OVA
Description
Danji Date is a character from the sequel series The Prince of Tennis II, specifically appearing as a member of the U-17 Japanese National Team training camp in the OVA vs. Genius 10. He is a third-year high school student recognized among the camp's powerful first-stringers, initially holding the ranking of No. 12 before his story arc concludes.
Physically, Danji is an imposing figure, standing at 190 centimeters tall and weighing 84 kilograms, with a muscular build that reflects his power-focused playing style. He has O-type blood and celebrates his birthday on August 3rd. His most distinguishing feature is a prominent cross-shaped scar on his forehead, a mark that signifies past encounters with some of the strongest players in the series. He is left-handed, which adds a natural tactical advantage to his aggressive baseline game. Off the court, he is known to be a member of the Sports Festival Executive Committee, showcasing his leadership and reliability, and has a range of hobbies including playing with his dog and training animals. Despite his intimidating appearance, he has a gentle family-oriented side, as he wants to buy a stuffed rabbit for his younger sister and has a disliking for bugs.
In terms of personality, Danji is fiercely proud of his incredible power and approaches tennis with an aggressive and overwhelming style. However, beneath his dominating exterior lies a strong sense of sportsmanship and respect for worthy opponents. He is not one to belittle those weaker than him without cause, but he is quick to acknowledge genuine strength and tenacity in others. He shares a close bond with his doubles partner, Rikiya Ban, with the two referring to each other by their given names, which indicates a level of mutual trust and friendship deeper than a typical professional partnership.
Within the story of the OVA, Danji is part of the first-stringers returning from an overseas expedition. He enters the second-string matches paired with Rikiya Ban. They first achieve a decisive victory against the pair of Sotomichi Nakagauchi and Shinobu Miyako. Following this win, they are challenged by the power duo of Takashi Kawamura and Munehiro Kabaji. Initially, Danji and Ban dominate the match, but they are met with relentless persistence from their opponents. As the match reaches its climax, an accident occurs when a powerful serve from Kawamura causes a floodlight to fall toward Ban. The sight of Kawamura and Kabaji risking injury to catch the light and save Ban deeply moves Danji. Recognizing the superior spirit and power of his opponents, Danji and Ban choose to forfeit the match and voluntarily hand over their first-stringer badges to Kawamura and Kabaji.
This decision marks a significant development for Danji. Despite his defeat, his abilities are not overlooked. Having shown both immense power and a noble sense of honor, he is later selected as a member of the Japanese National Team under a new ranking, solidifying his status as a formidable player within the series.
Regarding his abilities, Danji is classified as an aggressive baseliner whose game plan revolves entirely around overwhelming force. His official stats put his power at a maximum level of six, alongside high marks in stamina and mental fortitude, though his technique and speed are comparatively lower. He wields a Prince EXO3 Black 100T racket and wears Prince ADVANCEDFIT GAME VI AC shoes. His signature techniques are a series of seasonal shots designed to physically displace opponents. Danji's Spring is a devastating shot with enough force to blow an opponent backward, slamming them into the fence. Danji's Summer is an even more powerful variation that sends opponents hurtling upward into the air. These techniques exemplify his philosophy of using raw, almost explosive power to dominate the court and dismantle opposing formations.
Physically, Danji is an imposing figure, standing at 190 centimeters tall and weighing 84 kilograms, with a muscular build that reflects his power-focused playing style. He has O-type blood and celebrates his birthday on August 3rd. His most distinguishing feature is a prominent cross-shaped scar on his forehead, a mark that signifies past encounters with some of the strongest players in the series. He is left-handed, which adds a natural tactical advantage to his aggressive baseline game. Off the court, he is known to be a member of the Sports Festival Executive Committee, showcasing his leadership and reliability, and has a range of hobbies including playing with his dog and training animals. Despite his intimidating appearance, he has a gentle family-oriented side, as he wants to buy a stuffed rabbit for his younger sister and has a disliking for bugs.
In terms of personality, Danji is fiercely proud of his incredible power and approaches tennis with an aggressive and overwhelming style. However, beneath his dominating exterior lies a strong sense of sportsmanship and respect for worthy opponents. He is not one to belittle those weaker than him without cause, but he is quick to acknowledge genuine strength and tenacity in others. He shares a close bond with his doubles partner, Rikiya Ban, with the two referring to each other by their given names, which indicates a level of mutual trust and friendship deeper than a typical professional partnership.
Within the story of the OVA, Danji is part of the first-stringers returning from an overseas expedition. He enters the second-string matches paired with Rikiya Ban. They first achieve a decisive victory against the pair of Sotomichi Nakagauchi and Shinobu Miyako. Following this win, they are challenged by the power duo of Takashi Kawamura and Munehiro Kabaji. Initially, Danji and Ban dominate the match, but they are met with relentless persistence from their opponents. As the match reaches its climax, an accident occurs when a powerful serve from Kawamura causes a floodlight to fall toward Ban. The sight of Kawamura and Kabaji risking injury to catch the light and save Ban deeply moves Danji. Recognizing the superior spirit and power of his opponents, Danji and Ban choose to forfeit the match and voluntarily hand over their first-stringer badges to Kawamura and Kabaji.
This decision marks a significant development for Danji. Despite his defeat, his abilities are not overlooked. Having shown both immense power and a noble sense of honor, he is later selected as a member of the Japanese National Team under a new ranking, solidifying his status as a formidable player within the series.
Regarding his abilities, Danji is classified as an aggressive baseliner whose game plan revolves entirely around overwhelming force. His official stats put his power at a maximum level of six, alongside high marks in stamina and mental fortitude, though his technique and speed are comparatively lower. He wields a Prince EXO3 Black 100T racket and wears Prince ADVANCEDFIT GAME VI AC shoes. His signature techniques are a series of seasonal shots designed to physically displace opponents. Danji's Spring is a devastating shot with enough force to blow an opponent backward, slamming them into the fence. Danji's Summer is an even more powerful variation that sends opponents hurtling upward into the air. These techniques exemplify his philosophy of using raw, almost explosive power to dominate the court and dismantle opposing formations.