TV-Series
Description
Jirou Sakuma is a supporting character who first appears as a forward for the prestigious Teikoku Gakuen soccer team. He is recognizable by his distinctive appearance, which includes grayish-blue hair, tanned skin, and a grey eyepatch that covers his right eye. During his time with the reborn Shin Teikoku, his eyepatch is modified to reveal that the visible part of his hidden eye has a black sclera, or the white part of the eyeball. In the Inazuma Eleven GO series, set years later, his appearance changes as his hair grows much longer, reaching his waist, and he is seen wearing a suit while his eyepatch becomes brown.
Initially, Sakuma exhibits a cold, arrogant, and elitist personality, often looking down on other teams and players he deems inferior, a trait shared with many of his Teikoku teammates. However, this outward behavior masks a more caring and supportive nature, particularly towards his own teammates. He is deeply loyal and trusting of those he considers friends, sharing a strong bond with his peers at Teikoku Academy. He is also quite observant and insightful, able to accurately assess the dynamics and strengths of other teams, as well as the personal struggles of his friends. As the story progresses, he becomes more friendly and open, though in the later GO timeline, he regains some of his initial aloofness and adopts a more formal and polite demeanor, especially towards his former captain, Kidou Yuuto.
Sakuma’s primary motivation is a deep-seated desire to become stronger and prove his worth, which is heavily influenced by his relationship with Kidou Yuuto. After Teikoku suffers a devastating loss to Zeus Junior High, an event that hospitalizes Sakuma and his teammates, Kidou leaves to join Raimon Junior High to seek a rematch. Feeling abandoned, overshadowed, and desperate to not be left behind by his gifted friend, Sakuma’s bitterness is exploited by Fudou Akio. This leads him to join the renegade Shin Teikoku team under the sway of the former coach Kageyama Reiji. His goal transforms into a vengeful need to demonstrate his power to Kidou, even if it means using forbidden techniques at the risk of his own health. After being reconciled with Kidou, his motivation shifts back to supporting his friends and playing soccer with his own strength and spirit. In the GO era, his role as assistant coach shows his motivation has shifted to helping guide a new generation and freeing Teikoku from the control of the Fifth Sector.
Sakuma plays a significant role across the original story's three seasons. In the first season, he is a formidable opponent for Raimon as a member of the dominant Teikoku. In the second season, he becomes an antagonist as the co-leader of Shin Teikoku, directly opposing Kidou and Raimon. Using the forbidden hissatsu technique Emperor Penguin No. 1, he inflicts serious damage on himself and the opposing players. He is ultimately defeated and hospitalized, but he reconciles with Kidou after the match. In the third season, he is initially a candidate for the national team, Inazuma Japan, but is not selected. He later joins the team as a replacement for injured players. During the international tournament, he plays a crucial role with Kidou and Fudou in developing the powerful Emperor Penguin No. 3 to defeat Kageyama's Team K. In Inazuma Eleven GO, he serves as the assistant coach for Teikoku Gakuen under the head coach, Kidou, while also secretly being a member of the Resistance fighting against the oppressive Fifth Sector.
His most important relationship is with Kidou Yuuto, the captain of Teikoku. Sakuma greatly admires Kidou and considers him a close friend. This admiration sours into jealousy after Kidou leaves for Raimon, which is the catalyst for his turn to the dark side. He eventually comes to terms with his own identity, accepting that he is not Kidou and that his friend's growth with Raimon is something he can take pride in. He is also close to Genda Koujirou, the goalkeeper of Teikoku, who follows him to Shin Teikoku. Later, he has a complex rivalry with Fudou Akio, initially despising him for manipulating him but eventually learning to trust and cooperate with him as a teammate on Inazuma Japan. He also works closely with Endou Mamoru, especially when helping him master the Death Zone 2 technique.
Sakuma undergoes a major character development arc. He starts as a proud but loyal player, falls into a state of desperation and bitterness that turns him into a ruthless antagonist, and finally finds redemption and a healthier sense of self-worth. His journey is about overcoming feelings of inferiority and learning that true strength comes from within and from trusting one's friends, not from power gained through harmful means.
