Left-Handed Characters in Japanese Media

It’s August 13th, which is International Lefthander’s Day. The only day that celebrates the left-handed.

Today, the worldwide average of left-handed people is about 10 percent. However, in most Asian countries it’s even less. Often times, kids are still forced to use their right hand for calligraphy or chopsticks until their parents either give up, or until they finally master using their weaker hand. Science hasn’t been able to explain why people are born left-handed, but through studies judging bone density, it has been determined that it has remained a consistent presence in human evolution for several thousand years, never quite increasing or vanishing from human history.

As someone who is left-handed, there is always a little rush of excitement and a smile on my face every time it’s revealed any character in my favorite anime or game happens to be so, too. To celebrate International Lefthander’s Day, here are just a few highlights of left-handed characters that appear in Japanese media.

Sasuke Uchiha (Naruto)

Kicking things right off with possibly the most famous lefty in anime is Sasuke Uchiha. While some evidence suggests him being ambidextrous, Sasuke shows more than enough that his left hand is the dominant one. While he holds his sword in a right-handed stance, Sasuke still uses the Chidori / Lightning Blade with his left. Furthermore, when the Sage of Six Paths asks Naruto and Sasuke for their dominant hand, Sasuke presents him with his left.

Ryoma Echizen (Prince of Tennis)

Fun fact, in sports such as baseball and tennis, left-handed athletes have a natural advantage over right-handed players. It’s almost guaranteed that left-handed players go up against right-handed athletes, who have less experience against left-handed players and are thrown off balance. In the Prince of Tennis, Ryoma Echizen is the manga’s protagonist and holds just such an advantage. However, to prove that he’s capable of winning in an even match, as well as a way of training, Ryoma often handicaps himself and plays right-handed.

Sonic (Sonic the Hedgehog)

In the 2020 film, the little blue blur admits he’s left-handed on camera. During Sonic’s solo baseball game in the park, Sonic introduces himself in every position. On the pitcher’s mound, he says “…But staring him down from the pitcher’s mound is the most fearsome southpaw in all of Green Hills…also Sonic!” ‘SouthpawI is a common term to describe lefties. However, he bats right-handed, landing Sonic more in the ambidextrous category.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHyfYNqeFTs

Gonta Gokuhara (Danganronpa V3)

Dranganronpa is a cult classic of visual novels, recently celebrating its 10th anniversary and the release of the first game on smartphones and tablets. The main trilogy involves a group of classmates locked in a school (or an island) and pitted against each other in a killing game for their freedom. Players assume the role of one of the students to solve each murder case and keep the class alive for each new murderer to stand trial.

In Danganronpa V3, the gentle giant, Gonta Gokuhara is the group’s Ultimate Entomologist (bug expert). Kind, friendly, and a little empty-headed, from the start of the game he proves to be one of the purest souls of the group, often holding everyone together. He’s revealed to be left-handed in the class trial of chapter four during which he confesses that he uses his chopsticks with his left hand. This fact becomes an important clue.

Akihiko Sanada (Persona 3)

In Persona 3, the players take control of a silent protagonist who leads a gang of high-schoolers through the seemingly endless tower of Tartarus. To put an end to the mystical Dark Hour, the cast of characters climb the tower while also destroy rare monsters known as Shadows through the city during the full moon.

Akihiko is a party member who joins shortly after the first main boss, and who deals primarily with physical damage and thunder spells. One thing that sets him apart, other than his in-game stats, is that Akihiko is depicted as left-handed, using his evoker in his left hand, while every other member uses it in their right. This fact is consistent in every Persona game, as well as the Persona 3 film series. It’s an otherwise pointless detail that is never used for anything plot-related, but in a way that speaks even more to left-handed people. The developers chose to make Akihiko left-handed for no reason other than because they felt like it.

Goro Akechi (Persona 5 Royal)

Continuing right along with the Persona series is the television Detective Prince, Goro Akechi. A new detail exclusive to the Royal edition is that he is left-handed, but often plays billiards with his right hand, instead. The reason being is that his pool skills are apparently so sharp that he handicaps himself by playing with his weaker hand.

There are still dozens of lefties out there. We only covered six. Is there someone you wish we’d included? Let us know in the comments. Happy Lefthander’s Day, everyone!