History Characters / AxisPowersHetaliaTheAxis

[[Characters/AxisPowersHetalia Click]] to go back to the character index.

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[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:As a whole]]
[[quoteright:260:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_three_axis_powers_of_hetalia.png]]
* AdaptationalAttractiveness:
** While by no means is he unattractive, Italy is [[http://images.wikia.com/animebaths/images/f/f6/HetaliaJapanBathingWhileGermanySeesItAll.jpg noticeably more buff]] in ''The Beautiful World''.
** Japan, too; whilst he's already a {{Bishonen}}, he's given a slight buffness upgrade in ''Beautiful World'', as seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBKD03AG9t0 here (roughly the 1:18 mark)]].
* TheAlliance: Opposite the Allies.
* AllWorkVsAllPlay: Italy would rather relax and have fun, while Germany is adamant about working.
* AirVentPassageway: All three end up crawling through one of these on an alien space ship in The Movie.
* AnachronismStew: In one episode of the anime, Italy mentions that Germany has pornographic [=DVDs=]. Said episode takes place during World War II.
* AnalogyBackfire: When Italy invents the Axis metaphor ("The world will revolve around a Rome-Berlin Axis"), Germany [[LampshadeHanging points out]] how (literally) astronomically impossible the idea is.
* AwesomeYetImpractical: 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 [[BoringButPractical sharpened chopsticks]] would work better. Germany is a bit disappointed.
* BeautyBrainsAndBrawn: Italy is Beauty, Japan is Brains and Germany is Brawn.
* [[BlondBrunetteRedhead Blond, Brunet, Redhead]]: Germany, Japan, and Italy, although the personalities hardly match up.
* ChildhoodFriendRomance: [[spoiler:Germany and Italy. If Germany ''is'' the Holy Roman Empire.]]
* ComicTrio: 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.
* ForegoneConclusion: The Axis Powers lose WWII.
* GratuitousForeignLanguage: Italy and Germany in both the original and the dub, with it being more prevalent in the latter. Japan in the dub.
* HairContrastDuo: Inverted with Italy and Germany. Germany (blond) is serious and strict while Italy (brunet) is cheerful and carefree.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: If the relationship between Germany and Italy ''is'' just platonic, they're definitely this. Though Italy (at least) isn't heterosexual.
* HotSpringsEpisode: One episode has Japan and Italy soaking together after forming an alliance.
* IneffectualSympatheticVillain[=/=]AntiVillain: Historically, these countries are seen as the "bad guys" during WWII. Of course, the personifications themselves are portrayed sympathetically.
* ObliviousToLove:
** 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, [[ItMakesSenseInContext but neither of them]] ''[[ItMakesSenseInContext remembers]]'' [[ItMakesSenseInContext that they are]].
* OddFriendship: 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.
* OneHeadTaller: 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.
* OnlySaneMan: 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.
* OppositesAttract: Germany is overly strict, socially inept, and physically intimidating, while Italy is too relaxed, highly outgoing and and a coward.
* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: Germany and Italy dress like this for [[http://img14.deviantart.net/fc1d/i/2013/289/a/9/all_hetalia_halloween_costumes_by_heta_lolia-d6qpdgs.jpg one Halloween]].
* PerpetualFrowner: 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.
* PinkySwear: Used to symbolize Germany and Italy's Pact of Steel.
* PowerTrio: Germany is the superego (rational), Italy is the id (emotional), Japan is the ego (middle man).
* RedOniBlueOni: Germany and Italy. Germany and Prussia also count, having blue eyes and red eyes, respectively.
* [[SavvyGuyEnergeticGirl Savvy Guy, Energetic Other Guy]]: Germany and North Italy. Italy also has these dynamics with his brother South Italy, and Japan.
* ShipTease: 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 Couple}}s yet.
* ShirtlessScene: Germany and Italy have a few. [[HoYay Usually together]], [[PleasePutSomeClothesOn to Japan's embarrassment]].
* SwappedRoles[=/=]PersonalitySwap: Italy and Germany do this in one strip, just to see what it would be like.
* TrueCompanions: 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.
* UnresolvedSexualTension: Germany and Italy.
* WholesomeCrossdresser:
