Keigo Atobe

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Keigo Atobe
The Prince of Tennis character
First appearance Manga chapter 45
Anime episode 22
Created by Takeshi Konomi
Voiced by Junichi Suwabe (Japanese)
Yuri Lowenthal (English)
Profile
Gender Male
Date of birth October 4
Class 3rd year
School Hyotei
Style All-Rounder, right-handed

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. Atobe is one of the most popular characters in the series.

In the fourth Shonen Jump character popularity poll of series, Atobe came in first place. [1]

Contents

[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 Hyotei's captain at the time. Hyotei 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? It translates more or less to, "Be awed at the sight of my prowess!"), 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. This quote has been used and adapted by the seiyū, Junichi Suwabe, in almost every situation Atobe appears outside the main story, and has since then become a long-running joke. For example, in the CD voice message, he says: "Be awed by the sound of my (singing) voice"; in one Radio Show mini-drama, he says: "Be awed by the sight of me drinking" prior to drinking an Inui-juice like drink; in another instance where he went hiking in the mountains and was playing with the echo, he says: "Be awed by the sound of my echo."

Atobe is considered the example of a perfect and complete all rounder as stated by Yamabuki's Sengoku showing Atobe's skills as a player.

It is common knowledge within the series that he is fabulously wealthy, showing 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 Hyotei helps Seigaku prepare for its Kantō finals match with Rikkaidai. It is likely that the anime exaggerated his wealth, as he was shown to be progressively wealthier as the series goes on, to the extent that by the release of the mini-movie, he owns a huge blimp with a chibi replica of his own face on it, and enough funds to hold a convention in a gigantic, downtown stadium. However, the manga does depict him to own a helicopter.

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 Hyotei 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 Hyotei regular Ryo Shishido'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.

Atobe with his temporary haircut after losing in the Nationals.
Atobe with his temporary haircut after losing in the Nationals.

Even the games have portrayed Atobe as more noble than one would expect; in the dating sim Gakuensai no Ōjisama, Atobe is enraged when the main character (default name, Shizuka Hirose) is attacked by his most rabid fangirls, and not only lectures the player for NOT telling him about the incidents, but he also protects her from such fans and, if certain in-game circumstances are met, in the end he announces 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 help him by directly sucking 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.

One of Atobe's characteristic is the mole below his right eye, known as a "tear-mole". He has a character song about the mole being his charm-point called "Chāmu Pointo ha Naki Hokuro" (チャームポイントは泣きホクロ? lit. "The charm-point is the tear-mole"), and coincidentally, the seiyū Junichi Suwabe also has a mole in the exact same position.

Due to a bet Atobe made with Ryoma, in which the loser had to shave his own hair, he supposedly had his head shaved by Ryoma after losing consciousness (in the anime, Atobe chooses to shave his own hair after losing, taking the razor from Ryoma's hands). However, it is later revealed that Atobe did not get his head fully shaved, but rather just a short haircut. Shortly after, right before the National Finals, Atobe is shown with his normal haircut, which, according to Takeshi Konomi, is just a wig.[2]

