Board 8 > The Mount Rushmore of: Shonen Jump Protagonists

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Bitto
04/27/25 7:17:13 AM
#1:


Thanks for all the compliments on bringing this topic series back! I have the time and energy to commit to it and it's a fun topic series.

Rules

1. You may vote up to 4 entries that fit the prompt.
2. No alts.
3. No deleting or editing posts.
4. If you change your vote, clearly indicate that you are changing a previous vote. Same for adding or subtracting picks.
5. In general, if there are two picks that can be considered the same product (i.e. Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Adventure 2 Battle), I will combine them.
6. I will post the parameters of each Rushmore topic. Other than that, feel free to vote however you like and based on any criteria that best fits the "Mount Rushmore" of that topic.
7. You may nominate or second 1 nomination per day.
8. Every Monday, I'll post the schedule for the week. I will pick based on the number of nominations. Any ties will be determined by RNG.

Spreadsheet & Nominations

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1aatA25pW6OsDn2RlAAGP1_GOGCMNvLLumAKckHOhtFk/edit?gid=1117984190#gid=1117984190

Last Results

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/0/0ca05365.png

Congratulations on Blue's Clues getting on every list. I also read the Wikipedia page on Blue's Clues and, wow, I had no idea it was that big.

Last 5 Rushmores

Sonic Games: Sonic Adventure 2 / Sonic 3 & Knuckles / Sonic the Hedgehog 2 / Sonic the Hedgehog
Square-Enix Games: Final Fantasy VII / Chrono Trigger / Kingdom Hearts / Dragon Quest III
Flags: United States / Union Jack / Jolly Roger / Pride
Games with Female Protagonists: Metroid / Tomb Raider / Resident Evil / Ms. Pac-Man
Nick Jr. Shows: Blue's Clues / Dora the Explorer / Paw Patrol / Lazy Town

This Week's Rushmores

Will be chosen on Monday. Get your nominations in!

Today's Parameters

Picks must be the protagonists of manga published in Weekly Shonen Jump.

The protagonist is the main character.

Weekly Shonen Jump is the Japanese magazine that has been up for 56 years and is still running. Shonen Jump is the English one that ran for about 10 years.

https://jump.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Protagonist
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_series_run_in_Weekly_Sh%C5%8Dnen_Jump
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dh39Y7lUEAAbwRv.jpg?name=orig
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shonen_Jump_(magazine)#Series

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LightningStrikes
04/27/25 7:21:31 AM
#2:


Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Ichigo

Easy.

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Reg
04/27/25 7:23:12 AM
#3:


Goku, Luffy, Naruto, Jotaro
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KamikazePotato
04/27/25 7:24:29 AM
#4:


LightningStrikes posted...
Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Ichigo

Easy.
I want to dispute this with a newer series, but JJK, MHA, and Demon Slayer all have protagonists that comparatively weren't as popular

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ZenOfThunder
04/27/25 7:27:50 AM
#5:


i think you should delay this one

Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Jotaro

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DomaDragoon
04/27/25 7:41:25 AM
#6:


  • Son Goku, Dragon Ball
  • Monkey D Luffy, One Piece
  • Naruto Uzumaki, Naruto
  • Tsubasa Oozora, Captain Tsubasa
There's not a lot of wiggle room on this one. I feel almost every list should have at least two of the first three. I value older entries for my lists, so anything from the 2000s onward wasn't going to make my personal list. I passed over Kenshiro because I wanted some variety in the genres I was covering, and Tsubasa is older than Yugi.

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MZero
04/27/25 7:42:44 AM
#7:


Top 3 seem pretty set in stone, but I can see a lot of possibilities for the fourth

Goku
Naruto
Luffy
Kankichi Ryotsu
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SHINE_GET_64
04/27/25 7:43:30 AM
#8:


Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Tanjiro

I think due to how it exploded in sales that Demon Slayer earned its spot. It's still behind the all time sales of Slam Dunk and Kochikame, but the speed at which it did was so impressive. If it was my personal list though I would put JoJo on over that, although its explosion of popularity in the West was after it was no longer in Shonen Jump and instead in Ultra Jump.

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SaveEstelle
04/27/25 7:46:11 AM
#9:


Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Ichigo

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LightningStrikes
04/27/25 7:48:01 AM
#10:


KamikazePotato posted...
I want to dispute this with a newer series, but JJK, MHA, and Demon Slayer all have protagonists that comparatively weren't as popular

I considered Demon Slayer bloke as my understanding is he is very influential with young Japanese children but frankly I cant even remember his name and Ive read (and enjoyed!) that series to the end. Though this actually does also raise another argument in favour of Ichigo as hes very influential on future popular series, JJK most notably.

