Captain Tsubasa/Characters/JapaneseNationalTeam

Tsubasa Ohzora

The protagonist of the story, his dream is to one day win the World Cup for Japan. A Child Prodigy, he was captain of his school Nankatsu's varsity team, and became the youngest captain of Japan's U-17 in the Youth World Cup. After graduation, he turned professional and played for both Sao Paulo in Brazil and Barcelona in Spain's La Liga. He is now the captain of Japan's 23 Men's Football Team.

• The Ace: He has the good looks, the kindness, the talent (by the goddamn wazoo), the strong will, etc.
• All-Loving Hero: Sports manga version, since he is THAT kind and forgiving.
• Big Brother Mentor: To Shingo.
• Boisterous Bruiser: Milder case when compared to others.
• Chaste Teens: He's so Married to the Job it becomes a Running Gag, until Sanae finally gets to date and marry him.
• Childhood Friend Romance: He met two of his prospect Love Interests, Yayoi and Sanae, before they were 12. The third one, Kumi, was 13 when they met (he was 14-15). He falls for Sanae and they marry.
• Cross-Dressing Voices: Often voiced by female seiyuu... one of them being Yoko Ogai, Youichi Takahashi's ex-wife. Avoided in the latter half of the Road to 2002 TV series, where his child self is voiced by Kikuko Inoue... and his adult one, by Tomokazu Seki.
• Determinator: Boy, is this guy ever.
• Disappeared Dad: Partially. His father works abroads, but is otherwise a pretty nice guy.
• The Hero
• Hot Dad: In his way to become one in the manga, especially in Rising Sun when the twins are about to come to this world.
• Invincible Hero
• Kindhearted Simpleton and Nice Guy: When off work. He's extremely polite, sweet-tempered and kind-hearted, plus rather naive.
• Nozomu Sasaki: In Captain Tsubasa J.
• Red Baron: Heaven Sent Child of Soccer, Soccer Genius, Field Samurai.
• Raven Hair, Ivory Skin: He has black hair/eyes, quite pale skin, and is noted to be extremely handsome.

Koujirou Hyuuga

Started as The Rival, became The Lancer with time. Having lost his dad at an early age, he became hateful and rude towards others, but loving and hardworking to his mother and siblings. Hot-Blooded to the max and one of the best scorers in the Japanese Team, but with serious problems towards authority that habe brought him trouble more than once. After working on some of such issues and graduating from school, he now plays for Juventus in Italy's Serie A.

• The Ace: In Road to 2002 he has evolved into this, as he has become extremely popular and succesful but has more or less tamed the worst parts of his personality.
• Animal Motifs and Red Baron: "The Tiger"
• Break the Haughty: At least twice.
• The Comically Serious: Starting from the World Youth saga, and scenes of this pop up from time to time with increased frequency as the series goes on.
• Disappeared Dad: Who either died of illness (anime series) or in an accident (manga). To be fair, the accident deal wasn't revealed until WYC, so the anime series had to make up something out of scratch.
• Mr. Fanservice: Tall, Dark and Handsome, also snarky and somewhat of a bad boy (but kind underneath), has several Shirtless Scenes...
• Hirotaka Suzuoki: Original TV series and Shin OAV's.
• Hot-Blooded
• Jerkass --> Jerk with a Heart of Gold
  • Tsundere: Arguably, in regards to Maki Akamine.
• Kick the Dog: His treatment of Morisaki, in the beginning.
  • And slapping Matsuyama across the face, just for physically standing in his way.
• Morality Pet: His family, and later Takeshi and Maki.
• Pose of Supplication: Does this to his Stern Teacher when begging him to let him re-enter the team for the finale of the third Junior High National Championship.
• Promotion to Parent: His mom does not want him to work outside of school, but he insists on doing so. Even after he gets his own career and doesn't have to take part-time jobs any longer, he still sees himself as the "man of the house" and keeps providing for his family.
• Rica Matsumoto: As a kid, in Road to 2002.
  • Takehito Koyasu: As an adult, in Road to 2002.
• She Is Not My Girlfriend: Pulls off a weak one each time his friends tease him regarding his relationship with his sweetheart Maki Akamine.
• Silly Rabbit, Idealism Is for Kids: Tries to tell that to Tsubasa during their first match. It does NOT work ("Soccer is my DREAM!").
• Sleeves Are for Wimps: He always rolls up his shirt's sleeves.
• Tall, Dark and Snarky
• Trademark Favourite Drink: He loves Coca-Cola. And this gets him remarks from other athletes such as Maki and Gozza, about sodas being not good for sportsmen. This doesn't faze him a single bit.
• Troubled but Cute: Very popular among fangirls, both in-story and in the fandom.

