TV-Series
Description
Arai Masashi is a second-year student at Seishun Academy and a member of the school's tennis club, serving as an upperclassman to the prodigy freshman, Echizen Ryoma. Born on March 29, his height is approximately 169 to 170 centimeters with a weight of 53 kilograms and a blood type of B, playing right-handed. He shares a classroom with fellow club members Momoshiro Takeshi, Ikeda Masaya, and Hayashi Daisuke. Initially, Arai is portrayed as a brash and arrogant player with a strong sense of pride, particularly strict about the senior-junior hierarchy within the club. At the beginning of the series, this manifests as antagonistic behavior toward the first-year students. He is seen trying to extort money from the new recruits by rigging a can filled with rocks for a serving challenge, and later hides Ryoma's tennis bag, forcing him to play a match with a broken wooden racket. Despite these underhanded tactics, Arai is thoroughly defeated by Ryoma, which establishes his position as a non-regular player whose skills, while notable, are still far below those of the starting lineup.
Despite his rough exterior, Arai possesses a strong sense of justice and responsibility for his school. This trait becomes evident when a violent outsider, Akutsu Jin from Yamabuki, trespasses on Seishun Academy's grounds. Arai is the first to confront the intruder without hesitation, demonstrating his courage and protectiveness, even though he is quickly and brutally defeated. Underneath his hotheaded demeanor, Arai is a dedicated and hardworking individual. He is noted for being hard on himself during training, frequently using ankle weights to push his physical limits. His commitment is such that, despite his earlier bullying, he earns the respect of his juniors. When the first-year Kato Kachiro challenges him for a spot as a regular, Arai takes the match seriously and plays at full strength, revealing his honest intentions to earn his position through legitimate effort rather than relying on the absence of injured senior players.
Throughout the series, Arai is a constant presence among the non-regular players, often seen cheering for the team during important matches. While he lacks any flashy or signature special moves, his consistent hard work is recognized as making him one of the strongest reserve players, with his power and technique considered to be second only to the official regulars. His growth continues even after the main series, as shown in The New Prince of Tennis. After the third-year students graduate, Arai successfully secures a position as a regular team member under the new captain, Kaido Kaoru. In the OVA episodes, the sound of his tennis shots is depicted with a powerful, explosive effect, serving as an auditory confirmation of his significantly improved strength and the payoff for his relentless training regimen. Outside of tennis, Arai enjoys playing the acoustic guitar and lists pork cutlet bowls and sweet red bean buns among his favorite foods, while expressing a dislike for rude individuals and the sound of whistling.
Despite his rough exterior, Arai possesses a strong sense of justice and responsibility for his school. This trait becomes evident when a violent outsider, Akutsu Jin from Yamabuki, trespasses on Seishun Academy's grounds. Arai is the first to confront the intruder without hesitation, demonstrating his courage and protectiveness, even though he is quickly and brutally defeated. Underneath his hotheaded demeanor, Arai is a dedicated and hardworking individual. He is noted for being hard on himself during training, frequently using ankle weights to push his physical limits. His commitment is such that, despite his earlier bullying, he earns the respect of his juniors. When the first-year Kato Kachiro challenges him for a spot as a regular, Arai takes the match seriously and plays at full strength, revealing his honest intentions to earn his position through legitimate effort rather than relying on the absence of injured senior players.
Throughout the series, Arai is a constant presence among the non-regular players, often seen cheering for the team during important matches. While he lacks any flashy or signature special moves, his consistent hard work is recognized as making him one of the strongest reserve players, with his power and technique considered to be second only to the official regulars. His growth continues even after the main series, as shown in The New Prince of Tennis. After the third-year students graduate, Arai successfully secures a position as a regular team member under the new captain, Kaido Kaoru. In the OVA episodes, the sound of his tennis shots is depicted with a powerful, explosive effect, serving as an auditory confirmation of his significantly improved strength and the payoff for his relentless training regimen. Outside of tennis, Arai enjoys playing the acoustic guitar and lists pork cutlet bowls and sweet red bean buns among his favorite foods, while expressing a dislike for rude individuals and the sound of whistling.