OVA
Description
Kei Tanishi is a third-year student representing Higa Middle School, a character whose most defining physical trait is his unusually large and heavy-set frame. His height is recorded at 193 centimeters, and his weight fluctuates within a range of approximately 106 to 116 kilograms, though this can change dramatically under specific circumstances. Despite his bulky appearance, his body fat percentage is known to be around eighteen percent, hinting at a hidden physical density that supports his explosive brand of tennis. Born on October 23, his blood type is A.
Personality-wise, Tanishi is characterized by a short-tempered and combative nature. He often uses his large stature to intimidate opponents and is not afraid to resort to threats or brute force to dominate a match. His philosophy is captured by a simple, unpretentious motto: "big is best," demonstrating his unwavering confidence in the advantages his size provides. This confidence extends beyond the tennis court into his personal life. He has a famously voracious appetite, and his daily routine includes asking for second helpings of food. This love of eating is so central to his identity that he has developed special skills like the "tongs eating method" for consuming large quantities of grilled meat rapidly. He is also known to have an incredible tolerance for unusual concoctions, being one of the few characters capable of drinking all varieties of the infamous Inui Juice without any adverse effects. His ideal romantic partner is described as a woman who will follow him, and his desired date spot is a disco.
In terms of background, Tanishi comes from a large family in Okinawa, with parents, four older brothers, an older sister, a younger sister, and two younger brothers. His father runs a restaurant, which helps explain his deep connection to and knowledge of food. Before his tennis exploits, he attended Ryukyu Minami Elementary School. At Higa Middle School, he is in class 3-5, seat number 15, and he is a regular member of the school's tennis team. His primary motivation as an athlete is rooted in raw power; he believes in overwhelming his opponents with sheer force, specifically through a devastating serve that he uses as his main weapon.
Tanishi's role in the story, particularly in the context leading up to and including The Prince of Tennis II OVA vs. Genius 10, sees him evolve from a regional powerhouse to a national contender. Originally from the distant Okinawa prefecture, his team, led by the "Kunimitsu of the Courts," Kite Eishiro, makes a significant impact during the national tournament. His most notable match from that period was against the prodigy Echizen Ryoma. In this match, Tanishi showcased his signature serve, the Big Bang, a jumping serve of incredible speed and force that seemed unreturnable. However, this technique had a fatal flaw: it consumed a massive amount of stamina, causing its power to diminish rapidly the more it was used. Ryoma exploited this weakness, intentionally allowing his own racket to be knocked out of his hand to conserve energy while Tanishi exhausted himself, leading to Tanishi's eventual defeat and loss of consciousness after being struck in the face by his own return shot.
His key relationships are strongly tied to his school and the U-17 camp environment. He is a loyal member of the Higa Middle School team, playing alongside notable power players like Kite Eishiro, who actually taught him the Big Bang serve, as well as Yujiro Kai, Rin Hirakoba, and others. At the U-17 training camp, his most significant relationship is with his teammate and doubles partner, Hiroshi Chinen. In a harsh elimination match against Chinen, Tanishi was narrowly defeated with a score of 15-17, which sent him to the "losers' group". This event is the catalyst for his most dramatic development. While in the losers' group, he and the other defeated players were forced to undergo intense, unconventional mountain training. This training resulted in a shocking physical transformation, where Tanishi shed a massive amount of weight and became incredibly slim, appearing as a completely different person. This change granted him significantly improved speed and agility. However, this transformation is not permanent; upon completing the training and reintegrating into the main camp, his original heavy-set physique quickly returned, a humorous but telling indication of his inherent nature.
Tanishi's most notable abilities center on his power-based playing style. As a right-handed serve-and-volley player, he incorporates techniques derived from Okinawan martial arts into his tennis. His signature skill is the Big Bang, a high-impact jumping serve that generates explosive force, making it extremely difficult to return effectively. To move his large frame across the court, he employs the Shukuchihō, or "land shrinking method," a technique that allows him to close the distance to the net or baseline in what appears to be a single step. He also uses the Carioca Step, a sideways shuffling motion where his back leg crosses in front, which helps him maintain balance during a slice shot and quickly transition from defense to offense. Through his grueling training in the U-17 camp's losers' group, his all-around fundamentals improved to the point where he was once able to return four tennis balls simultaneously, demonstrating a massive leap in his baseline skills.
