The Best Characters In Bungo Stray Dogs

Bungo Stray Dogs is definitely up there as one of the best anime ever made, applauded all around for its strong narratives, sleek art style, and dynamic cast of characters. The anime is set in a world where a small percentage of humans develop Abilities, but the story largely takes place in Yokohama, a city that sees regular clashes (or alliances) between various powerful organisations.

Although the anime’s storylines are worthy of praise, it’s their characters that truly carry the show. Named after real-life authors, these characters are layered, with complex motivations and even more interesting backstories. From the unbelievably intelligent Dazai Osamu to the kind-hearted Nakajima Atsushi, we’ve narrowed down ten of the best characters in Bungo Stray Dogs.

10

Yosano Akiko

Yosano Akiko is the sophisticated and elegant resident physician of the Armed Detective Agency. Before joining the Agency, Yosano was a battlefield medic during the Great War due to the nature of her Ability, with the soldiers becoming known as the Immortal Regiment. The experience scarred her, as Mori Ougai – her superior and later Port Mafia boss – forced her to use her Ability repeatedly on the despairing soldiers, who dreaded returning to the front.

Despite her harrowing origins, Yosano retains the desire to help others using her powers. Although she takes too much pleasure in bringing her patients to a near-death state, Yosano is highly dependable and a respectable combatant on the field.

9

Edogawa Ranpo

Although he dubs himself the greatest detective in the world, Edogawa Ranpo does have the chops to back it up. He is capable of pinpointing the true culprit of a crime in seconds, and as a result, the Yokohama Police regularly consult with him. The entire concept of the Armed Detective Agency was built around Ranpo’s Ability.

But in truth, Ranpo doesn’t actually have an Ability and is just that talented with deduction skills that go beyond what’s normal. Alongside Dazai, Ranpo is usually responsible for cooking up schemes to make sure the Agency comes out on top during large conflicts. Overdramatic, lazy, and obsessed with sweets, Ranpo is completely loyal to Fukuzawa Yukichi, the head of the Agency and the man who took him under his wing.

8

Nakajima Atsushi

The main character of the series, Nakajima Atsushi was an orphan who had suffered constant abuse from his caretakers. Atsushi didn’t realise he had an Ability, unconsciously turning into his weretiger form and sowing destruction wherever he went. He drew the attention of the Armed Detective Agency, enrolled and has been a faithful member ever since.

As one of the only front-line combatants of the Agency, Atsushi is regularly involved in the action. He has developed an enmity with Port Mafia member Akutagawa, but their relationship has since evolved into a reluctant partnership, to the point they were able to take out Francis Fitzgerald in close combat. Ever since the start of the anime, Atsushi has been targeted repeatedly by other organisations due to the fact his Ability could lead to the location of the reality-altering object called The Book, but what exactly the connection is remains a mystery.

7

Akutagawa Ryūnosuke

A member of the Port Mafia, Akutagawa Ryūnosuke has one of the coolest and most powerful Abilities in the show. He quickly establishes himself as a threat at the start of the anime, a lethal operative who’s able to use his multi-faceted powers to take out the Port Mafia’s enemies or defend its objectives.

Brother to the assassin Gin, Akutagawa was an orphan who grew up in the slums. Due to the terrible conditions and malnutrition, Akutagawa developed a frail constitution and is seen coughing up blood when he strains himself. One of the notable facts about Akutagawa is his obsession with Dazai, his former mentor and the one responsible for bringing him into the Port Mafia, always yearning for his acknowledgment and praise.

6

Mori Ougai

The cunning and Machiavellian boss of the Port Mafia, Mori Ougai was once a skilled doctor during the Great War. He eventually became the personal physician of the previous Port Mafia boss but ended up murdering him to take over the organisation. Mori had an eye for talent, first taking Yosano Akiko under his wing before bringing Dazai into the fold as his mentee.

A skilled combatant himself, Mori prioritises the advancement of the Port Mafia no matter what it takes, but it’s also shown that he considers the protection of Yokohama to be of paramount importance as well. Despite his dark nature, Mori is also a pragmatist, willing to set aside his enmity and ally with the Agency to take care of outside threats.

5

Fukuzawa Yukichi

The head of the Armed Detective Agency, Fukuzawa Yukichi was once a former assassin and possessed a noticeable talent for the sword early in life. Despite his former occupation as a contract killer, Fukuzawa had a strong sense of honour and voluntarily left to start work as a bodyguard.

After meeting Ranpo, Fukuzawa founded the Armed Detective Agency as a base for Ranpo to fully throw himself into detective work. Despite his firm, strict exterior, Fukuzawa has a soft spot for cats and is willing to give a chance to those who have done wrong in the past and are looking to turn a new leaf, as demonstrated by Atsushi and Kyouka.

4

Kunikida Doppo

Kunikida Doppo quickly strikes you as someone who’s a stickler for the rules and takes his work seriously. He plans out his days meticulously and even has a long list of criteria for his future partner to meet. He usually takes things too literally and this makes him easy for Dazai to mess with.

Once a former math teacher, Kunikida holds on strongly to his ideals and strives to live by them. Loyal, dependable, and one of the best fighters in the Agency, Kunikida has shown proficiency in using firearms. Alongside his work partner, Dazai, the two band together to solve crimes and other incidents, though in the anime, Kunikida is currently at the lowest point of his life after the events with Fukuchi Ochi.

3

Fyodor Dostoevsky

The overarching antagonist of the series so far, Fyodor did not let his presence be known until Season 3. Efficient and beyond intelligent, Fyodor tends to plan ten steps ahead and can keep toe-to-toe with and even make things difficult for Dazai and Ranpo. His Ability makes him difficult to kill and effectively immortal.

The leader of the Rats in the House of the Dead, Fyodor has shown a disregard for human life and doesn’t hesitate to kill to move his plans forward. His goal is to get his hands on The Book, wanting to use its power to create a world without Ability Users, as he believes they’re the manifestation of sin.

2

Nakahara Chūya

One of the most powerful characters in anime, Nakahara Chuya is a powerhouse in his own right and the Port Mafia’s trump card. His origins are largely unknown, Chuya fused with Arahabaki, which gave him his powerful Ability. Living in the slums, he was the leader of the Sheep but eventually joined the Port Mafia and partnered up with Dazai Osamu, becoming known as the undefeated duo Double Black.

Chuya worked up the ladder of the Port Mafia and was promoted to the rank of Executive. Possessing an easily angered temperament, Chuya is easy picking for Dazai’s pranks and relentless teasing. Despite hating Dazai, Chuya still works exceedingly well with him even after Dazai quits the Mafia, knowing he’s able to trust and depend on Dazai’s schemes.

1

Dazai Osamu

Probably the most popular character of the series, Dazai Osamu strikes you as mysterious despite his outwardly cheery facade. He carelessly talks about ways to commit suicide and attempts them himself, though at times it’s clear he’s serious about taking his own life. Once an Executive of the Port Mafia and Mori’s right-hand man, Dazai left the Mafia after his best friend’s death.

An intelligent, cunning, and deadly individual, Dazai holds similarities with Fyodor, in that they are the master strategist of their respective organisations, and seem to always have a way out of things. Undeniably complex, Dazai mystifies every time he appears on-screen and you never know what he’s going to do next.