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Leonhart4
04/27/25 8:31:36 AM
#11:


Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Ichigo

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MacArrowny
04/27/25 8:33:06 AM
#12:


Kenshiro
Jotaro
Goku
Luffy

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kateee
04/27/25 8:56:02 AM
#13:


Goku
Luffy
Ichigo
Naruto
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Maniac64
04/27/25 8:56:49 AM
#14:


Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Ichigo

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hylianknight3
04/27/25 9:23:49 AM
#15:


Hanamichi Sakuragi (Slam Dunk)
Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo
Goku
Naruto

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MacArrowny
04/27/25 9:24:47 AM
#16:


I wanna say that Ichigo absolutely does not deserve to be here. He's mostly influenced by Yusuke Urameshi from Yu Yu Hakusho, who's had a similar influence on other SJ protagonists. Bleach isn't nearly as popular as a lot of these other series. For classics, I think Kenshiro and Jotaro belong here more, along with Sakuragi from Slam Dunk, though I get that most people wouldn't know him. I'd probably take Tanjiro over Ichigo too, honestly.

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swordz9
04/27/25 9:28:19 AM
#17:


He might not, but for a lot of our generation at least overseas there was this thing called The Big 3 for Jump and it was OP, Naruto and Bleach. Bleach definitely lost popularity over time though
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LiquidOshawott
04/27/25 9:31:39 AM
#18:


Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Tanjiro

briefly considered Jotaro but I guess my overall question is whether part 3 is that overwhelming for him to be considered. Kenshiro is a great choice though that would have been my fifth

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Great_Paul
04/27/25 9:31:43 AM
#19:


Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Yugi

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Maniac64
04/27/25 9:31:45 AM
#20:


I actually do think Sakuragi is a good pick I hasn't thought about.

I'll swap Ichigo for him in my vote.

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pjbasis
04/27/25 9:41:12 AM
#21:


Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Ichigo

no need to overthink this one

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Lopen
04/27/25 9:41:40 AM
#22:


LightningStrikes posted...
Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Ichigo

Easy.

This seems right despite my wants to remove One Piece.

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LightningStrikes
04/27/25 9:45:54 AM
#23:


MacArrowny posted...
I wanna say that Ichigo absolutely does not deserve to be here. He's mostly influenced by Yusuke Urameshi from Yu Yu Hakusho, who's had a similar influence on other SJ protagonists. Bleach isn't nearly as popular as a lot of these other series. For classics, I think Kenshiro and Jotaro belong here more, along with Sakuragi from Slam Dunk, though I get that most people wouldn't know him. I'd probably take Tanjiro over Ichigo too, honestly.

Well I would definitely disagree with that and say Ichigo should be on there. For starters series popularity doesnt really matter at all, this is about the characters. If it was series sure, Bleach doesnt make it and Demon Slayer would be a lock. Even Naruto would probably not make that. However this is only about protagonists and Ichigo has been both an extremely iconic protagonist in a way others in more popular series arent, and influential one despite of course having prior influences. Although, just quickly on popularity Bleach came back and revived its popularity a lot to the point where Id say that gap doesnt matter for this. Especially considering how popular it is and still is in the west.

While it is true that Ichigo was influenced by Yusuke, every shonen protagonist has obvious influences. Naruto is much more dependent on Goku and Luffy for instance. What Ichigo does that Luffy also dies is channel those influences in a way that has a further influence later on. There is no Yuji without Ichigo for instance.

Honestly, if any of those four is the weak link, I think it might actually be Naruto. Set aside the popularity of the series and the fact that hes synonymous with it. What does the character actually add?

