Line #303 Characters/Eyeshield21TeikokuAlexanders


1	[[center: [-[[Characters/{{Eyeshield 21}} Main Character Index]] \| [[Characters/Eyeshield21DeimonDevilBats Deimon Devil Bats]] \| [[Characters/Eyeshield21OjoWhiteKnights Ojo White Knights]] \| [[Characters/Eyeshield21ShinryujiNaga Shinryuji Naga]] \| [[Characters/Eyeshield21SeibuWildGunmen Seibu Wild Gunmen]] \| [[Characters/Eyeshield21TaiyoSphinx Taiyo Sphinx]] \| [[Characters/Eyeshield21NASAAliens NASA Aliens]] \| [[Characters/Eyeshield21KyoshinPoseidons Kyoshin Poseidon]] \| [[Characters/Eyeshield21BandoSpiders Bando Spiders]] \| [[Characters/Eyeshield21HakushuDinosaurs Hakushu Dinosaurs]] \| '''Teikoku Alexanders''' \| [[Characters/Eyeshield21ThePentagram The Pentagram]] \| [[Characters/Eyeshield21CollegeAndSemiProFootballTeams College and Semi-Pro Football Teams]] \| [[Characters/Eyeshield21OtherFootballPlayers Other Football Players]] \| [[Characters/Eyeshield21OtherCharacters Other Characters]]]]-]
2	----
3	[[foldercontrol]]
4
5	[[folder:General]]
6
7	The [[FinalBoss ultimate team]] in Japanese high school football, dominating the whole Kansai district and winning the Christmas Bowl ''every year since its initiation''[[note]]While '''''NEVER HAVING BEEN SCORED ON. EVER.'''''[[/note]]. Their strength stemmed mainly from their policy: They recruited top players from other schools in order to build up their ranks. Run on a meritocracy, the Alexanders divided these players into six ranks and advanced them based on performance and nothing else. During the main event of the story, they were gifted with two new recruits - [[LivingLegend Takeru Yamato]] and [[HeroicLineage Taka Honjo]], who were hailed as [[TheAce very outstanding]], even among the generations of Alexanders lineups. With this, Teikoku seemed set to continue their winning streak when [[spoiler: the Deimon Devil Bats became their opponents in the [[FinalBattle Christmas Bowl]]]]. [[spoiler: They didn't]].
8	----
9	* {{The Ace}}s: They were the best players in Japan.
10	* AlwaysABiggerFish: The Naga's Kanto nine-year winning streak was '''nothing''' compared to the Alexanders'. The last nine Christmas Bowls were the former getting trounced by the latter.
11	* AncientRome: These guys seemed to have a Roman Empire [[{{Motifs}} theme]] going on, which fitted their meritocratic philosophy (and having ThePrankster as a captain) pretty well.
12	* AsskickingLeadsToLeadership: In this team, authority was only for players who kicked asses.
13	--> '''[[{{Jerkass}} Ibarada]]''' (Walking ahead): Damn it, Karin, you're slow!
14	--> '''[[{{NiceGirl}} Karin]]''' (Carrying Ibarada's luggage): S-s-s-sorry!
15	--> '''Yamato''' (Passing by): Wait, Iba... What is it? Ah, yeah! Ibarada! Why're you using Karin as a luggage carrier?
16	--> '''Karin''': Yamato! It's alright. I don't really mind...
17	--> '''Yamato''' (Smiled): Underclassmen aren't slaves to their senpai. Instead... you should have that ''fourth string player'' carry them. You know?
18	* BadassCrew: The best team in Japan's highschool football.
19	* ChekhovsGunman: The Alexanders were first mentioned in Kotaro's flashback, in which they're responsible for most of the Spiders' best players leaving the team. They were mentioned again during the Devil Bats vs Dinosaurs match, in which Kisaragi flustered that the Dinosaurs were to crush the Alexanders using Gaou's brute strength. It turned out the Alexanders were the all-time football champions of Japan and FinalBoss.
20	* ColorCodedCharacters: They're the FinalBoss and associated with ''black''.
21	* {{Consummate Professional}}s: They're so pro, they had no trouble cooperating with each other on the field despite the intense rivalries among them.
22	* CurbStompBattle: They did this to the '''NAGA'''. It's offscreen, but still...
23	* DarkIsNotEvil: They have black uniforms, and are the FinalBoss, but outside the field, are not at all hostile to the opposing players.
24	* DefeatingTheUndefeatable: Had been undefeated since the first Christmas Bowl, and hailed as Japan's undisputed aces.
25	* TheDreaded: Everyone, even the ''Shinryuji Naga'', feared the Alexanders.
26	* DreamTeam: The Alexanders recruited ace players from all of Japan and grouped these players into six teams based on merits. The first string players were literally the best of the best.
27	* ExplainingYourPowerToTheEnemy: An unusual sports variant. When Sena, Monta, and Suzuna went to Teikoku High to scout their players, they also tried stealing the team's playbook. When they were caught, Yamato figured out what they wanted to do and handed them a copy, then stated that they didn't have to go through all the effort and should've simply asked or bought a copy at the school souvenir shop. This shows that Teikoku doesn't really mind showing other teams their playbook since the information becomes useless if they cannot stop the Alexanders from winning. Yamato reassures them that he doesn't mean it as an insult either, the playbook contains a thousand plays the Alexanders mastered and no other team in Japan can feasibly counter all of them.
28	* FinalBoss: [[spoiler: Before the Youth World Cup, anyway]].
29	* GeniusBruiser: A requirement to be a first string player was to memorize 1000 football plays.
30	* LightningBruiser: Another requirement to be a first string player is to be able to run the 40-yard dash in 5 seconds or less. Yes, even the linemen have to do this. This makes their line ''both'' fast and strong.
31	* MasterOfAll: It's hard to talk about the Alexanders' weak points... because there are none.
32	* MightMakesRight: The Alexanders ran on a meritocracy. Ages, friendships and other such stuffs didn't matter. The only thing they cared was what you bring to the team.
33	* NameToRunAwayFromReallyFast: "Teikoku" literally means '''Emperor Black'''.
