TV-Series
Description
Itaru Saitō serves as a specialist coach at the U-17 training camp, where his primary focus is on planning how players can improve their game and, more significantly, strengthening their mental fortitude rather than providing general mental care. His approach to coaching is distinctly rigorous, prioritizing psychological resilience alongside physical skill. Upon his first appearance at the camp, he immediately tests the middle schoolers by having them form pairs under the pretense of playing doubles, only to reveal they must compete against their chosen partner in a singles match, with the loser being sent home. This harsh elimination match is designed to reveal players who have fallen behind in ability and, more crucially, to identify those who lack the tenacity to win.
Despite this severe initial trial, Saitō demonstrates a complex coaching philosophy by offering a second chance to the losers. He leads them to a bottomless valley, forcing them to climb a steep mountain using only their hands to prove their willpower and mental strength to remain in the camp. In this regard, he is arguably the strictest coach, training the players' mental levels through high-pressure scenarios. He is acquainted with Coach Nyudō, who specializes in training the losers who accept this challenge. Later, he is seen observing special missions from a security room, implying these grueling trials are a planned, yearly occurrence.
His personality is layered with subtle quirks. He can appear kind and clumsy, yet his actions reveal a strategic and unforgiving nature. His hobbies include mind sports, observing ants, and daydreaming while staring at the ceiling, and his most wanted item is a nest of transparent ants, indicating a fascination with observation and intricate systems. He also claims to dislike his wife, while he dotes on his daughter. His favorite foods include mille-feuille, and his preferred colors are white and gray, and he lists counseling as a specialty other than tennis. According to another player, Saitō frequently talks about Hyotei's coach, Taro Sakaki, suggesting a pre-existing connection or professional respect. Through his calculated methods and psychological manipulation, Saitō plays a pivotal role in shaping the competitors' mental endurance and driving the intense选拔 process at the camp.
Despite this severe initial trial, Saitō demonstrates a complex coaching philosophy by offering a second chance to the losers. He leads them to a bottomless valley, forcing them to climb a steep mountain using only their hands to prove their willpower and mental strength to remain in the camp. In this regard, he is arguably the strictest coach, training the players' mental levels through high-pressure scenarios. He is acquainted with Coach Nyudō, who specializes in training the losers who accept this challenge. Later, he is seen observing special missions from a security room, implying these grueling trials are a planned, yearly occurrence.
His personality is layered with subtle quirks. He can appear kind and clumsy, yet his actions reveal a strategic and unforgiving nature. His hobbies include mind sports, observing ants, and daydreaming while staring at the ceiling, and his most wanted item is a nest of transparent ants, indicating a fascination with observation and intricate systems. He also claims to dislike his wife, while he dotes on his daughter. His favorite foods include mille-feuille, and his preferred colors are white and gray, and he lists counseling as a specialty other than tennis. According to another player, Saitō frequently talks about Hyotei's coach, Taro Sakaki, suggesting a pre-existing connection or professional respect. Through his calculated methods and psychological manipulation, Saitō plays a pivotal role in shaping the competitors' mental endurance and driving the intense选拔 process at the camp.