Hello there! My name is xin and I'm organizing a large-scale Tenipuri collab project with the english-speaking fandom.
As the manga series is ending soon, we're doing a tribute video/cover of the song Dear Prince (ED song to Nationals OVA) to celebrate the past 20+ years of Tenipuri.
We are looking for any artists who have Prince of Tennis fanart (no matter how old!) to put in our video. We will accept everyone regardless of skill- the project is just for fun!
For more info and the list of collaborators that are already participating, please take a look HERE!
In Super Mario 64, the texture for the flowerbeds is actually taken from a very small cropped segment of a photo of a flower field from a Japanese texture library CD, with additional flowers drawn on top of it.
Due to the extremely small part of the source image that was used, making it very hard to identify, this was only discovered in 2025, 29 years after the game's release.
Main Blog | Patreon | Twitter | Bluesky | Source: Render96VGTP, Leonard85026417
Eee! <3 The Escapist wrote an article about the Homestuck anime! It even includes a link to my blog!!! Gosh, this is so exciting! Everyone, go read it!
Ryoma: Well yeah, the one I like to drink always tastes better.
Ryoma: Here, this oneās on me. Orange for you, right?
Ryoga: Ohā¦ are you sure?
Ryoma: I donāt careā¦ Now weāre even.
Ryoga: Heh, oh really. Then thank you for doing this for me.
Ryoga: Ahhh! Yeah, thatās the one!
Ryoma: Right.
Ryoga: There are some things you just canāt replace. Better keep that in mind, Chibisuke.
Ryoma: What do you even mean by that.
ā
Ryoga: Hm? Hey, come take a look at this, Chibisuke.
Ryoma: What?
Ryoga: Check out this poster.
Ryoma: ā¦An antique market?
Ryoga: Looks like theyāre doing it over at the shrine.
Ryoga: I donāt have anything planned after this, so why donāt we swing by?
Ryoma: Oh, thatās a surpriseā¦ Youāre into that kind of stuff?
Ryoga: Itās just something to help pass the time, so letās go.
Ryoma: Ah! Waitā¦!
[Improvement Level 2 - Episode 2]
Ryoga: Hey, arenāt those guys over there from your school, Chibisuke?
Ryoma: ā¦Momo-senpai and Kaidoh-senpai.
Ryoma: Itās rare to see those two together.
Momoshiro: Why are you walking next to me!
Kaidoh: Because weāre heading back in the same direction, obviously!
Ryoga: Sounds like they got beefā¦
Ryoma: Theyāre always like that when theyāre around each other.
Ryoga: Oh, really? Must be nice to have that kind of energy.
Momoshiro: Hm? Oh, hey!
Ryoma: Whatāre you guys doing here?
Momoshiro: Weāre heading home from our shopping trip.
Ryoma: ā¦The both of you?
Kaidoh: Itās nothing like thatā¦!
Momoshiro: We ran into each other at the store, and we ended up leaving at the same time~ā¦
Kaidoh: Not that I wanted that to happenā¦
Ryoga: Heh, you must be pretty good friends.
Momoshiro & Kaidoh: Excuse me!
Ryoga: That was some good unisonā¦
Momoshiro: Well, anyway, why are you guys here?
Ryoma: Wellā¦
Ryoga: We both wanted to try the persimmon-flavored Pontaā¦
Kaidoh: ā¦Persimmon-flavored?
Ryoma: You donāt need to tell them everything.
Ryoga: What, are you embarrassed? Kakaka!
Ryoma: No, Iām not.
Ryoga: You get embarrassed when someone you know sees you with your family, donāt you. Classic.
Ryoma: Iām telling you Iām notā¦!
Momoshiro: Haha, you got him out of character!
Ryoma: ā¦Weāre on our way to that antique market.
Ryoga: Thereās a poster for it on that wall if you wanna check?
Momoshiro: Whoa, so theyāre holding an antique market at the shrine.
Kaidoh: ā¦!
Momoshiro: Whatās up?
Kaidoh: N-Noā¦ itās nothingā¦
Ryoga: Did that cat figurine on the poster catch your eye?
Kaidoh: Nuh-noā¦!?
Momoshiro: It did, you like cats.
Kaidoh: Shut up, Momoshiroā¦ When did I ever say I like cats!?
Ryoma: We already know. You love cats, Kaidoh-senpai.
Kaidoh: Whatāhuhā¦!?
Ryoga: Wahaha, hey, nothing wrong with that.
Ryoga: Anyway, if itās something you guys are interested in, then you should come with us!
Momoshiro: Right, letās go!
Kaidoh: (People already know I love catsā¦ Noā¦ it canāt beā¦)
[Improvement Level 2 - Episode 3]
Ryoga: Whoa, talk about a crowd!
Ryoma: Thereās a lot more people than I expected.
Momoshiro: Whoa!?
Ryoga: What?
