Haikyuu!! Observations: Koganegawa and Tsukishima
**SPOILERS FOR ANIME ONLYโS BELOW**
Since season 4 of Haikyuu!! started, Iโve quickly decided I love Kanji Koganegawa from Date Tech. Heโs like their version of Shoyo Hinata:
Heโs super energetic and Optimistic:
He does mess up, but still gives it his all:
His goal is to be EVERYONEโS friend:
Seriously, this social butterfly wants NAKAMA! *Friends Theme Plays*
And like Hinata, heโs not afraid to ask others for advice, either. Itโs interesting that both Shoyo and Koganegawa are the ones showcased for seeking tips from other players during the training camp.
Setting the Stage (pun intended):ย
I thought during the pre-Nationals match of Karasuno vs. Date Tech, one of the most interesting asides was Hinataโs side comment that when Koganegawa had been the setter during the Training Camp, that Tsukishima had been made to jump higher because of Koganeโs sets, compared to Kageyamaโs.ย
Naturally, Kageyama was frustrated, because this meant that Tsukishima couldย jump higher to hit the ballโฆhe just hadnโt been all this time while Kageyama was setting.ย
A lot of readers and viewers may see theย โBoy Ball Arcโ as having been filler or not necessarily important before the Nationals Arc. However, I maintain that Furudate planted SO MANY seeds of foreshadowing in this mini-arc, and I want to share one of my favorites, here.
The Chicken and the Frog:
In Chapter 378, we learn this about Tsukishima, forever sealing his redemption in the series as one of the best; Iโm not crying, youโre crying:
Heโs a Middle Blocker for the Sendai Frogs Division 2 League.ย
And THEN, eight chapters later in Chapter 385, we get this reveal:
Yeah, so Koganegawa is going to be the SETTER for the Sendai Frogs.
Heโs going to toss the ball to Tsukishima.
I have this headcanon that Tsukishima probably thought he was free of Hinataโs endless optimism and energy to annoy himโฆonly to now find himself playing alongside the sunniest rooster of Date Tech.
However, I really think Tsukishima will be fine with it at the end of it all. Why?
Because Koganegawa is from Date Tech, and is opposite Kageyama.
One, Tsukishima definitely respects, though frustrated by, Date Techโs defensive prowess; particularly since itโs his strongest attribute as a player.
ย But also, Koganegawa is probably the mostโฆjovialโฆof the setters in Haikyuu!! Heโs not serious, mysterious, boisterous, or manipulative. He just tries his hardest and is very down to earth. Much like Date Tech. Tsukishima clearly was not Kageyamaโs biggest fan on the team, and their lack of being able toย โgelโ definitely lent to tense moments on the court and Tsukishima not givingย โ120%โ for his sets.
However, with a setter he respects, that simply will do what he can for TsukishimaโฆTHAT could be something intriguing to see. Basically:
dededos
turnnoffyourmind
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gummygunk