34	* OpposingSportsTeam: They weren't a bunch of bad guys, but their status as '''the''' undefeated champions and the fact that the rivalry within the team was as great or greater than that with their opponents still made them a fairly classic case of this.
35	* SeriousBusiness: The only highschool - not coach or player - to take football that seriously, they recruited ''every'' ace player in Japan they could get. That was why they were the Christmas Bowl champions for decades.
36	* {{Worthy Opponent}}s: Notably, these seemed to happen ''within'' the team.
37	--> '''Taka''' (While [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomping]] an unnamed Alexanders player): Yamato, if you're not my opponent, this won't really be a practice...
38	** They also take the Devil Bats seriously - they have, after all, proven themselves the best team in the East and defeated the Nagas and the Dinosaurs, they're clearly a strong team.
39	[[/folder]]
40
41	[[folder:Takeru Yamato (大和猛)]]
42	[[quoteright:170:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Yamato_Takeru_9585.jpg]]
43	->''"It's settled... It's my win!"''
44
45	[[LateArrivalSpoiler The original Eyeshield 21,]] Yamato was a friendly and charismatic young man who played along well with other players. He was also filled with self-confidence and wouldn't hesitate to crush his opponents on the field. While Yamato was a ''very'' [[MasterOfAll well-rounded]] player with top-tier power and speed, his greatest strength was his perfect body balance and willpower, which made him nigh impossible to take down with tackles - a technique he named the "Caesar's Charge". [[spoiler: Yamato had a feud with Mr. Don, the leader of the USA ace players group "Pentagram": [[SmugSnake Mr. Don]], regarding Yamato as unworthy of the title of "Eyeshield 21", used his power as the son of the US President to ''kick Yamato out of Notre Dame''. During the Youth World Cup, Yamato went to the United States with Team Japan, fully intending to have his revenge against Mr. Don on the field]].
46
47	* Position: Running Back / Fullback / Strong Safety
48	* Jersey: 22; [[spoiler: 21 during the match against the Devil Bats; 20 during the World Cup.]]
49	* 40-yard Dash: 4.4 seconds
50	* Bench Press: Unspecified
51	* Height: 190 cm (6' 3")
52	* Weight: 79 kg (174 lbs)
53	* Birthday: October 10
54	* 1st Year Student (Grade 10)
55	* Nicknames: Eyeshield 21, "The Emperor"
56	----
57	* AcademicAthlete: Implied, since he [[spoiler: got into the Saikyodai University]].
58	* TheAce: Frequently hailed as being the "Perfect Runner" long before he actually appeared, and '''completely''' lived up to this expectation when he revealed himself; on top of being good-looking, charming, and honorable, as lampshaded by Akaba.
59	* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: [[spoiler: Yamato was crushed by Panther on one occasion because of nothing but the latter's superior talents in running]].
60	* AwesomenessByAnalysis: Yamato, like Sena, possessed the ability to find run routes. However, unlike Sena, who can find one or two routes, Yamato can find ''all possible run routes,'' making him just as difficult to reach as it was to take him down. He could also predict opposing plays with frightening accuracy, being so confident in his predictions that the rest of the Alexanders never doubted him. [[spoiler:Finally, he was able to counter Sena's Devil Fourth Dimension ''immediately after seeing it'']].
61	* BashBrothers: With Taka, similar to Sena and Monta, who he seems to hold more or less of a friendly rivalry with.
62	* BoisterousBruiser: Downplayed, but it stood out when compared to [[TheQuietOne Taka]].
63	* BrokenAce: [[spoiler: While Yamato was unmistakably a top running back in Japan, it was implied that he was seen by some (i.e., Mr. Don) as [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter not-of-the-top-tier]] when he's in the USA. Thus, his attempt to crown himself ''the'' ace by seizing the title "Eyeshield 21" earned him the contempt of Mr. Don, who eventually [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections had him expelled from Notre Dame]]]].
64	* CatchPhrase: ''"It's settled. It's my win."'' The official translation made it ''"I am certain to win."''
65	* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: How could he shrug off tackles and steamroll ''any'' line in Japan? His training in America, where [[spoiler: being beaten off the field for being a better running back made him used to being attacked by people stronger than he was. Yamato earned the "Eyeshield" title by puking blood]].
66	* ChasteHero: Not to the same degree as Shin, but Yamato didn't have a girlfriend, and seemed not to be interested in finding one.
67	* ChickMagnet: If Achilles's words were to be taken, Yamato was popular with ladies. It's not hard to believe given all the other tropes listed here.
68	* CombatCompliment: Yamato is always ready to acknowledge others' accomplishments.
69	--> '''Yamato''' (Halfway through the Devil Bats vs Alexanders game): Sena, Monta... no matter how many times you're knocked down, there's still fire in your eyes. You aren't losers. Without doubt, you're first-class players.
70	* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Yamato tended to do this when he interacted with Karin. RunningGag below provides the details.
71	* [[CoolBigSis Cool Big Bro]]: Considering the other tropes listed here, Yamato was ''very likely'' to be this trope to his unseen younger brother.
72	* CurbStompBattle: ''Almost always'' inflicted this when someone challenged him. [[spoiler: Yamato suffered this at the hands of Panther and Mr. Don, though]].
73	* DefeatMeansFriendship: [[spoiler: Not that Yamato was mean to start with]].
74	* {{Determinator}}: His greatest skill was actually simple: He refused to be taken down when tackled. And just this was good enough to make him a very formidable running back. Even '''three''' people tackling him ''only made him fall to his knees''.
75	* TheEmperor: The Roman variant of this was Yamato's primary {{Motif}}s, if his "'''Caesar''''s Charge" and his team's Roman theme hadn't made this obvious enough.
76	* {{Foil}}: He was apparently comparable to Shin and Agon in terms of sheer talents. Yamato was, like Shin, a genius who trained himself hard, but he's talkative and charismatic, while Shin was TheQuietOne. On the other hand, Yamato had aptitude outside speed and power, like Agon. But he's a NiceGuy while Agon was a full-on {{Jerkass}}.
