Human Personifications: The Axis | The Allies | Central Europe | Western Europe | Southern Europe | Southeast Europe | Eastern Europe | Northern Europe | The Americas | East Asia | South and Southeast Asia | Oceania | Africa | Micronations | Ancient Nations | Regions | Japanese Prefectures | Gender Flip Versions
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As a whole
- Adaptational Attractiveness:
- While by no means is he unattractive, Italy is noticeably more buff
◊ in The Beautiful World. - Japan, too; whilst he's already a Bishōnen, he's given a slight buffness upgrade in The Beautiful World, as seen here (roughly the 1:18 mark).
- While by no means is he unattractive, Italy is noticeably more buff
- The Alliance: Opposing the Allies in WWII.
- All Work vs. All Play: Italy would rather relax and have fun, while Germany is adamant about working.
- Air-Vent Passageway: All three end up crawling through one of these on an alien space ship in The Movie.
- Anachronism Stew: In one episode of the anime, Italy mentions that Germany has pornographic DVDs. Said episode takes place during World War II.
- Analogy Backfire: When Italy invents the Axis metaphor ("The world will revolve around a Rome-Berlin Axis"), Germany points out how (literally) astronomically impossible the idea is.
- Awesome, yet Impractical: The Axis discusses Ninja at one point and Japan points out that their famed throwing stars are this. Instead, he suggests that for the same purpose sharpened chopsticks would work better. Germany is a bit disappointed.
- Beauty, Brains, and Brawn: Gender-Inverted Trope. Italy is Beauty, Japan is Brains and Germany is Brawn.
- Childhood Friend Romance: Germany and Italy... if Germany is the Holy Roman Empire.
- Comic Trio: More often than they'd like. France at one point even compares them to the Three Stooges.
- Foil: Italy and Germany. Italy is carefree, ditzy, physically affectionate, and cowardly, while Germany is tightly-wound, straightforward, serious, and incredibly socially awkward.
- Foregone Conclusion: The Axis Powers lose WWII.
- Gratuitous Foreign Language: Italy and Germany in both the original and the dub, with it being more prevalent in the latter. Japan in the dub.
- Hair-Contrast Duo: Inverted with Italy and Germany. Germany (blond) is serious and strict while Italy (brunet) is cheerful and carefree.
- Heterosexual Life-Partners: If the relationship between Germany and Italy is just platonic, they're definitely this. Though Italy (at least) isn't heterosexual.
- Hot Springs Episode: One episode has Japan and Italy soaking together after forming an alliance.
- Ineffectual Sympathetic Villain/Anti-Villain: Historically, these countries are seen as the "bad guys" during WWII. Of course, the personifications themselves are portrayed sympathetically.
- Oblivious to Love:
- In Buon San Valentino, Germany and Italy are misinterpreting each others' actions all the way.
- It's implied they are in love with each other, but neither of them remembers that they are.
- Odd Friendship: France mentions that the friendship between Germany and Italy "makes no sense". The friendship between expressive, outgoing Italy and stoic, shy Japan could also qualify.
- One Head Taller: Germany and Italy are often portrayed as this, even though Italy is not exactly one head shorter than Germany, but this usually happens to accentuate the fact that they're supposed to be a couple. In fact, the height difference is more obvious in Germany and Japan's case.
- Only Sane Man: Germany. Japan is this occasionally to Germany and Italy, especially in anime artwork. And, in one strip, Italy plays the role of the sensible one to Japan and Germany's new dieting habits.
- Opposites Attract: Germany is overly strict, socially inept, and physically intimidating, while Italy is too relaxed, highly outgoing and and a coward.
- Our Werewolves Are Different: Germany and Italy dress like this for one Halloween◊.
- Perpetual Frowner: While Germany has smiled on a few occasions, his default expression is serious. Japan, too, so much so that Italy tries to get him to smile in one strip... well, he does succeed in getting Japan to show an angry expression, at least.
- Pinky Swear: Used to symbolize Germany and Italy's Pact of Steel.
- Power Trio: Germany is the superego (rational), Italy is the id (emotional), Japan is the ego (middle man).
