Masami Higashikata

With a height of 187cm and a weight of 76kg, Masami has a tall and sturdy physique well-suited for his powerful style of tennis.

Masami is a cautious and meticulous individual, reflected in his motto, "Look before you leap."

He is not one for the spotlight, preferring a steady and unassuming approach both on and off the court.

Despite his flawless technique, it's suggested he has a mental vulnerability under high pressure.

He has a practical side, shown by his skill in neatly wrapping gyoza and his interest in trivia.

School Life

He is a third-year student at Yamabuki Middle School, in Class 5, Seat 21.

His best subjects are English and Chemistry, and he often spends time in the chemistry lab.

Conversely, he struggles with Art and does not participate in any school committees.

He attended Yamabuki Third Elementary School.

Family

Masami lives with his father, who works as a civil servant, his mother, and a younger sister.

Tennis Style

Masami is a right-handed aggressive baseliner.

His playstyle is described as solid and flawless rather than flashy, earning him national recognition for his skill.

He and his partner Kentaro Minami are known as the "Jimmies" for their straightforward but effective tennis.

Stats

Speed: 3/5

Power: 3/5

Stamina: 3/5

Mental: 2/5

Technique: 3/5

Special Moves

His signature weapon is an intensely powerful and sharp serve.

This serve is so precise that it forces his opponents to return the ball into a predictable path, setting him up for the next shot.

Physical Prowess

He maintains his fitness with a daily routine of 50 sit-ups, push-ups, and back extensions.

His back strength is immense, recorded at over 300kg.

Kentaro Minami

Kentaro is Masami's doubles partner at Yamabuki.

Together, their plain and steady style of play earned them the nickname "Jimmies."

Shūichirō Ōishi & Eiji Kikumaru

He has a history of competition with Seigaku's doubles players.

The previous year, he and his partner defeated a pair consisting of Shūichirō Ōishi and his senior.

However, they were later defeated by the new "Golden Pair" of Ōishi and Eiji Kikumaru in the Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament finals.

Rin Hirakoba

During *The New Prince of Tennis*, Masami faced Rin Hirakoba in a crucial tiebreak match.

He lost the match, and to add insult to injury, Hirakoba didn't even remember his name.

The Prince of Tennis

In the year prior to the main storyline, Masami and his partner defeated Shūichirō Ōishi's doubles pair.

He later faced the newly formed "Golden Pair" of Ōishi and Eiji Kikumaru in the Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament finals.

According to his coach, Mikiya Banda, while Masami's "play was flawless," there was a "flaw in his heart" that led to his defeat.

The New Prince of Tennis

Masami participated in the U-17 training camp.

He was forced into a dropout tiebreak match against Rin Hirakoba of Higa Middle School.

Ultimately, he lost the match and was eliminated from the camp.

His birthday is September 10th, making him a Virgo.

He has a blood type of A and excellent vision of 1.5 in both eyes.

His hobbies include going to the gym and assembling jigsaw puzzles.

His favorite foods are hamburg steak (especially cheese hamburg steak) and Jiro-style ramen.

He likes the color white, quiet music, the movie "To Dance with the White Dog," and the book "The Giving Tree."

His ideal type is a person who likes sports, and he would want to go to an aquarium on a date.

He dislikes spotlights, droppers, and the long menu names found in coffee shops.

He spends his allowance on his gym membership fees.

He currently wants an eye pillow and a robot vacuum cleaner.

His special skills outside of tennis include a knack for trivia and the ability to wrap gyoza dumplings quickly and neatly.

Voice Actor & Stage Actors

Voice Actor: Yoshikazu Nagano

*The Prince of Tennis* Musical Cast:

1st Season: Iori Hayashi

2nd Season: Takeshi Terayama

3rd Season: Ryojiro Tsuji

4th Season: Soshi Haizuka