77	* GeniusBruiser: Even ''[[TheSmartGuy Hiruma]]'' had a hard time outsmarting Yamato.
78	* TheGift: More or less implied given his interaction with Agon. His backstory showed that [[spoiler: he was gifted with physical prowess (height and athleticism) as well as intelligence and improved himself more [[{{Determinator}} through sheer hard work]]]].
79	* GracefulLoser: [[spoiler: When Sena defeated him]].
80	--> '''Yamato''' (Sweating; [[spoiler: The Alexanders just lost to the Devil Bats]]): [[spoiler: I'm sorry, Sena... Since I am the one who lost, I should be praising you as the winner. But right now... I can't help feeling excited]].
81	* TheHero: To the Alexanders.
82	* HonorBeforeReason: He promised to use only his left hand in the match against the Devil Bats when he saw that Hiruma hadn't recovered. That's saying something about this guy. [[spoiler: He ended up using both hands not for pragmatism but because Sena proved to be a real challenge and it would be an insult if he kept doing it]].
83	* ImplacableMan: Yamato has places to go. You will ''not'' stop him. You ''may'' slow him down. You ''may'' impede his progress. But he ''will'' get there, even if he has to drag you with him. It's an oddly unique example of the trope, which is usually used to describe someone who's coming after you. In Yamato's case, it was more like he's trying to get away from you, and something as simple as failing to get away from you wasn't going to deter him one bit.
84	** Played straight whenever Yamato played in defense, as his superior physical strength and speed as well as having a near perfect balance made it almost impossible for anyone to stop him in his tracks. Thus, he can either avoid blockers or simply shove them out of the way and get to the ball carrier. In fact, [[spoiler: all the Devil Bats tried to stop him from reaching Musashi during their final field goal play, yet Yamato '''still managed to touch the ball''']].
85	* JackOfAllStats: He was a very all-rounded player, but he wasn't the best in any particular area other than possibly determination, something Yamato himself admitted.
86	** MasterOfAll: He's still near top-notch in terms of speed, power and... everything.
87	-->'''Akaba''': On the other hand, Yamato has everything. Speed. Power. Technique. Body balance. Height. Kinda good-looking.
88	-->'''[[StraightMan Unsui]]''': What has the last one got to do with the rest?
89	* {{Kiai}}: He always shouts after he gets tackled during his Caesar's Charge to express his determination.
90	* TheLeader: He served as the de facto on-field leader of the Alexanders, although he's more on the charismatic than the mastermind side.
91	* LightningBruiser: Yamato was just slightly slower than Sena, but he is as strong as players like Shin and Agon. There's a reason why his usual tactic is to shove the defense out of the way.
92	* LivingLegend: It's ''Eyeshield 21'', the Japanese star running back from Notre Dame, whom Sena impersonated as part of Hiruma's scare tactics, whom Kakei basically worshipped, whom Akaba imitated to reclaim the Spiders' glory, and whom Marco marked as a prey. Yamato lived up to the name too. There is a reason why in America he was referred as "the miracle from the East", [[spoiler: before Mr. Don put a stop to this]].
93	* MagneticHero: He's quite charismatic, and had ''2479'' entries in his mobile phone contacts.
94	* MessyHair: As pictured above.
95	* MightMakesRight: Downplayed, but it's there. Yamato only cared about whether a person could get the job done. He failed to remember Ibarada's name apparently due to the latter's fourth string status.
96	* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous: "Yamato Takeru" was also the name of an [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamato_Takeru ancient Japanese prince]] who was... the King Arthur of Japan, in a nutshell.
97	* NiceGuy: What he was off the field. Even on the field he was surprisingly nice, changing subject when he accidentally implied Sena was a weakling.
98	* NoodleIncident: How Yamato was run out of Notre Dame was never explained during the Devil Bats vs Alexanders game. [[spoiler: Later subverted when the truth about the incident was revealed in the World Cup Arc]].
99	* NoSell: The "Caesar's Charge" was basically him refusing to go down after being tackled, often dragging the opposing player with him as he ran. [[spoiler: He was also the only player who'd taken Shin's [[OneHitKO Trident Tackle]] directly without going down]].
100	* TheRealRemingtonSteele: The original Eyeshield 21 whom Kakei had met.
101	* RedOniBlueOni: He was the red to Taka's blue. It wasn't that Yamato was impulsive, but he was quite a charismatic and talkative guy when compared to the [[TheStoic emotionless]] Taka.
102	* RunningGag: Karin [[NiceGirl tried to avoid being competitive]] (i.e., declining to join the team or saying that she's afraid of being tackled). The very competitive Yamato misinterpreted her words and thought she considered herself not good enough, and ended up forcing her to train even harder.
103	* SignatureMove: '''The Caesar's Charge''', a move that can be used both on offense and defense. As a defensive move, it creates a perfect seal around the ball carrier through Yamato's height, reach and speed. As an offensive move, see NoSell above.
104	* SmugSuper: An interesting example. Yamato is more or less made of confidence and, without a doubt, a super. '''BUT''', (1) He ''never'' rubs his superness in others' faces; (2) He ''never'' compares others to himself; and (3) If you do accomplish an impressive feat, Yamato [[CombatCompliment will be the first person to acknowledge it]]. In short, Yamato is this trope, but unlike [[{{Jerkass}} Agon]], he isn't a douche about it.
105	--> '''Sena''' (Staring at Yamato in awe): Self-confidence. Every word brimming with strength behind that friendly speech. There isn't a part of him that thinks he is going to lose.
106	* SpiritedCompetitor: He would gladly take on any challenger, regardless of the gap between him and his opponent. He even thanked Sena for allowing him to go all-out.
107	* TallDarkAndHandsome: Seen his stats and picture?
108	* {{Unperson}}: [[spoiler: Not only was he expelled from Notre Dame because Mr. Don didn't find him worthy of the title Eyeshield 21, Mr. Don also ensured that all traces of Yamato's time and achievements in the school were erased as well.]]
109	* UnstoppableForceMeetsImmovableObject: The first thing he did upon meeting Shin was to test if Shin's [[OneHitKO Trident Tackle]] could stop his Caesar's Charge. [[spoiler: It turned out Shin ''could'' stop Yamato's run, but could not completely take him out, and Yamato was able to push Shin back ''for a yard'']].