** Italy, not only as a child, but also in the [[http://community.livejournal.com/hetalia/8327259.html 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 [[YamatoNadeshiko like the archetypical Japanese housekeeper]] (female kimono, apron, and headgear included) when he does housework.
* WillTheyOrWontThey: Germany and Italy don’t resolve their romantic tension at the end of the unfinished ''Buon San Valentino''.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Northern Italian Republic (Italy Veneziano) - Feliciano Vargas]]
[[quoteright:150:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/150px-italy_8730.jpg]]
->''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), Creator/DaisukeNamikawa (JP), Aki Kanada (JP-Chibitalia), Creator/ToddHaberkorn (EN), Creator/BrinaPalencia (EN-Chibitalia)
[[hardline]]
* AdaptationDyeJob: His hair is often colored medium or light brown in manga illustrations, but the anime gives him auburn hair or saturated red hair.
* AdaptationalWimp: 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 a Ditz in this series, real Italians have contributed greatly to academia over thousands of years. Even [[MagnificentBastard Machiavelli]] can't avoid it.
* AnnoyingYoungerSibling: This is how Romano sees him, at any rate.
* AwesomeYetImpractical: During WWII Italy finally gets ahold of a decent, functioning tank (which, being [[TheDitz Italy]], is an accomplishment)... that smokes up the inside everytime it fired, so tank crews left the top open during battle. TruthInTelevision, actually.
* BigEater: First there's pasta, then there's that he'll eat so much gelato it'll give him a stomachache...
* BigLittleBrother: 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. TruthInTelevision -- Southern Italians are much shorter than Northern Italians.
* {{Bokukko}}: Averted. UsefulNotes/HolyRomanEmpire and [[ElegantClassicalMusician Austria]] thought that he was a girl who just used ''boku'' to refer to "herself".
* CallingYourAttacks: Against the monster in ''Hetalia Fantasia.''
* CampStraight: Subverted when he admits to Germany that his first love was a boy. But he still really loves the ladies.
* CasanovaWannabe: He's supposed to be a lothario, but his success rating in dating is only 13% and he's still a virgin.
* CheerfulChild: As Chibitalia.
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: According to his volume 3 profile, when he really tries he can be amazing.
* CuddleBug: Extremely affectionate with others. Especially Germany.
* CurtainsMatchTheWindow: His eyes are the same shade as his hair.
* DefeatMeansFriendship: [[spoiler: 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. [[BlueWithShock Germany was shocked, to say the least...]]]]
* TheDeterminator: Inverted. He's very determined...to give up.
* DistressedDude: Constantly, and Germany's always got to run to his rescue.
* TheDitz: Not much in strength ''or'' common sense (but he is [[GeniusDitz extremely talented in the arts]]).
* DreamingOfThingsToCome: As Chibitalia, he once had a dream about a young man he had never seen until then. [[spoiler: That youth turned out to be Japan.]]
* DrivesLikeCrazy: After riding with Italy, Japan was so traumatized that he vowed to make Japanese cars safer.
* DumbassHasAPoint: 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
* EyesAlwaysShut:
** 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).
** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in episode 41, where Italy opens his eyes as he wakes up.
--->''I tried opening my eyes for a change. ~Italy Veneziano''
* FantasticArousal: Try tugging on his IdiotHair.
* GirlInABox:
** Well, Boy In A Crate, but this is how he and Germany met.
** He ends up in one again after [[PityTheKidnapper America and England get tired keeping him prisoner]] and send him back to Germany, in a box that says "FUCK" on it.
* HairColorDissonance: Is it brown or red?
* HeavySleeper: Italy slept straight through Rome's visit one night, even after Rome got into a lengthy (and loud) argument/conversation with Germany.
* HeightAngst: 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.
* HeroicSelfDeprecation: Often.
-->"You can order me around and I'll disappoint you!"
* HiddenDepths: Later strips and blog posts have pointed towards him having these. Italy apparently [[NightmareFetishist enjoys gory horror movies that squick out even]] ''[[TheStoic Germany]]'', once kicked [[spoiler: 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.
* IdiotHair: 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 AccidentalPervert situation.
* InformedAbility: 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, [[LovableCoward would you really expect him to?]]
* IHaveAFamily: Italy tries claiming he has relatives in Berlin when begging for mercy from Germany in WWI. TruthInTelevision: Captured Italians would often claim "I have relatives in [enemy country city]" to try and get let off the hook.
