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A lot of Anime shows will reveal the blood type of one or more of the main
characters:

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/UOuVn.jpg)

  * What's the significance of it? What purpose does it serve?
  * Where did it come from?


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question
tropes culture
What's the significance of revealing a character's blood type?


Blood type in Japan is associated with temperance or personality. On Facebook
in Japan, as well as Wikipedia and matchmaking sites, blood type can be
listed. Many horoscopes and matchmaking services also use blood type to match
people together.

According to
[Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_types_in_Japanese_culture):

> It is common among anime and manga authors to mention their character's
> blood types, and to give their characters corresponding blood types to match
> their personalities. Some video game characters also have known blood types.
> In addition, it is common for video game series to allow for blood type as
> an option in their creation modes.

The associated personality traits (from the chart
[here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_types_in_Japanese_culture)):

  * A 
    * Better traits: Earnest, creative, sensible, reserved, patient, responsible
    * Worse traits: Fastidious, overearnest, stubborn, tense
  * B 
    * Better traits: Wild, active, doer, creative, passionate, strong
    * Worse traits: Selfish, irresponsible, unforgiving, erratic
  * AB 
    * Better traits: Cool, controlled, rational, sociable, adaptable
    * Worse traits: Critical, indecisive, forgetful, irresponsible, "split personality"
  * O 
    * Better traits: Confident, self-determined, optimistic, strong-willed, intuitive
    * Worse traits: Self-centered, cold, doubtful, unpredictable, "workaholic"


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answer


### Overview

Blood type carries a significant weight in Japanese culture, so much so that
Japanese are often surprised when people of other origins are not familiar
with their blood type. In their culture, they associate every blood type with
a certain personality and demeanor.

There is an [interesting
history](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_types_in_Japanese_culture#History)
behind blood types; in 1900, A, B, and O were initially pinned down; more than
twenty years later, in multiple reports over a number of years, there were
links made between specific racial traits and blood type (such as the
rebelliousness of the Taiwanese, who have a majority of O-type). As a result,
and ever since, the blood type of people has been indicative of other traits
as well.

### Relationships

Even now-a-days, blood types are uesd in Japanese culture. This can go to such
an extent that it's common for young women to select husbands based on it.
There are even compatibility suggestions, which I've put in a chart below:

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/89Lxu.png) (
_Compiled from JapanToday's
article[[1]](http://www.japantoday.com/category/lifestyle/view/the-importance-
of-blood-type-in-japanese-culture)_)

### Traits

The personality traits that are determined by a blood type are usually
consistent between negative and positive blood type. (I focused mostly on the
positive traits; [@kuwaly](https://anime.stackexchange.com/users/93/kuwaly)
[mentioned](https://anime.stackexchange.com/a/3279/274), some more negative
ones.) Some of the more dominant traits
are[[1]](http://www.japantoday.com/category/lifestyle/view/the-importance-of-
blood-type-in-japanese-culture):

Type A

  * Cautious
  * Empathetic
  * Kind
  * Good host
  * Quiet (to prevent arguments)
  * Honor student material
  * Big on cleanliness
  * Hard working

Type B

  * Independent
  * Agressive
  * Optimistic
  * Friendly and open
  * Humble
  * Afraid of being alone
  * Flexible thinker
  * Like to play

Type AB

  * Dream chasers
  * Don't desire success as much
  * Strong spiritually
  * Calm and rational
  * Sensitive and easily hurt
  * Private life is important
  * Pursue a variety of interests
  * Have unique ideas and are creative

Type O

  * Realistic
  * Vigorous at earning a living
  * Strong in face of adversity
  * Romanticists
  * Ambitious
  * Very cautious
  * Don't care about small things
  * Devoted

The [article I've been
sourcing](http://www.japantoday.com/category/lifestyle/view/the-importance-of-
blood-type-in-japanese-culture) has even more on this, including recommended
diets and exercises for the various blood types.

### Why assign one to a character?

To the original question: Why assign a blood type to a character? Well, you
can almost think of it like assigning an astrological sign or even a body
build; these characteristics tend to define a character as much as the blood
type does (in Japanese media). Not only does it become part of that
character's identity, but it helps to define them both to the creators and to
the viewers.


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