Genzou Wakabayashi

Goalkeeper for Shuetsu and Tsubasa's main rival before he transferred to Nankatsu. Also played for Japan's U-17. After turning professional, he played for the German Bundesliga's Hamburger SV, and was constantly on the talks to transfer to Bayern Munich, which he refuses even when his own friendly rival Schneider insists on having him as his teammate.

• A Day in the Limelight: The Captain Tsubasa MEMORIES three-part spin-off dedicates its first chapter to him.
• Broken Ace: He's handsome, strong-willed, genuinely talented, and one of the strongest goalies in the series - if not THE strongest. Problem is, he's struggled with his pride and his unflexible nature more than once, and being the titular Japanese GK has once or twice put him in trouble with other candidates for that spot (especially Wakashimazu). Many believed that he had gotten over most of his pride issues after the harsh wake-up call given to Mikami, but they flare up again in Road to 2002 (where he fucks up BADLY in a match and gets benched) and Golden 23 (where he has what's implied to be a huge fall-out with his coach, then has restriction problems due to being a foreigner, and as a consequence he loses his spot in the Hamburg team.)
• Childhood Friends: With the ex-Shuutetsu players (Taki, Kisugi, Morisaki, Takasugi and Izawa), who he met in fifth grade. Also with Schneider and Kaltz, as he met them in Germany when they were 12.
• Game-Breaking Injury: AT LEAST two.
• Get a Hold of Yourself, Man!: First is given one by Mikami, then gives another to Tsubasa.
• Hot-Blooded: To the MAX.
• Lonely Rich Kid: He's the youngest son of the richest family in Shizuoka, and the first anime implies that he's the only stable resident of the family's Big Fancy House.
• Kenichi Suzumura: In Road to 2002 and the 2018 series.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold
• Nice Hat: Or rather, Nice Cap.
• Parental Favoritism: The I'm Genzo Wakabayashi! The Birth of the SGGK story states that Genzo's father Shuuzo spoils him a lot due to being the youngest of his three sons. He does seem to have a good relationship with Shuuichi and Eiji, tho.
• Pet the Dog: He's got a cute puppy named John, and he's very protective of Morisaki.
• Red Baron: "Super Great Goal Keeper"
• The Rival: Begins as one for Tsubasa. Later, however, Tsubasa gets other rivals and he gets his own: Karl-Heinz Schneider.
• Shinichiro Miki: In Captain Tsubasa J.
  

Taro Misaki

Played in several teams due to his father traveeling through Japan all the time. Settled in Nankatsu for a semester and became Tsubasa's closest companion, but right after the championship was over, he moved away again. Later he went to France, where he joined the Japanese Team in the Youth Cup, and returned to Nankatsu to finish his education. Then he returns to France, where he develops a friendly rivalry with El Si Pierre...