* InnocentInnuendo: Italy's panicked phone call: "Germany! Romano's in bed! It won't come out! Ow ow! Take it out!" [[spoiler:Their hair got tangled together.]]
* InnocentFanserviceGuy: 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.
* ItaliansTalkWithHands:
** 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.
* [[{{Joshikousei}} Danshigakusei]]: Italy sometimes wears a sailor suit ... [[{{Fanservice}} but only some of it]].
* {{Keet}}: Very energetic, very InTouchWithHisFeminineSide.
* KillerRabbit: PlayedForLaughs in the dub when Germany picks up Chibitalia.
-->'''Germany:''' ...Who are you?
-->'''Chibitalia:''' [[{{Keet}} Im-ma your worst-a nightmare!]] <3
* TheLoad: Not very productive for Germany and Japan.
* LovableCoward: Oh, ''Italy.'' So much.
* TheMillstone:
** And ''how''! Even the title wants you to know it.
** He [[LampshadeHanging lampshades this]] in his own ImageSong: "Hetalia, Hetalia! Hetare Hetalia!". This is the only time someone in-series has said the show title and crosses over into DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment.
* NiceGuy: For how terribly weak he is, he's a genuinely good sort.
* NightmareFetishist: His taste in horror movies is...surprising to say the least.
* NonActionGuy: If it weren't already clear.
* NoSenseOfPersonalSpace: Affectionate and quick to hug.
* ObfuscatingStupidity: Germany initially thinks that Italy is trying to trick him. He's wrong.
* OcularGushers: Italy's tears are pressurized like a water hose, sometimes getting all over other people.
* OlderThanTheyLook: Disregarding the [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld obvious]], his human/physical age is 20, but he looks younger than that.
* PickyEater: 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.
* PityTheKidnapper: Each time he gets captured, he gets sent back to his own side [[RunningGag 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.
* PolarOppositeTwins: Although they aren't exactly twins (Romano is implied to be older and to have [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Islam_in_southern_Italy Arabic blood]]), he and his Southern counterpart fit this to a tee. North Italy is sweet and kind of a pushover; his brother is mean, sharp-tongued, and [[BigBrotherBully the one doing the pushing]].
* SayingSoundEffectsOutLoud: "Patapatapatapata..." It's the sound of him waving his WhiteFlag.
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: 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.
* SecurityCling: 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.
* SiblingYinYang: With South Italy.
* SignificantBirthDate: March 17, the Italian reunification. He fits his zodiac sign, Pisces, pretty well too (impressionable, gentle, good-humored, [[{{Keet}} quite sociable]], kind, sympathetic, sensitive, impractical, dreamy).
* SlasherSmile: In one strip, Japan imagines Italy pulling one.
* SlaveCollar: Wears one while dressed in slave rags for the ''Manga/Hetaween2011'' Halloween party. [[spoiler: It spreads quickly, thanks to Ancient Rome wanting to make the costume popular.]]
* SleepsInTheNude: And he doesn't always remember to get dressed in the morning. The anime changed it so that he sleeps in his underwear ([[{{Bowdlerise}} completely ruining the joke]]), though the dub at least references this.
* SuperSpeed: When he's ''retreating'', that is.
* SupremeChef / OneNoteChef: He's been described as an excellent chef, but he's almost always shown cooking pasta.
* TaremeEyes: During the rare times, that his eyes are open.
* TheThingThatWouldNotLeave: He was this to Germany early in their relationship.
* ThrowThePin: He just can't seem to figure out how to use a grenade, much to Germany's horror.
* TookALevelInBadass: [[spoiler: As Chibitalia, he once ''kicks Turkey's ass''.]] He de-levels, of course.
* TooDumbToLive: He shows signs of this, especially regarding warfare. Best example: during grenade training, [[ThrowThePin he throws the pin]] and keeps the grenade in his mouth, [[OhCrap much to the alarm of Germany.]]
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Pastaaaaaaaaa~!
* TrainingFromHell: As far as he's concerned, this is what Germany put him through.
* TrouserSpace: In one comic, Italy pulls a pair of boxers out of his own pair.
* UsedToBeASweetKid: 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.
* VerbalTic:
** "Veeeeeee!"
* WhiteFlag: 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 TheMovie.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Federal Republic of Germany - Ludwig]]
[[quoteright:150:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/150px-germanychibi_4278.png]]
->''Right,'' Germany ''will do something. Why don't'' you ''do something?''

