Anime has long been known for its thrilling battles and swordsmen with captivating fighting styles. Among them, characters who wield two swords always leave a distinct impression thanks to their fast, agile, and visually striking combat techniques. Recently, a poll in Japan caught the community’s attention by selecting the most iconic dual-sword wielder in anime.
Surprisingly, the top spot did not go to Roronoa Zoro from One Piece or Inosuke Hashibira from Demon Slayer, but to Kirito, the main character of Sword Art Online.
Anime! Anime! poll sparks lively debate
The results come from Anime! Anime!, one of Japan’s oldest and most influential anime news sites. This website regularly hosts polls on various anime and manga topics for its readers.
The survey ran from June 2 to June 9, 2026, asking participants a simple question: “Which character do you immediately think of when it comes to swordsmen who use two swords?”
Although it lasted only a week, the poll attracted hundreds of votes. The official results, announced on June 22, surprised many.
Kirito claimed first place with about 19% of the total votes, roughly 84 votes.
This is an impressive achievement, especially considering Sword Art Online’s main anime seasons ended years ago.
Why is Kirito so beloved?
From the earliest arcs of Sword Art Online, Kirito became famous for his Dual Blades skill, a rare ability reserved for players with the fastest reflexes.
Kirito’s dual-sword battles are considered some of the series’ highlights. His image charging into combat at lightning speed has become a defining symbol of the isekai anime genre for over a decade.
Beyond his stylish fighting style, Kirito helped make Sword Art Online one of the most influential anime of the 2010s and paved the way for the global boom of isekai anime.
Inosuke and Zoro follow behind
Coming in second is Inosuke Hashibira from Demon Slayer with about 10% of the votes. Unlike many traditional swordsmen, Inosuke wields two serrated Nichirin blades and uses the Beast Breathing style, creating a wild and unpredictable fighting approach.
Although his swordsmanship is not rated as highly as some others, Inosuke’s agility and strong personality make him one of Demon Slayer’s most popular characters.
Roronoa Zoro from One Piece ranks third with around 8% of the votes. Zoro’s absence from the top spot surprised many fans. However, this is understandable since the poll focused specifically on swordsmen who use two swords.
Zoro’s iconic style over more than 25 years has been the Three-Sword Style (Santoryu), wielding three swords simultaneously. While he can fight with one or two swords, it is the three-sword technique that truly defines his character.
Top 10 favorite dual-sword wielders
According to Anime! Anime!, the top 10 are:
1. Kirito (Sword Art Online)
2. Inosuke Hashibira (Demon Slayer)
3. Roronoa Zoro (One Piece)
4. Konpaku Youmu (Touhou Project)
5. Shinomori Aoshi (Rurouni Kenshin)
6. Uzui Tengen (Demon Slayer)
7. Miyamoto Musashi (Baki-Dou)
8. Kyoraku Shunsui (Bleach)
9. Sanada Ryo (Ronin Warriors)
10. Tachikawa Kei (World Trigger)
This list features characters from various anime generations, highlighting the lasting appeal of dual-sword fighting styles in Japanese anime culture.