OVA
Description
Kenya Oshitari is a third-year student at Shitenhoji Middle School and a regular on its tennis team. He is widely known by his nickname, the Speed Star of Naniwa, a title that reflects his most defining characteristic: overwhelming speed. This speed is not limited to the tennis court, as his personality and approach to life are similarly rapid.
Kenya does everything at a fast pace, from eating his meals to his general manner of speaking, which he often ends with a distinctive Kansai dialect. His personal motto is No Speed, No Life, and he dislikes waiting or anything he perceives as slow. He is proud of his quickness and will readily accept any challenge to it, demonstrating a fierce and competitive nature. Despite this fiery side, Kenya is also a friendly, compassionate, and supportive individual. He is loyal to his teammates and is known to put the team's needs before his own, such as when he willingly gave up his place in a national semifinal match to allow a teammate to play. He wears his heart on his sleeve, finding it nearly impossible to hide his emotions, a trait that makes him appear genuine and approachable but also easy to provoke, especially by his cousin.
Kenya comes from a family of doctors, including his father, mother, and a younger brother. He owns a pet iguana named Speedy, whom he cares for daily. His most significant relationship is with his cousin, Yushi Oshitari, a tennis player from Hyotei Academy. The two are very close and speak on the phone frequently, though their conversations often devolve into arguments about which region or which talented first-year player is superior. Kenya argues for his Kansai-based teammate, Kintaro Toyama, while Yushi champions Seigaku's Ryoma Echizen. It was also a childhood game of pretend with Kenya that led to Yushi wearing his signature non-prescription glasses. Within his own team at Shitenhoji, Kenya is a core member alongside captain Kuranosuke Shiraishi, with whom he shares a classroom, and fellow regular Gin Ishida, who is his usual doubles partner. He also has a friendly relationship with Ryoma Echizen, who is one of the few characters to call him by his first name with an honorific.
Within the specific story of Another Story - Kako to Mirai no Message, which depicts a joint training camp between Shitenhoji and Seigaku after the national tournament, Kenya plays a notable role. He is meant to have a practice match against Seigaku's speedster, Eiji Kikumaru, but the two become so engrossed in their mutual speed abilities that they forget the match entirely, entertaining themselves with their fast-paced rallies.
Kenya's role in the main series continues at the prestigious U-17 training camp, where his character undergoes further development. After losing a tie-breaker match to his captain, Shiraishi, he is sent to a special training camp for those who lost. There, a unique training regimen helps him overcome his weakness in balance, which previously caused him to be unsteady. Upon returning to the main camp, he teams up with Seigaku's Takeshi Momoshiro to defeat a pair of high school players, who are also Shitenhoji alumni, earning him a spot representing Japan. He also receives large scars on his left cheek during the intense mountain training, a physical mark of his growth and perseverance.
As a tennis player, Kenya is a counter-puncher whose game is built entirely around his incredible footwork and acceleration. His speed allows him to cover the entire court and chase down any ball, often overwhelming opponents who cannot match his pace. In the nationals quarterfinals, he demonstrated this by removing heavy ankle weights during a match, revealing his true, untethered speed and forcing his opponents to forfeit. His primary technique is simply referred to as Speed Tennis, a style focused on relentless, rapid returns. Official statistics rate his speed as a perfect five out of five, with his technique following at a four, and his power, stamina, and mental fortitude each rated at three. Outside of tennis, Kenya plays the drums and serves on his school's broadcasting committee.
Kenya does everything at a fast pace, from eating his meals to his general manner of speaking, which he often ends with a distinctive Kansai dialect. His personal motto is No Speed, No Life, and he dislikes waiting or anything he perceives as slow. He is proud of his quickness and will readily accept any challenge to it, demonstrating a fierce and competitive nature. Despite this fiery side, Kenya is also a friendly, compassionate, and supportive individual. He is loyal to his teammates and is known to put the team's needs before his own, such as when he willingly gave up his place in a national semifinal match to allow a teammate to play. He wears his heart on his sleeve, finding it nearly impossible to hide his emotions, a trait that makes him appear genuine and approachable but also easy to provoke, especially by his cousin.
Kenya comes from a family of doctors, including his father, mother, and a younger brother. He owns a pet iguana named Speedy, whom he cares for daily. His most significant relationship is with his cousin, Yushi Oshitari, a tennis player from Hyotei Academy. The two are very close and speak on the phone frequently, though their conversations often devolve into arguments about which region or which talented first-year player is superior. Kenya argues for his Kansai-based teammate, Kintaro Toyama, while Yushi champions Seigaku's Ryoma Echizen. It was also a childhood game of pretend with Kenya that led to Yushi wearing his signature non-prescription glasses. Within his own team at Shitenhoji, Kenya is a core member alongside captain Kuranosuke Shiraishi, with whom he shares a classroom, and fellow regular Gin Ishida, who is his usual doubles partner. He also has a friendly relationship with Ryoma Echizen, who is one of the few characters to call him by his first name with an honorific.
Within the specific story of Another Story - Kako to Mirai no Message, which depicts a joint training camp between Shitenhoji and Seigaku after the national tournament, Kenya plays a notable role. He is meant to have a practice match against Seigaku's speedster, Eiji Kikumaru, but the two become so engrossed in their mutual speed abilities that they forget the match entirely, entertaining themselves with their fast-paced rallies.
Kenya's role in the main series continues at the prestigious U-17 training camp, where his character undergoes further development. After losing a tie-breaker match to his captain, Shiraishi, he is sent to a special training camp for those who lost. There, a unique training regimen helps him overcome his weakness in balance, which previously caused him to be unsteady. Upon returning to the main camp, he teams up with Seigaku's Takeshi Momoshiro to defeat a pair of high school players, who are also Shitenhoji alumni, earning him a spot representing Japan. He also receives large scars on his left cheek during the intense mountain training, a physical mark of his growth and perseverance.
As a tennis player, Kenya is a counter-puncher whose game is built entirely around his incredible footwork and acceleration. His speed allows him to cover the entire court and chase down any ball, often overwhelming opponents who cannot match his pace. In the nationals quarterfinals, he demonstrated this by removing heavy ankle weights during a match, revealing his true, untethered speed and forcing his opponents to forfeit. His primary technique is simply referred to as Speed Tennis, a style focused on relentless, rapid returns. Official statistics rate his speed as a perfect five out of five, with his technique following at a four, and his power, stamina, and mental fortitude each rated at three. Outside of tennis, Kenya plays the drums and serves on his school's broadcasting committee.