Pop Culture

A prominent feature of Sket Dance is how it references other manga and bits of pop culture. This is an ongoing comprehensive list of those references. For manga and anime series that features Sket Dance references in them, please see Sket Dance References in Other Media.

Jump Manga= Bakuman
 * Chapter 72: Shinzō's haircut, and the clothes picked immediately afterward, make him look exactly like Eiji Niizuma.
 * Chapter 115: The narration states that if you don't know what a manga "name" is, then go read Bakuman.
 * Chapter 185: Himeko has Bossun draw people based on her descriptions, one of which turns out to be Nakai.
 * Episode 9: Roman stops herself just before kissing Bossun and runs off, saying she promised not to kiss until her manga becomes an anime - a reference to the promise made between Mashiro and Miho.
 * Episode 20: Himeko incorrectly recalls Seiji's name as Eiji, at which point she poses with a hairstyle resembling Eiji's.
 * Episode 42: The scene where Roman makes Fumi her partner, so they can make a Shojo manga is a reference to Mashiro and Akito's dream of making their manga become an anime adapation.

Beelzebub
 * Chapter 86 and Episode 47: During the Kaimei festival, Bossun calls Himeko "Hilda" when she dresses as a maid for Class 2-C's maid cafe.
 * Chapter 164: Enigman mentions "Bel-bō" as one of the many characters listed in the results, along with a picture of baby Beelzebub.
 * Episode 18: The music played when Matcha Azukina is first introduced is the same as that played during Angelica's magical girl transformation in Beelzebub's episode 27.

Bleach
 * Chapter 1: Switch states that his favorite Espada is Aaroniero Arruruerie.
 * Episode 1: Switch states that his favorite Visored is Kensei Muguruma.
 * Episode 3: Bossun asks if Himeko is able to achieve Bankai using her field hockey stick.
 * Chapter 56: Bossun suggests that Himeko name her new hockey stick like a Zanpakutō with a Bankai.

D. Gray-Man
 * Chapter 1: Bossun comes up with the nickname "Penki Kurai-man" (Attacked-By-Paint Man) for Teppei, which Switch shortens to "P.Cry-Man." Himeko yells at him not to say the name as if it were D.Gray-Man.

Dragon Ball
 * Chapter 25: Switch's username on Vivage City is Porunga.
 * Chapter 46: When Switch cuts Bossun's hair, it ends up looking like Goku's.
 * Chapter 55: Goku is used as an example of an 'admirable character.'
 * Chapter 72: Switch dresses Shinzō like Vegeta. Additionally, Piccolo's outfit can be seen hanging on the racks.
 * Chapter 95: When Bossun falls through the window after being hit by the Koma cannon, he stays in the same stance as Yamcha after being killed by a Saibaiman.
 * Chapter 156 Roman draws Kami and Piccolo Daimao splitting while talking about how the manga club split in half.
 * Episode 9: Enta asks if Bossun can pull off something like a "kamehameha" with his weapon.
 * Episode 15: During the second eyecatch, Dante says "Makankosappo".
 * Episode 51: In the clubroom, a collection of Jump magazines have binding illustrations done in the style of Dragonball.

Gintama
 * Chapter 72: Bossun mentions that Gintoki's clothes are among those on the racks.

Hunter x Hunter
 * Episode 6: Tsubaki mentions the "Rare Beasts at the Ends of the World Hunter x Hunter Club" as an example of a ridiculous club at Kaimei High School.
 * Episode 51: A collection of manga volumes on the bookshelf read "Piece x Piece", a reference to both Hunter x Hunter and One Piece.

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
 * Chapter 44: When Bossun declares that the group are going outside to play in the park, Switch shouts "WRYYYYYY!", Dio's battle cry.
 * Chapter 55: Roman's character Mariko threatens to use a stand named "Lover Soul," which is (likely) named for the song by music group JUDY AND MARY. Naming stands after a song/album/musical artist is a common theme in the Jojo series.
 * Episode 6: During the preview for the next episode, Switch says "yare yare da ze" in an emulation of Jotaro.
 * Episode 43: The catchphrase written on the cardboard cutout in the music/DVD store reads "bari bari da ze", a parody on Jotaro's catchphrase.
 * Anime OST: Otakura's "OUTRO" track begins with him saying part of Dio's signature phrase, "and now, time resumes again" (soshite, toki ha ugokidasu).