As a player, Sakuma is a forward known for his agility and powerful kicking abilities. He is a master of the Emperor Penguin series of hissatsu techniques, which are powerful shots often performed in collaboration with teammates. His known techniques include the solo forbidden shot Emperor Penguin No. 1, the combination shot Emperor Penguin No. 2 with Kidou and Genda, and Emperor Penguin No. 3 with Kidou and Fudou. He also uses Death Zone in combination with other Teikoku players, Twin Boost with Kidou, and Space Penguin in the video games.
Initially, Sakuma exhibits a cold, arrogant, and elitist personality, often looking down on other teams and players he deems inferior, a trait shared with many of his Teikoku teammates. However, this outward behavior masks a more caring and supportive nature, particularly towards his own teammates. He is deeply loyal and trusting of those he considers friends, sharing a strong bond with his peers at Teikoku Academy. He is also quite observant and insightful, able to accurately assess the dynamics and strengths of other teams, as well as the personal struggles of his friends. As the story progresses, he becomes more friendly and open, though in the later GO timeline, he regains some of his initial aloofness and adopts a more formal and polite demeanor, especially towards his former captain, Kidou Yuuto.
Sakuma’s primary motivation is a deep-seated desire to become stronger and prove his worth, which is heavily influenced by his relationship with Kidou Yuuto. After Teikoku suffers a devastating loss to Zeus Junior High, an event that hospitalizes Sakuma and his teammates, Kidou leaves to join Raimon Junior High to seek a rematch. Feeling abandoned, overshadowed, and desperate to not be left behind by his gifted friend, Sakuma’s bitterness is exploited by Fudou Akio. This leads him to join the renegade Shin Teikoku team under the sway of the former coach Kageyama Reiji. His goal transforms into a vengeful need to demonstrate his power to Kidou, even if it means using forbidden techniques at the risk of his own health. After being reconciled with Kidou, his motivation shifts back to supporting his friends and playing soccer with his own strength and spirit. In the GO era, his role as assistant coach shows his motivation has shifted to helping guide a new generation and freeing Teikoku from the control of the Fifth Sector.
Sakuma plays a significant role across the original story's three seasons. In the first season, he is a formidable opponent for Raimon as a member of the dominant Teikoku. In the second season, he becomes an antagonist as the co-leader of Shin Teikoku, directly opposing Kidou and Raimon. Using the forbidden hissatsu technique Emperor Penguin No. 1, he inflicts serious damage on himself and the opposing players. He is ultimately defeated and hospitalized, but he reconciles with Kidou after the match. In the third season, he is initially a candidate for the national team, Inazuma Japan, but is not selected. He later joins the team as a replacement for injured players. During the international tournament, he plays a crucial role with Kidou and Fudou in developing the powerful Emperor Penguin No. 3 to defeat Kageyama's Team K. In Inazuma Eleven GO, he serves as the assistant coach for Teikoku Gakuen under the head coach, Kidou, while also secretly being a member of the Resistance fighting against the oppressive Fifth Sector.
His most important relationship is with Kidou Yuuto, the captain of Teikoku. Sakuma greatly admires Kidou and considers him a close friend. This admiration sours into jealousy after Kidou leaves for Raimon, which is the catalyst for his turn to the dark side. He eventually comes to terms with his own identity, accepting that he is not Kidou and that his friend's growth with Raimon is something he can take pride in. He is also close to Genda Koujirou, the goalkeeper of Teikoku, who follows him to Shin Teikoku. Later, he has a complex rivalry with Fudou Akio, initially despising him for manipulating him but eventually learning to trust and cooperate with him as a teammate on Inazuma Japan. He also works closely with Endou Mamoru, especially when helping him master the Death Zone 2 technique.
Sakuma undergoes a major character development arc. He starts as a proud but loyal player, falls into a state of desperation and bitterness that turns him into a ruthless antagonist, and finally finds redemption and a healthier sense of self-worth. His journey is about overcoming feelings of inferiority and learning that true strength comes from within and from trusting one's friends, not from power gained through harmful means.
As a player, Sakuma is a forward known for his agility and powerful kicking abilities. He is a master of the Emperor Penguin series of hissatsu techniques, which are powerful shots often performed in collaboration with teammates. His known techniques include the solo forbidden shot Emperor Penguin No. 1, the combination shot Emperor Penguin No. 2 with Kidou and Genda, and Emperor Penguin No. 3 with Kidou and Fudou. He also uses Death Zone in combination with other Teikoku players, Twin Boost with Kidou, and Space Penguin in the video games.