dragon Ball to events like Crunchyroll’s Anime Awards, anime is making a noticeable real-world impact. According to an Anime News Network article, My Hero Academia is the latest series to receive one of these exciting real world accolades.
One of the series’ Pro Heroes, Best Jeanist, is a very famous character and is ranked number three among the Pro Heroes. The title Best Jeanist is not just a fictional character’s name though, it is a real award in Japan that is given to a lucky winner each year by the Japan Jeans Council. Usually, the title is gifted to a famous public figure who frequently sports denim outfits, showing their love of the fabric publicly. On November 14, 2024, the My Hero Academia Pro Hero, Best Jeanist, was the latest recipient of the prize, accepted by the character’s voice actor, Hikaru Midorikawa.
My Hero Academia Character, Best Jeanist, Just Received a Real-World Award in Japan
The Title Is Offered to Famous Figures Who Are Often Seen in Denim, Making Best Jeanist a Perfect Choice
Hikaru used his voice acting talents to accept the prestigious reward in Best Jeanist’s honor, and Kohei Horikoshi even created a drawing to officially celebrate the character’s win, posted on his X account. The illustration depicts a joyful Best Jeanist, whose real name is Tsunagu Hakamada, basking in his triumph after receiving the award. Another notable detail of Horikoshi’s sketch is Bakugo Katsuki standing by the Pro Hero, because the U.A. Student was mentored by Best Jeanist in the series and completed his internship alongside the hero. Tsunagu is one of very few people Bakugo respects, proving how heroic he is.
In the My Hero Academia series, Best Jeanist is an eight-time recipient of the prize, making his real-life victory all the more satisfying. Horikoshi himself was astounded that one of his heroes received an accolade in real life, but honors such as these are becoming increasingly common as anime fanship steadily grows. My Hero Academia is one of the most well-loved shonen series of all time, telling the story of a society filled with people who have unique powers called Quirks. These skills make most of the humans in this world superheroes or villains, and Pro Heroes like Best Jeanist fight to keep evildoers at bay.
The Accomplishment Proves My Hero Academia’s Growing Popularity Worldwide
The Accolade Is Also a Testament to Anime’s Real-World Influence in Society
Best Jeanist is certainly worthy of receiving commendation, not just for his stylish appearance and penchant for wearing denim, but for his courageous deeds in the series. He earned his spot as #3 Pro Hero by saving thousands of lives and risking his own safety to make the world a better place. Some of his greatest accomplishments include surviving a fight with the series’ worst villain, All For One, and working together with Edgeshot to help prevent Bakugo Katsuki from dying. Of all the characters who could receive praise and recognition, Tsunagu is definitely one of the most deserving.
My Hero Academia’s Most Outrageous Hero Has a Hilarious Real-World Origin
The My Hero Academia hero Best Jeanist is a master of denim style and fiber control, but his name actually comes from a surprising real world award.
My Hero Academia currently has over 100 million copies in circulation, which is no small feat and a testament to how beloved the franchise is becoming. With four movies, seven anime seasons currently, and 430 chapters of manga, My Hero Academia has enjoyed fame and popularity for a decade now, although the manga came to a close recently. The series has impacted its fanbase immensely, and Horikoshi himself thanked his fans, crediting their enthusiasm for the My Hero Academia franchise with helping Best Jeanist win his first real-world prize and receive well deserved recognition publicly in Japan.
Source: Anime News Network
In My Hero Academia, some humans have superpowers called quirks. Izuku Midoriya, nicknamed Deku, is not one of them. Deku has always idolized heroes like the number one hero, All Might, and since he was a child, he has always wanted to be a hero. However, his lack of a quirk has always held him back, but a chance encounter with All Might after discovering a classmate in danger sets Deku on the path to becoming a true hero. My Hero Academia centers around Deku and a class of heroes-in-training at UA. This school shapes young quirk users into future heroes through fake rescue missions, combat training, and other hero-tempering tasks. With young Deku inheriting the “One-For-All” quirk, he will learn what it means to be a true hero while facing off with dastardly supervillains.
- Cast
- Aoi Yuki , Ayane Sakura , Christopher R. Sabat , Yûki Kaji , Nobuhiko Okamoto , Luci Christian , David Matranga , Justin Briner , Kenta Miyake , Clifford Chapin , Daiki Yamashita
- Release Date
- April 3, 2016
- Seasons
- 7
- Franchise
- My Hero Academia
- Production Company
- Bones
- Number of Episodes
- 113
