Why Kageyama, Not Hinata? The True Inspiration of Haikyuu!! Universe

Why Kageyama? Not Hinata?

Contain Spoilers!

Have you ever wondered why Kageyama is considered "The Gateway for New Fans" and why he concludes Haikyuu instead of Hinata, the first main character?

Manga chapter 402

For us, readers and anime watchers, shouldn't it be Hinata who fits the role of "inspiration" and serves as the gateway for new fans, considering his journey to become a pro-player despite his disadvantageous condition of being short?

Not to mention Kageyama's ridiculous post-timeskip hairstyle. How could it attract fans? It would be understandable if it were Atsumu, Oikawa, or Suna, but Tobio? Although, it is canon that he was also popular back in high school.

Kageyama's hairstyle post-timeskip

I have the answer to these questions.

Before we dive into the details, let's remember that Kageyama was originally meant to be the main character before the author decided to change the script. Although that decision was the right one, it doesn't mean Kageyama no longer holds the essence of a main character. In fact, his story concludes before Hinata's final arc, meaning his journey has been portrayed with a level of thoughtfulness that stands out. This article will explain and provide a brief overview of Kageyama's main character traits that fans often overlook due to his role as the deuteragonist, which shouldn't overshadow Hinata's story. We will also explore why Kageyama is the one to conclude Haikyuu rather than Hinata.

From day one, Kageyama's character has been full of plot twists and misunderstandings.

• What we once thought was his intelligence turned out to be just volleyball knowledge—he struggles with academics. 

  

  A small note to tell about his intelligence

  
  
• What people initially perceived as his scary demeanor turned out to be social awkwardness and innocence.
• What we believed to be prodigious talent turned out to be the result of sheer hard work and dedication from an early age. 

  

  Manga chapter 338

  
  
• And most notably, fans misunderstood the phrase "someone even better" as meaning "someone better than him," which is a significant misconception. 
  
  

In other words, Kageyama is the most normal (not in term of personality) player in the Haikyuu universe. 

How can the so-called genius setter be considered normal? Let's break it down.

Let's compare him to the first person he considered his inspiration, Oikawa Tooru. It's canon that Oikawa has a more athletic body compared to his peers and natural talent. This is stated by Iwaizumi Hajime, his best friend and future athletic trainer, making his comment about Oikawa's natural talent unbiased. In contrast, Kageyama has a less advantageous situation.

Iwaizumi's monologue. Haikyuu!! Anime Season 1

Although not canonically confirmed, it's widely believed that Kageyama was probably one among the shortest players in Kitagawa Daiichi. To build his physique, he needed to train much harder than Oikawa. That's why we see dumbbells in his room and his habit of drinking milk and yogurt—to overcome his shorter stature.

Exercise tools in Kageyama's room

To achieve his speed, he constantly pushed his limits, such as forcing himself to keep up with Miwa or striving to match the third-year Oikawa and Iwaizumi during middle school.

Tobio trying to keep up with Miwa. Manga chapter 387

Tobio trying to keep up with third-year Iwaizumi and Oikawa

Conclusion 1: Kageyama developed his athleticism and speed through relentless hard work, not because he was gifted with those advantages.

To understand this better, imagine we all live in the Haikyuu universe and view the story not just through Hinata and Kageyama's perspectives.

Before Hinata's confirmation of Kageyama's hard work right before the Kamomedai match, we were always given the image that Kageyama was a talented genius. But have you ever wondered what Kageyama's true talent is?

Pinpoint setting? Nope. That skill is the result of his consistent nail maintenance and practice.

On the other hand, we can identify the natural talents of other characters. Oikawa's natural talent allows him to master other sports effortlessly (if he wants to). Although short, Hinata has speed and jumping ability—skills he himself acknowledged in Season 1. Players like Kindaichi, Kunimi, and Hyakuzawa have the advantage of height, which even earned Hyakuzawa a spot in Coach Washijou's training camp despite his lack of basic skills, which tells us that these people have "something" to offer in volleyball.

Bokuto, Hoshiumi, and Atsumu are definitely hard workers. Other than his jumping ability, Hoshiumi doesn't have anything specific to offer. Bokuto and Atsumu also don't possess a single defining trait, but their extroverted personalities allow them to blend easily into team dynamics—something Kageyama struggles with. Their outgoing nature enables them to handle mental struggles better than introverted personalities like Kageyama, making them charismatic in their own way. Additionally, Atsumu had the advantage of having a setter teacher, which allowed him to develop basic setter skills and tricks—an advantage Kageyama did not have.

Miya Twins learn from a setter teacher. Manga chapter 279

Believe it or not, I knew someone who used to play volleyball, and as an introvert, it was hard for them to blend into a team. Unlike Kageyama, they didn't have a partner like Hinata or a supportive teammate like Bokuto to Akaashi. They also didn't have a twin like Osamu to Atsumu, which made it even harder to blend into team play. Without that kind of mental support, it was a struggle to find their own rhythm within the team dynamic. Unfortunately, they quit volleyball in the end. Which means, mentality is as important as skill-set.

Back to the topic, even introverted characters like Ushijima and Sakusa have unique traits to offer—Ushijima's left-handed power and Sakusa's exceptional spin ball that makes them one of the most challenging spikers to face. This further emphasizes how having an innate advantage or a standout skill can provide a sense of belonging to a team.

Kageyama, however, stands out because he doesn't have anything extraordinary to offer, yet through his hard work, he fights alongside the best and becomes a 'monster' himself, making him an inspiring figure for fans in Haikyuu universe.

Let's imagine these common questions fans might ask:

Q: "I don't have an athletic body (like Oikawa) or speed (like Hinata) or height (like Hyakuzawa). Can I still be useful in sports?"

Kageyama can answer with his experience of building his body through training, drinking milk, and pushing himself to match his older peers.

Q: "I don't have a volleyball teacher (like Atsumu). How can I improve?"

Kageyama can tell his experience of learning by observing other setters without formal training, proving it's possible to self-improve.

Q: "I'm not good at socializing. Can I still play in a team?"

Kageyama can share his communication struggle, leading to his isolation in middle school. But he overcame it and became a better teammate.

Q: "I lack strength and technique (like Ushijima and Sakusa). What can I contribute?"

Kageyama can answer that his accuracy is his strength, but he constantly works to maintain it, showing that 'luck' alone isn't enough.

In conclusion, Kageyama provides answers for most normal people who aspire to play volleyball. Whether it's skill development or mental struggles, his journey is relatable and inspiring.

This is why it's heartwarming to know Ushijima (who has similar personality to Kageyama's) also has young fans who admire his journey.

It seems to be easy for extroverted characters like Hinata, Oikawa, Atsumu, and Bokuto to have fans due to their personality. Hence, Black Jackals is more popular among Haikyuu fans compared to Adlers, which I believe is due to how chaotic the members are.

This reminds us of most anime that features an energetic protagonist like Hinata having the final spotlight. However, Haikyuu offers a refreshing take by giving the concluding message to an introverted, cool character like Kageyama: "To enjoy volleyball." This showcases that everyone can be the main character in their own way. Hinata opened Haikyuu with his determination to become a great volleyball player, while Kageyama concluded it with his deep understanding of what playing volleyball truly means—that enjoying the game is more important than winning or losing.