Let’s face it, everyone needs some love in their life. While the Beatles claim all you need is love, I won’t go as far as to agree but I will say it’s a pretty big deal. With that in mind, I’ve mustered up my inner matchmaker and have compiled a list of japanese icons that would make for some fetching couples.

Van Fanel and Hitomi Kanzaki (Vision of Escaflowne)
Here’s a pair that really deserve to be together. With a love story that had more twists and turns than a M Night Shyamalan film, it was truly something special to see their love develop and blossom over the course of Escaflowne. SPOILERS: It’s too bad Hitomi went back to boring old earth, leaving her man high and dry. Maybe I’m in the minority here but a boyfriend that’s a prince ($$$!), has angel wings, AND drives a giant robot? Good luck finding one of those on match.com.

Mitsuko Kawai and Sadako Yamamura (Dark Water and Ringu)

I’d be remiss if I didn’t include at least one same sex pair-up on this list. Besides, these two have a lot in common once you stop and think about it. They’re both malevolent spirits who enjoy killing people, both tragically drowned as children, and both share a common sense of fashion. While I wouldn’t want to be the third wheel to these two, I’m sure these wild and crazy kids would have a blast on dates while shopping for new white gowns and killing people.

Tie: Princess Peach and Mario Mario / Princess Zelda and Link (Super Mario Bros. series and Legend of Zelda series)

Poor Mario and Link, fourteen years and they’re still getting the royal runaround. Especially everyone’s favorite plumber, who I suspect that his suspenders aren’t the only thing blue. You’d think after saving someone almost a dozen times from certain doom you’d be an item but I suppose it could always be worse, you could be Luigi.

Misato Katsuragi and Kaji Ryoji (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
Despite having a tumultuous history, these two made for a cute couple amidst the dreary, depressing atmoshphere of Evangelion. It’s too bad things didn’t work out what with the end of the world and all.

Professor Layton and Carmen Sandiego (Professor Layton Nintendo DS game series and Carmen Sandiego franchise)

One likes to create riddles, the other solve them. Add in the fact that they both enjoy traveling and this one’s a no-brainer. If this was a puzzle, this is where I’d exclaim “Layton’s apprentice saves the day!”

That’s it for this modest attempt at matchmaking. While I’m sure none of these match-ups will ever come to pass, it was fun imagining the possibilities. If you have a good pair-up, be sure to leave a comment! Until next time gumshoes…