Momoshiro: Th-Thereās thisā¦ huge personā¦
Kaidoh: Heās a headā¦ no, at least two heads taller than everyone.
Ryoma: Thatāsā¦
Ryoga: Oh, itās him.
Ryoga: Yo, Ochi.
Ochi: ā¦Echizen.
Ryoga: What a coincidence weād run into you here. You like antiques?
Ochi: Iām not interested.
Ryoga: Oh, then why are you here?
Ochi: Iām just stopping by on my walk.
Ryoga: Alright then. But yāknow you kinda stick out like a sore thumb, right?
Ochi: ā¦
Kaidoh: I wouldnāt go that farā¦
Ochi: ā¦Right.
Ryoga: Nah, I would say soā¦
Ryoga: See, thereās an old lady over there facing towards you with her hands together.
Ochi: Iām not a god.
Ryoga: Well, yeah, butā¦
Ryoga: Here, why donāt you come look around with us so people donāt get thrown off by you?
Ochi: Iāve no interest in associating with you.
Ryoga: Oof, okayā¦ He left.
Momoshiro: But at least with his height, weāll always be able to find himā¦
Kaidoh: Itās obvious he wanted to hang with us even though he said he didnāt.
Ryoga: Well, Iāll try asking him again later.
Ryoga: Alrighty, letās get a move on too.
Ryoga: Youāre all free to go from here. Go ahead and look around wherever.
Ryoga: Weāll meet back here in an hour. Okay?
Ryoma: I wonāt need that much free timeā¦
ā
Ryoga: Oh, youāre finally back, Chibisuke.
Ryoga: You sure took your sweet time picking out what you wanted, what happened to you not needing that much time?
Ryoma: ā¦They were selling the back issues of āTENNIS LIFE.ā
Ryoma: So, yeahā¦
Momoshiro: I got some used clothes! ā¦And you got a cat figurine, didnāt you?
Kaidoh: Wha!? Howād you know that!?
Ryoma: āCause itās obvious.
Kaidoh: Whā¦ Are you kidding meā¦!?
Ryoga: Wahaha, well itās good that you all got something you like!
Ryoma: So whatād you get?
Ryoga: Me?
Ryoga: Ahā¦ I actually got sleepy during the middle of it. So they let me take a nap in the main shrine. Kakaka!
Ryoma: I hope the gods smite youā¦
ā
Ryoga: Yo, Ochi. Whatād you buy?
Ochi: ā¦I bought a nice, miniature pot for bonsai. Iām satisfied.
Ryoga: Classyā¦
Momoshiro: So what now?
Ryoga: Wellā¦ Iām thinking itād be good to go grab a bite to eat and then head backā¦
Ryoma: Tennis.
Ryoga: Mm?
Ryoma: Letās play tennis.
Ryoma: Weāll get out of shape if we just head back after thisā¦ right?
Ryoga: Heh, this guyā¦
Ryoga: Okay then. Instead of returning to the camp, weāll return each otherās shots!
Momoshiro: Count me in! Are you joining in too?
Kaidoh: Hehā¦ obviously.
Ryoga: Hoo boy, I wonāt be able to handle all this by myself. Gimme a hand, Ochi.
Ochi: ā¦Very well.
Ryoga: Alrighty, letās head on over to the courts!
[Improvement Level 3 - Episode 1]
Ryoga: ā¦Zzzā¦ zzzā¦
Ryoga: Mmā¦ Wha?
Ryoga: Is thatā¦ a saxophone?
~āŖ
Ryoga: Kanata Irieā¦ So it was youā¦
Ryoga: I knew he sometimes practiced at night, but I guess he does it during the day, too.
~āŖ
Ryoga: He knows Iām here, right?
Ryoga: Well, either way, itād be rude to bother him.
~āŖ
Ryoga: Heh, alright then.
Ryoga: Taking a nap under this blue sky with a saxophone playing in the background wouldnāt be too bad now and again.
Ryoga: It kinda reminds me of the USā¦
Ryoga: ā¦
~āŖ
Ryoga: ā¦Zzzā¦ zzzā¦
Ryoga: ā¦Zzzā¦ zzzā¦
~āŖāŖāŖ
Ryoga: Whoa!?
Ryoga: Wh-What theā¦!? It suddenly got louderā¦!?
~āŖāŖāŖ
Ryoga: Hold upā¦ is he doing that on purpose ācause he knows Iām trying to sleep?
~āŖāŖāŖ
Ryoga: Nahā¦ It looks like he hasnāt even acknowledged me.
Ryoga: Maybe heās getting louder ācause heās getting into the groove of itā¦
~āŖāŖāŖ
Ryoga: Ugh, jeezā¦ I give upā¦
Ryoga: Iām not gonna be able to take a decent nap with this racketā¦
~āŖāŖāŖ
Ryoga: Maybe I should just let him know Iām here?
Ryoga: No, waitā¦ I probably shouldnāt.
