< Axis Powers Hetalia < Characters

Axis Powers Hetalia/Characters/The Axis


See also:

The Axis

The Axis Of Evil

  • Analogy Backfire: When Italy invents the Axis metaphor ("The world will revolve around a Rome-Berlin Axis"), Germany points out how (literally) astronomically impossible the idea is.
  • Blond Brunette Redhead: Germany, Japan, and Italy, although the personalities hardly match up.
  • Five-Man Band: (Along with Austria, Hungary and Prussia):
  • Freudian Trio: Germany is Superego (rational), Italy is Id (emotional), Japan is Ego (middle man).
    • Comic Trio: More often than they'd like. France at one point even compares them to the Three Stooges
  • Nakama: The Axis Powers are somewhat shown as this. At one point, N. Italy has a bad dream that the others will get tired of him and leave him behind.
  • One Head Taller: Germany and Italy are often portrayed as this, even though Italy is not exactly one head shorter than Germany, but this usually happens to accentuate the fact that they're supposed to be a couple. In fact, the height difference is more obvious in Germany and Japan's case.
  • Only Sane Man: Germany. Japan is this occasionally to Germany and Italy, especially in anime artwork. And, in one strip, Italy plays the role of the sensible one to Japan and Germany's new dieting habits.
  • Opposites Attract: Germany and Italy.
  • Pinky Swear: Used to symbolize Germany and Italy's Pact of Steel.
  • Red Oni, Blue Oni: Germany and Italy. Germany and Prussia also count, having blue eyes and red eyes, respectively.
  • Savvy Guy, Energetic Other Guy: Germany and North Italy. Italy also has these dynamics with his brother South Italy, and Japan.
  • Ship Tease: Germany/Italy is one of the most heavily hinted at pairings in the series, second only to Hungary/Austria in implied official-ness. However, the series has no confirmed Official Couples yet.
  • Shirtless Scene: Germany and Italy have a few. Usually together. To Japan's embarrassment
  • Will They or Won't They?: Germany and Italy at the end of the unfinished Buon San Valentino.

North Italy (Italy Veneziano) - Feliciano Vargas

Mmm... Let's see, let's see... I'll start with de-li-cious pasta.. and then, then I'd like olive oil, and wine, and then, and then, a real pretty girl, riiight here...

Voiced by: Daisuke Namikawa (JP), Aki Kanada (JP-Chibitalia), Todd Haberkorn (EN), Brina Palencia (EN-Chibitalia)

  • Adaptation Dye Job: His hair is often colored medium or light brown in manga illustrations, but the anime gives him auburn hair, though it tends to be brightened to a saturated sort of red shade in some episodes.
  • Adorkable
  • Big Eater: His obsession with pasta.
  • Bi the Way: Italy hits on girls all the time, but as Chibitalia his first real love was a male: the Holy Roman Empire. And now there's Germany, too...
  • Big Little Brother: Technically, he's more useful than Romano (in regards to cooking and household chores anyway, otherwise he's just as useless).
  • Bokukko: Averted. Holy Roman Empire and Austria thought that he was a girl who just used boku to refer to "herself".
  • Boy In A Crate: Germany met Italy like this.
  • Brown Eyes: In the manga.
  • Casanova Wannabe: He's supposed to be a lothario, but he's still a virgin (which is where Italy supposedly gets virgin olive oil from). But his success rating in dating is 13%
  • Cheerful Child (as Chibitalia) --> Keet (as a teenage/adult)
  • Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: According to his volume 3 profile, when he really tries he can be amazing.
  • The Determinator: Inverted. He's very determined...to give up.
  • The Ditz
  • Dreaming of Things to Come: As Chibitalia, he once had a dream about a young man he had never seen until then. That youth turned out to be Japan.
  • Drives Like Crazy: After riding with Italy, Japan was so traumatized that he vowed to make Japanese cars safer.
  • Dropped A Reverse Bridget On Him: Did this to Austria and The Holy Roman Empire. It was hilarious!
  • Eyes Always Shut: He's usually drawn with eyes that resemble equals signs (though in the first episode, he had his eyes open before he closed them and in episode 15, his eyes flew open when he found out that Japan had pornographic pictures in one of his books).
    • Lampshaded in episode 41, where Italy opens his eyes as he wakes up.

