This time, we'll introduce the characters of the popular manga "Aoashi," which began serialization in "Shonen Big Comic Spirits" (Shogakukan) in 2015. The anime adaptation is scheduled to air in April 2022. One of the main attractions of this series is the clash of personalities among the protagonist Aoi's teammates on the Tokyo City Esperion Youth team. Let's take a look at the teammates by age group.
First-Year Students
The team is a mix of players promoted from the junior youth team, as well as those selected and scouted after passing exams. While the number may seem small at first glance, they are a group of talented players who have overcome many difficult challenges.
Aoi Ashito
The protagonist of this work, this bushy-haired boy, grew up in the countryside of Ehime. Supported by his mother and older brother, he is a caring person with a unique ability. Furthermore, as he plays soccer in his new youth team environment, he lives up to the phrase "a thinking reed" in the work, thinking and thinking until his mind explodes, practicing and practicing, and his dedication to growth attracts those around him and has a positive effect on the team. We're sure there are many fans who enjoy the work from the same perspective as this character.
Otomo Eisaku
Otomo Eisaku is a midfielder with a unique green haircut, shaved at the sides. He's a very nervous guy who gets extremely nervous before a match, but once the whistle blows, he shows a stark contrast by controlling the midfield with a calmer and more collected attitude than anyone else. He also has a strong grudge against handsome, popular guys. He tries desperately to imitate the faces and voices of self-proclaimed hotties in front of women, but his efforts are always fruitless.
Soichiro Tachibana
Soichiro Tachibana, like Aoi and Otomo, is a forward with excellent individual skills who made it through the selection process to the youth team. He played for another junior youth club until junior high school, but decided to join Esperion to re-train himself. Due to his overly serious personality, he sometimes gets too worked up, but he also has a strong sense of responsibility and is a charming player who puts his teammates first.
Togashi Keiji
Togashi Keiji is the only scouted first-year defender. As a former delinquent, he has a very intimidating appearance, with his tall stature and pompadour hairstyle. He has a wild side, such as arriving on a motorcycle with his biker gang friends when he moved into the dorms. However, he also has a serious side, deeply respecting his coach, Fukuda, and silently practicing what he's taught him. He also seems to have some hostility toward the newly promoted youth team due to past grudges.
Kanpei Kuroda
Kanpei Kuroda is a member of the youth team, having been with Esperion since their junior youth days. He has a laid-back and gentle personality, and actively seeks to communicate with everyone, even talking to Asito and the other members of the selection team. On the other hand, in order to achieve his primary goal of becoming a professional, he devotes his life to soccer, despising overwork and actively striving to perform in front of coaches. He even declared that there's no point in playing soccer unless he becomes a professional player.
Asari Martis Jun
Asari Martis Jun is half British and half Japanese, and is a blonde, attacking fullback. Like Kuroda, he was promoted to the team, but Asari is more proud than most, and initially often belittled Asito, who lacked the skills. As for Kuroda, he also spent a long time at Esperion, which gives him excellent individual skills and tactical understanding, and he exudes a high level of soccer IQ, allowing him to quickly adapt to even the most complex strategies.
Yuma Motoki
Yuma Motoki is also a member of the promotion team, but he's a better player than Kuroda and Asari, and he was the first first-year to be promoted to the A team. While he's usually a bit of a joker, in games he has the same broad vision as Asito, and is such a talented player that he's been called the ideal forward for Esperion. Even in the manga, his true potential is still unknown, and I can't wait to see him in action.
Takeshima Ryuichi
Takeshima Ryuichi is a defensive defender who also joined the newly promoted team. He's so popular that he brings his girlfriend to the field, earning him a one-sided grudge from Otomo. However, during matches, he's one of the few defensive players essential to the offensive Esperion team, and he's so passionate about defense that he often shouts encouragement at other players. Furthermore, Togashi's biggest enemy is Takeshima, and despite being a fellow defender, they rarely talk to each other.
Second-Year Students
Many of Esperion's players are national team players for their respective age groups, and the majority of their core players are second-year students. He's a cut above Asito and the other first-years in both appearance and intimidation. Captain Takasugi, goalkeeper Akiyama, and forward Ozek, who I didn't cover in detail here, are also second-years.
Haruhisa Kuribayashi
Haruhisa Kuribayashi is a super player who stands out even among his generation, having made his J.League debut at the age of 16 and skipping a grade to be selected for the U-20 national team. In the meritocracy of Esperion, he possesses such overwhelming skill and talent that his teammates feel they can't beat him, making him an absolute ace. Asito also watched videos of this player, trying to emulate him. It also seemed like he felt different in his own way, as he struggled to get along with others and would hold back on plays due to his genius.
Akutsu Nagisa
Akutsu Nagisa is a tall, shaved-headed center back with a menacing face. Having disliked Asito since the selection process, Akutsu would intentionally commit vicious fouls and verbally abuse him. Despite his personality, he's a versatile defender with solid skills, a sturdy physique that allows him to withstand challenges as a center back, precise coaching, and the offensive power to score goals. This character may initially leave a bad impression, but as the story progresses, his personality and character become clearer, and many people's impressions of him change.
Yoichi Kiriki
Yoichi Kiriki is a midfielder who has been selected for his generation's national team since his junior youth days. His talent is comparable to that of Kuribayashi, and he possesses a strong sense of pride and a strong mentality that drives him to always compete at the forefront. He also possesses both outstanding individual talent and the teamwork skills to help those around him, making him a standout performer in the matches he was featured in.
Taira Nakamura
Taira Nakamura is a caring senior player, primarily a defensive defender. Rather than outstanding talent, he values relationships with his juniors and harmony among his teammates, making him a beloved player. From the very beginning, he proactively approached players like Akutsu and Togashi, who tend to have difficult personalities. Furthermore, the match he centered around was a memorable one, marking the culmination of Esperion Youth's accomplishments to date, leaving a lasting impression on many.
Third-Year Students
While the third-year students don't have many opportunities to interact with Asito and the other first-years, players like goalkeeper Nikaido and center back Isshiki, who weren't mentioned this time, have always supported Asito and the other first-years on the B team. In addition to Yoshitsune, many U-18 national team players are also on the team, including defenders Yamada and Shimura.
Yoshitsune Kenta
Yoshitsune Kenta is a third-year forward. He's the most memorable character among the third-year students, who appear relatively infrequently. He usually speaks in a mumbling voice, making it hard to understand what he's saying. However, he excels at dribbling and scoring, so much so that when Kuribayashi isn't around, it's safe to rely on him. He quickly becomes a professional, but his experience playing a few games with Asito and the others on the B team had a positive impact on them.
Summary
What did you think? This time, we focused on the players of Tokyo C Esperion Youth. I'm already looking forward to seeing how these unique players actually move in games.