Ryoga: Itās not like I can just go up to him and tell him heās interrupting my nap.
~āŖāŖāŖ
Ryoga: Looks like Iāll just have to be patient then.
Ryoga: Okay, I guess Iāll stay awake for a while till heās done practicing.
~āŖāŖāŖ
Ryoga: Uhā¦ So, whenās that gonna beā¦?
[Improvement Level 3 - Episode 2]
~āŖāŖāŖ
Ryoga: Oh my godā¦ Seriously, when is it gonna end?
~āŖāŖāŖ ~āŖāŖāŖ
Ryoga: It looks like Irieās getting even more into itā¦
~āŖāŖāŖ ~āŖāŖāŖ
Ryoga: Lord have mercyā¦
Ryoga: Thereās other people that are gonna complain about this, right?
ā
Zaizen: ā¦Oh. So youāre here, Irie-san.
Irie: ā¦Hm?
ā
Ryoga: Houghā¦ Finally, someone else came to stop him.
ā
Irie: Zaizen-kun. Is there something you need from me?
Zaizen: Hold that thought, are you good if I take a couple pictures?
Irie: Huh?
Zaizen: Well, you were looking really cool just now.
Irie: R-Really? Iām a little embarrassed now that youāve said that.
Irie: Uhmā¦ What kind of pose should I do?
Zaizen: Oh, just play the sax like you normally would please.
Zaizen: How you look as is is meh, but you do look cool when youāre playing the sax.
Irie: ā¦I see. Yeah, I suppose youāre right.
ā
Ryoga: Um wow, that was pretty rude, wasnāt it? He should learn to say things a little nicerā¦
ā
Irie: Well thenā¦
~āŖ
Zaizen: Yeah, just like that.
~āŖ
Zaizen: Iām really digging this!
~āŖāŖāŖ ~āŖāŖāŖ
ā
Ryoga: And now itās freaking loud.
ā
Irie: Phewā¦ How was that?
Zaizen: Great. I got some good pictures thanks to you.
Zaizen: Oh, you cool if I post them on my blog?
Irie: No, I donāt mind at all.
Zaizen: Take a look at this one, thereās a shadow covering your face so I donāt need to censor it, plus it looks pretty cool.
Irie: ā¦Right.
ā
Ryoga: Thatās pretty harshā¦
ā
Irie: A-Anywayā¦ is there something you needed from meā¦?
Zaizen: Oh, yeah. Ootori was looking for you.
Irie: Ootori-kun? What for?
Zaizen: Iām texting him right now, so you can ask him about it.
Irie: All right.
ā
Ryoga: Now someone else is coming?
Ryoga: Oh, brotherā¦ Well, there goes any chance of me getting a napā¦
[Improvement Level 3 - Episode 3]
Choutarou: Great work today, Irie-san!
Irie: Hey, Ootori-kun.
Irie: So, you needed something from me, Ootori-kun?
Choutarou: Well actuallyā¦ Iāve been wanting to discuss music with you for a while now, Irie-san.
Irie: Discuss music?
Choutarou: You play the saxophone donāt you, Irie-san?
Choutarou: I also play a little piano and violinā¦
Irie: Oh, is that so?
Choutarou: Well to be honest, I do it more as a hobby thoughā¦
Zaizen: Even though itās a hobby, heās still pretty good at it. Apparently he has perfect pitch.
Irie: Thatās incredible.
Choutarou: I know you sometimes practice your saxophone at night, Irie-san.
Choutarou: Hearing you play late at night is amazing!
Zaizen: But one wrong note and then everyone kisses their good sleep goodbye.
Choutarou: Z-Zaizen!?
ā
Ryoga: Well, heās not wrong.
ā
Choutarou: A-Anyway Irie-san, I would like to discussā
Irie: Ootori-kunā¦ Any chance you could hurry and get your violin?
Choutarou: Huh? Ohā¦ Yes, I could, butā¦
Irie: Then why donāt you and I have a music session together?
Choutarou: Whaā¦ A music session!?
Irie: The best way to have a conversation between musicians is to have a session, right?
Choutarou: Y-Yeahā¦ Iāll go get it right away!
ā
Ryoga: Wowā¦ A saxophone and violin session, eh. Thisāll be interesting.
ā
Irie: Well then, shall we begin?
Choutarou: Y-Yesā¦!
Irie: One, twoā¦
~āŖāŖāŖ ~āŖāŖāŖ
ā
Ryoga: Ooh, thatās nice!
ā
Zaizen: This is really hype!
Irie: Not bad, Ootori-kun.
Choutarou: Thank you very much, Irie-san!
ā
Ryoga: Heh, not catching any Zās is fine if I get to listen to this, I suppose.
Ryoga: Guess Iāll enjoy the entertainment for a while.
ā
Irie: Whewā¦ I was completely immersed in it.
Choutarou: Ahā¦ What time is it nowā¦?
Ryoga: Yo, great job.
