Keigo Atobe
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| Keigo Atobe (跡部景吾) |
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Keigo Atobe (跡部景吾 Atobe Keigo) is a fictional character in the anime and manga The Prince of Tennis. He attends Hyotei Gakuen and is the president of its tennis club.
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[edit] Character
Along with Kunimitsu Tezuka, Kippei Tachibana, Genichirou Sanada and Seiichi Yukimura, Atobe is a "Zenkoku ku" (全国区), which means a national level player. He defeated Seigaku's captain in his second year, a favor returned when Tezuka then beat Hyoutei's captain at the time. Hyoutei is one of the few schools in the series without a vice-captain, an indication of both Atobe's skill and leadership.
Severely narcissistic and arrogant, his favorite quote is "Ore-sama no bigi ni yoi na" (俺様の美技に酔いな), used first after knocking out Tezuka's racket with his drive volley. It was revealed that many started calling him "Atobe-sama" after this line. It translates more or less to "be awed at the sight of my prowess!" It is common knowledge within the series that he is fabulously wealthy, and the anime shows in some episodes his various chateaus and mansions. One mountain estate is the setting for the Seigaku training arc shown only in the anime, in which Hyoutei helps Seigaku prepare for its Kantou finals match with Rikkai Dai. It is also revealed in his mini-movie that he apparently has a huge blimp with a chibi replica of his own face on it, not to mention enough funds to hold a convention in a gigantic, downtown stadium.
This doesn't mean, however, that Atobe is just a pampered, self-centered diva without real qualities. He's very proud of being on top of the Hyoutei team, and has earned his position through very hard work and real talent. He also does appreciate the worth of both his teammates and rivals; that's clearly shown when he stands up for Shishido's plight in front of coach Sakaki ("Kantoku! This person hasn't given up!"), when he recognizes Tezuka's might after their duel (even lifting Tezuka's hand to show him as someone who had fought hard and also deserved praising), and when he speaks to Echizen after his fight with Tezuka in the American arc. The aforementioned mini-movie (named "Atobe kara no Okurimono", roughly translated as "Atobe's mighty gift") shows that one of the reasons he had to hold the convention was to cheer up his childhood friend and partner Munehiro Kabaji, who was very depressed after the announcement of his beloved older sister's future marriage.
Aside from his tennis club captainship, Atobe is also student body president. He enjoys all subjects, especially Greek, and is a fan of the poetry of Goethe and Homer. It is also implied that he has an appreciation for classical composers such as Richard Wagner.
[edit] Tennis Style and Moves
Atobe is an all-rounder, but like most characters in the series he has a selection of nearly impossible special moves - namely, the Hametsu e no rondo and Tannhauser Serve. However, both have been beaten, although the latter, when executed perfectly, was unreturnable. Recently, he has shown the ability to imitate Muga no Kyouchi to an extent.
[edit] Hametsu e no rondo (Rondo to Destruction)
The Hametsu e no rondo (破滅への論舞曲 Rondo to Destruction) is a powerful two-part smash. The first knocks the racket out of the opponent's hand. As the ball bounces up from the force of impact, Atobe smashes it once again at the court to score the point. Those who observed it at the previous Junior Senbatsu Selection Camp were amazed at its power. However, Tezuka and Ryoma both overcome the move by sliding the racket downward at the last moment and thus holding on to their grip.
In the Junior Senbatsu Selection Camp arc of the anime, Atobe develops a two-person Hametsu e no rondo with Sanada - the Hametsu e no tango. The second, point-scoring smash is delivered by another individual. However, it is unlikely that this move will reappear as Atobe primarily plays Singles 1.
[edit] Tannhauser Serve
Although briefly shown during his match against Sanada, it is not fully shown until Atobe teams up with Sanada in doubles. Similar to Syusuke Fuji's Tsubame Gaeshi, the ball does not bounce and instead spins rapidly down the court, thus rendering it almost impossible to return. Its flaw, however, lies in that it places tremendous strain on the server's arm and shoulder. While Fuji utilizes the opponent's return in hitting his shot, Atobe must exert enormous force in order for the move to come out correctly. Thus, he is slowly worn down during his serve. Despite scoring a chain of unreturnable balls, a Tannhauser is finally returned when it bounces, evidence of his shoulder's degradation during that short time period; but in the manga however, the Tannhauser serve was first seen by another Hyotei player, Oshitari Yuushi, during their search for Atobe, Oshitari was able to find Atobe practicing in their school's tennis courts, as soon as he saw Atobe he saw a brief execution of the serve, implying to himself that it was similar to Echizen's Cool Drive, the move Echizen used to win his match against Genichirou Sanada in the Kantou finals, but this serve wasn't completeley shown until his match with Echizen where he used it to gain the first game.
