"Aoashi" is a popular manga currently being serialized in "Big Comic Spirits." The series has been highly praised by J.League players and its popularity has led to the announcement of an anime adaptation starting in April 2022. This time, we'll focus on the manga's protagonist, Aoi Ashito, and discuss his characteristics and growth. (Spoiler Alert!)
About the Protagonist, Aoi Ashito
This work is set in the J.League youth team, a lower-level organization for 16- to 18-year-olds who are not part of a high school club but are closer to becoming a professional. Aoi Ashito (honorific title: Asito) was a member of a local soccer team in Ehime Prefecture, a place far removed from such places. As a forward for the small club, Asito ran harder than anyone, picked up loose balls, and scored goals. His technique was lacking, but his guts more than made up for it. Fukuda Tatsuya, the coach of Tokyo City Esperion Youth, saw a glimpse of "a certain ability" in Asito and encouraged him to come and try out for the youth team selection.
What is Aoi Ashito's incredible ability?
The first time, on a sandy beach in Futami Town, Ehime Prefecture, and the second time on the blackboard in the classroom where he and Kuroda and the others fought, Asito wrote down the exact positions of 22 players, both on and off the field, during goal scenes. His ability to see the entire field, even while standing on the field, is like a bird flying above. It's been described as being similar to Barcelona's Xavi, and this is precisely Aoi Ashito's ability. It's variously described in the series as a great bird's-eye view, eagle eye, and so on, but in this one respect, he possessed a unique talent: "great eyes."
The Reason for Ashito's Ability
Why did Asito acquire this eye ability? One of the reasons is a habit he has. When he's in a pinch, Asito has a habit of scanning the field to calm himself down. This stems from his unyielding spirit and determination to find an opening to somehow turn a corner, even in a pinch. It could be said that Asito's mentality was essential to acquiring this ability. Additionally, since childhood, Asito has played dribbling down the aisles of his mother's store, avoiding bumping into customers. He dribbles while looking around and watching the ball. This experience likely played a role in his acquisition.
Ashito's Growth ①
After passing the youth selection, Asito faces a new obstacle in his first intrasquad game. These obstacles are his poor footwork, his inaccurate trapping, and, above all, his lack of "individual tactics." "Individual tactics" is, in other words, the ability to think, to consider the type of football you should play based on the situation on the field. This is something that the promoted players who have been with Esperion for a long time naturally possess. However, he is unable to understand what his teammates are thinking as they play. This is a fatal flaw, and Asito's unique talent is largely based on intuition, so he is forced to face the reality that he is not functioning effectively in games.
Ashito's Growth ②
First, Asito's "stopping and kicking" technique. During his daily late-night practice, he practiced just that. Refining this flow—stopping the incoming ball openly so he could kick it anywhere—gave him the extra time and a few seconds he needed to save, greatly expanding the scope of his play for Asito, who has a bird's-eye view. In addition, his individual tactical challenge was the left line with Kuroda and Asari. First, he formed a triangle with the three of them, thinking about what the opponent wanted and where he should be, and trying to understand through eye contact. This successfully acquired the critical thinking skills he had lacked.
Coach Tatsuya Fukuda's Grand Vision ①
Soccer is a sport where three players carry the ball. Even against a team with a strong defense, as long as three players share the same mindset, they can win against any opponent. Asito expands the triangle they form and heads toward the goal, learning a new way of playing soccer with his teammates, who share a common vision. Having acquired the skills and mentality, Asito performs brilliantly on the Youth B team, scoring two goals and making two assists in two official matches. Coach Fukuda has this to say to Asito, who has made such great progress so far: "Asito, switch to defender."
Coach Fukuda's Grand Vision ②
The plan for this conversion is revealed in Volume 7, Chapter 62 of the manga. It's clear that Tatsuya Fukuda had this vision in mind when he first spoke with Asito on the beach in Futami Town. His motivation for encouraging Coach Date in the youth team's first intrasquad game, and his coaching style of not immediately giving Asito the answer but instead encouraging him to think and learn on his own, were all for this conversion. That's why he initially used Asito as a forward to teach him the fundamentals of soccer, and then announced his switch once he had acquired them. Coach Fukuda's cruel decision to turn Asito into the perfect fullback (SB) and a player capable of competing on the world stage was already decided in the very first chapter of the manga.
Aoi Ashito as a Defender ①
Asito's determination to score, his pride as a forward—all of that seemed to be taken away by Fukuda's words, and he storms out of the dorm. Hana brings him back, but Asito is deeply shocked, and he is forced to play defense, which is not his natural position. Having switched to defender, Asito naturally struggles with defense, a position he has never played before. Naturally, Asito's defensive abilities as a forward were poor, and he had to learn the basics, such as the ability to "tighten" and sense of danger, unique to defenders. This, combined with the frustration of being unable to attack, ultimately led to him being relegated to the bench.
Aoi Ashito as a Defender ②
To become the world's best forward, to score goals, and to become a professional, Asito's core values were undoubtedly those that only a forward could achieve, and his vision was of an ace player who could score goals. Even so, Asito, who was off the bench, continued to practice defense without giving up, thanks to the influence of those around him. This was the determination to at least not be a burden to my teammates and cause them trouble, so I would play even the defense I disliked.
Aoi Ashito as a Defender ③
At the suggestion of Anri Kaito, Asito practices the "head bobbing" technique often seen in top player Haruhisa Kuribayashi. Kuribayashi unconsciously bobs his head just before receiving the ball, immediately after receiving it, and even when the ball isn't coming. His wide field of vision allows him to choose the most appropriate play the moment he receives the ball. Asito, who wasn't on the bench, continued this for about a month. As with the "stop and kick" technique, Asito's strong mental fortitude, determined to keep practicing until he mastered it, allowed him to naturally develop the "nodding" technique.
Coaching
Ashito's natural ability to nod his head and see the big picture allowed him to act as the "eyes" for the players in front, giving precise instructions from behind. By combining this with Asito's bird's-eye view, Aoi was able to move his teammates to the right positions to steal the ball on defense, and move his front line players to keep the ball moving and score goals on offense. It's precisely because Asito has switched to defender that he is now able to give instructions (coaching) that he couldn't give as a forward, and it's in this role that Asito's true value shines. Having grown to this point, Asito is finally promoted to the A Team.
To the A Team
Akutsu plays left CB (center back) on the Youth A Team. His partner at left SB, Nagisa Akutsu, is the person Asito needs to learn from and work with the most as a defender. Asito, who had always had a bitter relationship with Akutsu, once again faces a wall in the form of Akutsu. Considering that he had anticipated this and had already established a strained relationship with Akutsu from the beginning, this is truly impressive. Be sure to check out the anime and manga to see what challenges await Asito now that he's been promoted to Team A.
Summary
What did you think? This article covered Aoi Ashito's abilities and Tatsuya Fukuda's aims. While this article covers the first 12 volumes of the manga, I think "Aoashi" is a well-structured manga, and I wonder how much of the story was planned from the beginning. Ashito's conversion, his falling out with Akutsu, and his growing influence on his teammates. As Ashito grows, new obstacles appear, and he overcomes them again. This is a truly fascinating manga, where he uses the weapons he's acquired through this repetition to fight powerful foes.
