Genzo Wakabayashi emerges as a supremely talented goalkeeper from a wealthy background, initially starring for Shutetsu Elementary School. For his tenth birthday, he specifically requested the world's best goalkeeper coach, training under Olympic bronze medalist Tatsuo Mikami—though Wakabayashi initially dismissed Mikami for not being the absolute top. Despite his privilege, Wakabayashi fiercely valued football as a pure meritocracy where wealth offered no edge, confronting teammates who accused his father of manipulating youth selections. His leadership propelled Shutetsu to national elementary championship victory. Wakabayashi's rivalry with Tsubasa Ozora ignited instantly when he intercepted Tsubasa's long-range kick. Their spontaneous street duel culminated in Tsubasa scoring a diving header, intensifying Wakabayashi's competitive fire. He doubled down on training with Mikami for the formal match against Tsubasa's Nankatsu. Though Shutetsu lost, the clash forged mutual respect, leading Wakabayashi to transfer and join Tsubasa at Nankatsu SC. An injury sidelined him during prefectural qualifiers, keeping him out for most of the national championship, but he returned for the finals to help secure Nankatsu's title. At age twelve, Wakabayashi relocated to Germany with Mikami, entering Hamburger SV's youth academy. He endured severe bullying from teammates who fired aggressive shots directly at him. His resilience impressed star striker Karl Heinz Schneider, who personally tested Wakabayashi's skills, sparking a lasting rivalry and friendship. After Mikami returned to Japan, Wakabayashi mastered German while staying with a host family and ascended to become Hamburg's primary goalkeeper. His near-impenetrable defense, especially against long-range attempts, earned him the moniker "Guardian Deity of the East," with his penalty-area duels against Schneider locked at 50-50. During Japan's U-16 training camp in Germany, Wakabayashi played for Hamburg against the Japanese team. He intentionally conceded one goal to Kojiro Hyuga but harshly criticized Japan's overall play, provoking a brawl. This antagonism was tactical; Wakabayashi aimed to motivate the team and later apologized through Mikami, joining the Japan U-16 squad as a reserve goalkeeper. He played solely in the World Cup final against Germany after Ken Wakashimazu's injury. As a professional at Hamburger SV, Wakabayashi cemented his Bundesliga reputation. He considered offers from Genoa, tempted by Serie A's stronger competition, but ultimately remained in Germany following Schneider's injury and a crucial match against Frankfurt. Recurring hand injuries from opponents like Stefan Levin and Bryan Cruyfford hampered his play during Japan's U-20 World Youth campaign. He returned for critical matches against Sweden and the Netherlands, avenging prior losses, but sustained another injury in the final against Brazil, leading to Wakashimazu replacing him. Wakabayashi's goalkeeping prioritizes anticipation and technical precision over acrobatics. His signature strength is stopping shots from outside the penalty area, formalized as the "SGGK" (Super Great Goal Keeper) technique. Confident yet team-focused, he often risks injury for crucial saves and mentors backups like Wakashimazu and Yuzo Morisaki. Evolving from early arrogance, he becomes a selfless leader who employs tough criticism to push teammates toward higher standards, particularly in international play. Later joining the U-23 Olympic team for tournaments like the Madrid Olympics, Wakabayashi accepted an offer to join Schneider at Bayern Munich after Japan defeated Germany in the Olympics, targeting UEFA Champions League victory.