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: Germany and Italy. Germany and Prussia also count, having blue eyes and red eyes, respectively.
- Savvy Guy, Energetic Girl: Germany and North Italy are a same-sex version. Italy also has this dynamic with his brother, South Italy, as well as Japan, as the Energetic Guy to the other two's Savvy Guys.
- Ship Tease: Germany/Italy is one of the most heavily hinted at pairings in the series, second only to Hungary/Austria in implied official-ness. However, the series has no confirmed Official Couples yet.
- Shirtless Scene: Germany and Italy have a few.
Usually together, to Japan's embarrassment. - Swapped Roles/Personality Swap: Italy and Germany do this in one strip, just to see what it would be like.
- True Companions: The Axis Powers are somewhat shown as this. At one point, N. Italy has a bad dream that the others will get tired of him and leave him behind.
- Unresolved Sexual Tension: Germany and Italy.
- Villain Protagonist: They're the Axis powers. The Axis are very rarely thought to be the heroes of World War II. Downplayed in that they're not that bad as people, and represent their respective countries as a whole as opposed to just one government. Germany is even disgusted by his boss' orders.
- Wholesome Crossdresser:
- Italy, not only as a child, but also in the 2010 April's Fools strip where he dons a dress, make-up and a wig to fool Japan into thinking that he was born female.
- Japan dresses like the archetypical Japanese housekeeper (female kimono, apron, and headgear included) when he does housework.
- Italy, not only as a child, but also in the 2010 April's Fools strip
- Will They or Won't They?: Germany and Italy don't resolve their romantic tension at the end of the unfinished Buon San Valentino.
Northern Italian Republic (Italy Veneziano) - Feliciano Vargas
Repubblica dell'Italia Settentrionale 🇮🇹
Mmm... Let's see, let's see... I'll start with de-li-cious pasta.. and then, then I'd like olive oil, and wine, and then, and then, a real pretty girl, riiight here...
Voiced by: Shounosuke Hitachi (Flower of Iris CD), Daisuke Namikawa (JP), Aki Kanada (JP-Chibitalia), Todd Haberkorn (EN), Brina Palencia (EN-Chibitalia)
- Adaptation Dye-Job: His hair is often colored medium or light brown in manga illustrations, but the anime gives him auburn hair or saturated red hair.
- Adaptational Wimp: Quite a bit. Italy's performance in World War II was far below than what it should have been capable of on paper, but its record in World War I and other wars is hardly lackluster. And while Italy is portrayed as The Ditz in this series, real Italians have contributed greatly to academia over thousands of years. Even Machiavelli can't avoid it.
- Annoying Younger Sibling: This is how Romano sees him, at any rate.
- Awesome, yet Impractical: During WWII Italy finally gets ahold of a decent, functioning tank (which, being Italy, is an accomplishment)... that smokes up the inside everytime it fired, so tank crews left the top open during battle. Truth in Television, actually.
- Big Eater: First there's pasta, then there's that he'll eat so much gelato it'll give him a stomachache...
- Big Little Brother: Technically, he's more useful than Romano (in regards to cooking and household chores anyway, otherwise he's just as useless). And though he was formerly depicted as the shorter brother, he's taller than Romano in the present day. Truth in Television — Southern Italians are much shorter than Northern Italians.
- Calling Your Attacks: Against the monster in Hetalia Fantasia.
- Camp Straight: Subverted when he admits to Germany that his first love was a boy (he flirts with Germany a lot in the present), that said he still really loves the ladies.
- Casanova Wannabe: He's supposed to be a lothario, but his success rating in dating is only 13% and he's still a virgin.
- Cheerful Child: As Chibitalia.
- Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: According to his volume 3 profile, when he really tries, he can be amazing.
- Cuddle Bug: Extremely affectionate with others. Especially Germany.
- Curtains Match the Window: His eyes are the same shade as his hair.
- Defeat Means Friendship: Despite Italy kicking his ass as a child, Turkey and him are on good terms in present in present day. Turkey even fondly recalling the incident when Italy and Germany come to visit his house and remarking that Italy had really mellowed out since the old days. Germany was shocked, to say the least...