I tried opening my eyes for a change. ~Italy Veneziano

  • Eyes of Gold: In the anime.
  • Fantastic Arousal: Try tugging on his Idiot Hair.
  • Innocent Fanservice Guy: Italy is rather eager to take his clothes off when he gets ready to nap or sleep. This often gets him bitched out (by Japan) or kicked away, as Austria showed him once.
  • Idiot Hair: Italy has one single hair curl on his left side, known to be an erogenous zone when touched. A couple incidents of Germany doing such was an Accidental Pervert situation.
  • Italians Talk with Hands: In the manga, Germany's letter to Britain and America included the warning that Italy would die if someone tied down his hands and feet.
  • Danshigakusei: Italy sometimes wears a sailor suit ... but only some of it.
  • Keet
  • The Load: And how.
  • Lovable Coward: Oh, Italy. So much.
  • Moe: At all ages. Just ask the Holy Roman Empire... or Germany... or his legions of Fangirls.
  • The Millstone: And how! Even the title wants you to know this. It's actually even Truth in Television to an extent - historians say that Germany might have actually been able to defeat Russia in WWII had they not been so busy bailing Italy out of Greece, pushing the Russian campaign dangerously close to winter.
    • "Hetalia" is actually a well-known Japanese nickname of Italy among WWII historians and enthusiasts.
  • Non-Action Guy
  • No Sense of Personal Space
  • Obfuscating Stupidity: Germany initially thinks that Italy is trying to trick him. He's wrong.
  • Oblivious to Love
  • Ocular Gushers: Italy's tears are pressurized like a water hose, sometimes getting all over other people.
  • Picky Eater: He doesn't hide his dislike of Germany's sausages (even though he once sang to Germany that sausages and cheese from Germany tasted good... or at least better than English food, anyway).
    • He's been one ever since he was Chibitalia: He was hungry, so Holy Roman Empire left his food for him, but he didn't eat it because it looked gross. He's a gourmet.
  • Slasher Smile: In one strip, Japan imagines Italy pulling one.
  • Supreme Chef / One Note Chef: Well, he's extraordinarily good at cooking pasta, although that's the only dish we've seen him cook so far.
  • Talking to Himself: Daisuke Namikawa voices both Italies. Meanwhile, Aki Kanada voices both of their younger selves.
  • Took a Level in Badass: As Chibitalia, he once kicks Turkey's ass. He de-levels, of course.
  • Trademark Favorite Food: Pastaaaaaaaaa~!
  • Trouser Space: In one comic, Italy pulls a pair of boxers out of his own pair.
  • Verbal Tic: "Veeeeeee!"
    • "Beh!"
  • What Could Have Been: He wasn't originally intended to have his Idiot Hair, but Himaruya drew it in at the last minute to make him appear cuter. His personality was also originally to be similar to a character from Himaruya's first series, Advance! Kitakou Broadcasting Club in being simply unlucky and cowardly, not being that much of a ditz.
  • Wholesome Crossdresser: Not only as Chibitalia, but also in the 2010 April's Fools strip where he dons a dress, make-up and a wig to fool Japan into thinking that he was born female.


Germany - Ludwig

Right, Germany will do something. Why don't you do something?

Voiced by: Hiroki Yasumoto (JP), Patrick Seitz (EN)

  • All Germans Are Nazis: Averted. Germany himself doesn't really agree with his 'boss' 's decisions and he considers him quite crazy. Though there are some jokes, especially in the dub:

Germany: (to Italy) Are you vanting me to gas you?!

    • And also:

Romano: Hey there, Hasselhoff! I've got a little surprise for you!
Germany: Great. What is it? Another Jew? (it's even censored in a youtube video.)

