About the Team
The Rikkaidai Fuzoku (私立立海大附属中学校) tennis team is one of the many junior high tennis teams in "The Prince of Tennis." The school is located in Kanagawa Prefecture, close to the sea. They are known for their pride, strength, skill, and resolve, along with their Law of Absolute Victory - no Rikkai regular is allowed to lose a match, even if it's an unofficial one.
Until their defeat at the most recent Kanto tournament, Rikkai was known as the strongest junior high tennis team in Japan. They had won the National Tournament the last two years, and were aiming for their third straight National title. Every player on the team was (and still is) known as national level players - the best of the best. They lost again at the National tournament finals (to the same team they'd lost to at Kanto, Seigaku), but their resolve is still strong and they still stick to their Law of Absolute Victory.
The team consists of eight boys: Yukimura Seiichi (幸村 精市); Sanada Genichirou (真田 弦一郎); Yanagi Renji (柳 蓮二); Kirihara Akaya (切原 赤也); Yagyu Hiroshi (柳生 比呂士); Nioh Masaharu (仁王 雅治); Marui Bunta (丸井 ブン太); and Jackal Kuwahara (ジャッカル 桑原). All but Kirihara Akaya are third years, with the latter being the only second year on the team.
Until their defeat at the most recent Kanto tournament, Rikkai was known as the strongest junior high tennis team in Japan. They had won the National Tournament the last two years, and were aiming for their third straight National title. Every player on the team was (and still is) known as national level players - the best of the best. They lost again at the National tournament finals (to the same team they'd lost to at Kanto, Seigaku), but their resolve is still strong and they still stick to their Law of Absolute Victory.
The team consists of eight boys: Yukimura Seiichi (幸村 精市); Sanada Genichirou (真田 弦一郎); Yanagi Renji (柳 蓮二); Kirihara Akaya (切原 赤也); Yagyu Hiroshi (柳生 比呂士); Nioh Masaharu (仁王 雅治); Marui Bunta (丸井 ブン太); and Jackal Kuwahara (ジャッカル 桑原). All but Kirihara Akaya are third years, with the latter being the only second year on the team.
Yukimura Seiichi(幸村 精市)
The captain of Rikkai, one of the Three Demons, and "The Child of God." Yukimura is easily the strongest player on the team and (until his defeat in the Nationals finals at the hands of Echizen Ryoma) considered the best junior high player in Japan (along with perhaps Tezuka Kunimitsu). He has a very strong willpower and is brutally honest when it comes to matters concerning tennis.
When he is first introduced, Yukimura has been hospitalized due to a disease similar to Guillain-Barre Syndrome. He decides to undergo a very risky surgery (50% survival rate) in the hopes that he will be able to play tennis once more. He survives and successfully rejoins his team in time for the National tournament.
Despite his fairly feminine appearance and his friendly attitude when off the court, he is very, very strict when it comes to tennis. He absolutely refuses to lose, and has the skills and power to back this up. As a singles player, he's a counter-puncher that hits back every shot until the opponent doesn't even feel like hitting the ball anymore, creating a type of "yips" - the opponent gradually loses all his senses and essentially just can't play on.
When he is first introduced, Yukimura has been hospitalized due to a disease similar to Guillain-Barre Syndrome. He decides to undergo a very risky surgery (50% survival rate) in the hopes that he will be able to play tennis once more. He survives and successfully rejoins his team in time for the National tournament.
Despite his fairly feminine appearance and his friendly attitude when off the court, he is very, very strict when it comes to tennis. He absolutely refuses to lose, and has the skills and power to back this up. As a singles player, he's a counter-puncher that hits back every shot until the opponent doesn't even feel like hitting the ball anymore, creating a type of "yips" - the opponent gradually loses all his senses and essentially just can't play on.
Sanada Genichirou(真田 弦一郎)
The vice-captain of Rikkai, one of the Three Demons, the "Emperor," and the stand-in captain while Yukimura is in the hospital. Sanada is a stern and noble man who plays with overwhelming honor and pride. It was he who created Rikkai's Law of Absolute Victory and enforces it with vigorous training schedules and "iron slaps" to those who dare to lose a match. He likes to challenge his opponents head-on, and tends to put his personal honor and pride before anything else.
Like Yukimura, Sanada is very strict with his teammates. He doesn't joke around but instead gets right to the point and dons a very no-nonsense attitude. The only person he seems to have a sort of soft spot for is Yukimura, whom he holds in high respect. His greatest rival is Tezuka Kunimitsu, whom he vowed to defeat, and eventually accomplished this at the Nationals finals.
Sanada is known for his Fuu Rin Ka In Zan Rai techniques, a family of techniques that define his playing style and attitude of head-on challenges. Naturally, he's a singles player.
Like Yukimura, Sanada is very strict with his teammates. He doesn't joke around but instead gets right to the point and dons a very no-nonsense attitude. The only person he seems to have a sort of soft spot for is Yukimura, whom he holds in high respect. His greatest rival is Tezuka Kunimitsu, whom he vowed to defeat, and eventually accomplished this at the Nationals finals.