- The Determinator: Inverted. He's very determined...to give up.
- Distressed Dude: Constantly, and Germany's always got to run to his rescue.
- The Ditz: Not much in strength or common sense (but he is extremely talented in the arts).
- Dreaming of Things to Come: As Chibitalia, he once had a dream about a young man he had never seen until then. That youth turned out to be Japan.
- Drives Like Crazy: After riding with Italy, Japan was so traumatized that he vowed to make Japanese cars safer.
- Dumbass Has a Point: During the "Japan Goes On A Diet" strips, Italy of all people is the sole voice of rationality, telling Japan and Germany to enjoy the stuff they like (salty food and beer, respectively) in moderation instead of insanely eating nothing but tomatoes.
- Emoticon: (=ヮ=)v
- Eyes Always Shut:
- He's usually drawn with eyes that resemble equals signs (though in the first episode, he had his eyes open before he closed them and in episode 15, his eyes flew open when he found out that Japan had pornographic pictures in one of his books).
- Lampshaded in Episode 41, where Italy opens his eyes as he wakes up."I tried opening my eyes for a change. ~Italy Veneziano"
- Fantastic Arousal: Try tugging on his Idiot Hair.
- Hair Color Dissonance: Is it brown or red?
- Heavy Sleeper: Italy slept straight through Rome's visit one night, even after Rome got into a lengthy (and loud) argument/conversation with Germany.
- Height Angst: Italy is very anxious about the difference in height between himself and Germany. It's so bad that he won't even wear a helmet because he feels like it's making him shorter.
- Heroic Self-Deprecation: Often."You can order me around and I'll disappoint you!"
- Hidden Depths: Later strips and blog posts have pointed towards him having these. Italy apparently enjoys gory horror movies that squick out even Germany, once kicked the Ottoman Empire's ass as a kid, presumably with just a longbow and his own physical strength and skills, and he's a gifted fencer, artist, cook, and skilled at trade.
- Idiot Hair: Italy has one single hair curl on his left side, known to be an erogenous zone when touched. A couple incidents of Germany doing such was an Accidental Pervert situation.
- Informed Ability: in a recent blog post, Himayura said Italy's fencing abilities are unusually strong. We have never seen Italy so much as hold a sword of any kind in canon let alone fight using one. But then again, would you really expect him to?
- I Have a Family: Italy tries claiming he has relatives in Berlin when begging for mercy from Germany in WWI. This is Truth in Television; captured Italians would often claim "I have relatives in [enemy country city]" to try and get let off the hook.
- Innocent Innuendo: Italy's panicked phone call: "Germany! Romano's in bed! It won't come out! Ow ow! Take it out!" Their hair got tangled together.
- Innocent Fanservice Guy: Italy is rather eager to take his clothes off when he gets ready to nap or sleep. This often gets him bitched out (by Japan) or kicked away, as Austria showed him once.
- Italians Talk with Hands:
- In the manga, Germany's letter to Britain and America included the warning that Italy would die if someone tied down his hands and feet.
- In "Can't escape from Italy" where Germany tells England how normal people talk vs Italians.
- Danshigakusei: Italy sometimes wears a sailor suit... but only some of it.
- Keet: Very energetic, very In Touch with His Feminine Side.
- Killer Rabbit: Played for Laughs in the dub when Germany picks up Chibitalia.Germany: ...Who are you?
Chibitalia: Im-ma your worst-a nightmare! <3 - The Load: Not very productive for Germany and Japan.
- Lovable Coward: Oh, Italy. So much.
- The Millstone:
- And how! Even the title wants you to know it.
- He lampshades this in his own Image Song: "Hetalia, Hetalia! Hetare Hetalia!". This is the only time someone in-series has said the show title and crosses over into Department of Redundancy Department.
- Nice Guy: For how terribly weak he is, he's a genuinely good sort. The narrator lampshades this in the dub, saying that Italy “can’t hold a grudge to save his life.”
- Nightmare Fetishist: His taste in horror movies is...surprising to say the least.
- Non-Action Guy: If it weren't already clear.
- No Sense of Personal Space: Affectionate and quick to hug.
