If there’s one thing that I absolutely despised in my youth, it would have to be the world of competitive sports. I always envied the way athletes carried themselves and the opportunities they got over the perceived “nerds.” For years, I held onto this sentiment until Haikyu!! changed my mind for the better.
I still remember the day when my partner, who was the epitome of a first-rate jock in school, started to watch it. I glanced at it several times but ignored it due to my aforementioned distaste for sports. But I eventually gave in after she explained how much it perfectly captured her own past athletic journey.
How Haikyuu!! made me care about a high-school volleyball player
The first episode didn’t immediately impress me, but I was intrigued by the main protagonist, Hinata Shoyo, a short and inexperienced player with an undying passion for volleyball. He eventually gets beaten by the genius setter Kageyama Tobio in his first match. Whatever rivalry could have bloomed is short-lived, as they both wind up on the Karasuno High School volleyball team. It’s a classic underdog story, but I didn’t see the value in it until later in the season.
The one thing I did initially relate to is Hinata’s insecurity about his height. I was a little short as a child, too, and didn’t grow much in adulthood either. In light of this, I greatly admired his tenacity to push through, primarily since sports cater to much taller folks. Yet, the true element that finally got me questioning my loathing for sports was when I watched Season 1 Episode 16, which was perfectly titled “Winners and Losers.” Â
In this episode, we see Karasuno go to one of their first tournaments together, showcasing both winning and losing sides. The montage of crying athletes who just lost their game genuinely pulled at my heartstrings. Here were these kids trying their best to get a shot at the title, only to have it all go away in the very first match. It’s crazy to think that those months of hard work have dwindled down to one day, just for it to crash and burn.
The story could’ve easily overlooked this losing side, but Haikyu!! isn’t always about the winners. Instead of simply focusing on Karasuno, it captures the entirety of volleyball through other side characters. Side character content has typically been a hit or miss for me, yet Haikyu!! does a wonderful job of blending the two together. Their scenes are often compelling to watch and aren’t drawn out to completely dismiss the main cast.
For instance, the Winners and Losers episode offers insight into the other volleyball teams, specifically Hayato Ikejiri and Yui Michimiya. Though their storyline is short, it’s exciting to see them continuously trying their best despite the other team’s superiority. This isn’t even the last time we get a glimpse of the other side characters, as the series will later have even more stories featuring Karasuno’s fellow competitors.
Haikyuu!! made me rethink my stance on competitive sports
By showing both sides of the coin, I began to open my mind to Haikyu!! and sports altogether. My love for the show only grew stronger the more I connected to the boys of the Karasuno team in later seasons.
I love that the team members weren’t born with immense talent. It seems a lot more practical and relatable in this way. Even Kageyama, who almost seems too perfect at times, makes mistakes and tries to learn from them. You can see that when he tries to become more team-friendly, separating from his tyrannical King of the Court persona.
No matter how much talent they already possess, each team member puts in the work with late-night practices and boot camps. Then, when we get to the actual matches, things really kick into full gear. Seeing all of Karasuno’s hard work pay off is one of the most satisfying elements of the show. There’s something special about watching a failed move from practice evolve into a triumphant victory later on. I’m not afraid to admit that I’ve shed a tear a few times during these winning moments. It’s mostly due to Haikyu!!’s epic visuals that make it almost feel like I’m actually there watching the match.
The exhilarating matches are one of the main reasons I became absolutely obsessed with volleyball. They are as thrilling as an epic anime battle but with a sports twist. Sometimes, they can be fast-paced to capture the stress of matches, while other times, they can be slowed down to give you a perfect shot of a move. There are also a few uses of imagery that truly show what a character is feeling. One moment I love is Tanaka’s visualization of climbing up metaphorical stairs in the Broken Heart episode. It shows how he’s trying to reach new heights, even in the heat of battle.
While all this is happening, the series also guides you through the volleyball gameplay itself. Haikyu!! Season 1 lays it out like a “Volleyball for Dummies” book, explaining real-life positions like setter, middle blocker, and libero. Eventually, it gets to the nitty gritty stuff in the later episodes with specific volleyball techniques. I’ve never entirely understood the rules and guidelines in sports, but by Season 3, I felt like I could go to a real volleyball match and know what the heck is actually going on.
Season 2, Episode 6 is the perfect example of this. It demonstrates the various tempos of volleyball players in a side-by-side comparison, which involves the timing of a spiker’s running approach, differentiating a team’s plan of attack. If you had asked me about this years ago, I wouldn’t know what you’re talking about. But Haikyu!! explains these terms and techniques both visually and audibly; they’ve now been embedded in my brain.
The visuals are the most crucial, as the series continuously provides examples of each volleyball strategy instead of just saying it. It helped me understand the world of volleyball with ease, and as a novice, it felt much more welcoming this way. Despite never really being athletically inclined, it made me believe I could actually try volleyball.
Besides the matches and the training process, Karasuno’s emotional side is what genuinely sets it apart from other sports anime. If Haikyu!! didn’t go much into this, I don’t think I would’ve been as open to it. Fortunately, it does have a sentimental side through their friendships rather than purely focusing on the brute force of sports. I enjoy hearing all their hilarious conversations with one another and the brotherhood they develop over the course of the show.
I think I love volleyball now, and it’s all thanks to Haikyuu!!
After watching the series completely, I can now say that I am a full-fledged volleyball fan. The series has motivated me to turn on the sports channel and get lost in a few real-life matches. This has also led to my fascination with the Japanese volleyball national team, especially with the opposite spiker Yuji Nishida. He’s believed to have inspired Hinata’s style, and he’s quickly become one of my favorite players.
It took me long enough to become a fan, but it’s all thanks to Haikyu!! for opening that door. Because of its emotional impact and accurate portrayal of volleyball, I’ve watched the series about ten times now. It’s helped me learn more about volleyball with its beginner-friendly explanations and overcome my long hatred for sports.
The show even inspired me to purchase my own volleyball, and I plan to finally go to a real match to get the chance to say, “Nice Kill!” I also have a date set for the part one finale of Haikyu!! The Movie: Decisive Battle at the Garbage Dump.
Although I’m sad to see the series conclusion, I’ll always be grateful for the positive change it instilled in me. Now, I can appreciate the world of sports with a deep respect for the athletes who continue to show their dedication.
Published: Jun 1, 2024 10:12 am