[edit] Techniques

Rondo Towards Destruction (破滅への輪舞曲 Hametsu e no rondo?)
The Rondo Towards Destruction is a powerful two-part smash requiring a lot of control on the ball. The first smash hits the wrist and 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. However, Tezuka and Ryoma both overcome the move by sliding the racket downward at the last moment and thus holding onto their grip.
In the anime, during the Goodwill Games, Atobe develops a two-person Rondo Towards Destruction with Sanada, Tango Towards Destruction. As one player smashes the racket out of one opponent's hand, the second, point-scoring smash is delivered by the other player.
Insight
Supposedly gifted with fantastic eyesight, Atobe uses this in Insight, a technique 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, however, Atobe guesses wrongly that Tezuka's elbow is injured. Atobe's Insight is not limited to flaws, at least not in the anime; he sees Ryoma's "limitless potential" during a training session and beholds no imperfections in Sanada during the Junior Senbatsu (Junior Invitational).
In his singles 1 match against Seigaku's Ryoma Echizen during the quarter-finals of the Nationals, Atobe uses his insight to his full potential, to the point where he could anticipate the spin of the tennis ball by looking at the way his opponent hits it. He was then able to apply a counterspin on the ball so that it no longer returns to Ryoma when the latter used his own version of the Tezuka Zone.
Koori no Sekai (氷の世界 Koori no Sekai?, lit. World of Ice)
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.
Koori no Sekai was proved to have one weakness. During the match between Atobe and Ryoma, Ryoma somehow performed the 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.
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 the weight 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.
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 is holding his racket backwards. He learns this shot from watching Kai of Higa Chuu play against Eiji Kikumaru.
Higuma Otoshi (羆落とし? trans. "Bear Drop")
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.
Tannhauser Serve
When performed correctly, the technique does not allow the ball to bounce, instead having the ball spin rapidly down the court, thus rendering it almost impossible to return. While no flaw is stated in the manga, in the anime, its flaw lies in that it places tremendous strain on the server's arm and shoulder. Atobe must exert enormous force in order for the move to come out correctly, thus he is slowly worn down during his serve.
Also, in the anime, the serve was not fully seen until Atobe teams up with Sanada during the Goodwill Games with America, while in the manga, the Tannhauser Serve was first seen by another Hyotei player, Oshitari Yuushi, who was able to see Atobe perform the serve during practice. Also in the anime, it is said that the Tannhauser serve is a serve version of Shusuke Fuji's Tsubame Gaeshi, while in the manga, it is a version of Ryoma Echizen's COOL Drive.
Tannhauser is the subject of a German legend as well as one of Wagner's lesser known operas. According to the anime, Atobe relates as he too is privileged, but has a heart that cannot be satisfied.

[edit] Notable matches

[edit] Kunimitsu Tezuka

Atobe goes against Tezuka in the Singles 1 slot at the 1st round of the Kantō 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 30s, 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, and Atobe raises Tezuka's arm in air as the crowd roars in cheer for both players.

[edit] Genichirou 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 Kantō Tournament, where Sanada's Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku defeated Atobe's Hyotei team in the finals.

The second time they faced was rather different. After the current year's Kantō 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 quarterfinals of the Nationals, Seigaku and Hyotei meet once again. In Singles 1, with the two teams tied 2 to 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 World of Ice technique and easily gets to a 4-0 lead. At that point, Ryoma manages to use his father's version of the Tezuka Zone, and the match becomes much more even.

The two go to a tiebreak, but eventually, Atobe's body could not keep going, and Ryoma wins the tiebreak 119 to 117.

After the match, Ryoma shaves Atobe's head when the latter was unconscious due to the bet Atobe makes with Ryoma before the match: the loser of the match gets his head shaved (in the anime, Atobe chooses to shave his own hair after losing, despite Taki's pleas to have Ryoma shave Taki's head instead). Though, it is later revealed that Atobe's head did not get fully shaved, but he did receive a short haircut.

[edit] Reception and influence

Since his initial appearance, Atobe has become one of the most popular characters in The Prince of Tennis series. In the 2006 Valentine Special, Atobe was the winner, being given over 1000 chocolates. In the third characters' popularity ranking, he came in third place, behind only Ryoma and Fuji. [3]In the 4th characters' popularity ranking, Atobe was voted first with a total of 12,913 votes, soundly beating Shusuke Fuji, who came in second with 6116 votes.[1]

Besides Ryoma Echizen, Atobe has released more character CDs than any other character in the series, and he is the only other character to have 2 full length albums (besides Ryoma). One of his singles reached top 9 in the weekly charts, the best result for any Prince of Tennis character CDs.

Atobe was also the first character to sing the song "Valentine Kiss" in 2004. Since then, the same song was released annually at Valentine's Day by different characters and featuring harmony by two other characters. In 2005 it was sung by Yuushi Oshitari, 2006 by Ryo Shishido, all of whom are Hyotei Gakuen players. In 2007, it was sung by Genichirou Sanada of Rikkai Dai, thus ending the Hyotei successions. The song appears for the second time in 2007 as a bonus track in the album of Shuichiro Oishi. In 2008, it was sung by Yuujirou Kai of Higa Middle School.

[edit] Actors

  • In the English version of The Prince of Tennis, Atobe is played by Yuri Lowenthal.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Konomi, Takeshi (2007). "Genius 333", Prince of Tennis　Vol. 38. Shueisha, 192. ISBN 978-4-08-874353-0. 
  2. ^ Konomi, Takeshi (2007). The Prince of Tennis Character Book (Vol. 40.5). Shueisha. ISBN 4088741986. 
  3. ^ Konomi, Takeshi (2007). "Genius 276", Prince of Tennis　Vol. 32. Shueisha, 184. ISBN 4-08-874015-7. 


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