- Obfuscating Stupidity: Germany initially thinks that Italy is trying to trick him. He's wrong.
- Ocular Gushers: Italy's tears are pressurized like a water hose, sometimes getting all over other people.
- Older Than They Look: Disregarding the obvious, his human/physical age is 20, but he looks younger than that.
- Picky Eater: He doesn't hide his dislike of Germany's sausages (even though he once sang to Germany that sausages and cheese from Germany tasted good... or at least better than English food, anyway). He's been this way ever since he was a child, as Chibitalia, he once spurred food that Holy Rome left for him because it wasn't good enough.
- Pity the Kidnapper: Each time he gets captured, he gets sent back to his own side in a box with labelled "FUCK" and a note to the effect of "He's your problem now", though he's more high-maintenance and needy than annoying.
- Saying Sound Effects Out Loud: "Patapatapatapata..." It's the sound of him waving his White Flag.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: In one notable instance, when he and the entire Italian army desert a military camp in the middle of the night. Germany is stunned, but finds them and drags them back.
- Security Cling: Italy clings to Germany's arm in Hetalia of the Dead while watching scary movies, and once to Romano when Russia comes to visit them.
- Sibling Yin-Yang: With South Italy. North Italy is sweet and kind of a pushover; his brother is mean, sharp-tongued, and the one doing the pushing.
- Significant Birth Date: March 17, the Italian reunification. He fits his zodiac sign, Pisces, pretty well too (impressionable, gentle, good-humored, quite sociable, kind, sympathetic, sensitive, impractical, dreamy).
- Slasher Smile: In one strip, Japan imagines Italy pulling one.
- Slave Collar: Wears one while dressed in slave rags for the Hetaween 2011 Halloween party. It spreads quickly, thanks to Ancient Rome wanting to make the costume popular.
- Sleeps in the Nude: And he doesn't always remember to get dressed in the morning. The anime changed it so that he sleeps in his underwear (completely ruining the joke), though the dub at least references this.
- Super-Speed: When he's retreating, that is.
- Supreme Chef / One Note Chef: He's been described as an excellent chef, but he's almost always shown cooking pasta.
- Tareme Eyes: During the rare times, that his eyes are open.
- The Thing That Would Not Leave: He was this to Germany early in their relationship.
- Throw the Pin: He just can't seem to figure out how to use a grenade, much to Germany's horror.
- Took a Level in Badass: As Chibitalia, he once kicked Turkey's ass. He de-levels, of course.
- Too Dumb to Live: He shows signs of this, especially regarding warfare. Best example: during grenade training, he throws the pin and keeps the grenade in his mouth, much to the alarm of Germany.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Pastaaaaaaaaa~!
- Training from Hell: As far as he's concerned, this is what Germany put him through.
- Trouser Space: In one comic, Italy pulls a pair of boxers out of his own pair.
- Used to Be a Sweet Kid: Inverted. He's a very sweet adult, and was a sweet kid under Austria's care, and Rome's as well, but according to Turkey, he used to be a pretty wild kid during the period of time between Rome's fall and being conquered by Austria.
- Verbal Tic: "Veeeeeee!"
- White Flag: Italy waves one whenever he's in trouble, has given them as a present to Germany, was shown mass producing them at one point, and turned a bunch of them into Pict costumes in The Movie.
Federal Republic of Germany - Ludwig
Bundesrepublik Deutschland 🇩🇪
Right, 'Germany will do something'. Why don't you do something?
Voiced by: Yuu Ishibashi (Flower of Iris CD), Hiroki Yasumoto (JP), Patrick Seitz (EN)
- Affectionate Nickname: Prussia often refers to him as "West", especially after World War II.
- All Germans Are Nazis: Averted. Germany himself doesn't really agree with his boss' decisions and he considers him quite crazy. Though there are some jokes, especially in the dub:Germany: (to Italy) Are you vanting me to gas you?!
- And also:Romano: Hey there, Hasselhoff! I've got a little surprise for you!
Germany: Great. What is it? Another Jew? (It's even censored in a YouTube video.) - There is a parody in which Germany acts like this. Many comments are about how 'Germany's Nazi is showing'.
