ANIME NEWS: 'One Piece' most-searched keyword on Yahoo! Japan for third year

"One Piece" was the most-searched game and anime keyword online in 2012, according to a survey released by Yahoo Japan Corp.

It has won the top spot in the game and anime category for three consecutive years, beginning in 2010.

The annual ranking, which covers the period from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, shows the latest trends in the year.

The pirate manga and anime series remained the center of attention, with exhibitions and a film adaptation offered in 2012.

It also ranked 48th in the overall category, fourth in the images category, fifth in the video category and eighth in the Chiebukuro (equivalent to Yahoo! Answers) category.

"Pocket Monster" ranked second in the game and anime category, with the web-based social game "Pigg Life" winning the third spot.

For TV programs, masked superhero series "Kamen Rider Fourze" ranked third.

"Helter Skelter" took the top spot in the film category, followed by "Brave Hearts Umizaru" and "Rurouni Kenshin."

The top three are feature film adaptations of popular manga series, as are many other films in the rankings.

"Helter Skelter" also ranked fourth in January in a ranking that accounts for rapid rises in searches. "Zaku tofu" ranked second for March, with "Miku-man" ranking in fourth for August, "Kawasaki city Doraemon" ranking fourth for September, and "Gundam station" taking the top spot for October in the ranking.

The Zaku tofu is a package of tofu produced by Sagamiya Foods Inc. that is shaped like the head of the Zaku mobile suit robot from the "Mobile Suit Gundam" anime series. Miku-man is a Hatsune Miku-themed steamed meat bun offered at FamilyMart convenience stores to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the virtual idol's debut.

Kawasaki attracted attention when the city government issued Doraemon's special residency certificates to celebrate 100 years before the birth of the robotic cat in the future. The "Gundam station" came from "Pachinko Gundam Station," which was mistakenly displayed for a station on the JR Ome Line on a map released by Apple Inc. for its latest iOS mapping application.

In addition, "Great Rabbit" ranked fourth in a daily ranking for rapid rises in searches for Feb. 20. The animated short by Atsushi Wada grabbed attention when it won the Silver Bear award in the short film category at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival. Wada ranked ninth the same day.

More detailed results are available until Jan. 31, 2013, at Yahoo! Japan at (http://promo.search.yahoo.co.jp/ranking/2012/).