Choutarou: Huhā¦
Zaizen: Huhā¦ Since when did you get here?
Ryoga: Since the very beginning.
Irie: Really? I didnāt notice you at all.
Ryoga: Oh, donāt give me that. You knew the whole time, didnāt you?
Ryoga: Being all loud, interrupting my nap and now youāre trying to lie about it.
Irie: Fufu, well, maybe so?
Irie: More importantly, what did you think of our performance?
Ryoga: It was pretty good, Iām actually fine that I wasnāt able to sleep.
Irie: Iām glad to hear it.
Choutarou: Thank you very much!
Ryoga: But you should probably stop doing it at night, yāknow? People might start filing complaints for messing with their sleep. Kakaka!
[Improvement Level 4 - Episode 1]
Mitsuya: ā¦Ryoga Echizen.
Mitsuya: Birthday: December 23rd, Capricorn. Height: 180cm. Weight: 67kg.
Mitsuya: Blood type: O. Vision is 1.4 in both eyes.
Mitsuya: Right-handed. Playing style is all-rounder. Special move: Destruction.
Mitsuya: Hobby is napping. Special skill is breakdancing.
Mitsuya: His stats areā¦ unknown.
Mitsuya: How unfortunateā¦ thereās still very little we know about him.
Mitsuya: While I do have his basic data down, I am unable to measure him based on that alone.
Mitsuya: It is clearly evident that heās skilled. I would even say heās one of the best out of the U-17 Japanese Representativesā¦
Mitsuya: However, the full picture of that man remains a mystery.
Mitsuya: First and foremost, heās never even shown anyone how he practices.
Mitsuya: I was fortunate enough to be able to watch him practice today, but I do not believe those were his true capabilities.
ā
Ryoga: Hah!
Ryoga: ā¦Hm?
Ryoga: Guess thatās about it for today~. Alright, Iām gonna go find a place to take a nap.
Ryoga: Oh, itās Chibisuke. Heyy, Chibisuke~!
ā
Mitsuya: He wasnāt cutting any corners. But he also wasnāt giving it his allā¦
Mitsuya: That man is still hiding his true power. And the reason for that is unclearā¦
Mitsuya: How very interesting. Heās a man truly worth collecting data on.
Mitsuya: In any case, I must gather more data on him. Anything, no matter how trivial.
Mitsuya: That manā¦ I must know more about this Ryoga Echizen.
Mitsuya: But, there are limits on what Iām able to do on my ownā¦ So in that caseā¦
Mitsuya: Iāll go consult the others a bit as well. The more data I have, the better.
[Improvement Level 4 - Episode 2]
Mitsuya: ā¦And that is why I specifically asked you three to come here.
Mitsuya: Ryoga Echizenā¦ I would like each of you to share and exchange the data you have on that man.
Mitsuya: And of course, Iāll share my data as well.
Mitsuya: What do you think? I think itād be a good idea.
Inui: Iām not against it, Akuto-senpai.
Yanagi: I as well, Akuto-niisan.
Mizuki: Mmmā¦ It is true that thereās a lack of data on him.
Mizuki: I will cooperate with you, Mitsuya-san.
Mitsuya: Thank you, everyone. I appreciate it.
Inui: That being said, Iām pretty sure the data we all have on him is mostly the sameā¦
Yanagi: We still donāt have a the full details on him. Weāre essentially in the same boat as you, Akuto-niisan.
Mitsuya: Even the most trivial piece of info will suffice. It could even be something uncertain like a rumor. Right now I just need any data I can muster.
Mizuki: Mmmā¦ Then, how about this piece of info?
Mizuki: Ryoga Echizen is quite fond of orangesā¦
Mizuki: Itās said that heās traveled across the globe in search of the most delicious oranges.
Inui: Whaā¦ Just for oranges!? Who in their right mind would do something like thatā¦
Yanagi: Wellā¦ I believe it may be true, Sadaharu. Iāve heard rumors similar to that as well.
Yanagi: Depending on which country you visit, you may not be able to understand the language at all.
Yanagi: It is said that during times like that, Ryoga Echizen would arrange dance battles and utilize his special skill: breakdancing.
Inui: D-Dance battlesā¦!?
Yanagi: Supposedly he would win the battles and use them as a means to break the ice with others.
Inui: So youāre saying he communicated through dancingā¦?
Yanagi: Thatās just a rumor, though.
Mitsuya: Excellent, Renji. Thank you for the info too, Mizuki. Thatās exactly what I wanted.
Mitsuya: That drive to travel the world for your favorite foodā¦ and using a different means of communication to compensate for language barriersā¦
Mitsuya: Both are compelling pieces of data that align with his abilities.
Mitsuya: How about you, Inui? Is there anything youāve heard about him?
Inui: W-Well, since you asked, I have heard somethingā¦
Inui: Apparently, here at this training camp, Ryoga Echizen had borrowed a comb from Duke-senpaiā¦
Inui: But, he has yet to return itā¦!