- And also:
- Big Brother Instinct/Big Brother Mentor: He's said to act as a father figure to younger nations (ones that appear to be children), as per Word of Himaruya.
- Big Little Brother: You'd think that the way he acts around Prussia (as well as their height difference), it's as if he's the big brother.
- Born as an Adult: While other countries were "born" as toddlers, Germany was born as an older-looking child.note It's said to be because he "already had a body" before he was born, which may allude to him being the Holy Roman Empire.
- Brains and Bondage: He's quite intelligent and... uh... just ask Italy what content his porn collection consists of.
- Cloudcuckoolander's Minder: The responsibility of keeping Italy out of trouble (as much as possible, anyway) and rescuing him from danger rests on Germany's shoulders.
- The Comically Serious: Most definitely.
- Covert Pervert:
- He apparently likes bondage and bestiality and has hardcore DVDs and books showing both. According to Italy.
- And he received a box of dirty books for Christmas by Finland dressed as Santa.
- According to France at least, he loves running around naked just as much as Italy.
-
- Drill Sergeant Nasty: Germany shouts almost constantly at anyone who is being difficult, unorganized or a layabout (usually Italy). He's also in charge of military training for Italy and Japan during the WWII strips.
- Elegant Classical Musician: The official calendar pictures him with a cello.
- Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: Played with. He seems to be the responsible sibling to his foolish sibling Prussia in current times. Though as Prussia has Hidden Depthsnote , it's not as clear cut as it appears to be.
- Germanic Depressives: Of course, since Germany is a walking German stereotype, as nations usually are in Hetalia.
- Germanic Efficiency: Naturally.
- Ghost in the Machine: During Buon San Valentino, Germany's head-workers are swamped by foreign emotions.
- Good Hair, Evil Hair: Averted. He has slicked-back hair, a common hairstyle for villains, but he's depicted as a sympathetic Only Sane Man.
- Goofy Print Underwear: Subverted. He's shown wearing blue boxers with a patch sewn by Austria.
- Gratuitous Ninja: According to Italy, ninja show up frequently in German movies because Germany is of this opinion.
- The Gunslinger: He's been drawn with them in a few pieces of art, and whenever he's using a weapon it's usually a gun.
- Hair-Trigger Temper: It's very easy to set him off.
- Hawaiian-Shirted Tourist: When taking a trip to Hawaii, getting a weird look from a Hawaiian.
- Hunk: Tall, extremely muscled, and manly.
- Icy Blue Eyes: He has pale blue eyes and a stoic personality to match.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: It has been hinted that he really is the missing Holy Roman Empire, only grown up and without any recollection of his childhood. That comes across in the Valentine's strip, which ends with Germany possibly starting to recover his memories.
- This theory is under debate now that the birth of Germany has specifically revealed. He had a body before he ever became Germany, which was formed by the unification of many Germanic countries who agreed with Prussia's suggestion to fuse into one new nation. This explains why the brand new Germany was older than the young countries we've seen.
- Living Emotional Crutch: To Italy, who gets depressed at the very SUGGESTION that Germany dislikes him.
- My Country, Right or Wrong: WWII Germany in particular fits this trope. He's seen reacting with open shock and disgust at some of the orders he's given (like taking Austria away by force in the "Anschluss", despite Hungary and Italy's pleas), yet he can't do anything but obey.
- Neat Freak: One strip has Italy cooking and Germany cleaning up his mess right next to him.
- No Social Skills: So much, to the point that he has to consult books repeatedly.
- Only One Name: Unlike the other characters, only his first name was ever given. According to Himaruya, we allegedly will find out why...someday. Fans generally give him the same last name as his brother Prussia if one is required.
- Only Sane Man: To the world as a whole, albeit a loud and aggressive one. He's the one always trying to get the others to focus on the matters at hand.
- Paper-Thin Disguise:
- Germany, reenacting a story about a spy, only wears glasses as a disguise. However, France only recognizes him after noticing Germany's table manners.
- He tries to pass as an American by smiling and talking about hamburgers. To Prussia's amusement, it works.
- Please Put Some Clothes On: Germany often says this to Italy.
