[Ahiru no Sora] 15 famous quotes from Ahiru no Sora

The long-awaited anime adaptation of the popular basketball manga "Ahiru no Sora" has been announced. This manga centers around the main character, Sora Kurumatani, and depicts the growth and conflicts of the characters through the high school basketball club. Many memorable quotes are born from "Ahiru no Sora." Here, we will introduce 15 of the best quotes from "Ahiru no Sora."

Source: Ahiru no Sora ©Takeshi Hinata, Kodansha/"Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee

1. "Those who don't fight should not laugh at those who do." Hanazono Chiaki

Source: Ahiru no Sora © Hinata Takeshi, Kodansha / "Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
When Kurumatani Sora, who had just enrolled in Kuzuryu High School, visited the basketball club, he found that the club was almost suspended and the club room was filled with delinquents who made their base there. Sora somehow manages to convince the team members to start playing basketball, and in their first practice match they face the strong Shinmaruko High School. The difference in ability is clear, and Sora and his team are left far behind. Meanwhile, Hanazono Chiaki, who has been watching the game, bursts into the match. At that time, he throws a desk at the students who were laughing at the game and says the following lines. There are similar lyrics in Nakajima Miyuki's song, but those who are not fighting have no right to laugh at those who are. Chiaki, who had only been watching the game until halfway through, is moved by Sora and his teammates' struggle and offers to help them, making this one of the famous scenes from the beginning.

2. "No matter how big and strong the player I'm fighting, I'll never lose to a smaller player like myself!" Kurumatani Sora

Source: Ahiru no Sora ©Takeshi Hinata, Kodansha/"Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
When it comes to height, which is important in basketball, Kurumatani Sora, who is only 150cm tall, is at a considerable disadvantage. However, Sora fearlessly confronts opponents bigger than her with her signature 3-point shot. These are the words that Sora keeps in mind as he plays in the games. Although the difference in strength often works against you in basketball, ultimately it is up to you to decide whether or not you feel it is a disadvantage. It is a mindset that is essential for the small-statured Kurumatani Sora to continue climbing in basketball.

3. "To rely on others is to be weak. Being relied on is a burden. I become strong on my own." Fuwa Hyo

Source: Ahiru no Sora ©Takeshi Hinata, Kodansha / "Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
Fuwa Hyo, who belongs to Yokohama Daiei High School, is a player who excels in 1-on-1. Because of this, he often resorts to self-centered one-man play. Whether that is considered individuality or selfishness is up to the team, but the reason why Fuwa is so committed to this type of play is due to the reasons expressed in these words. Team play is a beautiful phrase, but sometimes relying on others can hinder your own growth. And the opposite is also true. It is precisely because Fuwa aims to be the No. 1 basketball player that he has these beliefs.

4. "I'll tell you where you are in the remaining minute." Shiraishi Sei

Source: Ahiru no Sora © Hinata Takeshi, Kodansha / "Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
The Kuzuryu High School basketball club has been suspended due to a small fire in the clubroom. With the club's activities resuming, the team takes on Yokohama Daiei High School in a practice match. Up until the fourth quarter, Kuzuryu High School had been fighting tenaciously, even though they were trailing, but in the last minute they were hit by a furious attack from Yokohama Daiei's Shiraishi Shizuka, and were defeated by a large margin. Here is what Shiraishi said to Chiaki at that time. At first glance, these words sound like an attempt to show the difference in ability between them and their opponents, but they also seem to acknowledge the ability of Kuzuryu High School, who had been fighting well until halfway through the game, and express expectations for their future growth. These words are intended to say, "We're at this height, so you guys should climb up."

5. "I don't want to admit it, but the reality is here. Accept it. Once you accept it, the only thing that will happen is a straight path." Kenji Natsume

Source: Ahiru no Sora ©Takeshi Hinata, Kodansha / Ahiru no Sora Production Committee

Kenji Natsume of Kuzuryu High School, who played against Yokohama Daiei High School in the club suspension incident, is a player who excels in 1-on-1 battles just like Fuwa, and is also a player who has become more and more aware of his tendency to play alone. For this reason, Natsume viewed Fuwa as a rival, but the difference in ability was clear. In the midst of all this, Natsume Kenji said these words to himself during the match against Yokohama Daiei High School. By acknowledging the difference in ability between you and your opponent, you can know how far you have to climb. These words also vowed Natsume, who had previously been known for his arrogant play, to continue to grow in a straightforward manner.

6. "I wanted to say thank you to my mother!!" Kurumatani Sora

Source: Ahiru no Sora © Hinata Takeshi, Kodansha / "Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
Kurumatani Sora's mother, Kurumatani Yuka, had the ability to represent Japan in women's basketball, but she fell seriously ill and retired from playing, and she doesn't have much time left to live. As the first Inter-High match against Shinjo Towa goes into overtime, Sora receives a call that his mother is seriously ill and leaves the stadium. Sora meets his mother in a daze in the hospital room, who apologizes to him, saying, "I'm sorry I couldn't give birth to you big." Sora responds with words of deep gratitude, saying, "You were able to come this far because you were so small." His mother cries in guilt towards Sora, while Sora cries in gratitude to his mother as her death approaches. This is the farewell scene between the two who have lived strong lives while battling their complexes.

