Movie
Description
Masaki Takigawa serves as a senior priest at Yata Shrine and later becomes the coach for the Kazemai High School Kyudo Club, holding a fifth dan rank in kyudo. He possesses a tall, lean build with noticeable biceps from training, initially sporting shoulder-length black hair tied back, bangs reaching his eyes, and clear blue eyes described as bewitching; he later cuts his hair shorter upon taking the coaching role.
His personality blends surface refinement with a fundamentally laid-back, down-to-earth nature. He dislikes formality, insisting on the casual "Masa-san," and acts informally except during kyudo practice. An effective communicator and attentive listener, he readily offers guidance, particularly to Minato Narumiya. Despite his easygoing demeanor, he exhibits seriousness and stubbornness concerning kyudo and matters involving his grandfather.
Masaki trained in kyudo from age three under his strict grandfather, Akihiro Yasaka. During high school, his mother remarried, though he delayed adopting his stepfamily's name. After winning the Inter-High tournament, his grandfather dismissed the achievement, leading to estrangement. Masaki soon developed target panic (hayake), causing his grandfather to ignore him entirely. He attended university without joining its kyudo club, seeking instruction outside the prefecture instead. His grandfather died during this period, prompting Masaki to undertake a ritual of shooting 10,000 arrows at Yata no Mori Kyudojo as a form of reconciliation.
His path crosses Minato Narumiya's during nightly practice at Yata no Mori. Discovering Minato observing him, Masaki interacts with Minato's owl, Fuu—a bird he once rescued and named—and tends to Minato's injured hand. Their initial meetings involve casual conversations over canned coffee, during which Masaki mentions his 100-arrows-daily ritual without explaining its purpose. When Minato confesses his struggle with hayake and desire to quit kyudo, Masaki shares his own experience overcoming the condition, encouraging Minato to confront his fears.
As Kazemai's coach, he supports the team through tournaments. During prefectural competition preparations, tensions flare when Seiya Takehaya confronts him after criticism from Shu Fujiwara. Masaki later reveals to Minato that coaching is his "revenge" against his grandfather. Seeking to understand their strained relationship better, he visits Saionji, his grandfather's friend. Returning from visiting another associate, Osone, he sustains injuries in a car accident while protecting Minato. Hospitalized, he escapes to witness Kazemai's victory in the finals, facilitated by his stepbrother Ren Takigawa covering for him.
Key relationships shape his journey: With Minato, he becomes a mentor figure, bonding over their parallel experiences with hayake and helping Minato rediscover his passion for kyudo. Minato's childhood inspiration stemmed from witnessing Masaki's grandfather perform, a moment Masaki also attended as a middle schooler. Tomio Morioka offers longstanding support, advising Masaki through coaching challenges and personal doubts. Ren Takigawa, his stepbrother, observes Masaki's emotional growth post-estrangement and assists during crises like the accident aftermath.
Trivia includes his name meaning "elegant precious," his favorite drink (coffee), dislike of eggplant and sliced onions, hobbies (cafe visits, reading, hitchhiking), and unique bond with his owl Fuu over cats or dogs. Floral symbolism associates him with nerine flowers, representing endurance, reunion anticipation, and radiant talent in kyudo.
His personality blends surface refinement with a fundamentally laid-back, down-to-earth nature. He dislikes formality, insisting on the casual "Masa-san," and acts informally except during kyudo practice. An effective communicator and attentive listener, he readily offers guidance, particularly to Minato Narumiya. Despite his easygoing demeanor, he exhibits seriousness and stubbornness concerning kyudo and matters involving his grandfather.
Masaki trained in kyudo from age three under his strict grandfather, Akihiro Yasaka. During high school, his mother remarried, though he delayed adopting his stepfamily's name. After winning the Inter-High tournament, his grandfather dismissed the achievement, leading to estrangement. Masaki soon developed target panic (hayake), causing his grandfather to ignore him entirely. He attended university without joining its kyudo club, seeking instruction outside the prefecture instead. His grandfather died during this period, prompting Masaki to undertake a ritual of shooting 10,000 arrows at Yata no Mori Kyudojo as a form of reconciliation.
His path crosses Minato Narumiya's during nightly practice at Yata no Mori. Discovering Minato observing him, Masaki interacts with Minato's owl, Fuu—a bird he once rescued and named—and tends to Minato's injured hand. Their initial meetings involve casual conversations over canned coffee, during which Masaki mentions his 100-arrows-daily ritual without explaining its purpose. When Minato confesses his struggle with hayake and desire to quit kyudo, Masaki shares his own experience overcoming the condition, encouraging Minato to confront his fears.
As Kazemai's coach, he supports the team through tournaments. During prefectural competition preparations, tensions flare when Seiya Takehaya confronts him after criticism from Shu Fujiwara. Masaki later reveals to Minato that coaching is his "revenge" against his grandfather. Seeking to understand their strained relationship better, he visits Saionji, his grandfather's friend. Returning from visiting another associate, Osone, he sustains injuries in a car accident while protecting Minato. Hospitalized, he escapes to witness Kazemai's victory in the finals, facilitated by his stepbrother Ren Takigawa covering for him.
Key relationships shape his journey: With Minato, he becomes a mentor figure, bonding over their parallel experiences with hayake and helping Minato rediscover his passion for kyudo. Minato's childhood inspiration stemmed from witnessing Masaki's grandfather perform, a moment Masaki also attended as a middle schooler. Tomio Morioka offers longstanding support, advising Masaki through coaching challenges and personal doubts. Ren Takigawa, his stepbrother, observes Masaki's emotional growth post-estrangement and assists during crises like the accident aftermath.
Trivia includes his name meaning "elegant precious," his favorite drink (coffee), dislike of eggplant and sliced onions, hobbies (cafe visits, reading, hitchhiking), and unique bond with his owl Fuu over cats or dogs. Floral symbolism associates him with nerine flowers, representing endurance, reunion anticipation, and radiant talent in kyudo.