Genichirou Sanada
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Name: Genichirou Sanada Romaji: Sanada Genichirou Kanji: 幸村 精市 Gender: Male Birthday: May 21 |
School: Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku (3rd year) Class: 3-A Position: Vice-Captain Style: All-rounder Seiyuu: Taiten Kusunoki |
Genichirou Sanada, also known as "The Emperor," is the strict vice-captain (and temporarily captain) of Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku. Sanada, along with fellow teammates Yukimura Seiichi and Yanagi Renji, have led their team to the Nationals from their first year. Together, the three Rikkai members are known as "The Three Demons of Rikkai" ("Sannin Bakemono" in Japanese).
Personality
Sanada is noted by a lot of people to be very strict, especially with his teammates. However, he is even more strict with himself. With the absence of Yukimura Seiichi due to his disease, Sanada stepped up to the plate and took control of the tennis team, making sure everyone met up with his expectations. He is mostly noted for his powerful slap, used when his teammates either does not meet up with his expectations or step out of line. He does not even make an exception to his close friend, Yanagi, when he lost. After losing to Ryoma Echizen in the Kanto tournament, however, he made his teammates slap him instead.
However, that does not mean that a kind side of him does not exist. He acknowledges a loss as long as they learn something from it, such as Akaya when he entered Muga no Kyōchi in the manga and learning that violence is unneccesary in the anime. He did not show mercy to Yanagi because he let his feeling get in the way. He is quite close to Yanagi and Yukimura, as he knew both of them from his first year. Yanagi and Sanada both call each other by their first name in the original manga and anime, which is a sign of closeness. With Yukimura, the two both respect and acknowledge each other's skills and are quite friendly with each other, especially since Sanada has frequently visited Yukimura in the hospital more than most of his members and always reassures Yukimura whenever Yukimura mentions that he is putting a burden on Sanada. In the Tenipuri episodes and Mini Theaters, Yukimura's "burden" is highly exaggerated and is often made fun of, to the point where Sanada cannot refuse any of Yukimura's requests (and most recently, demands).
Sanada's strict discipline is also due to practicing kendo, although the manga also states that he studied iaido as well.
Tennis Styles/Techniques
Sanada is an all-rounder who, unlike Atobe's style of choice, does not play defensively and attacks his opponents head-on. This is reflected in the manga and OVA by his "Fuu Rin Ka In Zan Rai." His skills are amazing, as he can easily hit a topspin lob that lands right on the line, similar to Oishi's Moon Volley, and can do so repeatedly.
Fuu Rin Ka In Zan Rai
This is the name of Sanada's techniques in the manga, originally called the "Fuu Rin Ka Zan." None of them are used in the anime. When performing the "Fuu Rin Ka Zan" Sanada usually says a phrase for each of the moves. Each of the moves can presumably counter each other, shown by Echizen Ryoma (in Muga no Kyouchi) using Sanada's "Fuu" against his "Ka." It was initially believed to only contain four moves, but Sanada reveals its true form during his battle with Kunimitsu Tezuka in the National Finals. Its true form is "Fuu Rin Ka In Zan Rai". Yukimura reveals that Sanada had previously sealed off his two ultimate techniques in order to prepare for his battle with Tezuka one day.
Fuu (Wind)
"Fuu" is an extremely fast swing that is based on a sword-drawing technique. The fast swing means that the opponent can neither see the racket or ball after it is hit, making the ball seem 'invisible' to the eye. This shot often returns the ball before the opponent has even recovered from the previous shot. This is the move on which the "Invisible Swing" was most likely based in the anime. Due to the nature of the Fuu Rin Ka Zan, Fuu can be used to counter the Ka technique. When using Fū, Sanada says "Swift like the Wind." (Hayaku koto, kaze no gotoku.) In the New Prince of Tennis manga, it was revealed that Sanada can incorporate "Fu" into his footwork.
Rin (Forest)
This shot is first revealed in the Sanada vs. Tezuka match, where Sanada uses it to combat the "Tezuka Phantom," although Yanagi Renji made note of this shot during the Sanada vs. Echizen match, and stated that he is powerless against this shot. This shot a defensive swing that neutralizes the spin on the ball, although it is stated that it doesn't completely cancel out "Tezuka Phantom," due to its abnormally great spin. When using this shot, Sanada says "Quiet like the Forest." (Shizuka naru koto, hayashi no gotoku.) In the Prince of Tennis: Another Story OVA, it was revealed that "Rin" can be used to neutralize power as well.
Ka (Fire)
Another special move that only exists in the manga, "Ka" is an extremely powerful shot that can be hit as a smash, forehand, or backhand. When Sanada uses this shot, his opponents are overwhelmed by his power. When Sanada uses "Ka" as a smash, his stance suggests that it's the move Cyclone Smash is based on. Rikkaidai's Kirihara Akaya was totally defeated when Sanada used this shot. The power of this shot is enough to break through the Tezuka Zone if used consecutively. When using it, Sanada says "Invade like Fire."(Shinyagu suru koto, hi no gotoku.)