- Real Men Wear Pink: Germany enjoys baking cakes. His image song "Ich liebe..." even lampshades this.
- Say My Name: ITALIAAAAAAA!!!!
- Secret Diary: The Allies manage to obtain Germany's diary during WWII, and try to use it for intel...except most of the entries are about Germany's bewilderment with Italy.
- Serious Business: "Whether it be games or cleaning, it's Serious Business to me!"
- Shirtless Scene: Many fangirls were rejoiced when Episode 20 of The Beautiful World gave them this.◊
- Sibling Yin-Yang: With Prussia. Germany being a Perpetual Frowner and Prussia being a Hot-Blooded Jerkass.
- Squee: Goes into full fanboy mode when Italy gets Japan to talk about Ninja, since so many of them inexplicably show up in German films. Well, as much as Germany can at any rate.
- Super-Strength: Germany's grip is strong enough to break a metal spoon in half.
- Trademark Favorite Food: If you ask South Italy or France, he's a "potato freak," but he doesn't eat them often. When France spots him undercover, it's the way he's eating that gives him away. He also has wursts and beer.
- Tsundere: Himaruya actually calls Germany one in the notes. It's hard to tell his exact type given his usually staid demeanor. He's usually a 'take no guff' guy around everybody, but you can just tell he's making exceptions for Italy, and to drive the point further, the Valentine's strip had Germany pretty much the whole time in full-blown deredere mode.
- Tsurime Eyes: His eyes are much smaller and more squinted than Italy's.
- The Unsmile: He tries to smile and be friendly like the locals when visiting Italy. It ends up scaring the hell out of them.
- Warrior Poet: Often shown reading in his downtime. Familiar with Goethe.
- Younger Than He Looks: He looks older than Japan, when in fact he is actually younger than Italy, making him the youngest of the Axis.
State of Japan - Honda Kiku
日本国 🇯🇵
Commander! I, like a true Japanese man will say 'I'll consider it' or 'perhaps next time' or 'we'll use discretion' and be as vague as possible! By all of which I mean 'no', sir!
Voiced by: Yanagi (Flower of Iris CD), Hiroki Takahashi (JP), Christopher Bevins (EN)
- Apologizes a Lot: As part of his extreme politeness, and especially when he gets flustered. One of his Image Songs is even called Excuse Me, I'm Sorry.
- Asian and Nerdy: Like his Otaku side, this stereotype isn't brought up that much in regards to him but it clearly does apply to him to some extent, considering the couple of strips that show him to be a Teen Genius / Gadgeteer Genius.
- Asian Fox Spirit: Dresses as a kitsune for for one Halloween◊.
- Bathtub Scene: During America and Japan's Co-Habitation! in The Beautiful World.
- Berserk Button: He doesn't have many and even then it takes him some effort to show anger most of the time. Watching him completely lose his shit when hearing that Germany was contemplating an alliance with Russia is quite telling.
- Big Fancy House: He lives in a traditional Japanese house complex. It even has a a small outdoor hot spring.
- Birds of a Feather: The major foundation for the Greece/Japan pairing, aside of the "Private Lesson". They do have their differences and Japan might be somewhat Oblivious to Love, but compared to almost all other potential couples' Belligerent Sexual Tension and/or obvious personality contrasts, they're practically Happily Married and the pairing least likely to get major conflict or angst in fan works.
- Boke and Tsukkomi Routine: In the Anglo-Japanese alliance, the artist isn't sure which is which.
- Cain and Abel: He once stabbed adoptive brother China. in the back
- Cherry Blossoms: In episode 3 of the anime, when Japan is given the spotlight he's surrounded by flying sakura petals.
- Covert Pervert:
- Come on, this is Japan we're talking about, how can he not be one? It's shown a little in the strips as well-like praising 2D over 3D, and casually having confidence-stealing erotic woodblock prints in his art book collection.
- In The Stinger at the end of one of the anime episodes, Italy is looking through Japan's architecture and art books and comments how Japanese art is very nice — until he happens upon a picture of erotic Japanese art and sighs, "It's porn."