->Voiced by: Yuu Ishibashi (Flower of Iris CD), Creator/HirokiYasumoto (JP), Creator/PatrickSeitz (EN)
[[hardline]]
* AffectionateNickname: Prussia often refers to him as "West," especially after World War II.
* AllGermansAreNazis: Averted. Germany himself doesn't really agree with his [[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler 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 [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqAL3euJEGU&feature=related youtube video]].)
** There is a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdpsu84AJto&feature=player_embedded parody]] in which Germany acts like this. Many comments are about how 'Germany's Nazi is showing'.
* BigBrotherInstinct[=/=]BigBrotherMentor: He's said to act as a father figure to younger nations (ones that appear to be children), as per WordOfGod.
* BigLittleBrother: You'd think that the way he [[DrillSergeantNasty acts around Prussia]] (as well as [[OneHeadTaller their height difference]]), it's as if ''he's'' the big brother.
* BornAsAnAdult: While other countries were "born" as toddlers, Germany was born as an older-looking child.[[note]]Looking roughly 10 years old or so[[/note]] It's said to be because he "already had a body" before he was born, [[spoiler: which may allude to him being the Holy Roman Empire.]]
* BrainsAndBondage: See below.
* CloudcuckoolandersMinder: The responsibility of keeping Italy out of trouble (as much as possible, anyway) and rescuing him from danger rests on Germany's shoulders.
* TheComicallySerious: Most definitely.
* CovertPervert:
** [[{{Squick}} He apparently likes bondage and bestiality]] and has hardcore [=DVDs=] and books showing both. [[TheDitz 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.
* DrillSergeantNasty: 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.
* ElegantClassicalMusician: The official calendar pictures him with a cello.
* FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling: Played with: He seems to be the responsible sibling to his foolish sibling Prussia in current times. Though as Prussia has HiddenDepths[[note]]His true nature is said to be serious and methodical, much like Germany[[/note]], it's not as clear cut as it appears to be.
* GermanicDepressives: Of course.
* GermanicEfficiency: Naturally.
* GhostInTheMachine: During ''Buon San Valentino,'' Germany's head-workers are swamped by foreign emotions.
* GoodHairEvilHair: Averted. He has slicked-back hair, a common hairstyle for villains, but he's depicted as a sympathetic OnlySaneMan.
* GoofyPrintUnderwear: Subverted. He's shown wearing blue boxers with a patch sewn by Austria.
* GratuitousNinja: According to Italy, ninja show up frequently in German movies because Germany is of this opinion.
* TheGunslinger: He's been drawn with them in a few pieces of art, and whenever he's using a weapon it's usually a gun.
* HairTriggerTemper: It's ''very'' easy to set him off.
* HawaiianShirtedTourist: When taking a trip to Hawaii, getting a weird look from a Hawaiian.
* {{Hunk}}: Tall, extremely muscled, and manly.
* IcyBlueEyes: He has pale blue eyes and a stoic personality to match.
* LaserGuidedAmnesia: It has been hinted that he ''really'' is [[spoiler: 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 [[spoiler: Germany ''possibly'' starting to recover his memories.]]
** This theory is under debate now that the birth of Germany has specifically revealed. [[spoiler: 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.]]
* LivingEmotionalCrutch: To Italy, who gets depressed at the very SUGGESTION that Germany dislikes him.
* MyCountryRightOrWrong: 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.
* NeatFreak: One strip has Italy cooking and Germany cleaning up his mess right next to him.
* NoSocialSkills: ''So'' much, to the point that he has to consult books repeatedly.
* OnlyOneName: Unlike the other characters, only his first name was ever given. According to WordOfGod, we allegedly will find out why...[[AllThereInTheManual someday]]. Fans generally give him the same last name as his brother Prussia if one is required.
* OnlySaneMan: 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.
* PaperThinDisguise:
** 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 [[ActingUnnatural by smiling]] and [[NationalStereotypes talking about hamburgers]]. To Prussia's amusement, [[HilarityEnsues it works]].
* PleasePutSomeClothesOn: Germany often says this to Italy.
* RealMenWearPink: Germany enjoys baking cakes. His image song "Ich liebe..." even lampshades this.
* SayMyName: ITALIAAAAAAA!!!!
* SecretDiary: 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.
* SeriousBusiness: "Whether it be games or cleaning, it's SeriousBusiness to me!"
* ShirtlessScene: Many fangirls were rejoiced when Episode 20 of ''The Beautiful World'' gave them [[http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34800000/Hetalia-Beautiful-World-Episode-20-hetalia-34834031-536-348.png this.]]
* SiblingYinYang: With Prussia.
* {{Squee}}: Goes into full fanboy mode when Italy gets Japan to talk about Ninja, since [[GratuitousNinja so many of them inexplicably show up in German films]]. Well, as much as [[PerpetualFrowner Germany]] can at any rate.
* SuperStrength: Germany's grip is strong enough to break a metal spoon in half.
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: 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}}: [[WordOfGod Himaruya]] actually calls Germany one [[AllThereInTheManual in the notes]]. It's hard to tell his exact type given his usually [[GermanicDepressives 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 ''[[http://www.hetarchive.net/scanlations/nonlinear.php?var the whole time]]'' in full-blown deredere mode.
* TsurimeEyes: His eyes are much smaller and more squinted than Italy's.
* TheUnsmile: He tries to smile and be friendly like the locals when visiting Italy. It ends up scaring the hell out of them.
* WarriorPoet: Often shown reading in his downtime. Familiar with Goethe.
* YoungerThanHeLooks: He looks older than Japan, when in fact he is actually younger than Italy, making him the youngest of the Axis.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:State of Japan - Honda Kiku]]
[[quoteright:150:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/150px-japan_chibi_4156.png]]
->''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), Creator/HirokiTakahashi (JP), Creator/ChristopherBevins (EN)
[[hardline]]

