"Haikyu!!" is a hugely popular series currently running in Weekly Shonen Jump. It's the hottest volleyball manga right now. Naturally, it has been adapted into various forms, including anime and a 2.5D stage play. And with the fourth season of the anime set to air in 2020, the series is gaining even more popularity. There are many cool and unique characters, but who are the most popular? In this article, we'll be introducing a ranking of the most popular "Haikyu!!" characters. Is your favorite character on the list? Let's check it out now!
Popular Character Ranking: No. 1 - Hinata Shoyo
The winner of the top spot goes to the story's protagonist, Hinata Shoyo! While Hinata sadly came in second in the first official popularity poll, he received enthusiastic support from fans who were touched by his dedication and hard work. He's both cute and cool, making him the perfect protagonist.
What kind of character is he?
Hinata is a character with exceptional physical abilities, often described as a "mass of athleticism." Though he's short, he possesses extraordinary speed, a springy physique, stamina, and dynamic vision, all of which are his strengths. Considered the smallest spiker in the series, he teams up with setter Kageyama. His weapons are Kageyama's precise tosses and the "weird quick attack," a combination play that makes use of his own physical abilities. He also possesses a variety of attacking patterns, including feints and open attacks, making him increasingly powerful.
He and Kageyama were originally rivals
In fifth grade, Hinata started playing volleyball after accidentally seeing the "Little Giant," the ace of Karasuno High School, on TV. In middle school, he struggled to recruit enough members and rarely got to play in matches. However, in his third year of middle school, he gathered new members and helpers and played in his first official match. His opponent was the powerful Kitayama First Junior High School, and Kageyama was the ace at the time. Hinata was defeated badly, but at that moment, he became acutely aware of each other's presence.
Popular Character Ranking: No. 2 - Sugawara Koushi
Next up in second place is Sugawara Koushi, a third-year setter at Karasuno High School. He's so cool! He's a senior to Hinata and the others, and many people say they're drawn to his way of leading them like an older man. His kindness is also appealing! Even when facing the genius setter Tobio Kageyama, he refuses to give up and continues to steadily hone his skills, which is truly cool.
What kind of character is he?
Sugawara excels at grasping the personalities and characteristics of his players. He's a setter. After Kageyama Tobio enrolled, he was demoted from the starting setter to a reserve position. However, he hasn't given up on playing time. He excels at carefully tossing the ball to the spiker. While he's not as gifted as Kageyama, he's a well-liked and trusted senior, and was crucial to Kageyama's growth. While not particularly talented, he plays intelligently thanks to hard work, practice, and experience. He uses his weakness, a "low blocking," to his advantage by switching positions with Tsukishima. Then, in the Spring High School Volleyball Tournament final, he temporarily replaced a tired Kageyama and launched a synchronized attack on Tendo, overcoming his offensive weaknesses.
What's his personality like?
He's always smiling, kind, and gentle. However, he can also be harsh at times, and even then, he keeps his smile on his face, giving him a slightly scary side. Incidentally, Oikawa called him "Refreshing Guy," though he took it back after seeing him play. At first glance, he certainly does seem refreshing! However, surprisingly, he seems to get easily excited during matches. This is why he often lets out strange noises in the warm-up zone. He was reprimanded by the referee during the Spring High School Volleyball Tournament qualifying finals for this, and during the Spring High School Volleyball Tournament, spectators even commented, "He seems like a quiet guy." His nickname is "Suga."
Popularity Character Ranking: 3rd Place: Kageyama Tobio
Next up in third place is Kageyama Tobio. He's also a perennially popular character! Last time, he was ranked first, but this time he's dropped to third place. He teams up with the main character, Hinata, and they're indispensable partners in each other's growth. His "weird quick attack" attack, teamed up with Hinata, is amazing. Kageyama is not only handsome, but also devoted to volleyball. His cheeky yet slightly clumsy nature makes him lovable.
What kind of character is he?
Kageyama is Hinata's partner and another main character in "Haikyu!!." He and Hinata faced off against each other once in middle school, a moment that left a strong impression on each other. The two reunite after enrolling at Karasuno High School. Kageyama possesses genius volleyball talent, with unparalleled ball control and impressive tossing accuracy. However, he doesn't consider himself a genius and always has high aspirations. Even when victory seems certain, he never lets his guard down and thinks, "I'm not winning yet!" He's a passionate guy who gives it his all until the very end.
In Middle School...
In middle school, Kageyama played as a setter at Kitagawa Daiichi Junior High School, a powerhouse volleyball team. While he displayed extraordinary talent, his obsession with victory and desire to improve led him to become too stoic, creating a rift between him and his teammates. Eventually, he became isolated, earning the sarcastic nickname "King of the Court" and even being told that he looked like he was playing volleyball alone. It was because of his strong desire to improve that Kageyama ended up going off the deep end and, in his impatience, repeatedly tossing the ball quickly, ignoring the spiker's intentions. However, there was no one to toss the ball to. This was a silent rejection from his teammates, and Kageyama was actually sent to the bench. This incident traumatized Kageyama, and it continued to affect his playing style in the future. It also led him to dislike being nicknamed "King of the Court."
Popular Character Ranking: 4th Place: Tsukishima Kei
Next up in 4th place is Tsukishima Kei. He placed 8th in the first popularity poll, but has risen significantly to 4th place. His impressive performance against Shiratorizawa has certainly led to a surge in his fanbase! While he initially appears as a rather cynical character, constantly provoking and berating many people, the contrast between his true personality and his warm-hearted nature adds to his charm. Furthermore, he's a popular character among women in a different way from Kageyama, with people saying things like, "His glasses look great!" and "His sadistic side is the best!"
What kind of character is Tsukishima?
He's known for his glasses and tall stature. He was 188 cm tall when he first enrolled, but has since grown to 190 cm. He's known for his calm and clever play, the polar opposite of Hinata, who plays the same position. He's quite sarcastic, and some say he has a "good, bad personality." However, it's also possible that he's just not good at direct communication, and when confronted honestly, his usual sarcasm disappears. Perhaps he's just not able to be honest.
[Haikyu!!] Popular Character Rankings!
That concludes the "Haikyu!!" popular character rankings! These rankings are based on a previous official popularity poll conducted by "Weekly Shonen Jump." Did your favorite character make the list? As it's a sports manga, characters who excel in matches or show growth tend to rise in the rankings. It's also nice to see the main character at number one! With the manga entering its final chapter and the fourth season of the anime about to air, "Haikyu!!" is gaining momentum. We're excited to see what happens next.
