Haikyuu!!
It seems
that a mangaka can do no wrong when writing a sports manga. Just mention the
genre to anyone, otaku or not, and you’ll get a lively discussion. From more
commonly played sports such as Basketball (Kuroko no Basket, Slam Dunk) and
Tennis (Prince of Tennis, Baby Steps) to more esoteric ones like American
Football (Eyeshield 21) and boxing (Hajime no Ippo), the list goes on and on.
Strangely,
Volleyball is missing from this list of famous sports manga although it has all
the makings of a great sports manga. It’s a team-based sport that’s fast-paced,
attracts spectators easily and uses a scoring system that’s easy to understand.
This is
where Haruichi Furudate’s Haikyuu!! steps in. The volleyball manga has been
running in Weekly Shonen Jump since 2012 and had a one-season anime adaptation
in 2014. A second season has been confirmed so for fans of the series, this is
something to look forward to.
The story
pulls you in right from the start, with third-year junior high school student
Hinata Shoyo entering a volleyball competition with a ragtag team of friends
who’re in any club but volleyball due to his junior high school lacking one.
Unfortunately,
his makeshift team is matched up against one of the strongest middle schools,
captained by future high school teammate, Kageyama Tobio. Naturally, Shoyo’s
team gets swept but the match clearly highlights his and Tobio’s outstanding
strengths and weaknesses.
Fast-forward several months later and they end up in
the same high school, Karasuno High School. This is where the story really
begins, as they practice and compete together in the school’s volleyball club.
One might
think that Tobio and Shoyo are the ones driving the team forward, being the
‘super rookies’ that every sports manga has. This isn’t quite the case, with
other first-years, sophomore and senior students showing that they’re more than
capable at the game. Realism is what makes Haikyuu!! stand out, showing that
you don’t need superpowered teenagers to create an engaging story.
As
mentioned previously, there are no supernatural powers in this manga. Don’t expect
volleyball spikes to split the ground or injure players, nothing of the sort
happens. Characters make mistakes too, especially Shoyo, considering that he
has been playing volleyball for just over a year. But that’s exactly what will
engage readers, seeing the members of Karasuno High School struggle and grow.
Even the members of rival teams will have new tricks up their sleeves the next
time they face off.
If you’re a
complete volleyball idiot, don’t worry. The various terms, formations, tricks
and moves are explained via the club’s advisor, Takeda Ittetsu, who is
inexperienced in volleyball, to say the least. He’s an excellent channel for
readers who’re new to the sports and who knows, you might just be a walking
volleyball encyclopedia by the latest chapter.
When its
match time, chapters shift into 5th gear, keeping you on the edge of
your seat with each page. Karasuno High School isn’t immune to losing so don’t
expect or worry about any last minute bursts of energy or Lady Luck shining on
them to turn a bad match around. This is most evident during a training camp
they attend with schools from Tokyo who have much stronger volleyball teams.
The
supporting characters do have their moments too, never being relegated to
having one-liners or constantly being in the background. From Karasuno High
School’s alumni members to rival team members, they are catalysts for the main
cast’s growth and some are even reasons why they continue to play the game.
Even the most inexperienced first-year member in Karasuno High School’s
volleyball team gets to show off when the time comes.
Haikyuu!!
has managed to replicate an actual volleyball match over and over, slowing down
the fast-paced game while maintaining the same intensity and suspense a game
has. Character development is one of the manga’s strong suits but no
explanation will suffice, you just have to read it.
Written by ET
Written by ET
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