* ApologizesALot: As part of his extreme politeness, and especially when he gets flustered. One of his {{Image Song}}s is even called ''Excuse Me, I'm Sorry.''
* AsianAndNerdy: 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 TeenGenius / GadgeteerGenius.
* BathtubScene: During ''America and Japan's Co-Habitation!'' in ''The Beautiful World.''
* BerserkButton: He doesn't have many and even then it takes him some effort to show anger most of the time. [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness Watching him completely lose his shit when hearing that Germany was contemplating an alliance with]] [[PsychopathicManchild Russia]] is quite telling.
* BigFancyHouse: He lives in a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_house#Traditional_homes traditional Japanese house complex]]. It even has a [[HotSpringsEpisode a small outdoor hot spring]].
* BirdsOfAFeather: The major foundation for the Greece/Japan pairing, aside of the [[HoYay "Private]] Lesson". They do have their differences and Japan might be somewhat ObliviousToLove, but compared to almost all other potential couples' BelligerentSexualTension and/or [[OppositesAttract obvious personality contrasts]], they're practically HappilyMarried and the pairing least likely to get major conflict or angst in fanworks.
* BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine: In the Anglo-Japanese alliance, the artist isn't sure which is which.
* CainAndAbel: Him and his adoptive brother China.
* CherryBlossoms: In episode 3 of the anime, when Japan is given the spotlight he's surrounded by [[FlowerMotifs flying sakura petals]].
* CovertPervert:
** 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 TheStinger 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."
** Cranked UpToEleven in fanworks, where he's commonly portrayed as either: 1) [[YaoiFangirl Hungary's partner-in-crime]], 2) [[NaughtyByNight a complete prude in public and a complete pervert in bed]], 3) [[BrainsAndBondage secretly one of the kinkiest members of the cast]], or 4) all of the above. [[http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pornography_in_Asia There is very "good" reason after all]]
* CloudCuckooLander: Not as obvious as the rest of the cast, but he definitely has his moments.
* CrossdressingVoices: In the Flower of Iris CD only.
* CrypticConversation: 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.
* CuteBruiser: Official art often shows him wielding or carrying around a [[KatanasAreJustBetter katana]], and during the Christmas 2010 event he puts up a hell of a fight against the mysterious kidnapping intruder with a ''[[ImprovisedWeapon rolled-up poster]]''.
* CutenessProximity: He's got a definite weakness for the cute. [[{{Moe}} He's Japan, after all.]]
* FishOutOfWater: He feels a bit strange sometimes when interacting with the other Axis members.
* FlowerMotifs: His human first name, Kiku, means "chrysanthemum", a flower with great symbolic importance in his country. CherryBlossoms are also often associated with him, especially after his introduction in the anime among a shower of them; Japanese fans have even adopted "[[CherryBlossomGirl Sakura]]" as a FanNickname for his {{Gender Flip}}ped self, although his 2p female self wears the '''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycoris_radiata flower of death]]''' in her hair, a ''third'' symbolic flower.
* GadgeteerGenius: In the webcast, he gives a U-boat a very interesting [[TransformingMecha upgrade]].
* GagPenis: Subverted. It may seem like he's a lightweight in his pants, but the [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/025.jpg comic]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr3Mvfm_Vmo the sub]] heavily imply that he's not. The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhjjAKK0c6I dub]] even outright says that he's a grower, not a show-er, and proceeds to "show" Italy ([[NoodleIncident though the viewer is left wondering what happened]]).
* HatesBeingTouched: It took Italy ''3 seconds'' to get Japan very angry just by hugging him. (compare to Greece's intentional attempt to get Japan mad: only a single puff of anger after a solid minute of effort)
* HeterosexualLifePartners: With [[IdiotHero 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 FreakOut, and also when he [[Manga/TheWallflower does a Sunako]] in response to Netherlands opening the door to his room ("Don't shed sunlight on me! I'm melting!").
* InscrutableOriental: 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..."
* IntentionalEngrishForFunny: Very often in the dub.
* InvisibleToNormals: 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.
