Although there is tension with every receive, set, and spike in Haikyu!!, the emotional impact of competition is magnified by the growth and development taking place simultaneously across the volleyball court. The anime transforms a sport into a theater of human drama; viewers are dazzled by the impressive animation, but their hearts are touched by the characters. This connection creates a feeling of investment that leads to shouts of victory when Karasuno High scores a point and whimpers of sadness when they lose one.
At the center of Karasuno’s team is their genius setter, Tobio Kageyama, who, despite being undoubtedly mechanically talented, struggles to communicate in a way that pushes his team forward rather than holding them back.
His “King of the Court” Title Was An Insult
When Shouyou Hinata first meets Kageyama as an opponent in middle school, he is impressed by the nickname “King of the Court,” and he views it as the player who spends the most time in the game. While this desire is shared between the two players—remaining on the court for as long as possible—the “King” title is revealed to be derived from Kageyama’s tendency to bark orders and demand perfection from his teammates.
Even after working on this negative aspect of his game, Kageyama is still obviously frustrated and annoyed when someone brings up his past as the King or infers that he’s slipping back into that mindset.
He Could Relate To Asahi Azumane’s Fears On The Court
After narrowly defeating Aoba Johsai in a practice match, the Karasuno High players attempt to bolster their lineup by bringing back their “ace” spiker and their defensive all-star libero. It’s initially unclear why both of these players have halted participation, but it’s revealed that Asahi Azumane, the team’s ace, was completely blocked in a match versus Date Tech/ Feeling dejected and upset with his performance, he ultimately quit because he felt he had lost the game for his team—this view prompts Yu Nishinoya, the libero, to step down, too.
Kageyama also had a mentality-altering experience on the court; his middle school team refused to hit his sets as a means to protest his tyrannical attitude, and he was benched. Kageyama uses this experience to relate to Asahi, and, with the help of Hinata, they eventually bring Asahi and Nishinoya back to the team.
He Loses His Cool Against Tohru Oikawa
Meeting in the semifinals of the Interhigh tournament, Karasuno High and Aoba Johsai face off in a brutal battle of wills to determine who moves forward to the championship. Pushed to his limits, Kageyama begins to lose view of the game on a macro level. Rather than viewing the competition as a contest between two teams, he homes in on the micro and sees it as a match between setters, himself against Tohru Oikawa.
As a cunning player and Kageyama’s senpai from middle school, Oikawa baits Kageyama into this mentality and forces the younger player to make mental mistakes that take him out of the game figuratively and mentally, as Karasuno’s coach Keishin Ukai benches him so he can regain his focus.
His Final Toss Against Aoba Johsai At The Interhigh Is Blocked
Rallying back and forth, Karasuno High and Aoba Johsai’s semifinal match is full of emotional highs and lows for the main cast of characters. Kageyama, in particular, is forced to confront the weaknesses in his playstyle and his hyper-focus on being the best setter in any given game. After falling prey to Oikawa’s verbal and mechanical baits, Kageyama is forced to spend time on the bench so he can observe the game from an outside perspective, which serves to realign his view of the match as one team versus another, rather than setter against setter.
His proclivity for adapting and evolving is startling, so much so that Oikawa is frustrated with Kageyama’s rapid growth, and he returns to the game grounded and improved. Despite this evolution, Kageyama isn’t finished learning, and Aoba Johsai takes advantage of his final toss, predicting that Hinata will be its recipient, and block the spike to ultimately defeat Karasuno.
He Struggles To Adapt His Tosses For Hinata
Always prized for his incredible ability to set up hits for his team, Kageyama faces a period of growing pains that shake his confidence. Following their defeat at the Interhigh tournament, all the Karasuno players seek out ways to elevate their game. Up until this point, Hinata has been closing his eyes and believing Kageyama will perfectly send the ball to his hand for spiking.
Having lost a game because he was blind to his opponents’ blocks, Hinata wants to spike with his eyes open now, which results in poor timing between him and Kageyama. After receiving feedback from his coach and even Oikawa, Kageyama confronts his initial view of his relationship on the court with Hinata and makes strides to adapt to his teammate’s preferences.
He Suffers A Player-Identity Crisis
During his time at the All-Japan Youth Camp, Kageyama practices with and against many of his country’s best high school volleyball players, which provides an excellent opportunity for growth but also calls into question his views on how the game is played. When Atsumu Miya calls Kageyama a “goody-two-shoes,” the former “King” doesn’t know how to react.
As the camp comes to a close, he eventually ascertains that it’s because his playstyle has become so obliging and accommodating—a far cry from his former obstinate approach. With these thoughts swirling in his mind, he loses a handle on his player identity, largely from over-analyzing his decisions.
He Relapses Into His “King” Persona
Stemming from his time at the All-Japan Youth Camp, Kageyama questions his personal opinions against his desire to play his position in a way his teammates see best. This ambivalence comes to a head during Karasuno High’s practice match against the defensive powerhouse Date Tech. Kageyama sets to his spikers’ preferences but becomes increasingly frustrated that they are unable to score doing things “their way.” Rather than communicate and attempt a strategic pivot, Kageyama becomes silent out of fear that he’ll upset his team.
Eventually, he snaps, and, after yelling out his frustration, becomes disappointed and anxious that he might have ruined his relationship with his teammates by acting like a “King.” His team is unfazed, however, as they believe in him but can merely ignore his outbursts if they disagree. Coach Ukai steps in and explains that, while Kageyama should accommodate his team, he also should voice his opinions if he believes there are better approaches.