Hanazono Momoharu is the captain of the Kuzuryu High School boys' basketball team. He is also one of the important characters in "Ahiru no Sora". Today, I would like to introduce 10 of the charms of Hanazono Momoharu.
1. He has incredible jumping power
Hanazono Momoharu's greatest characteristic is his incredible jumping power. In matches, he uses this jumping power to demonstrate his high ability in rebounds and blocks. At times, he has won jump balls and rebounds against Chiba of Shinmaruko High School, who is over 2 meters tall, and has astonished players such as Yakuma of the powerful Yokohama Daiei High School. Momoharu's abilities are best shown near the goal, making him an indispensable presence under the goal for Kuzuryu High School. He's a character similar to Sakuragi Hanamichi from "Slam Dunk."
2. Not good at shooting
Source: Ahiru no Sora ©Takeshi Hinata, Kodansha / "Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
Momoharu's weakness is that he's not good at shooting. He misses not only free throws, but even simple layups and dunks. At Kuzu High, he lost to three beginners in a free throw contest with a mop after practice. His teammates do not expect him to score points, but rather to be a rebounder. In the middle of the manga, he asks Mokichi to help him practice his shooting in order to contribute to the team as captain. Perhaps it was worth it, but he was finally able to make a free throw in a game against Kitasumiyoshi High School in an exchange match.
3. Basically, he is clumsy and bad at sports.
Source: Ahiru no Sora ©Takeshi Hinata, Kodansha / "Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
Momoharu is not good at shooting, but the reason for this is that he is fundamentally bad at sports. As for basketball, he is good at everything except shooting because he has been playing for many years, but when he first started playing basketball, he didn't improve at all, and was quickly overtaken by Chiaki, who started later. Even outside of basketball, when the team members went to a batting center, Momoharu was the only one who couldn't even get a single ball through the bat. He really has no talent, but he is also a character who has risen to this point with his natural physical strength and hard work.
4. The captain who supports the team, recognized by everyone
Source: Ahiru no Sora ©Takeshi Hinata, Kodansha / "Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
Hanazono Momoharu is the captain of the Kuzuryu High School boys' basketball team and wears the number 4 on his uniform. In the beginning, he was in a captain-like position by chance, but because he was originally a responsible and leadership type, he gradually became a captain that all his teammates recognized. He supports the team both inside and outside the game, and Momoharu himself recognizes this role. On the other hand, he has weaknesses such as being bad at shooting, so there are times when he is not able to contribute much in terms of play, but he shows his commitment to living up to expectations as a captain, saying, "Even if I'm a lame No. 4, I want to live up to everyone's trust...!"
5. Quit basketball in middle school
Source: Ahiru no Sora ©Takeshi Hinata/Kodansha/"Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
Momoharu was a member of the basketball club in middle school. He was known for his natural jumping ability, but he was still a terrible shooter. Even so, at the time he showed a positive attitude, saying, "I'm still in the process of developing...!" However, one day during a practice match, he is unable to make a single shot and is substituted midway, which causes him to quit basketball. Later, he is persuaded by Sora to start playing again, but Momoharu had previously dropped out of basketball. Konishi from Kitasumiyoshi High School was Momoharu's junior high school classmate, and although Konishi had admired Momoharu in those days, he held a grudge against her for leaving the team, and when they faced off against each other, he would openly behave in a provocative manner.
6. I practice shooting every day
Source: Ahiru no Sora ©Takeshi Hinata/Kodansha/"Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
Momoharu is not good at shooting, but as captain, he wants to contribute as an inside player for Kuzuryu High School by not only rebounding and blocking, but also by scoring. Momoharu begs his junior, Mokichi, to teach him how to shoot. At first, it was just basic practice, shooting from a platform near the basket, but Momoharu continues to practice every day, regardless of his pride. His efforts are gradually paying off, and he is now able to score in games. By the way, when it comes to shooting under the basket, he is told to only do dunk shots. According to Mokichi, the reason is that it is "troublesome."
7. He once got revenge on Chiaki
Source: Ahiru no Sora ©Takeshi Hinata, Kodansha / "Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
Hanazono Chiaki and Hanazono Momoharu are twin brothers. By the way, Chiaki is the older brother and Momoharu is the younger brother, but Momoharu has never won against Chiaki in studies, basketball, or fighting. Momoharu himself is not bad at fighting, but Chiaki is such an overwhelming genius that he falls behind Chiaki in everything he does. But Momoharu did in fact get revenge on Chiaki once. This was revealed in an episode of a past fight between brothers that Chiaki told when Tobi injured his ligaments. Momoharu once performed a dragon screw on Chiaki, damaging Chiaki's ligaments, and this was the only time that Momoharu was able to fight back against Chiaki. However, after that, Momoharu was apparently sent to the hospital.
8. What about your love with Yabuuchi Madoka?
Source: Ahiru no Sora ©Takeshi Hinata, Kodansha / "Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
Yabuuchi Madoka and Hanazono Momoharu, members of the girls' basketball club, are in the same grade. Also, since the boys' basketball club's activities were supervised, they have had more interactions and have developed a good sense of distance between them. Madoka has once confessed her feelings to Momoharu. However, the timing was bad. Momoharu had just been suspended for burning down the clubroom and was in a tough mental state, so he turned her down. We learn that Madoka had feelings for Momoharu. Meanwhile, while there weren't many scenes in which Momoharu showed any feelings for Madoka to begin with, she sometimes fell into self-loathing after turning down Madoka's confession. There is also a scene where she is shocked, thinking that Madoka has a boyfriend, and we can see that she isn't entirely opposed to the relationship. Momoharu and Madoka are one of the few romantic elements in "Ahiru no Sora," and it will be interesting to see what kind of relationship the two will develop in the future.
9. He's good at fighting, but he's never won against Chiaki
Source: Ahiru no Sora ©Takeshi Hinata, Kodansha / "Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
Momoharu was an unruly delinquent until he started playing in the basketball club. He also made the basketball clubroom his base, and spent a lot of time there with Yasuhara, Nabeshima, Chaki, and others. Among the group, Momoharu is also the leader, and is clearly head and shoulders above the others in terms of fighting ability. He is also quite strong, as he returns a high kick with a headbutt, damaging his opponent's leg. However, he has never won against his older brother, Chiaki. In "Ahiru no Sora," there are several scenes in which the two brothers fight, but even in those, Momoharu is defeated miserably by Chiaki, as if he is no match for him. Chiaki overshadows Momoharu's strength, but Momoharu himself is very strong.
10. He has a stronger sense of responsibility than most
Source: Ahiru no Sora ©Takeshi Hinata, Kodansha / "Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
Momoharu's personality is that he has a stronger sense of responsibility than most, and as the captain of the basketball club, he thinks of the team's problems as his own problems. One episode that shows Momoharu's strong sense of responsibility is when the basketball club was suspended after the clubroom fire incident. Momoharu, who was involved in the incident, felt that he had caused trouble for the team, but still wanted to continue playing basketball. There was a memorable scene where he got down on the ground in the rain and begged Satsuki-sensei, who had been fired from his position as advisor, to reinstate him. Momoharu has a stronger sense of responsibility than anyone else, and his leadership skills make him worthy of being captain of Kuzuryu High School.
Summary
Source: Ahiru no Sora ©Takeshi Hinata, Kodansha / "Ahiru no Sora" Production Committee
Hanazono Momoharu is one of the most popular characters in "Ahiru no Sora". It will be interesting to see who will voice her when she is made into an anime.