110	* WillfullyWeak: When the Devil Bats vs Alexanders match began, Yamato offered to use only one hand when he saw that Hiruma hadn't yet recovered. [[spoiler: It didn't last long, however]].
111	* WorthyOpponent: Came to see Sena as this. Also, Sena and Kakei both saw him as this.
112	[[/folder]]
113
114	[[folder:Taka Honjo (本庄鷹)]]
115	[[quoteright:170:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/taka.png]]
116	->''"It's the same thing. It's useless. You won't be a match for me, either."''
117
118	The stone-faced and bored wide receiver of the Alexanders. Taka was the record holder of the Long Jump at Japan's highschool league. He was also the son of Masaru Honjo, the pro baseball player renowned for his skills in catching and Monta's idol. Before the Devil Bats vs Alexanders match, it was revealed that Masaru Honjo had been seeking to find a good challenge for his son, who was [[VictoryIsBoring bored by the lack of players skilled enough to fight him]], and saw the potential in Monta. Despite this, [[SmugSuper Taka]] decided at the first glance that Monta wasn't good enough to defeat him and came to regard the latter with apathy. [[spoiler: In the Devil Bats vs Alexanders match, however, Monta at last proved himself an equal to Taka, and the two developed a FriendlyRivalry. Taka also became notably warmer afterwards]].
119
120	* Position: Wide Receiver / Cornerback
121	* Jersey: 10
122	* 40-yard Dash: Unspecified
123	* Bench Press: Unspecified
124	* Long Jump Record: '''8.25 m'''
125	* Height: 178 cm (5' 10")
126	* Weight: 67 kg (148 lbs)
127	* Birthday: June 26
128	* 1st Year Student (Grade 10)
129	* Nickname: The Bird-man
130	----
131	* AcademicAthlete: Again, implied since he [[spoiler: got into the Saikyodai University]].
132	* TheAce: This guy was the absolute, indisputable ace among all of the wider receivers in Japan, and he could jump like he's flying, full stop.
133	* AnimalMotifs: Hawk, which is quite HilariousInHindsight because several species of hawks have been known to be natural predators of monkeys.
134	* BadassBookworm: His badass status is combined this with his {{Bookworm}} status.
135	* BashBrothers: With Yamato, much like the way Sena and Monta worked together. Heracles lampshaded this, saying that Yamato and Taka alone were off the chart among the generations of the Alexanders' first string.
136	* {{Bookworm}}: He's constantly seen reading novels, even during practices and matches. For once, Heracles swapped his novel for a {{Fanfic}} written by Karin, and Taka ''finished the book'' all the same.
137	* BrilliantButLazy: Played with. Taka was obviously brilliant and he used to practice a lot (as his father wanted him to) when he was young. These days, he practiced mostly out of habit but seldom exerted real effort when playing, though he's still good enough to be the best wide receiver in all of Japan. [[spoiler: When Monta proved to be on equal footing to him, Taka came to drop this attitude]].
138	* BrokenPedestal: In a way. Monta used to idolize Masaru Honjo, and neither Masaru nor Taka failed to live up to that expectation (in fact, Taka '''more than lived up to it'''). But it turned out that Masaru had been following Monta not out of any concern for him, but simply to pit him against the bored Taka. That dealt a severe emotional blow to Monta.
139	* ButtMonkey: Averted, surprisingly. You would have expected this from one of Monta's rivals.
140	* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: How exactly could this guy jump like he was walking in air and catch '''any''' flying object that came his way? [[spoiler: His flashback revealed that his father had been training him ''every single day'' since he's young]]. That's why.
141	* ChickMagnet: According to Achilles, Taka, like Yamato, was popular among ladies, which is plausible given the other tropes Taka has got here.
142	* TheComicallySerious: During [[spoiler: the World Cup Arc]], Taka sometimes filled this role.
143	* CurbStompBattle: Spent most of the Devil Bats vs Alexanders game wiping the floor with Monta. Also, he seemed to have done this to ''all'' top-tier wide receivers in Japan.
144	* DeadpanSnarker: Among the Alexanders, he was usually the only one cool-headed enough to quickly point out how ridiculous the situation was.
145	* [[spoiler: DefeatMeansFriendship: With Monta]].
146	* [[spoiler: DefrostingIceKing: He was at first [[TheQuietOne quiet]] and [[TheStoic stoic]], feeling bored from having wiped the floor with ''every wide receiver'' he had faced. Then he slowly warmed up to Monta as the latter finally gave him a good challenge]].
147	* {{Determinator}}: Taka would never yield and always try to catch the ball, which he learnt from his father.
148	--> '''Honjo''': In the catching dictionary, there's nothing like "I can't catch it." There's only "I couldn't catch it." Do you understand, Taka?
149	* FragileSpeedster: Taka '''could freaking fly''' and, presumably, finish the 40-yard dash in less than 5 seconds, but when compared to [[LightningBruiser Yamato]], he seemed to be (relatively) frail.
150	* FriendlyRivalry: [[spoiler: Eventually established this with Monta]].
151	* GenderIsNoObject: He nonchalantly proposed to recruit Karin onto the team despite the latter's being a girl.
152	* TheGift: Apparently on par with Yamato. Again, he might as well be flying.
153	* GoodEyesEvilEyes: His eyes had a notably blank look to him, [[spoiler: before befriending Monta at the end of the Devil Bats vs Alexanders match]].
154	* HeroicLineage: The son of Masaru Honjo, the legendary baseball player renowned for his catching skills. It was even referred as the "bloodline of sky riders" in one chapter.
155	* HopelessWithTech: Taka wasn't as ridiculous as [[WalkingTechbane Shin]], of course. But he seemed to have difficulty with his cellphone when [[spoiler: he exchanged phone numbers with Monta]].