• Akira Ishida: In Captain Tsubasa J, as an adult.
• Beware the Nice Ones: Most of the time, he's very peaceful and nice. But don't push him too far, as he's quite capable of standing on his own when needed. Notably when he destroys a table to prove his Game-Breaking Injury is no more.
• Break the Cutie: His familiar problems make him suffer more than once, but he's not completely broken. By WYC, he retakes contact with his Missing Mom and gets along real well with his kind stepfather and Moe half-sister.
• Cross-Dressing Voices: Like Tsubasa, he's often voiced by ladies.
• The Determinator
• Game-Breaking Injury: In the first arc, accidentally due to Sawada. Later, in the WYC by pulling a Diving Save to save his sister from being hit by a bus.
• Hero of Another Story: He gets his own side story (Boku wa Misaki Taro) and becomes an Ascended Extra in Golden 23
• Heroic Self-Deprecation: In the Holland Youth movie, his self-esteem takes a nosedive when he becomes the temporary captain of the Japanese team and doesn't perform well. Misugi has to talk him out of it.
• Megumi Ogata: In Captain Tsubasa J, as a kid.
• Missing Mom: Parents are divorced, mother remarried again. They make amends later.
• Nice Guy
• Why Do You Keep Changing Jobs?: Or better said, Why Do You Keep Moving Away.
• The Worf Effect: See Game-Breaking Injury.
• Yamato Nadeshiko: Can be seen as a borderline male version, considering how he's soft-spoken and incredibly devoted to his friends and father, but also very stubborn when it counts.

Jun Misugi

Captain of the Musashi school team, an excellent player... with a fatal flaw: his very weak heart. Not even an operation and treatment are fully able to let him overcome it: whie his skill is intact, his stamina is severely limited. His analytical mind, however, gives him a sort-of solution: becoming The Smart Guy and The Strategist, alongside a reserve player who comes out in crucial moments.

• Ai Orikasa: As a kid, in Road to 2002. Succeded by Issei Miyazaki in the second half.
• Chick Magnet: Extremely popular with girls.
• Childhood Friend Romance: He and Yayoi met when they were around 12, and have been more or less together ever since they were 14-15.
• The Determinator: Manages to come back to action after his illness, through the standard "operation" and very hard work.
• Drama-Preserving Handicap
• Don't You Dare Pity Me!: Very extreme version, as he'd rather put his life in risk than lose a match. He loosens up later, though.
• Heterosexual Life Partners: Eventually, with Matsuyama. His girlfriend Yayoi becomes close friends with Matsuyama's girlfriend Yoshiko, too.
• Ill Boy: Due to his weak heart, making him prone to Hollywood Heart Attacks.
  • Glass Cannon: After he recovers. He's very talented and skilled, but his stamina remains very low.
• Insecure Love Interest: Implied to be this to Yayoi in Rising Sun. Because it seems that his heart illness is giving him trouble again.
• The Strategist: His role, both in and outside the fields.
• Sugar and Ice Personality
• The White Prince: Only son of a very rich family from Tokyo.
• Yuko Kobayashi: In Captain Tsubasa J.

Shingo Aoi

A Japanese boy who admires Tsubasa so very much. He tried to make his own way in Italy but things were EXTREMELY hard for him there, since he was subjected to a huge Break the Cutie process. Shingo managed to work through it, however, and becomes a good addition to the Japanese team.

• Ascended Extra: In J, which dedicated lots of screentime to his hardships.
• Boisterous Bruiser
• Cheerful Child: Younger than the average JPN player, and oh so very sweet and happy.
• The Determinator
• Masami Kikuchi: In Captain Tsubasa J.
• The Pollyanna
• Showtaro Morikubo: Playing Against Type in Road to 2002.

Ryo Ishizaki

One of Tsubasa's closest friends, and the first Nankatsu captain. He lacks Tsubasa and others's natural skills, but replaces it with his will of iron and his cheerful disposition. His family owns a popular bath house in Shizuoka.

• Bald of Awesome: To a degree, since he keeps his hair very short.
• The Big Guy
• Boisterous Bruiser: Straightest example in the series.
• Butt Monkey: If anything hilariously humilating will happen, he's the first candidate.
• Cross-Dressing Voices: Until Road to 2002.
• Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass
• The Determinator
• Heroic Sacrifice: At least twice, each time by blocking a critical opponent shoot with his face, leaving him KO for the count and sent in the stadium's infirmary. He's very aware of how risky that is, but keeps doing it — Rising Sun implies that he's more or less developed his playstyle around such things.
• Hot-Blooded
• Urara Takano: As a kid, in Road to 2002.