    • There is a parody in which Germany acts like this. Many comments are about how 'Germany's nazi is showing'.
  • Badass: Almost all the time.
  • Bi the Way: Him. North Italy. Holy Roman Empire and Chibitalia, if you subscribe to the "Germany = grown-up, amnesiac HRE" theory. That's all.
  • Big Little Brother: You'd think that the way he acts around Prussia (as well as their height difference), it's as if he's the big brother.
  • Blue Eyes: They do become Icy Blue Eyes when he becomes intimidating.
  • Brains and Bondage
  • Covert Pervert: He apparently likes bondage and bestiality and has hardcore DVDs and books showing both. According to Italy.
    • And he received a box of dirty books for Christmas by Finland dressed as Santa.
  • Drill Sergeant Nasty: Germany shouts almost constantly at anyone who is being difficult, unorganized or a layabout (usually Italy). It's implied that Austria is even stricter.
  • Elegant Classical Musician: The official calendar pictures him with a cello.
  • Germanic Depressives: Of course.
  • Germanic Efficiency: Naturally
  • Good Hair, Evil Hair: Averted. He has slicked-back hair, a common hairstyle for villians, but he's not evil.
  • Hawaiian-Shirted Tourist: When taking a trip to Hawaii, getting a weird look from a Hawaiian.
  • Laser-Guided Amnesia: It has been hinted that he really is the missing Holy Roman Empire, only grown up and without any recollection of his childhood. That comes across in the Valentine's strip, which ends with Germany possibly starting to recover his memories.
  • Living Emotional Crutch: to Italy, who gets depressed at the very SUGGESTION that Germany dislikes him.
  • My Country, Right or Wrong: Well...yeah, but WWII Germany in particular fits this trope. He's seen reacting with open shock and disgust at some of the orders he's given (like taking Austria away by force in the "Anschluss", despite Hungary and Italy's pleas), yet he can't do anything but obey.
  • Neat Freak: One strip has Italy cooking and Germany cleaning up his mess right next to him.
  • Only One Name: Unlike the other characters, only his first name was ever given. According to Word of God, we allegedly will find out why...someday.
    • Fans generally give him the same last name as his brother Prussia if one is required.
  • Paper-Thin Disguise: Germany, reenacting a story about a spy, only wears glasses as a disguise. However, France only recognizes him after noticing Germany's table manners.
  • Perpetual Frowner: He has smiled maybe once, and that was when he was young.
    • Lies! He smiles at Italy just before invading Poland in WWII, and when he's making clocks during - ironically enough - The Great Depression.
    • He also gives a Psycho Smirk once in a while, when he obtains something he wants or when he tries to. This happens in the beginning, when he invades France (during the WWII) and when he wants to trick Italy and kick him out of his house. He also tries to give a genuine smile when he visits Italy, but he only ends up scaring people and giving a terrifying laugh.
  • Please Put Some Clothes On: Germany often says this to Italy.
    • In one strip Japan is scandalized to find Italy and Germany lounging without shirts on a hot summer day.
  • Real Men Wear Pink: Germany enjoys baking cakes.
  • Red Oni, Blue Oni: With Italy. With Prussia, too. They even have red eyes and blue eyes, respectively.
  • ITALIAAAAAAA!!!!
  • Serious Business: "Whether it be games or cleaning, it's Serious Business to me!"
  • Trademark Favorite Food: If you ask South Italy or France, he's a "potato freak", but he doesn't eat them often. When France spots him undercover, it's the way he's eating that gives him away. He also has wursts and beer.
  • Tsundere: Himaruya actually calls Germany one in the notes. It's hard to tell his exact type given his usually staid demeanour. He seems to be a Type A fond of a mix between Cold Shoulder and Smirk (less about merely throwing insults around or having mood swings, more about being grumpy and a Drill Sergeant Nasty to Italy); he's usually a 'take no guff' guy around everybody, but you can just tell he's making exceptions for Italy.
  • Tsurime Eyes
  • Unresolved Sexual Tension: With Italy.
  • Victorious Childhood Friend: He may be this to Chibitalia/North Italy, if he is the Holy Roman Empire.
  • What Could Have Been: Early notes in a booklet included with the special edition of volume 3 revealed that Germany was to be more of a "scary" character and moodier, but became more of a sympathetic type as the story evolved.
  • Younger Than They Look: He looks older than Japan, when in fact he is actually younger than Italy, making him the youngest of the Axis.


Japan - Kiku Honda

Commander! I, like a true Japanese man will say "I'll consider it" or "perhaps next time" or "we'll use discretion" and be as vague as possible! By all of which I mean "no", sir!

Voiced by: Hiroki Takahashi (JP), Christopher Bevins (EN)

Germany: ...Italy is the only friend I've got... and I can never tell what Japan is thinking..."

China: You can call me China! (...) So, would you mind telling me your name?
Child!Japan: (bows) Konnichiwa. It's nice to meet you China, where the sun sets. My name is Japan, I am from where the sun rises.
China: Oh! Well, that wasn't very nice!