* JapanesePoliteness:
** 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]]In Asian cultures, places where the sun rises are considered good and places where it sets are considered bad, so Japan basically said: "Hello, stupid China, I'm Japan and I'm way better than you.[[/note]]
** TruthInTelevision, 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!"
* JapaneseRanguage: He speaks like this in the dub.
* KatanasAreJustBetter: His WeaponOfChoice.
* KickTheDog: 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 [[NeverLiveItDown 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.
* KimonoIsTraditional: 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 KimonoFanservice in fanworks.
* {{Kitsune}}: Dresses as one for [[http://img14.deviantart.net/fc1d/i/2013/289/a/9/all_hetalia_halloween_costumes_by_heta_lolia-d6qpdgs.jpg for one Halloween]].
* [[SugarandIcePersonality Kuudere]]: He might ''look'' like an indifferent InscrutableOriental on the outside, but his close friendships (and enduring patience) with several other nations and his NotSoStoic moments hint at a warmer personality underneath, and some fans posit that he has trouble being open about his feelings because he's [[ShrinkingViolet secretly shy]] and/or believes that LoveIsAWeakness - something that can be remedied by ThePowerOfFriendship or [[ThePowerOfLove Love]], of course.
* MightyWhiteyAndMellowYellow: Okay, he isn't female (except in the occasional GenderFlip fanwork), but his personality is the one most closely tied to [[InscrutableOriental 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 x Japan far outstrips any other ships, at 30k+. Keep in mind that Japan is the fandom bicycle...
* MeaningfulName: '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.
* MonochromaticEyes: A flat dark brown (black in early art), his eyes have been described as "soulless."
* NinjaMaid: In a {{Fanservice}} art, he dons a {{Meido}} costume and wields a ''[[BadassAdorable katana]]''.
* NotBloodSiblings: Explicitly with China.
* NotSoStoic:
** 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 [[HatesBeingTouched physical intimacy]], [[RantInducingSlight food prices]], [[{{Otaku}} 2D]], and [[PsychopathicManchild Russia]].
** After doing some touristy things with Italy, he was shown smiling like an idiot and exclaiming "PASTA!" Italians are apparently contagious.
** Or [[DrivesLikeCrazy Italy's driving.]]
* {{Obake}}: They still exist, though Japan can't see them anymore.
* OddFriendship: He's inexplicably close with the loud, boisterous and very outgoing America in the present day.
* [[OlderThanTheyLook Older Than He Looks]][=/=]ReallySevenHundredYearsOld : 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]]Himaruya gives his age as "secret," but his age is estimated at approximately 2,670 years old by fans. So he's likely the oldest Axis member![[/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.
* SitcomArchnemesis: 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.
* TeenGenius: Japan learns to write and invents his own alphabet ''very'' quickly, much to China's shock.
* TeenyWeenie: According to Italy in the HotSpringsEpisode.
* {{Tengu}}: Dresses as one during the ''Manga/Hetaween2011'' event...[[FoodEnd at least at first]].
* ThatDidntHappen: That night with Greece was AllJustADream. [[ImplausibleDeniability Really, it was! He's SO glad that it was just a dream!]]
* ThatMakesMeFeelAngry: "An unpleasant sensation." [[DiscretionShot But when he really ''does'' get angry...]]
* VocalDissonance: This deep voice contrasts with his very youthful appearance.
* VocalEvolution: In the first drama CD, Creator/HirokiTakahashi gives Japan a rather soft voice. Later dramas and the anime series have him using a deeper tone.
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: Cockroaches, according to WordOfGod. To the point that he'd ''cry'' over them.
* YamatoNadeshiko: 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 [[HikikoMori bizarre]] [[CovertPervert quirks]] like every other character in Hetalia does, they tend to be subtler. This has led to some people accusing him of being a FlatCharacter, 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}} / CuteAndPsycho: He's got his own Yandere/Yangire ("Black Kiku") tag on Pixiv, and this [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation characterization of him]] is especially popular in China/Japan fanfic (taking its cues from Japan being shown to [[KickTheDog stab China]] InTheBack at one point in canon) and [[DarkerAndEdgier WWII DarkFic.]] Of course, the same is true of China within the same ship...
[[/folder]]

