sendoh's future occupation (from a source close to inoue)
Hi guys, I apologize for such a long hiatus haha. My focus has mostly been on university (I graduate next year and I am not sure if I have a future in this doomed economy...) but my mind often goes back to Sendoh HAHHAHA. For being a side character in a series that has ended almost thirty years ago, he is quite enigmatic. The way he was written makes him feel like someone you may encounter in your day to day life. I feel like almost everyone has encountered a Sendoh in their life; the type of person that leaves you baffled in amazement, yet you never get to truly know the type of life they live. Either because they put up a polite distance or because you were so focused on idealizing them that you never truly got to know them as a person.
Even despite reading the series numerous times and having written many analyses about Sendoh, he remains a character shrouded in many mysteries.
Last year I had coincidentally encountered a man that was acquainted with Inoue and I looked for his account on Linkedin a while back to see if I could ask him more about the SD cast, but unfortunately, his account was deleted.
However, there is another really interesting detail about Sendoh I had forgotten to include in the post with the other special facts about him. When I asked if Inoue had a future occupation for Sendoh, I was told something very interesting: While Sendoh goes on to "do many things as an adult, but one of his biggest dreams is to open a cafe by the seaside" AND THIS IS JUST SO HIM???? It suits him so well, especially as the type of person who likes to observe others and the world around him.
I imagine him being known as the hot owner that everyone gushes about, who makes lots of conversation with his visitors, and yet they don't know much about him. I think he'd live a peaceful and relaxed life.
One of my favorite tropes in sports anime is when a player is getting beat or struggling in a game but is genuinely having the time of their life and are happier than you've ever seen them... oh sports animes how i love you so...
Hey hru? can u pls 😭🙏🏻 write another hcs for sendoh akira, i really like like your others posts too!!!
Sendoh Akira Relationship Headcanons
I'm doing well, Thank you for asking and for liking my posts! It took some time for me to write this bc it's been a while since I've read slam dunk, and I didn't want this to seem out of character. Let me know if you like it! ❤️
He loves the fact that he can truly be himself around you, free from any preconceived image he feels he needs to live up to. At first, it took him a while to break out of that mold, but once he did, he felt happier than ever. For that reason, I think Sendoh cherishes the awkward, early stages of a relationship, where getting to know each other is the top priority. His observation skills are always at work when he’s with you—lingering in the back of his mind, in the corners of his vision, his ears tuned in to your thoughts and opinions on every topic. He’s extra cautious during those first few months, carefully noting any expectations you might have of him. He believes that if you’re both in the process of learning about each other, and as much as he hates to say it, he should be able to not live up to some expectations, allowing him to simply be himself without pressure. And he hopes for you to be same.
Sendoh starts his day by complimenting your appearance, even if your hair is a mess. You usually give him a side-eye, to which he responds by yelling, “It’s true, though!”—and he’s not one to lie to you.
While everyone knows he’s a merciless teaser, he always catches you off guard, striking when you least expect it. Yet, despite his playful jabs, he loves it when you tease him physically, it's amusing. grab his thigh, and squeeze while uttering something cheezy, massage his shoulders as you lean in to whisper in his ear, even if most of your emotional teasing flies right over his head. He never sees it coming. They say, “You can’t play a player,” but you’re living proof that it’s possible.
Sendoh has a special collection—folders on TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms—all titled “♥️.” It’s filled with cool videos he stumbles across, saved just for those moments when you’re lying on his chest, cuddling and snuggling closer. He loves sharing them with you to make your time together even more special. Whether it’s breathtaking places, adorable animals, jaw-dropping basketball techniques, or those stim board compilations he’s obsessed with, it’s all part of his way of connecting with you and creating memories.
Have to match eachothers vibe. If he's in a silly mood, you're in a silly mood. If you're sad, he's sad. If you're about to crash out, he's there in the corner, watching... carefully observing you, debating if he should hold you back or let you continue.
Sendoh’s PDA is subtle. He’s not hiding his relationship, but I feel like he isn’t the type to flaunt it in front of others either. He’s more about quiet, meaningful gestures—a gentle touch on your hand, a soft smile when your eyes meet, or standing just a little closer when you’re in a crowd. It’s his way of showing affection without making it a spectacle. For him, the intimacy of your connection matters more than public displays, and he’s perfectly content with keeping those special moments just between the two of you.
