akiyama – The Spooky Red Head Blog

Approximately 10% of people are left-handed. That’s 1 in 10 people! But does this 10% translate over into anime?

Well, it certainly is easier to stick to characters being right-handed to streamline the production process where possible. Because of this it’s likely that characters that we know are left-handed, are left-handed because it’s written into their story.

For example, Ushijima from Haikyuu! is left-handed. In volleyball it’s a major benefit for him and his dad stood up for him against his family to left Ushijima use his left hand instead of being forcefully changed to right-handed.

Akiyama from K-On! is also left-handed, something that is troublesome for many musicians such as Akiyama who’s a bass player. Since basses are set up for right-handed people, you need to seek out a left-handed specific bass. For Akiyama, once she gets a left-handed bass her music potential explodes.

Ed from Fullmetal Alchemist is left-handed because he lost his right arm, which he lost when he failed human transmutation when he was younger.

Sasuke however is suggested to be left-handed because when Hagoromo askes for Sasuke’s dominant hand he holds up his left. He also tends to sign jutsu with his left – however Sasuke uses his sword and other weapons in his right. So perhaps he’s ambidextrous. This seems to be the cause for quite a few characters. And other characters are left-handed but it’s more of a small fun detail fans can notice – such as Zero Two who uses her left hand when learning to write but it’s not a thing that’s brought up.

But who’s your favourite left-handed character? What’s your thoughts on this topic?