It is interesting to note both how Atobe executes it but also the implications of the name. In one of the flashiest moves in the series (even for him), Atobe bends back extremely far and grumbles slightly as multicolored sparks fly on a background of black. His eyes also change colors. Finally he hits the serve, which flies in a curving trajectory, burning with an almost dragon-like flame.
Tannhauser is the subject of a German legend as well as one of Wagner's lesser known operas. A sinful knight who veers between his love of Venus and Elizabeth, Tannhauser wanders in search of redemption. According to the anime, Atobe relates as he too is privileged but with a heart that cannot be satisfied.
Notable differences between the manga and anime versions of the serve:
1.)In the anime it is said that the Tannhauser serve was a serve version of Syusuke Fuji's tsubame gaeshi, while in the manga it was Ryoma Echizen's Cool Drive. 2.)In the Anime, it is said that the serve places a tremendous strain in the arms and in the shoulder of Atobe, but in the manga no such flaw or fact was said 3.)The Anime was filled with special effects for the serve such as the ball being engulfed in fire and the changing of the color of Atobe's pupil which wasn't shown in the Manga.
[edit] Insight
While not necessarily a move, it is nevertheless useful, especially during Atobe's match with Tezuka. Supposedly gifted with fantastic eyesight, Atobe uses this in Insight, a move where he can quickly determine his opponent's weaknesses. He places his fingers between his widely opened eyes and laughs with a somewhat insane tone.
During the match against Tezuka, Atobe guesses wrongly that Tezuka's elbow is injured - a problem then solved, however, when Oishi screams out, "No, Tezuka's elbow has healed!" Atobe's Insight is not limited to flaws - he sees Ryoma's "limitless potential" in the Training Camp arc and beholds no imperfections in Sanada during the Junior Senbatsu arc.
[edit] Koori no Sekai (氷の世界)(World of Ice)
All tennis players possess one if not more blind spots. Atobe has evolved his insight to such a level that by merely saying the word "Freeze", he is able hit balls with pinpoint accuracy and timing at these blind spots. Due to this recent evolution of his game, Atobe has supposedly surpassed Sanada Genichirou of Rikkai Dai.
Koori no Sekai was proved to have one weakness. During the match between Atobe and Ryoma, Ryoma somehow duplicated Tezuka's Tezuka Zone and took control of the game. Atobe's World of Ice was rendered impotent because the spins allowed by Ryoma's emulation of the Tezuka Zone caused Atobe's pinpoint returns to veer off course and out of Ryoma's blind spots.
[edit] Notable Matches
[edit] Kunimitsu Tezuka
Atobe goes against Tezuka, arrogant, self-assured, and generally flippant about the entire deal. He formulates a plan after discovering Tezuka's weakness to drive on the match and ruin Tezuka's shoulder. The point of ruin comes - Tezuka collapses in pain and falls onto his knees, clutching the offending body part in obvious agony. However, he refuses to give up at that point and continues the rally, much to Atobe's surprise. The tone of the game changes after that point, and Atobe becomes completely serious, thinking wildly upon what must've compelled Tezuka to such insanity and realizing that it was his loyalty to his team. He then seeks to play to his potential and beat Tezuka no matter what.
After a tedious tie-breaker going into the 70's, Tezuka hits a net ball which Atobe dives to return. Lying upon the ground, helpless at the net, he then realizes in horror that most of the court is free for Tezuka to attack. In a twist of fate, however, Tezuka is so broken down by now that his ball hits the net, ending the game with Atobe victorious. Despite the gravity of that moment, it really was not as important as Atobe's reaction seemed to indicate. Since it requires two more points than the opponent to win a tiebreaker, and Tezuka's net ball won Atobe's match, that meant that at the time, Atobe was only one point ahead. Thus, if the ball had actually fallen in, Tezuka would've tied with Atobe and the arduous rally would have continued. To play up the drama, however, the indications made the ball seem much more crucial for either side than it really was.
The captains share a long handshake, standing still with arms raised above the net as the crowd roars in cheer. The match was probably the most satisfying one so far for both characters.