Katekyo Hitman REBORN!
 * Episode 9: On the cover of Jump that features "We're the Student Council!", a picture of Gowadera can be seen in the bottom left corner ("Gowadera" is the fan-name for a poorly-animated Gokudera from the early episodes of the anime).
 * Episode 15: The game Switch plays, Fukkatsuki, uses characters who greatly resemble several core Reborn cast members - namely: Tsunayoshi Sawada, Kyouya Hibari, Hayato Gokudera, Takeshi Yamamoto, Kyoko Sasagawa, Tetsuya Kusakabe, Lambo Bovino and Bianchi. The character on the screen is a red-haired Gowadera, and the kanji for the game's title loosely translate to "Reborn Demon".
 * Episode 15: Gowadera appears in the corner of the train billboard in Dante's flashback.
 * Chapter 180/Episode 26: By switching two of the characters in Jump manga's title, Shinpachi comes up with "Ritekyo Hitman CABORN!"

Kinnikuman
 * Episode 9: Bossun plays with an "Ultra Heaven" figurine, which looks to be a parody on Phoenixman.
 * Chapter 81/Episode 46: The Kansetsuman toy that Ryōsuke receives is a parody of Kinnikuman's titular character.

Majin Tantei Nōgami Neuro
 * Chapter 36: Switch says that Dante's use of a symbol (instead of a kanji) with furigana reminds him of the Neuro chapter titles.

Naruto
 * Chapter 18: The premise of the chapter is based on the setting of Naruto, and at one point Bossun ends his sentence with "-ttebayo," Naruto's usual sentence suffix.
 * Chapter 36: When asked what his favorite movie is, Dante draws the spiral shape associated with Naruto, which he then uses as a kanji with "Naruto" as the reading. He also says a supposed Naruto movie website.
 * Chapter 175: Dante wears a shirt that says "Naruto" along with the spiral shape often associated with the series' titular character.
 * Chapter 18: When Switch changes his plain ninja outfit into a cooler one, Bossun says that he's making him look like a Genin.
 * Episode 54: After solving the case about Himiko Minakami's fake fortune teller, Bossun says "dattebayo".
 * Chapter 127: When Agata asks for suggestions for a play, Dante says "Masked Shinobi" referring to Kakashi

One Piece
 * Chapter 19: Yamanobe refers to the style of his morning star's tail as the "One Piece Fairy Tail."
 * Chapter 49: Bossun holds an edition of Jump and asks Himeko if she has read that week's One Piece.
 * Episode 51: A collection of manga volumes on the bookshelf read "Piece x Piece", a reference to both Hunter x Hunter and One Piece.

Rokudenashi BLUES
 * Chapter 66: Bossun calling the club the "Hitodenashi GROUP" and accompanying face mimicry are parodies of the series' name and art style.

Saint Seiya
 * Episode 9: Enta asks if Bossun can burn his Cosmo.

Toriko
 * Chapter 72: Shinzō wears a costume resembling a GT Robo.

Yu-gi-oh!
 * Episode 23: A beach scene shows a group of Yugioh cards and a duel disk.
 * Episode 29: During the explanation of the love charm, a trio of Yu-gi-oh cards are shown as an example.

Yu Yu Hakusho
 * Oneshot: Switch invents an eavesdropping device called Tobikage that resembles a flying lizard. The kanji used for 'Tobikage' are the same as those in Hiei's name.

Medaka Box
 * Episode 26: By switching two of the characters in Jump manga's title, Gintoki comes up with "Bodaka Mex"

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan
 * Episode 26: By switching two of the characters in Jump manga's title, Kagura comes up with "Klura: Rise of the Nokai Yan"

Miscellaneous Other Manga= Ashita no Joe
 * Chapter 15: The Sket Dan film a drama called 100% Limited, the title of which is a pun on the series Ichigo 100% and Hatsukoi Limited. Additionally, the roles in their mini drama (Nishino, Junpei and Tōjō) are named after the respective characters from Ichigo 100%.
 * Chapter 180/Episode 26: Gintoki and Kagura try to change letters of Jump titles and come up with Mararihyon no Nugo, Lo-Ruve-to (only in the manga), Retekyo Hitman Reborn(only both manga and anime), Klura: Rise of the Nokai Yan and Bodaka Mex (only in the anime). These are anagrams of Nurarihyon no Mago, To-Love-ru and Medaka Box.
 * Episode 51: A collection of manga volumes on the bookshelf are named "SKATING DANCE", in the same font and style as the logo of Sket Dance itself.
 * Episode 4: When Jōgasaki is called "Joe Kisaragi" by the Sket Dan, a mask shaped like Joe Yabuki appears on his face.
 * Episode 44: After Jōgasaki is called "Joe" again, Switch appears dressed as Joe Yabuki for a few seconds.