156	* {{Jerkass}}: It's probably [[UnintentionallyUnsympathetic unintentional]] on the part of the author, but Taka's attitude of bored superiority, his refusal to even look at any player he considered inferior, and his insistence that anyone who tried to stand up to him was engaged in a futile act made him '''very''' punchable. It didn't help that his so-called "problem" of being better than everyone around him was (a) not very relatable; and (b) the same one that [[TheSociopath Agon]] suffered from. He got a lot better [[spoiler: during the World Cup Arc]], though.
157	* TheLancer: To Yamato.
158	* LongHairedPrettyBoy: As pictured.
159	* LonelyAtTheTop: Taka was the undisputed best at being a receiver. It left him bored and apathetic because being the best at what you do meant that almost nobody can be considered as competition.
160	* MeaningfulName: "Taka" is the Japanese word for '''hawk'''.
161	* NotQuiteFlight: He wasn't the only one in the manga who could stay a long time in air after jumping because he was a good wide receiver. But [[http://read.mangashare.com/Eyeshield-21/chapter-283/page009.html still]]...
162	--> '''Honjo''' (Spectating the Devil Bats vs Alexanders game): ... Monta, you're excellent. But what you did, in the end, is still just a jump. Taka... is walking in air.
163	* OutGambitted: [[spoiler: Taka was smart enough to see through Hiruma's scheme, but what he didn't see was that Hiruma was planning for Monta to do ''a second cut'']].
164	* {{Pride}}: Carrying the lineage of his father, Taka was shown to have a lot of pride in his catching. It was the reason why he'd ''never'' surrender in an aerial battle and would literally come flying at you if you challenge him. [[spoiler: He even requested to face Monta head-on during the climax of the Christmas Bowl]].
165	* TheQuietOne: Especially when compared to Yamato or Heracles. When he wasn't playing, he usually just sat on the bench, quietly reading.
166	* RedOniBlueOni: The quiet and stoic blue to Yamato's magnetic and charismatic red.
167	* SacrificedBasicSkillForAwesomeTraining: Taka was trained since childhood to catch balls. While this resulted in him being the best Wide Receiver in Japan, it also turned him into an apathetic person who trained out of habit without a set goal. His top notch ability developed through years of training also left him bored because he curb-stomps any receiver he faces.
168	* SeriousBusiness: [[spoiler: Halfway through the Devil Bats vs Alexanders game, It turned out that Taka treated catching as this, much like Monta did]].
169	* SignatureMove: [[spoiler: Oh, Taka could do the Devil Backfire, too]]. [[ThisIsGonnaSuck Damn it]]. A better example is the way he looks when he jumps to catch the ball which is described by his father as akin to walking on air.
170	* SmugSnake: Just look at his quote above!
171	* SmugSuper: Taka is almost inhuman when it comes to his skills as a wide receiver. He's so filled with smug that he simply took a side glance at Monta and decided that the latter wasn't good enough for him. Unlike [[NiceGuy Yamato]], Taka ''was'' a bit of a douche about it (though not as bad as Agon).
172	* SoProudOfYou: [[spoiler: When Taka managed to snatch away Monta's first successful catch in the Christmas Bowl, Masaru Honjo stood up, astonished, knowing that even he wouldn't have been able to do that catch, and admitted that his son had already outclassed him]].
173	* TheStoic: Taka stood out among the Alexanders, in that he was forever stone-faced, which nicely balanced [[MagneticHero Yamato]], [[BoisterousBruiser Heracles]], [[HotBlooded Achilles]] and [[ExtremeDoormat Karin]].
174	** NotSoStoic: [[spoiler: When Hiruma was about to pass the ball to Monta during the failed Chris Cross antics, Taka ''felt'' that he would have lost to Monta had Hiruma not been forbidden from passing at that moment. He was visibly shaken]].
175	* StraightMan: How Taka reacted to the antics of Yamato, Heracles and Achilles.
176	* SugarAndIcePersonality: [[spoiler: His is a friendship version towards Monta. At first, Taka was ''all ice'', but eventually came to acknowledge Monta. He became in general warmer afterwards]].
177	* VictoryIsBoring: Having been trained since childhood by his father to be a great baseball player, he became Japan's ace wide receiver. Spending all his time winning had bored Taka. [[spoiler: Until he faced Monta in the Christmas Bowl]].
178	* WhenHeSmiles: Taka had spent the ''vast'' majority of his screen time being stoic and stone-faced, but [[spoiler: he did show a noticeable smile for the first time, at the end of the Devil Bats vs Alexanders game when he exchanged phone numbers with Monta]].
179	* WorthyOpponent: Monta viewed him as this. Taka didn't return the favor, [[spoiler: until the end of the Christmas Bowl]]. Also, he recognized that Agon was as good as him and Yamato were.
180	[[/folder]]
181
182	[[folder:Karin Koizumi (小泉花梨)]]
183	[[quoteright:170:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Karin_Koizumi_3593.jpg]]
184	->''"Um... Please be gentle to me."''
185
186	Karin was, at first glance, only a cute, young freshman girl... who served as the Alexanders' ''official quarterback''. [[strike: Forced to join]] ''[[InsistentTerminology Scouted]]'' by Yamato, she was unwilling to play football at the beginning. But, after some training, her natural talents as a quarterback soon brought her to the first string of the Alexanders, making her a top-tier quarterback in Japan and the only [[ActionGirl female player]] in the whole tournament. [[spoiler: As revealed in the epilogue, Karin became a manga artist after highschool, and her editor told her to [[IWroteOurStory write an american football manga using Eyeshield 21 as the main protagonist]]]].
187
188	* Position: Quarterback
189	* Jersey: 6
190	* 40-yard Dash: 4.9 seconds
191	* Bench Press: 35 kg (77 lbs)
192	* Height: 157 cm (5' 1")
193	* Weight: 44 kg (97 lbs)
194	* Birthday: July 7
195	* 1st Year Student (Grade 10)
196
197	----
198	* AccidentalAthlete: Her [[ImprobableAimingSkills great throwing skills]] came from drawing and playing piano. Luckily, she's fast too. Who knows a shy, quiet girl would make a top quarterback?
199	* ActionGirl: Played with. Karin was the only female football player in the entire series, but she lacked the headstrong personality typically associated with this trope.