His mother absolutely adores you. After years of watching countless girls approach him without success, she’s overjoyed and proud that Sendoh has found someone like you. She’s the kind of person who notices the subtle ways he shows affection—the small gestures that others might miss—after all, what kind of mother would she be if she didn't?
Sendoh isn’t the type to outright tell his mother that he’s found someone he’s completely smitten with. Instead, he casually drops hints, keeping it low-key until the very last moment. In fact, he might’ve only mentioned once that he liked a girl—and even then, it was just a passing comment. It isn’t until the day before your first date that he finally lets it slip, leaving his mother both surprised and thrilled. She’s been waiting for this moment for years, and now that it’s here, she can’t help but feel a mix of pride and excitement for her son. Sendoh, on the other hand, is just relieved she didn’t bombard him with too many questions—at least, not yet. and she’s always eager to help him plan his simple yet thoughtful date ideas. Sendoh is genuinely happy that you get along so well with her, and it’s clear that her approval means the world to him. It’s like you’ve not only won his heart but also become a cherished part of his family. It makes things easy, simple. It's just the way he likes it.
His dad, however, is another story, a story too... uninteresting and full of unnecessities.
The good thing is that they both approve of his relationship.
I've long been meaning to compile a list of little things I've noticed during a re-read of Slam Dunk. But I doubt I'll be able finish the re-read anytime soon so here's a partial list of 5 things I thought would be fun to share!
Maki's hairstyle change
Maki first appears in the manga with one hairstyle:
But after Sakuragi calls him a middle aged man in the middle of the Shohoku-Kainan match, we see a very pissed Maki. The next time we see him is when he's on the way to watch the Aiwa Gakuen match, and he's sporting a different and much younger looking hairstyle.
He then keeps this hairstyle for the rest of the manga, even during matches. Looks like our boy Sakuragi touched a nerve ;)
Shoyo's Reaction
In the match between Shohoku and Shoyo (chapter 87) Sakuragi collides into Fujima and Shoyo's players all look REALLY anxious/triggered when they see Fujima crashing onto the floor. Their reaction had always struck me as a bit over the top. Why would they react that way? Their captain is no fragile flower.
The reason is revealed exactly 55 chapters later, in the Toyotama match (chapter 142). There, we learn through a flashback that in last year's IH tournament, Fujima had been so badly injured by Toyotama's Minami that he had to retire, and that cost them the match. Shoyo's players must've been reminded of that incident when they saw Sakuragi crashing into Fujima.
Which means... Inoue sensei had probably planned all the characters' back stories from the start. Something that was first brought up in chapter 87 was addressed a whopping 55 chapters later. It makes you wonder: what else had been planned from the get go?
Fujima's pretty boy image
A little tidbit about Fujima - he has fangirls, which isn't surprising. But what's not outright stated is that his fans see him as a pretty boy. I didn't full clock this until I saw an Inoue sketch of Fujima on the inside cover of the Kanzenban, where a rather annoyed Fujima is shown in a sea of fans and his thought bubble roughly translates to... "These guys... don't they say 'you can't judge a book by its cover'?"
Suddenly, that seemingly-random goatee that Fujima sported in 10 Days After makes so much sense. He was growing it to counter his pretty boy image ahaha!
Rukawa's position in team lineups
Rukawa, being the quiet type that doesn't like to draw attention to himself outside of a match, has a tendency to stand to the sides for team line ups. See where he stands for various line ups: always at the end, never in the middle 3*. The only exception to this? When they faced Sannoh. I think it's a reflection of how hyped up he was to play Japan's No. 1 player.
*In contrast, Sakuragi has no qualms occupying the middle for lineups
Examples
Rukawa's position soon after the team line up in the Kainan match:
Rukawa's position in lineup against Ryonan:
There are more examples in the manga but I don't have time to hunt them down one by one. But he always favours standing to the side.
Now finally, Rukawa's position for the Sannoh match lineup:
Sendoh's speech patterns
In the Japanese original manga, Sendoh's speech pattern is pretty distinctive. Put simply, he has a tendency to drawl. Which IMO really suits his laidback, slightly aloof personality. So when you next read the manga, imagine Sendoh with a drawl ;)