In (Shadow)
This move was revealed in Sanada's battle with Tezuka in the National Finals. This technique hides the user's weaknesses and gives off multiple behavioral patterns, thus Saiki Kanpatsu no Kiwami (Pinnacle of Great Wisdom) is useless against it. In is one of the two ultimate techniques that Sanada previously sealed off, in order for him to beat Tezuka one day. When using it, Sanada says "Formless, like the Shadows."
Zan (Mountain)
This move hasn't been shown in the manga; however, it is known that it was with this technique that Sanada defeated Atobe Keigo during their first meeting. When used, Sanada says, "Immovable like a Mountain." (Ugokazaru hodo,yama no gotoshi) This technique was later defeated by Atobe's "World of Ice" (Koori no sekai) technique he obtained when versing Sanada the second time. Its stance as shown as in Chapter 300 series from the position of Sanada's arm suggests it's a drop shot, and in the OVA, it is known as the "ultimate defense."
Rai (Lightning)
"Rai" is one of the two ultimate techniques that Sanada previously sealed off, in order for him to beat Tezuka one day. When using this technique, Sanada says "Strike, like Lightning." Only Yukimura has been stated to successfully return this shot. This move was first used in Rikkaidai's Semi-Final against Nagoya Seitoku, and gave Sanada the overwhelming 6-0 victory. However, it was first seen in Sanada's battle with Tezuka in the National Finals. "Rai" grants the user inhuman speed, which allows them to 'strike from anywhere on the court'. When "Rai" hits the ground, it bounces at a right angle to its direction, making it nearly impossible for the opponent to return. There IS a weakness for this technique. The inhuman speed granted by "Rai" takes a huge toll on one's legs, and like the "Tezuka Phantom," gives the body a heavy burden if used consecutively.
It is assumed by some fans that Ryoma Echizen may have overcome Rai (which Tezuka could not) since he copied it in his match against Yukimura Seiichi with the Muga No Kyouchi, however that is debatable, as Ryoma also copies Shiraishi's Entaku Shot and has never even played against him. However, although Ryoma has never truly been shown to see Rai, he presumably won against Sanada when he went to help Ryoma regain his memory, which was a perfect moment for Sanada to show Rai. Sanada was on the floor like everyone else, indicating that he lost, which probably meant that Ryoma overcame Rai. The OVA only confirms that Ryoma saw Rai during his match with Sanada to regain his memory, so he was probably able to overcome it.
KaRinRai (Fire, Forest, Lightning)
This move was first used against Tezuka in singles 3 of the National Tournament Finals. It was Sanada's technique that was made during the match, to defeat Tezuka's "Zero-Shiki serve." Sanada combines Fire, Forest and Lightning, into 1 extremely powerful serve return. One can admit that "Rin" nullified the spin on the ball, "Rai" gave the swing (and dash toward the landing spot) the necessary speed and "Ka" gave the return the explosive power that knocked Tezuka's racket from his hand, rather than making it weak Rising that Tezuka could easily hit back (which would certainly result in him winning the point, given the condition of Sanada's legs). This was never shown in the OVA.
Other Techniques
Invisible Swing (anime only)
The anime equivelant to Sanada's "Fuu," the Invisible Swing an extremely fast swing that is based on a sword-drawing technique. The fast swing means that the opponent can neither see the racket or ball after it is hit, making the ball seem 'invisible' to the eye. This shot often returns the ball before the opponent has even recovered from the previous shot. Even with good motion vision, anyone who tries to focus on the speed of the ball will only see a blur and their eyes will begin to hurt, similar to Akazawa's Blur Ball.
Muga no Kyouchi (State of Self Actualization)
A state in which the user naturally intakes all techniques he sees and can perfectly copy them, Sanada is one of the four players who have achieved Muga before the start of the series. However, its weakness is that the ability to copy the opponent comes from the body, not the brain, and as a result, wears out one's body out further than usual since most techniques are beyond what a person can execute. Such weakness is probably not a problem for Sanada, as he is skilled enough to execute high-level techniques. However, Sanada opts not to use Muga no Kyouchi, as he states that he has no need to copy the techniques of those weaker than him.
Invisible Serve (anime only)
The serve version of the Invisible Swing, Sanada hits a high-speed flat serve at the same speed with the Invisible Swing. The only difference is the differing components of the two differing components of the two shots; while the Invisible Swing is a groundstroke, so the pathway is somewhat predictable, the Invisible Serve cannot be predicted so easily, since a skilled server can put the ball anywhere in the service box.
Trivia