Why are the protagonists generally seated by the window?


I've noticed that in some anime the protagonist is seated by the window in the
classroom. More specifically, the protagonist is _generally_ on the second
seat from the back (or sometimes on the very last seat).  
I don't know if this happens in _every_ anime, but it seems to happen on at
least some.

[![Tomoko, from
Watamote](https://i.stack.imgur.com/0gytEm.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/0gytE.jpg)
[![Touma, from
Index](https://i.stack.imgur.com/GNjYom.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/GNjYo.jpg)  
![Light, from Death Note](https://i.stack.imgur.com/X2kgam.png) ![Tenma, from
School Rumble](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Ejk1Fm.jpg)  
Top: Tomoko from Watamote (left), Touma from Index (right). Bottom: Light from
Death Note (left), Tenma from School Rumble (right).

Why does this happen?  
Does it have something to do with character conception or mood setting?  
Is it a plot device or something else?




While backbenchers are common throughout the world, windows seats are
similarly favoured by just about everybody in most situations. People want and
prefer window seats be they in classrooms, trains, or aeroplanes. In anime,
these seats additionally facilitate a few things (some of which have been
covered in other answers):

  1. The character can look out of the window to act bored.
  2. The character can look out of the window to see other characters outside.
  3. The character can easily exit the classroom by way of the window.
  4. The character can easily enter the classroom by way of the window.
  5. It reduces some of the artwork. When focussing on the character, the artist will not need to bother drawing and animating additional characters on either side. He can simply focus on the main character and draw a window or a wall as background. This saves time and money.

That said, I think that there's a mild case of [confirmation
bias](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias) in the question. There
are plenty of anime where the protagonist is not seated by the window.
Offhand, I can name _Makunouchi Ippo_ in _Hajime no Ippo_ , most characters in
_Lucky Star_ , the characters in _Hidamari Sketch_ , and so on.