[edit] Genichiro Sanada (Anime)
Against Rikkai Dai's vice captain, Atobe fights bitterly to settle who would first get to challenge his "eternal rival", Tezuka. However, he is overwhelmed by Sanada's Invisible Swing. Just as observers decide that Atobe would lose, however, he shows off his swanky new Tannhauser serve. The match is then ended by Sakaki-sensei, who announces that both boys have now earned their positions on the team. More notable is his doubles pairing with Sanada. While initially not getting along at all and playing as two separate units, the need quickly arises for teamwork. The two, however, are probably among the top five players in the entire series, and arguments arise, specifically Atobe's petulance over missing balls. An almost accidental act of coordination, however, compels Atobe to remember a tango concert he saw with Sanada, and they finally get in coordination, executing the Hametsu e no tango and generally exhibiting decent teamwork. At the end of their victorious match, Atobe chooses to double his catch phrase - "Oresama-TACHI no bigi ni yoi na", translating more or less to "Be Awed At The Sight Of Our Prowess!".
[edit] Genichiro Sanada (Manga)
Atobe and Sanada have played twice in the manga continuity. The first time, in a match played prior to the start of the series, Sanada crushed Atobe using the Zan(Mountain) technique of his FuuRinKaZan. Although the time period of this match has never been said, the most logical time for it to have taken place would be at the previous years Kantou Tournament, where Sanada's Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku defeated Atobe's Hyoutei team in the finals.
The second time they faced was rather different. After the current year's Kantou Tournament, but prior to the Nationals, Atobe arrived at Rikkai Dai, and challenged Sanada to a match. Sanada got up to a 4-0 lead using his Zan shot, however when Atobe perfected his new technique, Ice World, Sanada couldn't cope with it. Sanada's Captain, Seiichi Yukimura stopped the match and told Atobe to leave their campus. When Sanada asked why, Yukimura told him he would have lost the match.
[edit] Ryoma Echizen
In the Quarter Finals of the Nationals, Seigaku and Hyoutei meet once again. In Singles 1, with the two teams tied 2-2, Atobe faces off against Ryoma Echizen. Atobe starts off strong with his Tannhauser Serve (the first time it is seen in Manga Continuity). While Ryoma tries to fight back using the State of Self Actualization, Atobe reveas his Ice World, and easily gets to a 4-0 lead. At that point, Ryoma manages to master the Tezuka Zone, and the match becomes much more even.
The two go to a tiebreak, and that tiebreak lasts even longer then the one between Tezuka and Atobe. Eventually, Atobe's body just can't keep going, and Ryoma wins the tiebreak 119-117.
After the match, Ryoma shaves Atobe's head due to the bet Atobe makes with Ryoma before the match: loser of the match gets his head shaved.
[edit] Actors
- In the Anime series, Atobe's seiyū (or voice actor) is Suwabe Junichi.
- For the live-action adaptation film of The Prince of Tennis, actor Ryuuji Sainei portrays Atobe.
- In The Prince of Tennis Musicals, Atobe is portrayed by actor Kazuki Kato (2005-2006).
[edit] Trivia
Blood Type: A
Dominant Hand: Right
Shoes: Head (C. Tech 1000 OM)
Racket: Head (Premier Tour 600)
Favorite foods: Roast beef
Hobbies: Fly-fishing, reading
Family: Grandfather, grandmother, father, mother
Favorite subject: All, but his specialty is Greek
Favorite color: Gold and black
Taste in women: Those with a strong will
Inside his bag: 4 cell phones (one for overseas calls, one for family, and two everyday usage phones with cameras), PHS, lip balm, cologne, compact mirror
In the 2006 Valentine Special, Atobe was the winner of being given over 1000 chocolates.
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| Tennis team members: | Ryoma Echizen | Kunimitsu Tezuka | Shuichiro Oishi | Shusuke Fuji | Eiji Kikumaru | Takashi Kawamura | Sadaharu Inui | Takeshi Momoshiro | Kaoru Kaidoh |
| Schools: | Seishun Academy Middle School | Fudomine Middle School | St. Rudolph Gakuen | Yamabuki | Hyotei Gakuen | Midoriyama | Jyosei Shonan | Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku |
| Supporting characters: | Sumire Ryuzaki | Nanjiro Echizen | Masashi Arai | Satoshi Horio | Kachiro Kato | Katsuo Mizuno | Sakuno Ryuzaki | Tomoka Osakada |
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| List of Prince of Tennis episodes | Tennis no Ojisama - Futari no Samurai | The Prince of Tennis (film) | The Prince of Tennis Musicals | Takeshi Konomi | |