Sanada is known for his Fuu Rin Ka In Zan Rai techniques, a family of techniques that define his playing style and attitude of head-on challenges. Naturally, he's a singles player.
Yanagi Renji (柳 蓮二)
One of the Three Demons and the "Master." He is the strategist of Rikkai and is the "data master" of the team. His data collecting is so proficient that he can even predict what others are going to say, often saying it for them. He almost always keeps his eyes half-closed, as depicted.
Yanagi is shown to be a cool and calculating man, able to keep his calm in almost all situations. He plays both singles and doubles, though it is noted by his teammates that his "true worth" is shown while playing doubles. He is one of the few who can truly control Akaya in his devil mode, and seems to care a lot about him.
Data tennis is his main style of play, though he also has a few special moves: Kamaitachi and Utsusemi.
Yanagi is shown to be a cool and calculating man, able to keep his calm in almost all situations. He plays both singles and doubles, though it is noted by his teammates that his "true worth" is shown while playing doubles. He is one of the few who can truly control Akaya in his devil mode, and seems to care a lot about him.
Data tennis is his main style of play, though he also has a few special moves: Kamaitachi and Utsusemi.
Nioh Masaharu (仁王 雅治)
"The Trickster of the Courts" and, as said by Yukimura, the "most troublesome player in Rikkai." Nioh has a very mischievous and childlike personality, taking delight in tricking, pranking, and deceiving others. He is a master trickster, both on and off the courts. Unlike some of his teammates, Nioh tends to play around more and is seemingly less focused on winning and more focused on messing with his opponent. He is very mysterious; not much about his personal life is known, even by his teammates.
As stated before, Nioh's pranks extend even to his tennis play. In the Kanto tournament, he and his partner Yagyu Hiroshi disguised themselves as each other for half the game, shocking their opponents when the switch was revealed. This showed that Nioh can perfectly imitate another person's voice and play with his non-dominant hand (he's a lefty). As of this point, Nioh and Yagyu are undefeated in doubles.
In the Nationals he reveals his Illusion technique, which allows him to perfectly copy anyone's tennis style - however, he is limited by his own physical abilities. Nioh plays both singles and doubles; oddly enough, he uses the same playing style for both types of matches. As Yukimura once commented, "His play can't be explained with words."
As stated before, Nioh's pranks extend even to his tennis play. In the Kanto tournament, he and his partner Yagyu Hiroshi disguised themselves as each other for half the game, shocking their opponents when the switch was revealed. This showed that Nioh can perfectly imitate another person's voice and play with his non-dominant hand (he's a lefty). As of this point, Nioh and Yagyu are undefeated in doubles.
In the Nationals he reveals his Illusion technique, which allows him to perfectly copy anyone's tennis style - however, he is limited by his own physical abilities. Nioh plays both singles and doubles; oddly enough, he uses the same playing style for both types of matches. As Yukimura once commented, "His play can't be explained with words."
Yagyu Hiroshi (柳生 比呂士)
"The Gentleman," Yagyu is among the more calm and composed members of the team. He is very polite, never forgetting the honorifics and speaking with the manner of a gentleman. He enjoys helping others and will readily help someone in need. He was part of Rikkai's Golf Club before he joined the Tennis Club in his third year, after Nioh's stubborn persistence. To get a good grasp of his personality: just think the exact opposite of Nioh and you've pretty much got Yagyu. However, despite his politeness, Yagyu's got a competitive spirit just as strong as those of his teammates'.
Yagyu plays both singles and doubles. In doubles, he's mostly paired with Nioh Masaharu, and they're known for being undefeated as a pair. During the Kanto tournament switch, he showed that he can (at least somewhat) imitate another person's voice and play with his non-dominant hand (he's a righty). He sometimes complains about how Nioh pulls him into tricks that he's "reluctant to go along with," though he's been shown taking a few tricks from Nioh's book before (i.e. when he teaches Kaidoh Kaoru the switch in a short match against Murigaoka at the ABC tournament).
Yagyu's signature move in the Laser Beam, one of the fastest shots in the series. Later on, he develops the Curving Laser Beam - it's just as fast and powerful as the Laser Beam, but follows a curved path.
Yagyu plays both singles and doubles. In doubles, he's mostly paired with Nioh Masaharu, and they're known for being undefeated as a pair. During the Kanto tournament switch, he showed that he can (at least somewhat) imitate another person's voice and play with his non-dominant hand (he's a righty). He sometimes complains about how Nioh pulls him into tricks that he's "reluctant to go along with," though he's been shown taking a few tricks from Nioh's book before (i.e. when he teaches Kaidoh Kaoru the switch in a short match against Murigaoka at the ABC tournament).
Yagyu's signature move in the Laser Beam, one of the fastest shots in the series. Later on, he develops the Curving Laser Beam - it's just as fast and powerful as the Laser Beam, but follows a curved path.
Marui Bunta (丸井 ブン太)
"The Volley Specialist," Marui is one of the more playful and laid back Rikkai regulars. He generally has a very cheerful attitude and is friendly towards others. Compared to the others, Marui likes to play around more and is quite talkative. While he's not exactly happy-go-lucky, he's certainly the most easygoing of the team.
