Rika's Power Grows, As Pokémon Standout Named Japanese Women's Most Popular Crush

When Pokémon Scarlet and Violet dropped in November, it was clear that Elite Four member Rika was the games' most, shall we say, "popular" character. However, few could anticipate just how "popular" she would become.

The Rika moment is apparently here in full swing after the androgynous character was named the most popular fictional character crush in Japan in a poll of Yumejoshi, a Japanese term meaning female otaku who tend to ship themselves with their preferred character ("Yumejoshi" literally translates to "dream girl").

「夢女子が選ぶ2022年の100人」でポケモンSVに登場する"チリ"が1位に。ー 刀剣乱舞や呪術廻戦の人気抑え https://t.co/gkTyQKk3Jt… #ポケモン #任天堂 pic.twitter.com/PC6ZidHdgW

— ニンテンドーエブリー (@nintendoevery) January 4, 2023

made this visual reference list of the 2022 yumejoshi top 100 for no reason. Very interesting
left to right top to bottom is descending order pic.twitter.com/kLeNCegTWL

— tran 🌤 (@getsugasaiho) January 4, 2023

congrats to Rika pokemon on placing number 1 on the yumejoshi top 100 list for 2022. Women Want Her

— Keelin🍑 (@SailorHannibal) January 3, 2023

The 2022 edition of the Yumejoshi poll, its fifth iteration, marks the first time the poll has been won by a woman. Female characters are eligible, but in previous iterations of the list, the top of the poll has been filled with handsome husbandos.

The list of characters Rika beat to take the top spot makes her victory all the more impressive. In addition to her Pokémon castmate Arven, Rika beat out thirst-magnets Satoru Gojo from Jujutsu Kaisen, Makima and Aki from Chainsaw Man, the casts of Golden Kamuy and Touken Ranbu ONLINE and scores of other notably "hot" otaku-loved characters.

Rika's win subsequently caused her name to trend on Japanese Twitter, amusing Western viewers who were pleasantly surprised the instantly iconic new Pokémon character was the dream person of many female anime fans.

been constantly thinking about how rika pokemon placed first in this japanese poll of “characters women fantasize about dating (2022 edition)” https://t.co/j3SoOfkUBU

— shinsei (@nise_shi) January 5, 2023

In the annual "top 100 characters Japanese girls and women fantasise about dating" poll on Note, Rika / Chiri from Pokémon Scarlet / Violet took the number one spot, beating out countless popular men.https://t.co/RptnTow3tY

You rule, lesbian and bisexual ladies of Japan! https://t.co/IMSlGr6vzH

— Andrea ♡ Foes2Hoes (@FeoUltima) January 6, 2023

come for the "unspecified amount of yumejoshi are down bad for Rika S/V", stay for the 1400-character essay someone provided along with their vote https://t.co/FeuN7Boxe8 pic.twitter.com/BuvHsTRhRe

— invelica (@invelica) January 5, 2023

Clearly, the Rika era is upon us, and with a Pokémon Scarlet and Violet anime set to come out soon, it seems Rika stocks are only going to rise in the coming months.