7. "Don't think that you can spend your time meaningfully if you have been stealing the time of others." Isono Mariko

Source: Ahiru no Sora © Hinata Takeshi, Kodansha / "Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
As the new advisor for the Kasumi Kawasaki High School basketball club, Isono Mariko witnesses the rampant bullying within the club. In the midst of all this, the bully is presented with a tough choice: either stay in the club as a errand boy or voluntarily quit. It certainly seems like a tough choice, but as these words show, it could also be seen as a well-deserved punishment. Bullying is not just something that happens in manga, it's a serious problem in the real world too, but how many teachers are able to deal with a bully in such a strict yet fair way?

8. "Leave that self-pity in the corner of the court and go." Chiba Shinichi

Source: Ahiru no Sora © Hinata Takeshi, Kodansha / "Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
Shinmaruko High School made it to the final league in the prefectural preliminaries for the Inter-High, but unfortunately lost in the match against Yokohama Daiei, which was a match for the Inter-High. For third-year captain Chiba, who is playing his last game, he encourages the crying team members, saying, "Hold your head high!" However, Chiba is crying alone away from the court. We often hear people say, "We did everything we could, and we lost, but we have no regrets," but no one really regrets losing. It is a memorable scene to see Chiba's feelings as he behaves bravely as captain, but cries alone.

9. "If you don't move now, when will you move?!" Kamiki Yozan

Source: Ahiru no Sora ©Hinata Takeshi, Kodansha / "Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
During the Kuzuryu High School vs Yokohama Daiei match, Kuzuryu High School temporarily overwhelms Daiei. Unable to bear the sight of this, Takayama Kamiki, a reserve player for Daiei High School, jumped down from the stands and asked the coach to let him play in the game. Here is what he said to the coach at that time. It is not easy for a reserve player to ask the coach to let him play in the game during a match. However, Kamiki took courage and the coach agreed.

10. "From now on, I'm going to stand on the court on my own two feet!!" Kurumatani Sora

Source: Ahiru no Sora © Hinata Takeshi, Kodansha / "Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
After losing his mother, Kurumatani Sora appears on the court wearing new basketball shoes when he resumes basketball practice. Until now, Sora had been using basketball shoes handed down from his mother, but after her death he decides to put on new basketball shoes and step onto the court on his own two feet. Up until now, Sora's mother had been a very important presence to him. However, putting on new basketball shoes as a farewell was meaningful in order to shake off his mother's death and take a new step forward. This scene can be seen as depicting Sora's growth as a person.

11. "Don't blame something else for your lack of effort." Tomohisa Kurumatani

Source: Ahiru no Sora ©Takeshi Hinata, Kodansha/"Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
Sora's father, Tomohisa Kurumatani, who became the advisor for the girls' basketball team, imposes strict consecutive wins in order to make the team stronger. In the midst of all this, when an athlete complains that she can't run any more, Tomohisa says, "The line that makes people say 'I can't run anymore' isn't something like this." This line is particularly persuasive coming from Tomohisa, who has always watched his wife fight her illness. At the same time, as this line also shows, when playing sports, everyone tries to find the cause of defeat in something other than a lack of effort. However, most of the time, this can be dismissed as a lack of effort. Tomohisa is explaining the importance of running straight without turning a blind eye to reality.

12. "Whose legs are these? They're mine. Whose will is moving them? It's mine. Don't let me run!!!" Hidaka Makoto

Source: Ahiru no Sora ©Takeshi Hinata / Kodansha / "Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee

Source: Ahiru no Sora ©Takeshi Hinata, Kodansha / "Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
Takahashi Katsumi and Kojima Yukinari, third-year students at Shinjo Towa High School who played against Kuzuryu High School in the first round of the Inter-High, have known each other very well since they played on the same team since junior high school. During the match against Kuzuryu High School, Kojima, who was injured and watching from the bench as Shinjo's team was put at a disadvantage by a furious attack, asked to play in the match despite his injured ligament. As shown in his words, "It's a hundred times more painful to do nothing and have a cramp than to be in pain," it is not possible for them to sit back and watch in silence at the Inter-High, which is the last tournament for the third-years, and these words show their determination to win, even if playing in the match means their basketball careers are cut short.

14. "There is no 'I' in TEAM. It's the basics of basketball." Nanao Nao

Source: Ahiru no Sora ©Takeshi Hinata, Kodansha / "Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
After analyzing the current state of the boys' basketball club, Nanao Nao, the manager of the girls' basketball club at Kuzuryu High School, provokes them by saying that if things continue as they are, they won't even be able to beat the girls' basketball club. The boys' club members get on board and decide to hold a boys vs. girls practice match. As the game progresses, Nanao's tactics leave the boys' team confused, and the girls' team emerge victorious. Here is what Nanao said at the time. Although the boys' basketball team members have great individual abilities, basketball is a team sport, and these words clearly show that a team lacking teamwork will not become strong.

15. "If you could improve just by being there, no one would have any trouble." Shiraishi Sei

Source: Ahiru no Sora ©Takeshi Hinata/Kodansha/"Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
Yokohama Daiei High School goes through rigorous training every day. This is what the ace Shiraishi Sei said to Mineta. At Yokohama Daiei High School, where talented players gather, reserve players often feel they have reached their limits. However, he teaches Mineta the reality that even if he practices like everyone else, he won't get better. If practice is tough, he will think that he will get better just by doing it every day, but it shows that it is meaningless without further effort.

Summary

Source: Ahiru no Sora ©Takeshi Hinata, Kodansha / "Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
"Ahiru no Sora" is a story that depicts human growth and conflict through the high school basketball club. The characters in the book worry, think, and move forward. At each stage they leave behind words that stay with you. If you're interested in this article, be sure to check it out.