RIP J.D. Salinger: Top Five Anime Kid Sisters

This is an unscheduled post, but as of when I’m writing, America just lost a great hero. J.D. Salinger, author of The Catcher in The Rye, understood perhaps better than anyone what’s it like to be a teenager; and helped every generation since cope with its angst with the wit, charm and sympathy of his writing. I read Catcher in one day, and for a long time it was my favorite book; many can say the same, but personally, it also made me really want a kid sister. Years later I went to Japan and found I wasn’t the only one. So without further ado: the top five anime kid sisters of all time.

5. Kyon’s Sister (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)

What’s funny is she’s basically the trope distilled. She’s never even given a name. Speculation holds that Haruhi “creates” her after the first few episodes because she thought the show needed a cute kid sister.

4. Nana Aihara (KimiKiss)

Mind-bendingly cute? Check. Dotes on her big bro? Check. Wakes him up in the morning? Check, check.

3. Tsukasa Hiiragi (Lucky Star)

Not every kid sister has a big brother. Kagami and Tsukasa are fraternal twins, but with her sweet nature and general helplessness, Tsukasa is clearly the “kid.”

2. Sasami (Tenchi Muyo)

I’m not sure who the original kid sister (O.K.S?) might be, but Sasami, from this old anime, is a strong candidate. And I’d rather remember her this way than as the first Lolita.

1. Pheobe Weatherfield Caulfield (Not From An Anime)

“Why has Alaska so many caning factories? Find out tomorrow! Julie you said you were Cancer but you were only Sagittarius, please bring your skates when you come over my house.”

Above: Jerome David Salinger, 1919-2010

And as for J.D.: when I left my Japanese host family, I bought my host father a copy of Catcher (translated by Haruki Murakami), telling him if he read it, he would understand America. Goodnight, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.