Mitsuya: Thatāsā¦
Inui: H-Huhā¦?
Yanagi: Sadaharuā¦ Thatās not what he meant.
Inui: Actually, I believe it shows a part of his personality and that he surprisingly has a lazy side to himā¦
Mitsuya: Iāll ask him to return it next time I see himā¦
Mitsuya: Is there anything elseā¦
Mizuki: Mmā¦ Come to think of it, I often see him rallying with Echizen-kun.
Mizuki: Ryoga Echizenās behavior is unclear and somewhat elusive Iād sayā¦
Mizuki: So if we were to follow Echizen-kun, it may make it easier to understand Ryoga Echizenās behavior.
Mitsuya: I see, thatās a good idea!
Mitsuya: Fundamentally, the basis of data acquisition is observation, itās just as you said. Letās scope out Echizen, shall we?
ā
Ryoga: Oh, pleaseā¦
[Improvement Level 4 - Episode 3]
Ryoga: Hey hey, whatās wrong, Chibisuke!? Is that all you got?
Ryoma: ā¦Right back at you, youāve got a ways to go.
Ryoga: If you say so! Kakaka!
ā
Mitsuya: Right on target, now weāre able to observe him through following Echizen.
Mitsuya: Echizen is one of the most talented amongst the middle schoolersā¦
Mitsuya: With him as an opponent, even he wouldnāt be able to keep his abilities concealed if he tried.
Inui: Ngh! Ryoga Echizenās backhand just now had a different speed and angle compared to the previous data!
Inui: That backhand has not been recorded in my dataā¦
Yanagi: And it appears that his Twist Serve is more powerful than beforeā¦
Yanagi: Has he been hiding it this whole time? Or perhapsā¦ he has no choice but to be serious since his opponent is Echizen?
Mizuki: Mmmā¦ And just now with his movement by the net, he moved forward at a different timing than before.
Mizuki: This is valuable data.
Mitsuya: Marvelousā¦
Mitsuya: With this data weāre receiving, little by little Ryoga Echizenās true power will eventually be revealed!
Mitsuya: This is truly marvelous!
Mitsuya: Moreā¦ Show me more, Ryoga Echizen!
Inui: Hmm!? What was that movement!?
Inui: Itās a unique movement Iāve never seen beforeā¦
Yanagi: There is a precise rhythm to it, howeverā¦ almost like dancingā¦
Inui: Like heās dancingā¦ Dancingā¦?
Mizuki: Mmā¦ Yes, akin to breakdancing even.
Mitsuya: Breakdancingā¦!?
Mitsuya: No, is he reallyā¦ Heās incorporating breakdancing moves into his tennisā¦!?
Mizuki: Noā¦ It appears heās simply playing around with themā¦
Inui: S-So in other wordsā¦ heās aware weāre watching him and heās doing it intentionallyā¦?
Yanagi: So this data weāve collected is falseā¦?
Mizuki: Mmmā¦ Iām afraid so.
Mitsuya: Heās cleverā¦ You are something else, Ryoga Echizen.
ā
Ryoga: Hehā¦
Ryoga: How naĆÆve of them to think they can figure me out just by watching me.
Ryoga: If they wanted my data so bad they couldāve just came up to me and asked. Right, Chibisuke?
Ryoma: Hey, can you stop looking over there and get serious?
Ryoga: Wahaha, me looking over there is actually making it more fair for you.
Ryoma: Seriouslyā¦
Ryoga: If you ask me, they got a ways to go and so do you! Kakaka!
[Improvement Level 5 - Episode 1]
Kintarou: Gimme a bite of your meat, Koshimae!
Ryoma: Not so fast.
Kintarou: Oh cāmon, just one bite. Donāt be stingy.
Kintarou: Iāll give you my broccoli in return.
Ryoma: Why would I trade my meat for broccoliā¦
Ryoga: Wow, a full house.
Kintarou: Itās Koshimaeās big bro!
Ryoga: Chibisuke, can I sit here?
Ryoma: Go ahead.
Ryoga: Aw, what a bummer. I was gonna have orange jelly for dessert, but they were all out of it.
Ryoga: Iām a big fan of the orange jelly here since they use a lot of pulp for it, butā¦
Kintarou: Mm? Is this the orange jelly youāre talking about, Koshimaeās big bro?
Ryoga: Ah, yeah, it is! Wait, so youā¦
Kintarou: I took the last one.
Ryoga: So you didā¦ Well, you grabbed it, so itās yours.
Kintarou: Did you really wanna eat it that bad? In that case, you can have it big bro!
Ryoga: Huh? No, itās yoursā¦
Kintarou: Itās fine, I only grabbed it ācause I like the color orange.
Kintarou: But you like orange flavor, donāt you big bro? So you should eat it!
Ryoga: Youāreā¦ a good kidā¦
Ryoga: Okay, then letās trade! Iāll give you my dessert for your jelly!