- In fanworks, he's commonly portrayed as either: 1) Hungary's partner-in-crime, 2) a complete prude in public and a complete pervert in bed, 3) secretly one of the kinkiest members of the cast, or 4) all of the above. There is very "good" reason for this portrayal, after all.
- Cloud Cuckoo Lander: Not as obvious as the rest of the cast, but he definitely has his moments.
- Crossdressing Voices: In the Flower of Iris CD only.
- Cryptic Conversation: The art of being as vague as possible ("We'll exercise discretion", "I'll see what I can do", "Perhaps next time", etc.) without actually saying "no" is a specialty of Japan's.
- Cute Bruiser: Official art often shows him wielding or carrying around a katana, and during the Christmas 2010 event he puts up a hell of a fight against the mysterious kidnapping intruder with a rolled-up poster.
- Cuteness Proximity: He's got a definite weakness for the cute. He's Japan, after all.
- Fish out of Water: He feels a bit strange sometimes when interacting with the other Axis members.
- Flower Motifs: His human first name, Kiku, means "chrysanthemum", a flower with great symbolic importance in his country. Cherry Blossoms are also often associated with him, especially after his introduction in the anime among a shower of them. His 2P female self wears the flower of death in her hair, a third symbolic flower.
- Gadgeteer Genius: In the webcast, he gives a U-boat a very interesting upgrade.
- Gender-Blender Name: His "human given name", Kiku, is listed as a feminine name on the site Behind the Name.
- Hates Being Touched: It took Italy 3 seconds to get Japan very angry just by hugging him. Compare this to Greece's intentional attempt to get Japan mad — only a single puff of anger after a solid minute of effort.
- Heterosexual Life-Partners: With America in the present day.
- Hikikomori: Japan spent 200 years as one before America arrived at his doorstep with Commodore Perry. More specifically, Japan identifies himself as a hikikomori when he sees the American boats and almost has a Freak Out, and also when he does a Sunako in response to Netherlands opening the door to his room ("Don't shed sunlight on me! I'm melting!").
- Inscrutable Oriental: It isn't too often you see a Japanese character in a Japanese series characterized this way. Made even more noticeable by all of Japan's other Far Eastern siblings not fitting this trope in the slightest (with the possible exception of Hong Kong).Germany: ...Italy is the only friend I've got... and I can never tell what Japan is thinking...
- Intentional Engrish for Funny: Very often in the dub.
- Invisible to Normals: Played with; in the past, Japan could see Youkai, but he's lost the ability in the present, coinciding with the falling belief in Youkai in real-world Japan.
- Japanese Politeness:
- Japan is always polite, even at his rudest:China: You can call me China! (...) So, would you mind telling me your name?
Child!Japan: (bows) Konnichiwa. It's nice to meet you China, where the sun sets. My name is Japan, I am from where the sun rises.
China: Oh! Well, that wasn't very nice! note - Truth in Television, as this is practically how Japan addressed itself in their first diplomatic document to China (The Emperor of the Land of the Rising Sun to the Emperor of the Land of the Setting Sun...). The Chinese Emperor was of course pissed off, saying "bring not those impolite states before me!"
- Japan is always polite, even at his rudest:
- Japanese Ranguage: He speaks like this in the dub.
- Kick the Dog: His stabbing of China in the back, presumably meant to symbolize the first Sino-Japanese war, which leaves a permanent scar on China's back. Though some fans seem to like emphasizing this single action of Japan a little too much, conveniently forgetting that there's more to him than that. YMMV, but by the standards of a Japanese work, this is actually astoundingly honest about some of the more regrettable actions of the Japanese Empire.
- Kimono Is Traditional: Often wears a yukata or kimono when he's at home (although he does sometimes wear more Western clothing), and even more often gets turned into Kimono Fanservice in some fan works.
- Mighty Whitey and Mellow Yellow: Okay, he isn't female (except in the occasional Gender Flip fanwork), but his personality is the one most closely tied to Asian stereotypes and the most common partner for him in the Western fandom is Greece, whose canon interest in his culture and language is often brought up in them, with in the Japanese fandom, it's England who stayed over at his house to learn more about his culture during their alliance. It's interesting to note that on Pixiv, England×Japan far outstrips any other ships, at 30k+. Keep in mind that Japan is the fandom bicycle...