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Sorozone
04/27/25 9:48:33 AM
#24:


Goku
Gohan
Luffy
Naruto

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TsunamiFox
04/27/25 10:08:28 AM
#25:


Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Kankichi Ryotsu


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MZero
04/27/25 10:08:28 AM
#26:


MZero posted...
Top 3 seem pretty set in stone, but I can see a lot of possibilities for the fourth

Goku
Naruto
Luffy
Kankichi Ryotsu

drop Kankichi Ryotsu
add Hanamichi Sakuragi

I was considering him too and there seems to be a little support at least
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junk_funk
04/27/25 10:08:47 AM
#27:


Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Ichigo

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MacArrowny
04/27/25 10:11:03 AM
#28:


LightningStrikes posted...
Well I would definitely disagree with that and say Ichigo should be on there. For starters series popularity doesnt really matter at all, this is about the characters. If it was series sure, Bleach doesnt make it and Demon Slayer would be a lock. Even Naruto would probably not make that. However this is only about protagonists and Ichigo has been both an extremely iconic protagonist in a way others in more popular series arent, and influential one despite of course having prior influences. Although, just quickly on popularity Bleach came back and revived its popularity a lot to the point where Id say that gap doesnt matter for this. Especially considering how popular it is and still is in the west.

Ichigo is more iconic than Bleach? Really? If anything, Bleach is strong for its ensemble cast. Aizen's more iconic than Ichigo.

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AbsolutelyNoOne
04/27/25 10:14:06 AM
#29:


Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Kenshiro

other guys I thought of for the last slot: Ichigo, Yugi, Jotaro. I also really like the idea of Sakuragi here but I still like Kenshiro the most of these.

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Janus5k
04/27/25 10:22:18 AM
#30:


Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Tanjiro

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hombad46
04/27/25 10:25:22 AM
#31:


Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Light Yagami

I think Light at least deserves to be in the discussion

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KommunistKoala
04/27/25 10:56:20 AM
#32:


Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Tanjiro

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Hbthebattle
04/27/25 11:07:58 AM
#33:


Goku
Naruto
Luffy
Tanjiro

almost said Ichigo but eh


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Hbthebattle
04/27/25 11:09:24 AM
#34:


Nominate GBA Games

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AbsolutelyNoOne
04/27/25 11:12:11 AM
#35:


Hbthebattle posted...
Nominate GBA Games
I'll also nom this one

actually entire list of consoles I think would be good for another week of "_ Games"

GBA
Dreamcast
Gamecube
Xbox (OG)
Game Boy / Color (maybe just Game Boy if GBC should be a separate topic)
DS
3DS

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ZenOfThunder
04/27/25 11:23:36 AM
#36:


now that i'm not in charge of this series it's time I admit that I took an edible while tallying the PS2 games mount rushmore and the reported results are almost definitely not 100% accurate

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Leonhart4
04/27/25 11:25:16 AM
#37:


ZenOfThunder posted...
now that i'm not in charge of this series it's time I admit that I took an edible while tallying the PS2 games mount rushmore and the reported results are almost definitely not 100% accurate

Nominate PS2 games for a redo

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Anagram
04/27/25 11:33:25 AM
#38:


Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Ichigo

I had to look up Ichigo's name, though.

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pjbasis
04/27/25 11:41:33 AM
#39:


I appreciate the Tanjiro votes. He's the goat

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Bitto
04/27/25 11:52:28 AM
#40:


Tsubasa
Goku
Luffy
Naruto

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Raka_Putra
04/27/25 11:56:53 AM
#41:


Hbthebattle posted...
Goku
Naruto
Luffy
Tanjiro

almost said Ichigo but eh


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DomaDragoon
04/27/25 11:58:58 AM
#42:


Seconding some timely noms from the document:

  1. Canadian politicians; the federal election for Canada is Monday.
  2. Flowers; it's what April showers bring.
  3. Comic book villains; Free Comic Book Day 2025 is on Saturday.
  4. Star Wars games; May the 4th.

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WhiteLens
04/27/25 12:04:52 PM
#43:


Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Jotaro

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PrinceKaro
04/27/25 12:08:47 PM
#44:


Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Tanjiro

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Hbthebattle
04/27/25 12:08:50 PM
#45:


AbsolutelyNoOne posted...
actually entire list of consoles I think would be good for another week of "_ Games"
No Wii U games, huh...

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MartinFF7
04/27/25 12:09:22 PM
#46:


Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Light Yagami
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voltch
04/27/25 12:10:57 PM
#47:


Goku
Sakuragi
Luffy
Kankichi Ryotsu

200 Volumes over a 40 year period has to count for something.

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WazzupGenius00
04/27/25 12:12:52 PM
#48:


if were talking internationally, Seiya is probably in this conversation too

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MacArrowny
04/27/25 12:15:23 PM
#49:


Nominate non-Japanese JRPGs.

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Mythiot
04/27/25 12:17:37 PM
#50:


Goku
Luffy
Naruto
Light Yagami
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