Beyblade
 * Episode 23: A beach scene shows a pair of beyblades.
 * Episode 29: During the explanation of the love charm, a pair of beyblades are shown as an example.

Candy Candy
 * Chapter 7: Roman's use of the nickname "the prince of the hill" is in reference to the name used for the boy Candy met as a child. Additionally, the manga Switch names as the source material, Gyarandō☆Gyarandō (ギャランドゥ☆ギャランドゥ) is a play on Candy Candy's title, Kyandei♥Kyandei (キャンディ♥キャンディ).

Doraemon
 * Chapter 20|Episode 8: When Switch begins explaining "the path to anime," he takes on the appearance of Nobita Nobi.
 * Chapter 47: The Sket Dan eat "Drymon" chocolates, which make them appear in the style of Doraemon upon ingestion.
 * Chapter 125: Himeko has Bossun do a Doraemon impression, which looks exactly like him.
 * Episode 9: Upon seeing Enta's silhouette, the Sket Dan make classic Doraemon reaction faces.
 * Episode 29: When Switch takes a picture of Bossun getting happy from eating Drymon chocolate, Bossun smiles like Doraemon.

Fairy Tail
 * Chapter 19: Yamanobe refers to the style of his morning star's tail as the "One Piece Fairy Tail."

Glass Mask
 * Episode 53: Roman criticizes Fumi for her latest storyboard, and looks like Chigusa Tsukikage while doing so. Tsukikage was known for being very critical to her students Ayumi and Maya, and Roman is harsh with Fumi even though her storyboard was probably great.

Kaiji
 * Chapter 164: When Bossun starts to think about the ramifications of there being so many characters in the results listing, his face is drawn in the style of Kaiji.

Kimi ni Todoke
 * Episode 10: The Sket Dan record a DVD Switch titles "Kimi ni Todokahen nen" which features a storyline and characters akin to those in Kimi ni Todoke. "Kazeoso" is a reference to Shota Kazehaya, "Shironuma" is a reference to Sawako Kuronuma, and "Yano" and "Yoshida" refer to Ayane Yano and Chizuru Yoshida.

Lupin III
 * Chapter 132: When talking to Saaya about the relationship between Sket Dan members and the amount of screentime they get, Switch says he's like Goemon, Bossun is like Lupin and Himeko is like Jigen.

Ninja Hattori-kun
 * Chapter 18: Bossun mutters "nintomo kantomo," a catchphrase from the series.

Sailormoon
 * Chapter 20: Bossun mentions Sailor Moon's "in the name of the moon!" as an example of a magical girl catchphrase.
 * Episode 8: Bossun does Sailor Moon's "in the name of the moon!" pose.

Saki
 * Episode 9: The mahjong game Switch plays, DOLANAC, uses characters who greatly resemble the cast of Saki - namely: Saki Miyanaga, Nodoka Haramura, Kana Ikeda, Mihoko Fukuji, Koromo Amae and Momoko Touyoko. The character he can be seen playing against is even named "Nodocchi" - Nodoka Haramura's nickname.

Urusei Yatsura
 * Episode 6: In the second eyecatch, Momoka is dressed like Lum and shocks Bossun with electricity much as Lum regularly does to Ataru.

Warau Salesman
 * Episode 61: In the first eyecatch, Roman's face is drawn like that of the main character Maguro.

Miscellaneous
 * Episode 9: Enta's previous works, "Hinohara Izuru Tokoro no Tenshi" and "Enta Yarimasu!" are named for Hi Izuru Tokoro no Tenshi and Kenta Yarimasu!, respectively.
 * Episode 11: The 5 judges are actually characters from various cooking-based manga - Ajihei from Houchounin Ajihei, Ajizawa from The Chef, Ajiyoshi Yoichi from Mister Ajikko, Kazumi Araiwa from Cooking Papa and Shirō Yamaoka from Oishinbo.

TV & Movies=

Detective Conan
 * Episode 5: The first eyecatch is a parody of the "Next Conan's HINT" segment of Detective Conan.

Excel Saga
 * Episode 8: One of the producers at Momoka's audition is actually Nabeshin. Additionally, Shinichi Watanabe, who both created and voiced Nabeshin, also provides the voice for the producer character.

