Kojiro Hyuga, known internationally as Mark Lenders or Steve Hyuga, is a Japanese football forward born on August 17th. His father's absence during childhood led to financial hardship, prompting him to work part-time jobs like lifting goods at markets for groceries, building his physical strength early. These experiences fostered an initially cold-hearted, reckless, and occasionally arrogant demeanor, making him feared for his roughness on the pitch. Yet, he demonstrates deep care for his family, close friends like Takeshi Sawada, and later, his teammates. He began playing football at Meiwa FC in elementary school, wearing jersey #10. He later attended Toho Academy for middle and high school, keeping the #10 jersey. Developing into a power-oriented striker, he used his strength to overwhelm opponents. Key partnerships formed the "Toho Combi" or "Meiwa Combi" with Takeshi Sawada and Ken Wakashimazu, enabling coordinated plays like the Toho Twin Shot. Driven to become the world's best striker, he created signature techniques: the powerful ground shot Tiger Shot, its enhanced form the Neo Tiger Shot, and the decisive Lightning Tiger (Raiju Shot). Other techniques include the Straight-Line Dribble, Overhead Kick, Tiger Tackle, and Forcible Dribble, reflecting his aggressive style. Hyuga's rivalry with Tsubasa Ozora, contrasting his raw power against Tsubasa's technical finesse, was central to his early development. This dynamic evolved from antagonism to mutual respect, leading to collaborative plays like the Neo Drive Tiger Twin Shot. Professionally, he signed with Juventus in Italy. Facing intense competition, he was loaned to Serie C's AC Reggiana. A pivotal hat-trick against Shingo Aoi's FC Albese, featuring a Lightning Tiger goal, secured Reggiana's 3:2 victory and promotion to Serie B. He later returned to Juventus and joined Piemonte in NEXT DREAM, continuing his pursuit of the world's top striker title. For Japanese national teams (U-15, U-19, U-23, senior), he consistently wore jersey #9. He competed in tournaments like the Junior Youth World Challenge and the Olympic Games. In the Rising Sun arc, he played as a two-top forward alongside Wakashimazu. Key moments include his Olympic vow against Mexico to prove Japan's strength and his resilient return to the national team after a setback following defeat to Belgium. Nicknamed "Fierce Tiger" (Moko) for his untamed style, Hyuga exhibits fierce competitiveness, using defeats as motivation to develop new skills. Off the field, he shows a calmer, protective side towards his younger brothers, childhood friends from Saitama, and his girlfriend, Maki Akamine. His loyalty is evident when rallying the Japanese team in Tsubasa's absence. His physical attributes evolved: * Elementary school: 158 cm, 50 kg * Middle school: 170 cm, 59 kg * High school: 178 cm, 64 kg * Adult professional: 180 cm, 70 kg Trivia includes his preference for Coca-Cola, a cameo in *Rosario + Vampire*, and collecting "Strong Tiger" sake bottles in one storyline. International adaptations use names like Bassam (Arabic) and Kakero (Persian).