200	* AlliterativeName: '''K'''arin '''K'''oizumi, the Quarterback of the Strongest Empire.
201	* ApologisesALot: Being Sena's DistaffCounterpart, she naturally had this in spades.
202	* BadassAdorable: To the point that most of the Devil Bats had to be tricked into believing she's a guy to be willing to tackle her. As for the badass part... If she throws a ball, the pass is complete. ''No'' interception. ''No'' problem catching the ball. She's the perfect quarterback.
203	* BraidsOfAction: As pictured above.
204	* CharacterBlog: After being "recruited" into the team, Karin started a blog about her training, something that the rest of the team found out rather soon, much to her dismay. The blog was the source of some funny anecdotes.
205	* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: Downplayed. Karin's extremely accurate passes came from the skills and precision she gained through drawing and playing piano, both of which, while not "tough" in the usual sense of the word, do require a lot of manual dexterity. Also, her dodging was a result of hard work and training to compensate for the fact that [[FragileSpeedster she couldn't take a hit]]. She became so good at dodging defenders that she's basically untouchable by anybody slower than Sena. In short, Karin may not have developed the physical strength usually associated with this trope, but her skills are, nonetheless, a result of constant training and practice.
206	* CuteSportsClubManager: Her first appearance has her acting like one for Teikoku, with [[JerkJock Ibarada]] being the one who makes her do manager stuff (and some people positively identifying Ibarada as a Teikoku player). Subverted in that Karin's actually Teikoku's ''ace quarterback'' and, as stated by Yamato, should be the one giving Ibarada orders.
207	* TheCutie: Just look at her picture!
208	* DistaffCounterpart: Okay, let's see... Recruited against her will? Check. Seen as the best in her specialty? Check. Low self-esteem and ''highly'' apologetic? Check. The only ways to tell her apart from Sena seemed to be position and gender. Lampshaded during the Devil Bats vs Alexanders game, where Heracles suggested that she would need to watch out for Sena's blitz. She spinned on her heel. She and Sena faced each other off... before [[ApologisesALot bowing repeatedly at each other]] ''at the same time'', clearly not wanting any hard feelings between them.
209	--> '''Karin''' (Bowing): Um... please be gentle to me.
210	--> '''Sena''' (''Also'' bowing): Oh, no. I should be the one... saying that.
211	--> '''Suzuna''': You wouldn't think they were football players. Acting like that.
212	--> '''Mamori''': [[{{Lampshaded}} Those two are really similar]], aren't they...?
213	* DudeLooksLikeALady: Invoked by Hiruma. Karin's 100% girl, but Hiruma told his team otherwise so that they would [[WouldntHitAGirl go all out against her]] - that she was just a [[BlatantLies really girly-looking guy named "Karinro"]] (with "ro" being a Japanese suffix for male names). [[DumbJock Most of the Devil Bats]] ended up thinking of her as this.
214	* EveryoneLovesBlondes: She has hoards of fans due to being the only female quarterback ''and'' the most skilled quarterback in Japan. She's also a genuinely nice person off the field and a blonde haired beauty.
215	* ExtremeDoormat: Yamato basically forced Karin to join. Somehow, she went along with it.
216	--> '''Karin''' (Trying to decline to joint the football team): W... Wai... Wai... But I am... Thanks for thinking of me and all, but...
217	--> '''Yamato''' (Patted her on the shoulder): You're worried right. Well, don't be. It will be alright! [[ComicallyMissingThePoint You may start off at the sixth string, but you will surely be in the first string in no time]]!
218	--> '''Karin''': Ehhhhhhhhhhhh... Why does it feel like it's useless trying to argue with this person~~~?!
219	--> The next day, [[NiceGirl Karin]] was training. In the Alexanders' football uniform.
220	* FlowerMotifs: Whenever Karin does something during a football match, it'll be accompanied by images of petals. Her signature move is even called the "'''Floral''' Shoot".
221	* FragileSpeedster: She couldn't take a hit. Luckily, she didn't have to, because her agility meant that no one other than Sena [[http://read.mangashare.com/Eyeshield-21/chapter-285/page017.html could even touch her anyway]].
222	* GenericCuteness: Her drawing style, even when drawing ''Hiruma'', ''Agon'' and ''Gaou''.
223	* GotVolunteered: Or rather, scouted by Taka and convinced to join by Yamato. Really, she stood no chance. The side comics also showed that she sometimes got mistaken for a cheerleader and made do some cheerleading.
224	* GroupieBrigade: She had a fairly big one, consisting of male fans and other football players (such as Yamabushi). "Miracle" Ito was even selling products with images of Karin on them.
225	* [[HeroOfAnotherStory Heroine of Another Story]]: How Karin became the quarterback of the best team in Japan despite her shy personality and being recruited against her will ('''and''' the massive rivalry within the team) could make for a pretty good story in and of itself.
226	* ImprobableAimingSkills: So, you want Karin to throw something to a certain place? Just ask her and she will do it. The pass will be impossible to intercept and it won't be even hard to catch due to how gentle it is. The side comics showed how she curbstomped the opposing team in a SnowballFight.
227	* IWroteOurStory: [[spoiler:Karin became a manga artist after highschool. Her editor asked her to write a football manga about the legendary runner Eyeshield 21]].
228	* LongHairIsFeminine: Is by far the most typically "girly" of the females in ''Eyeshield 21'', and has long hair to boot.
229	* MeaningfulName: "Karin" meant '''Pear Flower''', which goes with her FlowerMotifs.
230	* MostFanficWritersAreGirls: She's said to own ''a whole shelf'' of {{Fanfic}}s.
231	* NiceGirl: Karin just couldn't stop being polite and gentle. It's one of the reasons she went along when Yamato more or less forced her into joining.
232	* ObliviousToLove: Karin seemed to be totally unaware of [[DoggedNiceGuy Achilles]]' affection for her, despite the latter's (rather blatant) attempts to signal her about it.
233	* RunningGag: Karin's attempts to [[NiceGirl avoid competition]] ended up creating the opposite effects when Yamato came around and misinterpreted her words.