Kintarou: Whoa! But thatās that limited edition fruit platter!
Kintarou: Youāll really give that to me!?
Ryoga: Yeah, no sweat.
Ryoga: Iād much rather have the jelly since the platter doesnāt even have any oranges.
Kintarou: Itās a deal then! Thank you, Koshimaeās big bro! Youāre a really nice guy!
Ryoma: Howād it come to thisā¦?
Ryoga: Man, the orange jelly here really is the best!
Kintarou: And this fruit platterās incredible! I canāt get enough of it!
Ryoma: Wellā¦ whateverā¦
[Improvement Level 5 - Episode 2]
Ryoga: Alrightyā¦ Stuffed my face and now I think itās time for a nap on the roof.
Jirou: Ahā¦ hi there~.
Ryoga: Hi, were you gonna take a nap too?
Jirou: Welllā¦ you said you were gonna go to the roof for a napā¦
Jirou: But right now, a bunch of people who like dancing are up thereā¦ and theyāre all dancing aroundā¦
Jirou: So itās really noisyā¦ It wouldnāt be the best place for a napā¦ *yawn*ā¦
Ryoga: Ah, well thatās unfortunate.
Jirou: Nah, for realsiesā¦
Jirou: Iām forced to wake up early every day at this training campā¦
Jirou: So napping is neāCāessary for me.
Ryoga: R-Rightā¦
Ryoga: I like napping too, but I canāt imagine being constantly tired while Iām awakeā¦
Jirou: Well itās break time, so that means itās okay to relax and sleepā¦ *yawn*ā¦
Jirou: Anyway, Iām gonna go find another spot to nap inā¦
Jirou: I wouldnāt bother going to the rooftop during lunch if I were youā¦
Ryoga: Got it. Thanks for the heads up.
Jirou: No biggieā¦ Welp, Iāll be on my wayā¦ *yawn*ā¦
Ryoga: Mmmā¦
Ryoga: Maybe itād be better for me to look for a different napping spot tooā¦
Ryoga: ā¦But once I heard the word ādanceā, my body just automatically started tingling.
Ryoga: Soooā¦ I think Iāll skip the napping for today and go do some dancing.
[Improvement Level 5 - Episode 3]
Byoudouin: Perishā¦!
*boom!*
Ryoga: Hehā¦ Youāve got a ways to go.
*boom!*
ā
Ryoma: Wowā¦
ā
Byoudouin: You bastardā¦! How far will you go to follow me!?
*boom!*
Ryoga: Iāll follow you wherever till you throw in the towel!
*boom!*
ā
Oni: Oh greatā¦ I thought I heard some racketā¦
Ryoma: Itās cool, isnāt it.
Oni: Whatās so cool about them hitting āDestructionā shots back and forth?
Oni: Just look. The courtās getting destroyed because of them.
ā
Byoudouin: Hmph!
*boom!*
Ryoga: Hah!
*boom!*
ā
Oni: Jesusā¦ Have some sympathy for the people who will have to clean up this mess.
Ryoma: You donāt really have room to talk, though.
Oni: Whatād you just say?
Ryoma: Nothing.
Oni: Echizenā¦ do you want to be like them?
Ryoma: Of course.
Oni: Hmphā¦
Oni: Well, it would be too reckless for you right now.
Oni: Butā¦ I guess itās only a matter of time before youāre among their ranks.
Ryoma: Alright, then Iām gonna join in tomorrow.
Oni: Tchā¦ Well arenāt you cocky.
ā
Ryoga: Orah!
*boom!*
Byoudouin: Kuhā¦!?
Ryoga: Hehā¦ Told you, didnāt I?
Ryoga: Thereās a ways to go.
Byoudouin: Bastardā¦!
Ryoga: Hm? Oh, itās Chibisuke!
Ryoga: Whatcha doinā over there? Cheering me on?
Ryoga: You specifically came over here ācause you want something from me, isnāt that right?
Ochi: ā¦The Red vs. White competition.
Ryoga: Yeahā¦ That was pretty interesting, wasnāt it.
Mouri: Oh, yeah? We did panic a little since someone from somewhere had targeted us.
Ryoga: Wow, really?
Mouri: I thought it was random at first, but those chestnuts were definitely aimed at us.
Mouri: Right, Tsuki-san?
Ochi: ā¦
Ryoga: Well, thatās not good.
Ochi: ā¦It was you, wasnāt it. Ryoga Echizen.
Ryoga: Huh, what makes you say that?
Ochi: Cut the clueless act.
Ochi: The weight of those shotsā¦ Itās obvious that no middle schooler couldāve hit them.
Ochi: Therefore, that ultimately means they were hit by a high schooler.
Ryoga: Huh, itās kind of irrational to accuse me just because of that, isnāt it?
Ochi: I have another reason.
Mouri: And what reason would that be, Tsuki-sanā¦?
Ochi: I saw him smirking after it happened.