Personality-wise, Tanishi is characterized by a short-tempered and combative nature. He often uses his large stature to intimidate opponents and is not afraid to resort to threats or brute force to dominate a match. His philosophy is captured by a simple, unpretentious motto: "big is best," demonstrating his unwavering confidence in the advantages his size provides. This confidence extends beyond the tennis court into his personal life. He has a famously voracious appetite, and his daily routine includes asking for second helpings of food. This love of eating is so central to his identity that he has developed special skills like the "tongs eating method" for consuming large quantities of grilled meat rapidly. He is also known to have an incredible tolerance for unusual concoctions, being one of the few characters capable of drinking all varieties of the infamous Inui Juice without any adverse effects. His ideal romantic partner is described as a woman who will follow him, and his desired date spot is a disco.
In terms of background, Tanishi comes from a large family in Okinawa, with parents, four older brothers, an older sister, a younger sister, and two younger brothers. His father runs a restaurant, which helps explain his deep connection to and knowledge of food. Before his tennis exploits, he attended Ryukyu Minami Elementary School. At Higa Middle School, he is in class 3-5, seat number 15, and he is a regular member of the school's tennis team. His primary motivation as an athlete is rooted in raw power; he believes in overwhelming his opponents with sheer force, specifically through a devastating serve that he uses as his main weapon.
Tanishi's role in the story, particularly in the context leading up to and including The Prince of Tennis II OVA vs. Genius 10, sees him evolve from a regional powerhouse to a national contender. Originally from the distant Okinawa prefecture, his team, led by the "Kunimitsu of the Courts," Kite Eishiro, makes a significant impact during the national tournament. His most notable match from that period was against the prodigy Echizen Ryoma. In this match, Tanishi showcased his signature serve, the Big Bang, a jumping serve of incredible speed and force that seemed unreturnable. However, this technique had a fatal flaw: it consumed a massive amount of stamina, causing its power to diminish rapidly the more it was used. Ryoma exploited this weakness, intentionally allowing his own racket to be knocked out of his hand to conserve energy while Tanishi exhausted himself, leading to Tanishi's eventual defeat and loss of consciousness after being struck in the face by his own return shot.
His key relationships are strongly tied to his school and the U-17 camp environment. He is a loyal member of the Higa Middle School team, playing alongside notable power players like Kite Eishiro, who actually taught him the Big Bang serve, as well as Yujiro Kai, Rin Hirakoba, and others. At the U-17 training camp, his most significant relationship is with his teammate and doubles partner, Hiroshi Chinen. In a harsh elimination match against Chinen, Tanishi was narrowly defeated with a score of 15-17, which sent him to the "losers' group". This event is the catalyst for his most dramatic development. While in the losers' group, he and the other defeated players were forced to undergo intense, unconventional mountain training. This training resulted in a shocking physical transformation, where Tanishi shed a massive amount of weight and became incredibly slim, appearing as a completely different person. This change granted him significantly improved speed and agility. However, this transformation is not permanent; upon completing the training and reintegrating into the main camp, his original heavy-set physique quickly returned, a humorous but telling indication of his inherent nature.
Tanishi's most notable abilities center on his power-based playing style. As a right-handed serve-and-volley player, he incorporates techniques derived from Okinawan martial arts into his tennis. His signature skill is the Big Bang, a high-impact jumping serve that generates explosive force, making it extremely difficult to return effectively. To move his large frame across the court, he employs the Shukuchihō, or "land shrinking method," a technique that allows him to close the distance to the net or baseline in what appears to be a single step. He also uses the Carioca Step, a sideways shuffling motion where his back leg crosses in front, which helps him maintain balance during a slice shot and quickly transition from defense to offense. Through his grueling training in the U-17 camp's losers' group, his all-around fundamentals improved to the point where he was once able to return four tennis balls simultaneously, demonstrating a massive leap in his baseline skills.