234	* SamusIsAGirl: Yes, she is a quarterback. Yes, she is Japan's ''most skilled'' quarterback.
235	* ShrinkingViolet
236	* SignatureMove: The Floral Shoot, a pass so perfect and gentle that it is impossible to intercept for the opponents and effortless to catch for the wide receiver.
237	* TheSmurfettePrinciple: Granted, it's certainly an anomaly to the sport, but she's the only female football player in the entire series.
238	* WeakButSkilled: Karin may not be as strong as a male quarterback, but her passes are nigh-impossible to intercept, pinpoint accurate, and gentle enough to be caught by almost anybody she throws it to. And while she really doesn't need to dodge incoming defenders due to being protected by Teikoku's powerful line, she is agile enough to be able to avoid anyone slower than Sena when the defense does break through.
239	[[/folder]]
240
241	[[folder:Kureji "Heracles" Hera (平良呉二)]]
242	[[quoteright:170:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Hera_Kureji_Heracles_5482.jpg]]
243
244	A [[BoisterousBruiser boisterous]] third-year, Kureji (nicknamed "Heracles") served as the centre and official captain of the Alexanders. Despite his "Osakan" persona and occasional apparent silliness, he's actually a [[TheLeader cool-headed leader]] who frequently gave sound tactical advice to the other members of the team. He took great pride in being a first-string player and did not tolerate players who didn't respect the rules of the team. [[spoiler: Later, he was recruited for Team Japan during the Youth World Cup]].
245
246	* Position: Centre
247	* Jersey: 78
248	* Height: 177 cm (5' 9")
249	* Weight: 100 kg (220 lbs)
250	* Birthday: May 14
251	* Blood Type: O
252	* 3rd Year Student (Grade 12)
253	* Nickname: Heracles
254	----
255	* BerserkButton: As Ibarada found out, don't defy the Alexanders' string pecking order.
256	--> (The Alexanders were in a meeting to discuss their upcoming Christmas Bowl.)
257	--> '''Ibarada''' (Left his seat): Aaah! Yeah! Yeah! It's that kind of meeting, it seems. It's alright if you only do it for the first string guys, huh!
258	--> '''Heracles''': Hey, Ibarada, where are you going? Sit down.
259	--> '''Ibarada''' (Headed for the door): Like hell... you stinking idiots.
260	--> '''Heracles''': SIT DOWN!! (with a voice so loud Ibarada, Karin and Sena all flinched.) GET BACK TO YOUR SEAT! THE COMMANDS OF THE FIRST STRING ARE ABSOLUTE! THOSE WHO DISTURBS THE ALEXANDERS' ORDER WON'T BE FORGIVEN!
261	* BewareTheNiceOnes: If you actually succeeded in pissing Heracles off, watch out.
262	* BigBrotherMentor: According to the extras, he's always looking out for the other club members.
263	* TheBigGuy: Heracles was the centre and was facing off against Kurita during much of the Devil Bats vs Alexanders game. He also had a strong leadership presence, though.
264	* BoisterousBruiser: He came with being a very "Osaka-esque" person.
265	* TheCaptain: He's the captain, and unlike the other captains that were overshadowed by their teams' stronger players, Heracles did fulfill his job of giving advice and keeping the morale up. It's just that he didn't need to give many orders, as the Alexanders were [[DreamTeam all aces]] who knew what to do.
266	* CombinationAttack: The "Cross Stunts" he did with Achilles.
267	* DumbMuscle: ''Subverted''. With his boisterousness, Heracles could look like this at first, especially when the Devil Bats vs Alexanders match began showing him with an "idiot rating" of 20% (Yamato, Taka, and Karin were all 0%, by the way). However...
268	** GeniusBruiser: ... During the actual game, Heracles was capable of seeing through several of Hiruma's trick plays and came up with quite a few useful tactics. He's the team captain for a reason.
269	* GentleGiant: The biggest guy in the Alexanders, but he's also a friendly guy, as long as you don't push his BerserkButton.
270	* {{Gonk}}: Not too apparent. But Heracles could come off as this trope when standing alongside the likes of [[TallDarkAndHandsome Yamato]], [[LongHairedPrettyBoy Taka]], and [[TheCutie Karin]].
271	* HardWorkHardlyWorks: Averted. Unlike Yamato and Taka who [[TheAce went up from sixth to first string in a day]], Heracles had been up and down the Teikoku lineups during his tenure. This was one of the reasons why he took pride in being a first string player; with all the luxuries it entailed (professional-grade personal locker rooms, authority over lower-tier players, popularity, etc), and encouraged everyone to think the same - believing it to be the proof that hard work ''does'' pay off.
272	* HiddenDepths: Quite a bit. He first came off as a stereotypical "crude but funny" Osakan. But his character suddenly became '''far''' more serious when he showed his pride in being a first-string player and leadership competence.
273	* TheIdiotFromOsaka: His dream was to become a famous Osaka-style entertainer, so he did all he could to invoke this trope. In reality, he's actually a very capable leader who simply liked to keep the atmosphere lighthearted.
274	* LargeAndInCharge: He's a stout, muscular guy who was the Alexanders' official captain.
275	* TheLeader: Of the Alexanders. He seemed like a straight headstrong type at first, but he hid a ''very'' level-headed side under his cheerful nature.
276	* LightningBruiser: Since he's a lineman who could wrestle with ''Kurita'' (though not without the help of lots of tactics and techniques), he's fairly powerful. Despite this, being a first-string player of Alexanders, he could also do 40-yard dash in less than 5.0 seconds.
277	* MeaningfulName: "Hera Kureji" (in the Japanese order, where family names came before given names) sounded like [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/ClassicalMythologyMortalsAndDemigods "Heracles"]], a divine hero in classical mythology known for extraordinary strength. Naturally, this goes with his team's Roman [[{{Motif}} theme]] and highlighted Heracles' role as the centre.
278	* MightMakesRight: Heracles believed in and, as the captain, enforced the rules of the meritocratic Alexanders.
279	* NiceGuy: He really kept the mood light for a meritocracy where everyone was competing against each other. He was also the only Alexanders player who had teamwork play (with Achilles), while the others were mostly just aces who did solo play.