Mouri: Smirkingā¦ Right, now that you mention it!
Ochi: You enjoyed seeing our reactions, didnāt you? Ryoga Echizen.
Ryoga: Kakaka! You got me.
Mouri: Whatā¦ this isnāt something to laugh overā¦
Mouri: Why did you do that?
Ryoga: Oh come on, you didnāt hear them say we werenāt allowed to go for the black balloons, did you?
Ryoga: Plus, itās more fun when something unexpected happens, isnāt it?
Mouri: Uh no, and it wasnāt fun or anything like that, weā
Ochi: ā¦Yes, youāre right.
Mouri: Whaāyouāre agreeing with him, Tsuki-san!?
Ochi: Those shots had created a sense of tension amongst the high schoolers.
Ochi: It had showed us that we needed to pay attention to each of the attacks, not just the middle schoolers and eagles.
Mouri: Well, yeah, sureā¦
Ochi: I thought it was good practice.
Mouri: If you say so, Tsuki-sanā¦
Ryoga: Hehā¦ Well, Iād like to do it with just the high schoolers someday.
Ochi: Yesā¦ That would be a good opportunity.
Mouri: Well, thatā¦ would be a lot to handleā¦
[Improvement Level 6 - Episode 2]
Ryoga: Ugh, manā¦ Thereās no way Iām going outside with this rain.
Ryoga: Well, I guess walking around in the camp isnāt so bad.
Ryoga: Hm? Thatāsā¦
ā
Tokugawa: Hahā¦ hahā¦
Ryoga: ā¦
Tokugawa: Hahā¦ whewwwā¦
Ryoga: ā¦
Tokugawa: ā¦
Tokugawa: Umā¦
Ryoga: Mm?
Tokugawa: What are you doing?
Ryoga: Watching.
Tokugawa: What are you watching?
Ryoga: You training.
Tokugawa: For what purpose?
Ryoga: Because I have time to.
Tokugawa: ā¦Is that not strange?
Ryoga: Is it?
Tokugawa: If you have all this free time, why donāt you train as well?
Ryoga: Because I donāt want to.
Ryoga: Besides, todayās an off day. And I donāt train on my off days.
Tokugawa: Then why are you here?
Ryoga: Because I was taking a walk and then saw you training.
Tokugawa: Are you toying with me?
Ryoga: Nope, just watching.
Tokugawa: ā¦Thereās other places you could go, are there not?
Ryoga: Itās raining outside. I donāt like rain.
Tokugawa: Thereās other places indoors you could go, are there not?
Ryoga: Yeah, I guess.
Tokugawa: Then why donāt you go there?
Ryoga: Why do you want me to leave?
Tokugawa: You are toying with me, arenāt you?
Ryoga: What do you think?
Tokugawa: Iāll be blunt then. Leave.
Ryoga: Hey, hey, that really hurts. Iām actually a lot more delicate than I look, you know?
Tokugawa: If you were ādelicateā, you wouldnāt have interrupted someone elseās training in that manner.
Ryoga: Wahaha, true.
Ryoga: Well, donāt worry about me, you can keep going.
Tokugawa: And I am telling you Iām unable to continue because youāre disrupting meā¦
Tokugawa: (Is this person really Echizen-kunās older brotherā¦)
Tokugawa: (I wonder what Echizen-kun thinks of himā¦?)
[Improvement Level 6 - Episode 3]
Ryoma: Hey.
Ryoga: Mm? Oh, youāre here Chibisuke?
Ryoma: You got free time? Then come practice with me.
Ryoga: Sorry, Iām busy right now.
Tokugawa: You told me you had time earlier, did you not?
Ryoga: Hey, donāt rat me out.
Tokugawa: I didnāt need to.
Ryoga: Oh, come onā¦ You know I donāt train on my off daysā¦
Ryoma: Itās not a problem if itās training with me, right? You can just keep me company.
Ryoga: Hmā¦ Well, thatās one way to go about it.
Ryoga: Oh alright, your kind older brother will help you out!
Tokugawa: Good griefā¦ finally peace and quietā¦
ā
Ryoga: Hey, Chibisuke.
Ryoma: What?
Ryoga: Whatād you do today?
Ryoma: Something better than dealing with you.
Ryoga: Oh? You werenāt bothering anyone, were you?
Ryoma: You talking about yourself?
Ryoga: Wahaha, did you see how annoyed Tokugawa looked?
Ryoma: So you knew what you were doing.
Ryoga: Well, the dudeās just a little too serious.
Ryoga: I think people like him need to ease up at least a little so they donāt self-destruct.
Ryoma: Why donāt you just tell him that thenā¦!
Ryoga: Because thatās none of his business, mākay~
Ryoga: Oop, thereās an opening!
Ryoma: ā¦Ngh!!
Ryoma: ā¦!!
Ryoma: Tchā¦
Ryoga: Hehā¦ Youāve got a ways to go.