- Meaningful Name: 'Kiku' means 'chrysanthemum'. Take a guess which national flower he has. 'Honda' is a common Japanese name that includes the same kanji as the kanji in his normal name.
- Monochromatic Eyes: A flat dark brown (black in early art), his eyes have been described as "soulless".
- Ninja Maid: In a Fanservice artwork, he dons a Meido costume and wields a katana.
- Not Blood Siblings: Explicitly with China.
- Not So Stoic:
- In spite of Japan easily being one of the most stoic members of the cast, he's proven capable of losing his cool on quite a few occasions. Especially over physical intimacy, food prices, 2D, and Russia.
- After doing some touristy things with Italy, he was shown smiling like an idiot and exclaiming "PASTA!" Italians are apparently contagious.
- Or Italy's driving.
- Obake: They still exist, though Japan can't see them anymore.
- Odd Friendship: He's inexplicably close with the loud, boisterous and very outgoing America in the present day.
- Older Than They Look/Really 700 Years Old : He's got a youthful appearance, but doesn't like his birthday anymore. He also complains of back pains and high blood pressure causing him to wake up early. At one point, Italy even stops Japan from drinking alcohol because he thinks he's too young for it.note
- Otaku: He said he prefers 2D over 3D. Given the context, that should tell you something.
- Seppuku: He is shocked to discover this isn't Germany and Italy's first response to surrender.
- Shorter Means Smarter: A few strips slot him as a Teen Genius and Gadgeteer Genius. He's also canonically tiny — at 160 centimeters, he's actually below the average height for a Japanese man, and is the shortest character among the eight mains.
- Sitcom Archnemesis: He can't stand Russia, as it seems - he tries several times to poison him, and freaks out when he hears that Germany is planning to ally with Russia.
- Sugar-and-Ice Personality: He might look like an indifferent Inscrutable Oriental on the outside, but his close friendships (and enduring patience) with several other nations and his Not So Stoic moments hint at a warmer personality underneath, and some fans posit that he has trouble being open about his feelings because he's secretly shy and/or believes that Love Is a Weakness - something that can be remedied by The Power of Friendship or Love, of course.
- Teen Genius: Japan learns to write and invents his own alphabet very quickly, much to China's shock.
- Teeny Weenie: According to Italy in the Hot Springs Episode. Subverted. It may seem like he's a lightweight in his pants, but the comic◊ and the sub heavily imply that he's not. The dub even outright says that he's a grower, not a show-er, and proceeds to "show" Italy (though the viewer is left wondering what happened).
- Tengu: Dresses as one during the Hetaween 2011 event...at least at first.
- That Didn't Happen: That night with Greece was All Just a Dream. Really, it was! He's SO glad that it was just a dream!
- That Makes Me Feel Angry: "An unpleasant sensation." But when he really ''does'' get angry...
- Vocal Dissonance: This deep voice contrasts with his very youthful appearance.
- Vocal Evolution: In the first drama CD, Hiroki Takahashi gives Japan a rather soft voice. Later dramas and the anime series have him using a deeper tone.
- Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: Cockroaches, according to Word of Himaruya, to the point that he'd cry over them.
- Yamato Nadeshiko: Never mind his gender, Japan by himself is the character in the series who's the closest to being a Yamato Nadeshiko, especially in the modern day strips. He's polite, soft-spoken, wears traditional Japanese clothing outside of meetings, and while he has his share of bizarre quirks like every other character in Hetalia does, they tend to be subtler. This has led to some people accusing him of being a Flat Character, even though these traits are frequently used for humor/parody (e.g. he's often too polite for his own good or doesn't let his politeness get in the way of him being passive-aggressive).
- Yandere / Cute and Psycho: He's got his own Yandere/Yangire ("Black Kiku") tag on Pixiv, and this characterization of him is especially popular in China/Japan fanfic (taking its cues from Japan being shown to stab China In the Back at one point in canon) and WWII DarkFic. Of course, the same is true of China within the same ship...
