Twenty imoutos you wished you had (Non-siscon version)
Good familial relations is one of the key attributes I had looked for in a life partner. A kindly sister/filial daughter at home is likely to make a loving wife/mother since family is where one can't keep up pretenses for long. (I overgeneralise of course.) A good friend of mine placed this characteristic as her top criterion for choosing a soul-mate.
"Watch carefully how he treats his parents and siblings because 5-10 years down the marriage, it'd be as such for you."
I agree thoroughly which explains why I have such great love for anime imoutos who treasure their siblings (brothers/sister alike). It's not easy to grow up not rubbing each other the wrong way given our innate selfish nature, exacerbated by the accompanying immaturity that plagues all childhoods. Indeed, a loving sister, especially a younger one who is mature beyond her age and looks out for her older sibling, is a priceless rarity worthy of the highest praise, hence this post.
This entry is inspired by Kurogane and Koji Oe's posts on imouto-Mei. A tribute to deserving anime imoutos who have loved their older siblings (in a non-siscon manner, mind you) beyond what is expected of their ages. Here's presenting 20 imoutos, I wished I had, in no order of preference.
Sunohara Mei (Clannad) - The inspiration of this list. Man, Sunohara don't deserve her...
Sonomiya Karen (Sky Girls) - I too want to be addressed as "Ani-ue".
Kyon's imouto (Haruhi) - Loli-in-bag did not put her on this list.
Kinomoto Sakura (CCS) - I can't speak for her brother but her affection for Touya is surely pure.
Iokawa Karada (Asatte no houkou) - I'm willing lose some life-years to have her as my sister.
Anju Maaka (Karin) - What would Karin who without her goth-lolicious sister?
Nunnaly (Code Geass) - A worthy sister to change the geo-political landscape for.
Kirishima Kano (AIR) - Actually Hijiri is the more outstanding of the siblings.
Isurugi Noe (True Tears) - A daily hug goes a long way.
Mahiro Muto (Busou renkin) - Unmovable faith in a baka onii is admirable though foolish.
Misaka Shiori (Kanon) - Such loving longsuffering for Kaori...
Amasawa Yuuko (Dennou Coil) - Virtually everything for Onii-chan.
Tsukamoto Yakumo (School Rumble) - OVER 9000 for Tenma.
Asagiri Mai (Yoakena) - The most reliable presence in the household.
Ishizuki Koyori (Sola) - So dependable that Mana feels like the imouto here.
Sara Werec (Soukou no Strain) - Strains all to recover nii-san.
Minashiro Tsubaki (Souyuu no Fafner) - Being loli had nothing to do with her on this list
Suzumiya Akane (KGNE) - Wonderful sibling-love that sustained the charade.
Fujisawa Ruri (Lovedol ~ Lovely idol) - Young but more entrepreneurial than her brother.
Mizuhara Akane (Final Approach) - The reason why onii-chan rejected a drop-in, drop-dead gorgeous wife.
PS: Do check out also the siscon-tinged version I wrote many moons ago.
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February 4th, 2008 - 10:45
Wow, some of characters you listed I never thought of wanting them to become my imouto. Usually it’s only male characters who have a sister are the ones I would consider so like Sakura, Mei, Kyon’s sister, ex cetera.
You list Yakumo and Shiori. I’d rather not be a brother to them for obvious reasons.
But, I guess this is your thing. lol
February 4th, 2008 - 10:59
‘worth changing the geopolitical landscape for’, heh heh.
February 4th, 2008 - 11:06
I’m surprised there’s no Nanoha or Fate-chan on this list. Fate saying “onii-chan” to Chrono in an episode of StrikerS was priceless. Then again, I probably wouldn’t associate the word imouto with Nanoha or Fate. Still a very good list though.
I’ll also give you a nod for mentioning some imoutos from some so-so series like Mai (Yoakena), Ruri (Lovedol) and Akane (Final Approach). Too bad those imoutos couldn’t save their respective shows from being subpar.