Yuuzo Morisaki

A sweet young boy who soon has a big responsability on his shoulders: covers up for Genzo when he's injured in the Nankatsu team. For a Naive Newcomer like Morisaki, this is NOT easy, and he has to struggle very hard to get his work done.

• Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: Associated with his Body Block skill, and he once catches Soda's Razor Shoot perfectly.
• Overshadowed by Awesome: Mainly by Ken and Genzo, and most of the aces' shoots are far beyond his abilities, and he's supposed to be the third best goalie of Japan.
• Red Baron: "Super Brave Goal Keeper"
• Shrinking Violet: At the beginning. More or less understandable, considering how he has to live up to super goalkeepers like Ken and Genzo.
• Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: He can be paralyzed if there's a chance of him being hit in the face. Thank you, Hyuga. It takes him a long time to get over it.

Ken Wakashimazu

A close friend of Hyuuga, and the goalie for their team. A Tall, Dark and Handsome Heir to the Dojo who is caught between what his heart desires and his duty as heir, and later with severe self-esteem problems.

• Big Damn Heroes
• Chick Magnet: Very popular with the girls. He's awkward and a bit cute about it.
• Diving Save: To rescue a puppy. The injuries he sustained would cause trouble later.
• The Dutiful Son
• Heir to the Dojo: Subverted, he loves the family dojo but does not want to inherit it.
• Kentaro Ito: In Road to 2002.
• I Know Madden Kombat: Averted, as he knows his karate very well.
• Nobuo Tobita: Original TV series and Shin OAV's.
• Raven Hair, Ivory Skin: A pale, dark-haired, quite Tall Dark and Handsome fellow.
• Red Baron: "Karate Keeper".
• Ten-Minute Retirement: In WYC, after believing that he'd never have a chance to be the titular GK.
• Tomokazu Seki: In the J series.
• You Have 48 Hours: Or better said, "You Have A Year To Prove Yourself As a Better GK Than Karate Practitioner".

Hikaru Matsuyama

The captain of the Furano team, which is from Hokkaido. Serious, dependable and responsible, as well as with a bittersweet emotional baggage in his highschool years.

• A Father to His Men: Ever since he was a pre-teen, he's been fatherly to his friends and teammates.
• Akira Ishida: In Road to 2002.
• Demoted to Extra: He and Furano do not appear in the first part of the Road to 2002 TV series.
• Martial Arts Headband: Proud owner of a hand-sewn one, courtesy of Yoshiko; also qualifies as Memetic Outfit and Iconic Item.
• The Smart Guy
• Twice Shy: With his assistant Yoshiko.
• Vitriolic Best Buds: Sometimes, with Hyuga.
• Team Dad: Not only to Furano, but also to several National Team players when they fail Gamo's Real Japan 7 test and get kicked outta the team as a result. in WYC.

Hiroshi Jito

A player from Nagasaki, who is also Yukari's cousin. He at first was a brawler and a member of his school's rubgy team, but his best friend Mitsuru Sano managed to catch his attention and recruit him to the soccer club.

• The Big Guy
• Boisterous Bruiser
• Casanova Wannabe: Hilariously used in his first anime appearance.
• Hot-Blooded
• Heterosexual Life Partners: With Sano.
• Obfuscating Stupidity: His main character trait and strength during the National Junior Interhigh arc. Hadn't Tsubasa responded with a Let's Get Dangerous of his own, his team would have won against Nankatsu.
• Volleying Insults: With his cousin Yukari.

Mitsuru Sano

Jito's calmer and more analytical best friend, who realized how frustrated he was at the apparent lack of rivals in his rugby club, He roped Jito into joining their school's soccer team via telling him about Tsubasa and other players, then saying that he'd find his true Worthy Opponents if they played together.

• Heterosexual Life Partners: With Jito.
• Hidden Eyes
• Shorter Means Smarter

Makoto Soda

A spirited, arrogant, kinda inescrupulous player from Osaka who's feared and respected in soccer clubs for his rough playing.

