[20th Anniversary] Kobitozukan's First Ever Popularity Poll Results Announced! Kakuremomojiri Takes First Place Among 444 Species with 14,012 Total Votes
Results of the first-ever Kobitozukan popularity poll, held to celebrate its 20th anniversary, have been announced. Kakuremomojiri ranked first.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 02:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 01:06
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 16, 2026 at 12:48 (371h 41m after Collected)
Kobitozukan will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2026.
Kobitos exist as mysterious creatures hidden in our everyday lives, and they have never been ranked or discussed in terms of popularity before. To commemorate the 20th anniversary, we wanted to reconfirm which Kobitos are currently gaining attention and shed light on more Kobitos. To achieve this, we gathered opinions from fans and conducted the first-ever popularity poll.
The "1st Kobito Popularity Poll," held in December 2025, saw over 7,000 participants in approximately two weeks, with a total of 14,012 votes cast. This release announces the ranking results.
■ Revealed Ranking Results
The "1st Kobito Popularity Poll," held in December 2025, saw over 7,000 participants in approximately two weeks, with a total of 14,012 votes cast.
As a result, "Kakuremomojiri" received the most votes. This Kobito, long beloved as a representative of the series, took first place.
"Sumomonouchi" ranked second, and "Little Hanagashira" ranked third.
In addition, a lineup of uniquely individual Kobitos secured high rankings.
This release introduces the ranking results (TOP 10).
《1st Place》Kakuremomojiri (3,334 votes)
Announced in the 2008 book "Kobito Daihyakka." This Kobito garnered approximately one-quarter of the total votes, significantly outperforming the second-place finisher. Its long-standing support as a symbol of the series demonstrates its enduring popularity.
With its pink, round form and its habit of parasitizing peaches and emitting a sweet fragrance, it is loved by people of all ages and genders as a "cute" existence. It is also often described by fans as resembling their own children, making it a relatable character.
《2nd Place》Sumomonouchi (1,349 votes)
Ranking second is Sumomonouchi, announced in the 2019 book "Nihon no Kobito Taizen - Nohara ya Hatake Hen -". Despite being a relatively recently discovered Kobito, it achieved a high ranking, indicating its growing popularity in recent years.
In addition to its cute appearance, it is known to associate with Kakuremomojiri during its juvenile stage. The visual of these two together is thought to have contributed to its popularity.
《3rd Place》Little Hanagashira (1,108 votes)
Ranking third is Little Hanagashira, which also appeared in the first picture book of the series, "Kobitozukan," released in 2006. This Kobito, consistently requested in illustrations at author Toshitaka Nabata's autograph sessions, also ranked high in this poll.
Despite its small size and the flower on its head, it is a ferocious Kobito that is carnivorous and has been known to attack bears in groups. It is said that raw meat is required to capture it. Parents have shared stories of their children asking for raw meat, highlighting the appeal of this Kobito's surprising ferocity and humor, which has contributed to its long-standing popularity.
《4th Place》Arashikurobane (1,025 votes)
Arashikurobane, in 4th place, is notable for its black appearance and eerie expression. Positioned as a villainous character in "Kobitozukan," it garnered support for its unique and unsettling charm.
《5th Place》Hotokeakabane (981 votes)
Hotokeakabane, in 5th place, is known as a counterpart to Arashikurobane. Considered a "symbol of happiness," it gained popularity for its perpetually smiling expression and the folklore that witnessing it brings good fortune.
6th Place: Kakurekedama (574 votes) - Popular for its adorable habit of changing its form by parasitizing animals.
7th Place: Shiborioochichi (531 votes) - Its striking feature is the top of its head (tou-chin) resembling a breast.
8th Place: Benikinokobito (401 votes) - The tou-chin is edible. This Kobito has been loved for 20 years.
9th Place: Ichigokurenai (394 votes) - Has gained popularity in recent years as a species that parasitizes fruits.
10th Place: Takarakogane (377 votes) - A Kobito said to find gold veins with its drill-like tou-chin.
The results up to 50th place are published with images of the Kobitos on the "Kobitozukan Official Website."
■ Future Developments
The response to this poll exceeded expectations, and based on the results, the organizer, Rokurinsha, and related manufacturers have already begun considering product planning and event strategies.
These ranking results will be utilized for future product development, event planning, and various content creation, shedding light on Kobitos that have been less frequently commercialized and leading to new developments that reflect fan voices.
Furthermore, we are considering its continuous implementation as a fan participation project in the future.
■ Survey Summary
This poll was conducted as a fan participation project. The results were compiled based on free-text responses, with some variations in spelling corrected and unified to the official Kobito names.
Obvious typos, responses in sentence format, and entries not featured in the books were treated as invalid votes.
・Voting Period: December 1, 2025 (Monday) - December 14, 2025 (Sunday)
・Voting Method: LINE-based voting (one vote per account)
・Total Votes: 14,012
・Valid Votes: 13,793
※The system was designed to prevent multiple votes from the same LINE account.
■ About Kobitozukan
"Kobitozukan" is a popular children's book series with over 3.2 million copies in circulation. The first picture book, "Kobitozukan," was released in 2006, marking its 20th anniversary this year in 2026.
The book introduces the ecology of "Kobitos," mysterious creatures that are neither insects nor plants, discovered by the protagonist "Boku" (Me).
Do refrigerators suddenly start humming? Does the TV make a "pishi" sound? Is the corner of the toilet paper folded into a triangle? Does the grass rustle even when there's no wind?
What if these inexplicable everyday occurrences were the work of creatures called Kobitos?
A total of 444 types of Kobitos are introduced across 13 works!
Listen closely and look carefully. You might just sense the presence of Kobitos near you.
Kobitozukan Official Website: https://www.kobitos.com/
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kobitosofficial/
Official X: https://x.com/kobitodukan
Official LINE: https://www.kobitos.com/line
The "Kobitozukan" series is published by Rokurinsha.
©︎Toshitaka Nabata, Rokurinsha
FAQ
When was the "1st Kobito Popularity Poll" held?
It was held for approximately two weeks from December 1, 2025, to December 14, 2025.
What was the total number of votes cast?
The total number of votes was 14,012.
Which Kobito ranked first?
The Kobito that ranked first was "Kakuremomojiri."
What anniversary is the "Kobitozukan" series celebrating?
The series is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026.
What are the future plans?
Following the results of this popularity poll, plans for product development and event strategies are underway, and we intend to continue holding fan participation events in the future.