February 4th, 2008 - 11:22
Stripey,
I am going to smack you
No mention of Ruri Hoshino – Electornic Fairy?
February 4th, 2008 - 11:35
Futaba of Shingu beats the pants off all of the 20.
February 4th, 2008 - 13:13
Aside from Mei-chan and Koyori, I wouldn’t want the rest to be my imoutos lol. I don’t want to be tempted in to committing incest.
February 4th, 2008 - 13:40
Oh, I certainly like your list. Kyon’s sister (though in real life… she might be a little bothersome) is a must. But it is a shame that non of the Ichigo Mashimarrow’s Chika, Ana, Miyu, and Matsuri made it to the list! T__T Those would be my first pick if you ask me! ^^
February 4th, 2008 - 15:28
Mei’s route in the Clannad game is just remarkable, what an amazing imouto who is dedicated to making her onii-chan a happy person.
February 4th, 2008 - 15:43
Only Mei… the rest I would want to bang. I guess incest is the best, but I’d rather not risk getting arrested.
February 4th, 2008 - 16:32
I want one.. ;_;
February 4th, 2008 - 16:43
Icw\ystorm, you only get arrested if you leave any evidence.
February 4th, 2008 - 18:16
Any list with Shiori and Sakura on it has to be a winner. It feels like you’ve had a lot of lists recently but maybe that’s because they’ve been good. XD
To add an obligatory two cents – very tricky because I couldn’t even THINK of 20 imoutos – Tsukasa (Lucky Star) feels like she could be a good bet, but I’m going based off cuteness and naiveity rather than pure love.
Wait. Does Hisui count as an imouto? I’ll take two. Ah, who knows, this isn’t my area of expertise. XD
February 5th, 2008 - 00:35
“Kyon-kun~ hasami kashite~”
If we’re talking about sisters who canonically have older brothers, I’d probably like a younger sister like Sakura Kinomoto, just so I can ijimekko her mercilessly. Kaijuu~
Then again, if we’re just talking about younger sisters in general, I might be partial to Ryou Fujibayashi from Clannad, mainly because she’s reliable, and yet nice. (Also, a sense of humour.) Koyori Ishizuki and Mai Asagiri might be close seconds, though.
February 5th, 2008 - 02:57
lol nice list stripey, I personally agree to Minashiro Tsubaki, such a sad life she lived, but remained steadfast in her support of her brother and friends….
February 5th, 2008 - 07:28
Oops, I’m reminded again I need to catch Nadesico. Ruri demands to be on my lists! (I better watch it before I publish my ‘light-haired lolis’ post
) I also need to catch Ichigo Masshimaro and from the looks of it Shingu. 
And yes! Hisui and Ryou needs to be on the list too! 
February 5th, 2008 - 11:47
Ruri was the original Light Hair loli. So Ruri better be on that list >_>
February 5th, 2008 - 15:40
Thank you for a more contemporary and less obscure list than the other one you linked to. I’ve got nothing much to add since I have a real imouto of my own and I think the fetish is overrated (sorry, Stripey, just quoting from Genshiken here
) but what struck me while reading the list was that those of us with the real thing, or at least I at any rate, look for in imoutos in anime, would be the escapism factor.
Because little sisters grow up eventually. It’s stretching the truth a bit thin to say that those with them aren’t as affected as the imouto-less guys are, but I’ve noticed that whenever I see an oniichan-imouto interaction in anime, the feeling I get it isn’t so much an “I wish I was him” one as it is an “I’ve been there” fond remembrance. I guess all of us want an eternally-dependent sibling that always looks up to us and thinks the world of us, the feeling of wanting to protect someone. I think I see your world a little bit clearer now. (:
February 5th, 2008 - 19:47
Xellos-_^: Xellos-nii is serious when it comes to lolis..
Hai! Will catch Nadesico before that. After all everyone views Ruri as the canonical light-haired loli who started it all 
Owen S: *sniff* Besides Zyl, I believe no one else sees my imouto-con as lucidly as you. Thank you Owen for saying the words I can’t express well. From what you say, I can see you are a good brother too, as much as your imouto allowed you to be.