• Break the Haughty: The Azumaichi-Nankatsu match is this for him. He was extremely cocky, violent and arrogant beforehand, and then he gets knocked off the pedestal and becomes a bit more friendly.
• Hochu Otsuka: Original series.
• Hot-Blooded
• Tall, Dark and Snarky

Shun Nitta

Younger than Tsubasa and Co. for one year, Nitta takes over Nankatsu Elementary when they graduate. When he reaches junior high age he joins Otomo Junior High with others (including Hanji Urabe and other ex-Nankatsus) to have a chance to challenge Tsubasa himself.

• Big Bad Wannabe
• Cute Little Fangs
• Kid Appeal Character

Takeshi Sawada

Hyuuga's closest friend alongside Wakashimazu, and among the few who can contantly keep up with him.

• Expository Hairstyle Change: Had VERY short hair while in Meiwa Elementary, has let it grow a little longer by the time he goes to Toho.
• Kid Appeal Character
• Morality Pet: To Hyuga.

Mamoru Izawa

One of the Nankatsu players coming from Shuutetsu Elementary. A long-haired boy who seems to be well-liked by the girls, and is an expert in headers and aerial game in general.

• Chick Magnet
• Power Trio: With Taki and Kisugi.
• Shigeru Nakahara: Original series.
• Tall, Dark and Handsome

Hajime Taki

Another player coming from Shuutetsu, noticeable for his teeth and his darker skin. Close friends with Izawa and especially Kisugi, his most usual partner.

• Deadpan Snarker
• Heterosexual Life Partners: With Kisugi.
• Kenyuu Horiuchi: Original series.
• Power Trio: With Izawa and Kisugi.

Teppei Kisugi

Another boy who comes from Shuutetsu rather than Nankatsu. Close friends with Taki and Izawa.

• Dude Looks Like a Lady: Due to his Tareme Eyes and long eyelashes.
• Heterosexual Life Partners: With Taki.
• Power Trio: With Izawa and Taki.

Shingo Takasugi

The last one from the ex-Shuutetsu group, and the tallest and strongest of the group.

• The Big Guy
• I Got Bigger: He experienced QUITE the growth spurt in middle school, going from normal height to being taller than the already tall Hyuuga.
• Lightning Bruiser: As proved by his goal against Souda's team. It also disrupted the plans that the opponents had: they were marking Tsubasa who was about to score, then Tsubasa saw Takasugi dashing from afar from the corner of his eye, THEN Tsubasa made a pass instead of shooting, and Takasugi scored magnificently.
• Name's the Same: Absolutely no relation with Green Two.

Tomeya Akai

A young man who moved to Italy while in middle school, and now plays there. He's also a good friend of Aoi.

• Anime Hair
• The Determinator: See the match against Sweden and you'll know why.
• Heroic Sacrifice: He manages to pull this without dying, as he keeps defending the goal area from Levin's relentless attacks and takes several Levin Shots to his body despite knowing how risky this is.
• My Name Is Not Durwood: "I'M NOT MATSUYAMA-SAAAAAAAAN!"
• Red Baron: "The Red Stopper".

Kazuo and Masao Tachibana

Twin brothers from the Akita prefecture, who play in the Hanawa team.

• Butt Monkeys: Not Played for Laughs, since the poor dudes almost always get injured in one way or another and almost never can finish a game.
• Twin Brothers Team
• Cross-Dressing Voices: Almost always voiced by ladies.
• Deadpan Snarkers: Very much so, and their favorite "victim" is Ishizaki because he and Tsubasa are among the few able to counter their attacks.
• Fastball Special: Their signature Sky Hurricane.
• Single-Minded Twins: Weaponized, even. If they weren't twins and didn't know each other as well as they do, their partnership wouldn't be as succesful as it is. It becomes a borderline Fatal Flaw later: Gamo kicks them out of the team because they relay too much on one another, forcing them to change their strategies so they can gain a bit of independence. It more or less works, with Masao even showing potential to be a goalkeeper.