Marui is pretty much exclusively a doubles player, normally paired up with his best friend Jackal Kuwahara. As his nickname implies, he's always at the net, where he can make the most of his expertise in volleying. He's the attacker of the pair; his role is to focus exclusively on attacking. He does, however, have stamina issues, so he overdoses on sugar to get over this weakness. Marui loves sweets, and is pretty much always chewing bubble gum (apple is his favorite).
He refers to all of his techniques as "miracle skills" and normally proceeds to declaring himself a genius right after executing the shot. Tsunawatari (Tightrope Walking), Tetchuu-Ate (Iron Pole Strike), and Jikansa Jigoku (Temporal Difference Hell) are three of said techniques. Naturally, they all have to do with net-play.
Marui is pretty much exclusively a doubles player, normally paired up with his best friend Jackal Kuwahara. As his nickname implies, he's always at the net, where he can make the most of his expertise in volleying. He's the attacker of the pair; his role is to focus exclusively on attacking. He does, however, have stamina issues, so he overdoses on sugar to get over this weakness. Marui loves sweets, and is pretty much always chewing bubble gum (apple is his favorite).
He refers to all of his techniques as "miracle skills" and normally proceeds to declaring himself a genius right after executing the shot. Tsunawatari (Tightrope Walking), Tetchuu-Ate (Iron Pole Strike), and Jikansa Jigoku (Temporal Difference Hell) are three of said techniques. Naturally, they all have to do with net-play.
Jackal Kuwahara (ジャッカル 桑原)
"The Man with Four Lungs," Jackal is a half-Brazilian, half-Japanese. He's fairly quiet, though his actions make it clear that he cares a lot about his teammates. He's normally the one looking after Akaya, and pretty much takes care of Marui as well (it's been stated that he spends his allowance on the two). Jackal's very passionate when he plays, often yelling "Fire!" when serving.
Like his partner Marui, Jackal's pretty much exclusively a doubles player. He is Rikkai's iron defense, taking pride in his great endurance and speed. Jackal has been compared to an iron wall that "does not let any ball get past." Naturally, he focuses exclusively on defending and lets Marui do all the attacking. He takes great pride in his endurance and refuses to back down if challenged to an endurance match.
Jackal's special technique, Nezumi Hanabeat (Pinwheel Beat), has not been explained very clearly, though it's obviously a defensive move.
Like his partner Marui, Jackal's pretty much exclusively a doubles player. He is Rikkai's iron defense, taking pride in his great endurance and speed. Jackal has been compared to an iron wall that "does not let any ball get past." Naturally, he focuses exclusively on defending and lets Marui do all the attacking. He takes great pride in his endurance and refuses to back down if challenged to an endurance match.
Jackal's special technique, Nezumi Hanabeat (Pinwheel Beat), has not been explained very clearly, though it's obviously a defensive move.
Kirihara Akaya (切原 赤也)
Rikkai's "Second Year Ace" and the only second year on the team. Kirihara's personality changes drastically from when he's off the court and when he's on the court. Off court, Kirihara is fairly cheerful, aloof, and childish. He's the baby of the team, and they let him know it. On court, however, Kirihara becomes very aggressive and cruel. Overall, he's pretty cocky and notably overconfident unless he really respects you (which really only extends to a few players). Sanada has also stated that, while Kirihara has an abnormally high concentration span, he's also quite unlucky.
Akaya started off a singles player, though he's been playing doubles a lot recently. He's an aggressive baseliner and plays rough. When his pride is injured or is angered, Kirihara slips into Devil Mode - his eyes become bloodshot, his hair white, and his skin red. In this mode he becomes super aggressive, aiming for the opponent's body and almost always leaving them bloody. When it's harmful side-effects were noted (it would eventually destroy his mind if he kept using it), Yanagi asked Shiraishi Kuranosuke to help Kirihaya, which eventually led to the creation of Angel Mode - similar to Devil Mode, with the difference being he keeps his sanity.
Kirihara has a few special techniques: the Knuckle Serve (aims for the opponent's body); One-Footed Split Step; Red Snake Shot; and Tornado Snake (the last two are variations of Kaidoh Kaoru's shots, with more destructive power).
Akaya started off a singles player, though he's been playing doubles a lot recently. He's an aggressive baseliner and plays rough. When his pride is injured or is angered, Kirihara slips into Devil Mode - his eyes become bloodshot, his hair white, and his skin red. In this mode he becomes super aggressive, aiming for the opponent's body and almost always leaving them bloody. When it's harmful side-effects were noted (it would eventually destroy his mind if he kept using it), Yanagi asked Shiraishi Kuranosuke to help Kirihaya, which eventually led to the creation of Angel Mode - similar to Devil Mode, with the difference being he keeps his sanity.
Kirihara has a few special techniques: the Knuckle Serve (aims for the opponent's body); One-Footed Split Step; Red Snake Shot; and Tornado Snake (the last two are variations of Kaidoh Kaoru's shots, with more destructive power).