-----

* {{Adorkable}}: A cute, cowardly CasanovaWannabe. Just look at the cute smile he gives, how meek he is and how much genuine enthousiasm he shows. He's even rather clumsy and can be shy at times.

* BiTheWay: Italy hits on girls all the time, but as a child his first real love was another boy: the UsefulNotes/HolyRomanEmpire.

* BiTheWay: Him. North Italy. [[spoiler: Holy Roman Empire and Chibitalia, if you subscribe to the "Germany = grown-up, amnesiac HRE" theory]].

->Voiced by: Yanagi (Flower of Iris CD), Creator/HirokiTakahashi (JP), Christopher Bevins (EN)

* [[ManInWhite Nation-tan in White]]: When wearing his white military uniform.

* SleepsInTheNude: And he doesn't always remember to get dressed in the morning. The anime changed it so that he sleeps in his underwear ([[{{Bowdlerise}} completely missing the point of the joke]], though the dub at least references this.

* {{Emoticon}}: (=ヮ=)

* {{Tsundere}}: [[WordOfGod Himaruya]] actually calls Germany one [[AllThereInTheManual in the notes]]. It's hard to tell his exact type given his usually [[GermanicDepressives 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 [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments Valentine's strip]] had Germany pretty much ''[[http://www.hetarchive.net/scanlations/nonlinear.php?var the whole time]]'' in full-blown deredere mode.

* AdaptationalAttractiveness: While by no means is he unattractive, Italy is [[http://images.wikia.com/animebaths/images/f/f6/HetaliaJapanBathingWhileGermanySeesItAll.jpg noticeably more buff]] in ''The Beautiful World''.

* ObliviousToLove: In ''Buon San Valentino'', Germany and Italy are misinterpreting each others' actions all the way.

* OppositesAttract: Germany and Italy.

* WholesomeCrossdresser: Italy, not only as a child, but also in the [[http://community.livejournal.com/hetalia/8327259.html 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.

* WillTheyOrWontThey: Germany and Italy at the end of the unfinished ''Buon San Valentino''.

* MyCountryRightOrWrong: [[CaptainObvious Well...yeah]], but 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.