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 of Seigaku, Kippei Tachibana of Fudomine, and Genichirou Sanada and Seiichi Yukimura of Rikkaidai, 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 is revealed that many people 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 of the Seigaku training arc shown only in the anime, in which Hyoutei helps Seigaku prepare for its Kantou finals match with Rikkaidai. 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 backing him up. 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 truly appreciates the worth of both his teammates and rivals; this is shown when he stands up for fellow Hyoutei regular Shishido Ryo's plight in front of coach Sakaki, 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. Atobe also mentions that while he doesn't mind going easy on an opponent, he hates it when opponents go easy on him. Furthermore, 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, which also coincided with Kabaji's birthday.
Even the games have portrayed Atobe as more noble than one would expect; in the dating sim "Gakuensai no Oujisama", Atobe is enraged when the main character (default name, Shizuka Hirose) is attacked by his fangirls, and not only lectures the player for not telling him, but also protects her from such fans and punishes them by announcing that Shizuka will be his girlfriend in front of the whole school. In another dating sim, "Doki Doki Survival - Umibe no Secret," Atobe is shocked when he's bitten by a poisonous snake and the main girl (default name, Ayaka Tsujimoto) attempts to suck out the toxins from his injury, scolding her as well for taking such a risk after they're taken to safety.
Aside from his tennis club captaincy, 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.
Due to a bet Atobe made with Ryoma, in which the loser had to shave their own hair, he supossedly had his head shaved by Ryoma after losing consciousness. Though, it is later revealed that Atobe did not get his head fully shaved, but rather just a short haircut. He most likely went to get a professional haircut after waking up and finding a bit of his hair gone.
[edit] Tennis Style and Techniques
Atobe is an all-rounder, so 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, is unreturnable. Recently, he has shown the ability to imitate Muga no Kyouchi (the State of Self-Actualization) to an extent.
[edit] Hametsu e no rondo (Rondo to Destruction)
(破滅への輪舞曲 Rondo to Destruction)
The Hametsu e no rondo 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 Goodwill Games arc of the anime, Atobe develops a two-person Hametsu e no rondo with Sanada - the Hametsu e no Tango, or Tango to Destruction. The second, point-scoring smash is delivered by the other player. However, it is unlikely that this move will reappear, as Sanada and Atobe are from different schools, and Atobe usually 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.
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 is 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 very 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 replies, "No, Tezuka's elbow has healed!" Atobe's Insight is not limited to flaws, at least not in the anime. He sees Ryoma's "limitless potential" in the Training Camp arc and beholds no imperfections in Sanada during the Junior Senbatsu (Junior Invitational) arc.
In the Quarter Finals of the Nationals in his Singles 1 match against Seigaku's Echizen, Atobe used his insight to his full potential to the point of where he could see the spin on the tennis ball. He was then able to apply a counterspin on the ball so that it no longer returns to Echizen when the latter used his own version of the Tezuka Zone.
[edit] Jack Knife
The Jack Knife is a fast, sharp and powerful high-leveled backhand shot made by using the front foot to jump into the air with balance while utilizing a pendulum-like effect of the body to achieve maximum strength. When Atobe uses the Jack Knife, he keeps the ball at his racket until the last moment to make it a strong shot. It is noted in the anime that the Jack Knife is a move no ordinary junior high student can do; only professionals are able to use the move successfully. Atobe first uses it in his match against Tezuka.
[edit] Higuma Otoshi (Bear Drop)
（羆落とし）
In his Nationals match against Ryoma, Atobe demonstrates his ability to use Higuma Otoshi, one of Shusuke Fuji's Triple Counters. By quickly rotating his body, Atobe uses centripetal force to absorb the force of any overhead smash; he then returns the ball with a lob that almost always lands on the opponent's baseline.
[edit] Viking Horn
A powerful shot that first seems to go either left or right and then flies at the opposite side. Atobe can only use this technique when he's holding his racket backwards. He learns this shot from watching Kai from Higa Chuu's match against Eiji Kikumaru.
[edit] Koori no Sekai (World of Ice)
(氷の世界)
All tennis players possess one if not more blind spots from any given position. Atobe has evolved his insight to such a level that he is able to clearly discern these spots, 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 Genichirou Sanada of Rikkaidai.
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 weakened 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 in the Singles 1 slot at the 1st round of the Kanto regional tournament. When Atobe first appears, he is arrogant, self-assured, and generally flippant about the entire deal. After discovering Tezuka's weakness to drive, he formulates a plan to ruin Tezuka's shoulder. The point of ruin comes - Tezuka collapses in pain and falls to 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, wondering what compelled Tezuka to such insanity and realizing that it is his loyalty to his team. Atobe then seeks to play to his potential and beat Tezuka no matter what.
After a tedious tie-breaker going into the 70s, 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.
The captains share a long handshake after the match, standing still with arms raised above the net as the crowd roars in cheer.
[edit] Genichiro Sanada (Anime)
Atobe fights bitterly against Sanada, Rikkaidai's vice-captain, to settle which of them will first get to challenge their mutual "eternal rival", Tezuka (as the three of them hold a three-way rivalry). However, he is overwhelmed by Sanada's Invisible Swing. Just as observers decide that Atobe will 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. However, since they are both probably among the top five players in the entire series, they argue about their combination, 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 Rikkaidai, 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 reveals 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 than 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: the loser of the match gets his head shaved. Though, it is later revealed that Atobe's head did not get fully shaved, but he did receive a short haircut.
[edit] Stats
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
[edit] Trivia
- In the 2006 Valentine Special, Atobe was the winner, being given over 1000 chocolates.
- In the 4th characters' popularity ranking, Atobe was voted first with a total of 12,913 votes; far beating Fuji Shuusuke who came in second with only 6116 votes.
- Oddly, all live action versions of Atobe have been in a Tokusatsu, Ryuuji Sainei was Ban/DekaRed in Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger and more recently Kazuki Kato portrayed Daisuke Kazama/Kamen Rider Drake in Kamen Rider Kabuto
[edit] Actors
- In the anime series, Atobe's seiyū (or voice actor) is Junichi Suwabe.
- In the English version of The Prince of Tennis, Atobe is played by Yuri Lowenthal.
- 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).
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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 | Rokkaku Chuu |
| 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 | |