280	* ObfuscatingStupidity: He deliberately hid a sharp mind beneath his apparent boisterousness, though no one seemed to be fooled by the "stupidity" as much as thinking he had Osakan humor.
281	* ThePrankster: One of the ways he kept the atmosphere lighthearted. He often played practical jokes on other players of the team, such as swapping Taka's novel for a fanfic written by Karin. Fittingly, the Ancient Romans were big on pranks and jokes at the most inopportune times.
282	* TheSmartGuy: Surprisingly, yes. If one of the Alexanders was seen giving tactical advice to the rest of the team, it's most likely Heracles.
283	* WorthIt: It's tough working to become a member of the first string in the Alexanders, but he considered this all worth it with the pride that came with it.
284	--> '''Heracles''': The pride of fighting for the "top". The first string of the Teikoku Academy. That is our reward.
285	[[/folder]]
286
287	[[folder:Reisuke "Achilles" Aki]]
288
289	A {{hot blooded}}, but gullible player with a strong desire for a girlfriend.
290
291	* Position: Lineman
292	* Jersey: 76
293	* Height: 173 cm
294	* Weight: 80 kg
295	* Birthday: August 18
296	* Blood Type: B
297	* 2nd Year Student (Grade 11)
298	* Nickname: Achilles
299	----
300	* AllGuysWantCheerleaders: He was deceived to join the team when a Teikoku scout told him that he could date the cheerleaders on the team.
301	* BashBrothers: With Hercules, their teamwork allowed them to beat Yamato and Taka during the world cup try-out.
302	* ButtMonkey: Among the Alexanders.
303	* CombinationAttack: The "Cross Stunts" he does with Heracles.
304	* DoggedNiceGuy: To Karin.
305	* DumbMuscle: As suggested by his status as a lineman and an idiot (According to Hiruma, Achilles's "idiot rating" is a whooping 60%). Downplayed, as he is still a part of Teikoku's first string players, thus implying he has textbook knowledge of 1000 football plays. So, he is dumb at things other than American Football, like how to win Karin's affection.
306	* HotBlooded: Heracles is the fun loving boisterous Kansai, Achilles is the impatient loud Kansai.
307	* TheIdiotFromOsaka: And unlike with Heracles, it's not an act.
308	* LightningBruiser: Like all of Teikoku's linemen, teamed up with Heracles they can best Kurita's strength.
309	[[/folder]]
310
311	[[folder:Doujirou Tenma]]
312
313	The Alexanders' second running back and Naga's former ace, Tenma was a cheerful running back with five fangirls always cheering for him.
314
315	* Position: Running Back
316	* Jersey: 33
317	* Nickname: The Sideline Edge's Magican
318	----
319	* TheAce: Was scouted from Shinriyuji before the Kongo brothers and Ikkyu joined the team, Yamabushi said he was picked on his first year.
320	* BoringButPractical: Running that close to the sideline would be impressive if Yamato was not the other runningback. It still allowed steady lead since he only need to speed up to avoid tackles and can gain a lot of yards with that.
321	* TheCasanova: He had ''five'' girlfriends, and got bonus point for the fact that all the five girls were '''aware of this'''.
322	* ChickMagnet: He also has 5 girls who are head over heels for him. And an omake reveals that was popular with girls since was a little child.
323	* CoolShades: He looks like a younger Agon with them.
324	* EvilCounterpart: Inverted, he would be Agon's good counterpart, being Naga's ace, popular with ladies in a team where no one had a girlfriend and sharing a taste for CoolShades.
325	* GroupieBrigade: Five of them who might also be his girlfriends.
326	* NiceGuy: Really liked his teammates, declaring how much he loved them a bunch of time when they assist him.
327	* OhCrap: Dropped his happy-go-lucky attitude for an instant when he realized [[spoiler: Komusubi just tackled him out of bounds, he couldn't see the line because of the snow]].
328	* OlderThanTheyLook: He started football the same time as Yamabushi. He looked like a first-year.
329	[[/folder]]
330
331	[[folder:Kirio Ibarada]]
332
333	Formerly the Bando Spiders' quarterback and Tokyo's best quarterback the season prior. Ibarada transferred to the Teikoku Highschool together with most of the rest of the Spiders' ace players. However, he only got up to the fourth string team in the Alexanders, and had greatly resented Karin, who ''was'' the first string quarterback, because of it.
334
335	* Position: Quarterback
336	* Jersey: 9
337	----
338
339	* ButtMonkey: Quickly degenerated into this upon the revelation that he's just a forth-string player.
340	* CurbStompBattle: Got easily blitzed by Sena during an impromptu match at the Teikoku Highschool.
341	* DrivenByEnvy: He's pissed off that a player of his caliber can only make it to fourth-string in the Alexanders and resents first stringer Karin because of it.
342	* HeroicWannabe: Subverted. In Tokyo, he ''was'' the best quarterback, and together with Akaba and Kotaro, made the Spiders a top tier team. After he transferred to Teikoku, his career went sorta downhill, as he couldn't advance beyond the fourth string lineup. Yet, he still thought he's hot stuff.
343	* LaserGuidedKarma: Ditched the Bando Spiders saying he was wasting his talents and couldn't get better in such a mediocre team. He arrived in the Teikoku, where he was a four stringer and didn't even seem to improve himself, and just whined that he should be higher in the ranking.
344	* JerkJock: If his treatment of Karin is any indication.
345	* RedHerring: Kotaro introduced Ibarada as the possible ace of the Teikoku Alexanders, given that he was Tokyo's best quarterback, and even warned Sena to watch out for his scrambling pass. When we saw Ibarada, he was making [[NiceGirl Karin]] carry his stuff, and shouted at her when she couldn't keep up. It turned out, however, that Ibarada is '''only''' a forth-string player in the Alexanders, and the real first string quarterback was [[SamusIsAGirl Karin]].
346	* SignatureMove: According to Kotaro, Ibarada had a running pass called the ''Rose Whip''. He tried doing it during his match with Sena, but he was easily blitzed.

Context Characters / Eyeshield21TeikokuAlexanders