Movie
Description
Nanjiro Echizen, famed as "Samurai Nanjiro" for his invincible professional tennis career, retired undefeated. Trained by Sumire Ryuzaki in junior high, he turned pro after leaving Japan. He returned with his family when his son Ryoma enrolled at his alma mater, Seishun Academy. Nanjiro sports hazel-brown eyes and short, messy black-brown hair, typically wearing a traditional Buddhist monk's uniform in an unkempt manner. During his time in America, he kept longer hair tied in a high ponytail during serious matches.
Eccentric, flirtatious, and often childish, Nanjiro indulges in habits like reading gravure magazines and telling unconvincing lies. Yet he harbors deep care for his family, especially his son Ryoma. For Ryoma's sake, he retired from tennis, abandoning a near-complete Grand Slam run and 37 consecutive international titles to train him. He frequently dismisses Ryoma's tennis as "child's play" but declares watching his son surpass him is his "new big dream," using the competitive taunt "Mada Mada Dana" to mirror Ryoma's signature phrase.
Nanjiro met his future wife Rinko in America, defending her from harassment by Coach Smith. After saving her during a tennis incident, they married and had Ryoma. In the movie *Tennis no Ōjisama - Futari no Samurai*, he temporarily mentored another child, Ryoga Echizen, alongside Ryoma. His retirement followed his dominance over all top players, shifting his focus to developing Ryoma as his ultimate rival.
His ambidextrous tennis style ("Nitoryu") compensated for a weak backhand. Signature techniques include the "Samurai Zone," manipulating spin to draw all returns to him, and the "Twist Serve." He mastered "Muga no Kyōchi" (State of Self-Actualization) to copy opponents' techniques and reached the "Pinnacle of Perfection," prioritizing pure enjoyment over winning. He also plays with closed eyes, a skill inherited by Ryoma.
Later, Nanjiro served as coach for Spain's U-17 World Cup team, reflecting his ongoing high-stakes tennis influence. His legacy includes fostering Ryoma's evolution from mimicking his style to creating original techniques, underscoring his role as both a retired champion and dedicated mentor.
Eccentric, flirtatious, and often childish, Nanjiro indulges in habits like reading gravure magazines and telling unconvincing lies. Yet he harbors deep care for his family, especially his son Ryoma. For Ryoma's sake, he retired from tennis, abandoning a near-complete Grand Slam run and 37 consecutive international titles to train him. He frequently dismisses Ryoma's tennis as "child's play" but declares watching his son surpass him is his "new big dream," using the competitive taunt "Mada Mada Dana" to mirror Ryoma's signature phrase.
Nanjiro met his future wife Rinko in America, defending her from harassment by Coach Smith. After saving her during a tennis incident, they married and had Ryoma. In the movie *Tennis no Ōjisama - Futari no Samurai*, he temporarily mentored another child, Ryoga Echizen, alongside Ryoma. His retirement followed his dominance over all top players, shifting his focus to developing Ryoma as his ultimate rival.
His ambidextrous tennis style ("Nitoryu") compensated for a weak backhand. Signature techniques include the "Samurai Zone," manipulating spin to draw all returns to him, and the "Twist Serve." He mastered "Muga no Kyōchi" (State of Self-Actualization) to copy opponents' techniques and reached the "Pinnacle of Perfection," prioritizing pure enjoyment over winning. He also plays with closed eyes, a skill inherited by Ryoma.
Later, Nanjiro served as coach for Spain's U-17 World Cup team, reflecting his ongoing high-stakes tennis influence. His legacy includes fostering Ryoma's evolution from mimicking his style to creating original techniques, underscoring his role as both a retired champion and dedicated mentor.