I have an imouto and she grew out of my protective wing a loooong time ago although our sibling relationship remains the envy of her friends. The truth is the onii-chan part of me will never really go away since I’m slightly chauvinistic (for the lack of a better word) and believe womankind should be tenderly loved/spoken to/cared for like flowers. Only thing is most girls wouldn’t let you nowadays (for many MANY reasons, both valid and invalid) hence the anime imouto escapism you mentioned. 
February 5th, 2008 - 21:39
I want Mei, Noe, Yakumo, and Shiori as my sister..(sisters)
Can’t have all 4 though..
But, they eventually grow up and be busy with their boyfriends rather than me..
Hmm..you didn’t mention Minami Chiaki there..
February 5th, 2008 - 23:37
I have been thinking… What about a list of the “20 Imoutos You Wish You’ll Never Have”? ^^;
Cheers.
February 5th, 2008 - 23:44
At my age, the list looks more like wish-list for my daughter.
Sunohara Mei: I wish there was someone like her to be wife of my younger brother.
Sonomiya Karen: Would like her in my research group
Kinomoto Sakura: Would make a good girl next door to play with my son.
Anju Maaka: I wish I had a younger sister like her. She would be useful and would make everything interesting.
Tsukamoto Yakumo: My top choice for younger sister who lives within walking distance from my residence. My wife and I need someone with good head to talk to.
Ishizuki Koyori: My top choice for my daughter. She is just too cute.
Nanoha or Fate: Would make a good daughters of my/my wife’s siblings. They would spice up the life if they lived close by.
Hiiragi Tsukasa: She would make interesting sister. I may have to spend much time tutoring her, though.
Fujibayashi Ryou: My 2nd choice for my sister or sister-in-law. I need someone dependable nearby.
February 6th, 2008 - 00:28
I guess since i was the Kawaii Imouto in my family i never really thought about the perfect imouto. Now for me i’d have to make an Otouto list since i always wanted a baby brother
February 6th, 2008 - 01:05
Hmm… odd. My comment seems to have disappeared.
Natch.
February 6th, 2008 - 08:33
Setsukyie: Maybe it’s a good thing I don’t have sister sooo cute.
I’d almost certainly abuse my onii-powers and prevent my kawaii imouto from falling into the clutches hormonally-charged boys XD
Skane: Heh, that’s be interesting too or for that matter a ‘20 gfs you don’t want to have’ list.
Oh and sorry about the eaten comments. Akismet also ate Impz’s comments and I have a good mind to switch back to Spam Karma.
maglor: I think the list would double up as a daughter list in a couple of years time for me too
Dancing Queen: Maybe an onii-chan list too?
February 6th, 2008 - 12:37
I finally had some time over to comment some on your blog. Lately I’ve been so busy working that I barely manage to read your posts
Anyway, I fully agree with your list, and especially Sunohara Mei. I mean, when Tomoya said to her that “please by my little sister” he took the words right out of my mouth. I was so touched by her caring personality that I nearly started crying out of happiness of seeing such a character in anime.
February 6th, 2008 - 12:48
I’m with Author. Hajime’s younger sister Futaba, in “Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars”, is the best imouto of all time.
February 7th, 2008 - 07:36
Wow, if I have Noe as a sister, I might become stripey the second. Oh wait, it’s a non-siscon version entry. My bad.
February 9th, 2008 - 10:46
flaskis: Glad to have you back with us
A sensible and loving imouto like Mei is love and extinct in RL of course. XD
Steven Den Beste: My academic thirst for all things imouto compels me! Have started on Shingu… XD
Impz: LOL! If it’s Noe, we don’t blame you.
February 10th, 2008 - 00:57
We may need to place Hiromi in the list of younger sisters.
February 10th, 2008 - 01:22
OMG! Should I have included half-sisters into this list? XD