ā
Ryoga: Alright, it should be stopping by now.
Ryoga: Mm? Whatās thisā¦ the rain passed before I even realized.
Ryoma: Would seem so.
Ryoga: Huhā¦ I canāt believe Iā¦
Ryoga: (I was so absorbed in playing with Chibisuke that I didnāt even notice the rain had stoppedā¦)
Ryoga: (I havenāt had this happen since I was a kidā¦)
Ryoga: ā¦
Ryoma: Heyā¦ Whatās wrong?
Ryoma: Should I bail since youāre gonna keep spacing out?
Ryoga: You littleā¦
Ryoga: You and that smart mouth of yours, that does it~!
Ryoma: Whā¦ What theā¦!?
Ryoga: Wahahaha! Youāre my baby bro, but you sure are cocky!
Ryoma: Thā¦ That huwwts, big bwā
Ryoga: Huh? What was that?
Ryoma: !! ā¦I didnāt say anything.
Ryoga: Heh, yeah, sure you didnāt.
Ryoga: (I hate the rain, butā¦ if I can have fun during it, maybe itās not so bad once in a while.)
So, about that last part where Ryoga didnāt realize the rain had stopped and him saying he hadnāt experienced that since he was a child. There are some things to take from it:
It could possibly be in reference to him being able to spend time with Ryoma without being concerned over any outside factors. He was able to spend as much time with Ryoma as he wanted when they were children, but after he was taken and they eventually reunited at the camp, he has not been able to spend proper time with him or they get interrupted.
Rain is a very popular metaphor for sadness/bad memories (rain rhymes with pain). So in this context, it may symbolize that he was able to forget about his sadness from being able to spend time with Ryoma. Which he hasnāt been able to experience since he was a child due to them being separated.
Him saying he hates rain but is okay if he can have fun (with Ryoma). Again, this ties back to the rain metaphor, and it likely symbolizes heās okay with experiencing sadness/bad memories as long as he can still make good memories and/or be with his brother.
Also does anyone else feel that Ryoga likes dancing more than tennis? Because thatās also what I got from this.
Kurobe Memo: āEven though many areas already have a high degree of perfection, I suspect itās highly likely heāll continue to grow and improve. I would like to see him work on building his body without sacrificing balance.ā [RB]
[POSSESSIONS]
Whatās in His Bedroom [10.5]:
Trophies from past competitions // Theyāre randomly placed since he doesnāt really care for them
Alarm clock on his bed // The alarm doesnāt necessarily wake him upā¦
TV and game consoles // He has several types of game consoles but keeps the one he uses the most (Nintendo 64) connected to the TV
Closet // Where his school uniforms are stored. His mother will put them away if theyāre left out
His pajamas heās left out // Heās always in a rush when he gets ready for school
Karupinās favorite cat toy // A cat tail toy
Whatās in His Bag [10.5]:
A beginnerās guide to doubles // He bought it after playing doubles with Momoshiro. He forgot it was in there
Notebook // His math notebook he forgot to take out
Photos of Karupin // He insists that he didnāt put them in there
Notepad // Heās written down emergency phone numbers since heās always late
Pen case
Game Boy Advance // Bought for him as a starting school gift, he plays it during his free time
Senbei // He drinks Fanta/Ponta when eating senbei
Whatās in His Locker at the U-17 Training Camp [10.5 II]
Game console // A PSP. He is absorbed in video games when heās not playing tennis and has recently been playing a tennis game
Photo of Karupin // Itās one of his favorites
Fanta/Ponta // His favorite is grape flavor
Senbei // Having Fanta and senbei together is a must
[TRIVIA]
The Prince of Tennis 10.5 Fanbook | Release Date: 11/02/2001
Although heās lived in the US, he still prefers Japanese food and isnāt fond of Western food
People tend to be aggravated by him due to his abrasive personality, but he means no ill-intent by it
He gained his arrogant and abrasive personality from growing up in the US
He will speak his mind regardless of how it sounds as he believes itās a way of being kind
His first name is written in katakana rather than kanji. Itās alluded that it may be due to his mother being another nationality besides Japanese
Konomi had Ryoma wear a hat since he thought it was cool, and wanted people to associate his FILA hat with him
He is called āShortyā by Kikumaru but does not mind it since he says height doesnāt matter in tennis
He likes grape-flavored Fanta/Ponta
He keeps everything he needs for school in his tennis bag, hence why he gets confused when some items are still in it
His personality is described as pessimistic, but shy and gentle and is always striving for improvement
Konomi originally did not intend for him to be the protagonist. The role was originally going to be given to Kintarou, with Ryoma being his rival. He initially thought Ryoma would be difficult to portray as a protagonist, be better as a sub character and that making him the protagonist would dampen the mood of the series. He eventually decided on Ryoma and built the other characters around him
Konomi describes him as a ābad guyā, and that him defeating people who are even worse is a focal point of the series