    • Truth in Television, as this is practically how Japan addressed itself in their first diplomatic document to China (The Emperor of the Land of the Rising Sun to the Emperor of the Land of the Setting Sun...). The Chinese Emperor was of course pissed off, saying "bring not those impolite states before me!"
  • Japanese Pronouns: Well, duh. In particular, fanworks are extremely fond of having him refer to everyone with -san after their names, with the possible exception of -kun for his love interest (and even then, it's not nearly as common as him insisting on continuing to use -san for his love interest).
  • Japanese Ranguage: He speaks like this in the dub.
  • Katanas Are Just Better: His Weapon of Choice.
  • Kick the Dog: His stabbing of China in the back, presumably meant to symbolize the first Sino-Japanese war, which leaves a permanent scar on China's back. Though some fans seem to like emphasizing this single action of Japan a little too much, conveniently forgetting that there's more to him than that.
    • YMMV, but by the standards of a Japanese work, this is actually astoundingly honest about some of the more regrettable actions of the Japanese Empire.
  • Kimono Is Traditional: Often wears a yukata or kimono when he's at home (although he does sometimes wear more Western clothing), and even more often gets turned into Kimono Fanservice in fanworks.
  • Kuudere: He might look like an indifferent Inscrutable Oriental on the outside, but his close friendships (and enduring patience) with several other nations and his Not So Stoic moments hint at a warmer personality underneath, and some fans posit that he has trouble being open about his feelings because he's secretly shy and/or believes that Love Is a Weakness - something that can be remedied by The Power of Friendship or Love, of course.
  • Nation-tan in White: When wearing his white military uniform.
  • Me Love You Long Time: Okay, he isn't female (except in the occasional Gender Flip fanwork), but his personality is the one most closely tied to Asian stereotypes and the most common partner for him in fandom is Greece whose canon interest in his culture and language is often brought up in them, with England who stayed over at his house to learn more about his culture during their alliance running a very close second.
  • Monochromatic Eyes
  • Mukokuseki
  • Ninja Maid: In a Fan Service art, he dons a Meido costume and wields a katana.
  • Not So Stoic: In spite of Japan easily being one of the most stoic members of the cast, he's proven capable of losing his cool on quite a few occasions. Especially over physical intimacy, food prices, 2D, and Russia.
  • Obake: They still exist, though Japan can't see them anymore.
  • Otaku: He said he prefers 2D over 3D. Given the context, that should tell you something.
  • Perpetual Frowner: So much that Italy tries to get him to smile in one strip... well, he does succeed in getting Japan to show an angry expression, at least.
  • Seppuku: He is shocked to discover this isn't Germany and Italy's first response to surrender.
  • Teen Genius: Japan learns to write and invents his own alphabet very quickly, much to China's shock.
  • Teenie Weenie: According to Italy in the Hot Springs Episode.
  • That Didn't Happen: That night with Greece was All Just a Dream. Really, it was! He's SO glad that it was just a dream!
  • That Makes Me Feel Angry: "An unpleasant sensation."
    • Discretion Shot: But when he really does get angry...
  • Vocal Evolution: In the first drama CD, Hiroki Takahashi gives Japan a rather soft voice. Later dramas and the anime series have him using a deeper tone.
  • Wholesome Crossdresser: Japan dresses like the archetypical Japanese housekeeper (female kimono, apron, and headgear included) when he does housework.
  • Yamato Nadeshiko: Never mind his gender, Japan by himself is actually the character in the series who's the closest to being a Yamato Nadeshiko, other than Liechtenstein (and maybe Lithuania), especially in the modern day strips. He's polite, soft-spoken, wears traditional Japanese clothing outside of meetings, and while he has his share of bizarre quirks like every other character in Hetalia does, they tend to be subtler.
    • ... Which of course has led to some people accusing him of being a Flat Character, even though his Yamato Nadeshiko traits are frequently used for humor/parody (e.g. he's often too polite for his own good or doesn't let his politeness get in the way of him being a touch passive-aggressive).
  • Yandere / Cute and Psycho: He's got his own Yandere/Yangire ("Black Kiku") tag on Pixiv, and this characterization of him is especially popular in China/Japan fanfic (taking its cues from Japan being shown to stab China In the Back at one point in canon) and WWII DarkFic.
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