Friday the 13th
 * Teacher Junichi Son, also called J-son, is a reference to Jason Voorhees.

Gundam series
 * Episode 1: Switch states that Teppei's favorite Mobile Suit is Victory, referencing the series Mobile Suit Victory Gundam. Teppei's seiyū (Daisuke Sakaguchi) also voices Victory's pilot, Uso Ewin.
 * Episode 51: "Mobile Force" is a reference to the Gundam series, parts of which have been named "Mobile Suit Gundam" and "Gundam Force".

Harry Potter
 * Chapter 129: Bossun shouts "What is this, Harry Potter?!" after they found Hōsuke.

Kamen Rider series
 * The Slender series is in reference to the Kamen Rider series, many characters of which have names ending in "-er."

Lord of the Rings
 * Chapter 236: Bossun compares the massive height difference between Cherry and Koma's grandfather to that of Frodo and Gandalf.

Pretty Cure series
 * The Futari wa Nervous! franchise is in reference to the Futari wa Pretty Cure! series.

Princess Mononoke
 * Chapter 114: After putting a deer head mask on Bossun and running through the street, Himeko gets angry and asks if she's supposed to be Princess Mononoke.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica
 * Episode 23: Liberty Maji's special attack mirrors that of Mami Tomoe. Additionally, the two Liberty Maji DVD covers shown are based off Madoka Magica covers.

Ring Steins;Gate Star Wars
 * Reiko frequently enters classrooms through a window in much the same fashion as Sadako climbs through a TV. In chapter 18 she even climbs up from a well in clothing similar to Sadako's.
 * Episode 26-b:When Sket-Dan gets accidentally teleported back to the first Sket Dance episode together with the main characters of Gintama, Switch explains the time travelling problem followed by a ~TuTuRu ~, Mayuri Shina from Steins;Gate usually uses that.
 * Chapter 45: Bossun shouts "it's like we're stuck in the Star Wars opening!!"
 * Chapter 46: When Bossun gets a look at his haircut, he asks "what am I meant to be like this?! A Jedi Padawan or something?!!"

Sukeban Deka
 * Episode 23: The character wielding yo-yos who Switch asks Momoka to voice is a parody of this classic 1980s Japanese drama.
 * Episode 30: "Yankee Detective" is a direct parody of Sukeban Deka, which tells a story about once-a-delinquent schoolgirl who became a detective that fights crime using yo-yos.

Tiger & Bunny
 * Episode 24: A man standing at the back of the bookstore is dressed in Kotetsu's usual outfit.

Miscellaneous
 * Episode 16: Bossun watches a movie called "Transforminator", that references the Transformers and Terminator movies.


 * Chapter 80/Episode 43: The movie Himeko and Bossun go to see, Indiee & Jaws, references the Indiana Jones and Jaws movies.

Music=
 * Episode 68: The movie that Suzu, Remi, and Mr. Chūma go to see bears resemblance to the anime version of the Korean drama, Winter Sonata.

Gyaruru
 * Chapter 46: Switch uses Gyaruru as an example of a group where the person with glasses stands in the center. Bossun corrects him by shouting that Natsuko "Gal" Son is always in the center.

Kanjani Eight
 * Chapter 123: The opening ceremony features music group "Kangeni Eight", a pun on Japanese band Kanjani Eight.

Simon & Garfunkel
 * Chapter 156: Saikawa and Magata's combined mangaka penname, Sainon & Magarfunkel, is a pun on the famous folk rock duo.

The Alfee
 * Chapter 46: When Switch states that he should be in the center of the photograph because he has glasses, Bossun declares that "that only works for The Alfee!" Later, Bossun claims that he should be in the center because the long-haired member of The Alfee stands in the middle, but Himeko corrects him.

theGazettE
 * Chapter 49: JardiN's bass player resembles Reita, who plays bass in the visual kei band theGazettE.

The Pillows
 * Chapter 51: The Sket Dan play The Pillows' song Funny Bunny at the Kaimei Rock Festival, which is recognized by at least one girl in the audience. The chapter title is also the name of the song.

Saburō Kitajima
 * Chapter 175: The Sket Dan tried to help Dante to bring his Visual Kei self, after he was sleep hypnosis for influencing Enka music, when he waited and watches before his favorite Visual Kei band period started, during New Year's Eve. Switch mentioned that he sings one of Haburou Kitashima songs, “Wild of the Taiko", "Battle of the Taiko", "Flaming Taiko" and "The Sky, The Earth, Wine, Women, Racehorses, Pachinko”

Miscellaneous
 * Chapter 227: Bossun wears a shirt reading SKET ROCK, a reference to the music "group" of the same name, which is composed of the seiyū for Bossun, Switch, Agata and Tsubaki.

