Fathers sometimes get a bad rep in anime, but these amazing men proved all stereotypes wrong.
The world of anime and manga is bizarre, wonderful, and varied. Sometimes we get to see great representations of parenthood while other times, we are simply disgusted (I’m looking at you Shou Tucker). Fathers have always been a complicated subject in anime with some of them being absent or downright abusive. However, there are some fathers in anime that never let their kids down, and it’s time we celebrate their love.
Soichiro Yagami (Death Note)
You might be surprised to see this name out here, but Soichiro Yagami was actually a great father. Although his son turned out to be a megalomaniac who let his power get to his head, we can’t fault Soichiro as he did really try to protect Light. As an upstanding police officer, Soichiro did his duty diligently. But as a father, he defended Light until the bitter end. He even agreed to hand the Death Note over to the mafia to save his daughter. Although the story ends in a tragic way, Soichiro remains a father who went to the world’s end to protect his children.
Joesph Joestar (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
Despite being a generational anime the world of JJBA isn’t full of stellar fathers. Amongst them, Joseph stands out for being a really loving parent to Holly. Although he cheated on Holly’s mother with Josuke’s, his love for his daughter and son never faltered. He went to face DIO to save Holly and once admonished his grandson Jotaro for talking rudely to her. His son Josuke is also one of the protagonists in the series and Joseph is seen doting on him as well. Even though he never got as close to Josuke, he tried his best nonetheless.
Isshin Kurosaki (Bleach)
The former Captain of the 10th Division and Ichigo Kurosaki’s father was a kind and goofy man. But on occasion, he liked to practice tough love with his son, which ultimately paid off. Unlike most other shōnen protagonists, Ichigo actually comes from a loving family, and a huge part of the credit goes to Isshin. He is fun-loving, but can be serious when the time comes. He loves all his children and is devoted to keeping them happy until the very end. He also helped train Ichigo and mold him into the powerful man he became.
Maes Hughes (Fullmetal Alchemist, Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood)
The name of Maes Hughes is enough to bring tears to a Fullmetal Alchemist fan’s eyes. Unlike the other State Alchemists and officials, Maes was a happy and cheerful man who constantly dotes on his wife and daughter. He spent time with his child whenever he got a break and never let his colleagues forget exactly how adorable she is. His infectious energy brightened up his surroundings. His daughter also loved her father dearly. That’s why, the scene in which he dies is absolutely heartbreaking for everyone. Unfortunately, Maes never got to see his daughter grow up, but we will never forget how much he loved her.
Thors (Vinland Saga)
Thors only appeared in the first few episodes of the Vinland Saga anime, but stole all our hearts with his presence. He was one of the fiercest warriors, but faked his death and settled down in Iceland to spend time with his family. Thors has shown to be an incredible father for the first few episodes. Tragedy came when Thors was brutally murdered in front of Thorfinn, sending him on a path of vengeance. But we can’t deny the fact that Thors was a great dad who loved both his children and died protecting them!
Ryouji Fujioka (Ouran High School Host Club)
As a single father, Ryouji won our hearts with his love and care for Haruhi in the few episodes he appeared. Much like his daughter, Ryouji worked at a crossdressing bar and seems to not conform to gender norms. This also influenced Haruhi to not put much importance on her gender identity. Despite working a lot, this amazing father tried to be there for his daughter whenever she needed him.
Naoki Gotō (Bochhi the Rock!)
The father of the protagonist Hitori Gotō and her little sister Futari Gotō is a loving, family-oriented man named Naoki. He knows about his older daughter’s crippling social anxiety and hands his old guitar over to her when she needs it. He is also constantly supportive of her no matter what she wants to do and encourages her to be better. Along with his wife, Naoki saved all the money Hitori made from uploading her videos on the internet and gave it back to her when she needed a new guitar. Naoki also attends Hitori’s first show. He doesn’t exploit his child’s talent for views and money and only seems to be worried about her wellbeing, which makes him a pretty stellar father.
Akio Furukawa (Clannad, Clannad: After Story)
Akio Furukawa is Nagisa's doting, baseball-obsessed father who only wanted what was best for his only child. Akio ate his wife Sanae’s inedible bread with a smile on his face so as to not upset her. He also loved his daughter Nagisa Furukawa and was protective of her. In sharp contrast to Tomoya’s abusive father Naoyuki, Akio was a kind, gentle, and often childish man. Although he was skeptical of Tomoya at first, he became a father figure to him when his daughter started dating Tomoya. He also became a doting grandfather later in life.
Shikaku Nara (Naruto)
Although he wasn’t a central character in Naruto, Shikaku’s presence is always felt through his son Shikamaru. With his high intellect, Shikaku was the main advisor to the Hokage and took his job seriously. However, he also loved his son and took his mental health seriously. Unlike Minato, who died too early, Shikaku was around. He is also one of the only people who didn’t stop his son from befriending Naruto. Shikaku supported Shikamaru in all his endeavors and was there for him when Asuma died. He never let Shikamaru face the world alone and always tried to protect him.
Kohei Inuzuka (Sweetness and Lightning)
This slice-of-life anime is an amazing portrayal of a single-parent household. Kohei and his adorable little daughter Tsumugi are seen struggling after the death of his wife. Thankfully, with the help of one of his students, Kohei is able to cook homemade meals for his daughter, who loves sharing food with her father. Despite not being a food aficionado, Kohei tries his best for his daughter as they go through a terrible loss together. The relationship between the father daughter duo will bring a happy tear to your eyes. As a central character who takes his single fatherhood very seriously, Kohei deserves the top spot in this article.