Games=

CLANNAD
 * Episode 9: The positioning of characters on the cover of DOLANAC (the game Switch plays) is near identical to the package for the CLANNAD game. Additionally, DOLANAC is only one letter off from being an anagram of CLANNAD.

Final Fantasy
 * Episode 19: When Switch plays a game on his DS, a Final Fantasy victory theme plays.
 * The game Monster Fantasy may be a cross between Monster Hunter and Final Fantasy.

Dragon Quest/Warrior
 * Chapter 145: The whole chapter acts as a parody of a Dragon Quest Game referencing various job classes and locations.
 * Super Mariko Broken, while parodying Mario Bros has random encounters in the style of the first Dragon Quest game.
 * Chapter 175/Episode 71: Bossun shouts "Was that Dragon Quest VIII?!" after Switch recites a poem in an effort to be "visual-kei". A pixelated logo also appears in the anime version.

Hakuōki
 * Episode 15: The positioning of characters on the cover of Fukkatsuki (the game Switch plays) is modeled after the package for the PSP port of Hakuōki.

Super Mario Brothers series
 * Super Mariko Broken is a parody of the Super Mario Brothers games. Additionally, Mariko and Louisiana are both named after the titular plumber brothers of Super Mario.

Mario Kart series
 * Episode 65: In the toy store, Bossun finds Sasuke who is holding a game that has Mario look-alike character on a kart and a princess on the cover. On the spine, there is a PlayStable 2 which is a reference to the Play Station 2.

Monster Hunter
 * In Chapter 172 Bossun and Sasuke play a parody of Monster Hunter - Monster Fantasy - which is so addictive it renders them semi-comatose

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom
 * Episode 3: Bossun and Switch play Tatsunoko vs. Capcom using Gan-chan from Yatterman and Jun from Gatchaman, respectively. This is probably due to Tatsunoko, the studio that created both Yatterman and Gatchaman, being the one responsible for the Sket Dance anime.

Xenosaga
 * Chapter 192: One of the figurines on the shelf is MOMO, circa Episode II.

Miscellany=

Folklore/Literature
 * Momoka and her gang are named for the main characters from the story of Momotarō. Sarukawa is the monkey (saru in Japanese), Inui is the dog (inu in Japanese), Kijima is the pheasant (kiji in Japanese) and Momoka is Momotarō. Additionally, the trio all have laughs which imitate the Japanese sound effect for their namesake animals: Sarukawa's is "ukiki", Inui's is "kunkun" (the sound of a dog sniffing something) and Kijima's is "kenken".
 * Chapter 100: The chapter's story is based on the Japanese fairytale The Crab and the Monkey. Additionally, the part at the end where the monkey becomes the servant of a monk named Sanzo is a reference to the well-known Chinese novel Journey to the West.
 * In Episode 9 and Chapter 14 Shinzou first saw Bossun shrunken body and thought he was Bossun Boshi, which was referred from Issun Boshi.

Locations
 * Chapter 49: When Himeko compliments Switch's laptop-drumming, he references Budōkan, an arena in Tokyo known for hosting outdoor concerts and martial arts tournaments.

People
 * Chapter 52: Teruko and the talkshow she hosts are references to Tetsuko Kuroyanagi and her talkshow "Tetsuko's Room". Teruko even resembles her namesake.
 * Episode 9: When Enta first opens the door, the Sket Dan mistake his silhouette to be that of the "god of manga", Osamu Tezuka. Additionally, Kezuka, who appears in chapter 156, is also a reference to him.
 * Episode 30: When Momoka tries to act cute while speaking with weird slang, she's actually parodying a real seiyū/gravure idol Yuko Ogura. Yuko Ogura is known for her weird "moe" slang, is nicknamed "Princess Apple-Momoka" and once claimed that she comes from an apple-shaped planet known as Planet Korin. In the episode, Momoka claims that she comes from the Planet Momo.
 * Chapter 224: Remi's parents mishear Chū-san's words and instead believe him to be talking about US president Barack Obama.

Other
 * Chapter 50: The name of Switch's band, ch-ch (channel-channel) references the internet forum 2channel, often referred to as "2ch."
 * Episode 14: The "Animaja" magazine seen on the table is a reference to Japanese anime and entertainment magazine Animage.