Jackal Kuwahara is a third-year regular at Rikkaidai Junior High, known for his unparalleled stamina and defensive prowess on the court.
He has a distinctive appearance with dark, tan skin, a result of his half-Brazilian heritage.
Jackal maintains a shaved head to honor the senior who coached him in Brazil. He keeps it as a reminder of his original passion for the game, even after returning to Japan.
Though he often appears cool and composed, Jackal is fundamentally a kind-hearted and caring individual.
He is a classic long-suffering character who often finds himself in thankless situations. His good nature means he frequently gets pushed into taking on difficult roles for the sake of his more eccentric teammates.
Jackal is of mixed Japanese and Brazilian descent and learned to play tennis in Brazil.
He returned to Japan and enrolled in Rikkaidai Junior High, bringing his exceptional physical abilities with him. To stay humble, he keeps the shaven-headed look inspired by his first coach.
His play style is that of a Counter Puncher, excelling at returning opponents' shots.
Jackal possesses extraordinary physical abilities, most notably his immense stamina. This has earned him the nickname "The Man with Four Lungs."
In doubles, he is called the "Iron-Walled Defender" for his nearly impenetrable defense that prevents opponents from scoring.
He also demonstrates surprising technical skill, capable of returning tricky shots like Kaoru Kaidō's "Boomerang Snake" with a perfect copy of the technique.
Signature Moves
Hana-Beat
This is a Repetitive Defense (Turn Defense) technique where Jackal enhances his footwork by wearing 20kg power ankles, allowing for relentless defensive coverage.
Positive Defense
A testament to his defensive style.
Jackal is a core member of the Rikkaidai tennis team and often plays the role of the responsible, if exasperated, figure among his peers.
He and his doubles partner, Bunta Marui, share a classic comedic routine where Marui will declare a bold action, ending with "...Jackal will do it!" to which Jackal always retorts, "Me?!"
He is part of the "Platinum Pair" with Bunta Marui and the "Kaishikan" group with Seiichi Yukimura, Genichiro Sanada, and Renji Yanagi.
Though their partnership is tested in *The New Prince of Tennis*, it's ultimately affirmed by Eishiro Kite that Jackal is, without a doubt, Marui's "one true partner."
The Prince of Tennis
During the Kanto and National tournaments, Jackal partnered with Bunta Marui in doubles matches against Seigaku.
In the Kanto finals, they faced the Takeshi Momoshiro and Kaoru Kaidō pair. In the National finals, they battled against the Golden Pair (Shūichirō Ōishi and Eiji Kikumaru), where he showcased his enhanced defensive techniques.
The New Prince of Tennis
In the U-17 training camp's drop-out tie-break match, Jackal was unfortunately defeated by his own partner, Bunta Marui.
After being allowed back into the camp, he felt a sense of loneliness and shock upon hearing that Marui had been practicing with Eishiro Kite. These complex feelings grew when he saw Marui and Kite being praised as an "ideal doubles pair" during a ranking match.
However, after the finals selection matches, Eishiro Kite reassured Marui by telling him, "Your real partner is here for you," explicitly confirming within the story that Jackal is Marui's true and only partner.
School Affiliation: Rikkaidai Junior High School (3rd Year, Class I, No. 12)
Club: Boys' Hard Tennis Club
Committee: Biology Committee
Height: 178cm → 179cm
Weight: 69kg → 70kg
Blood Type: O
Birthday: November 3rd
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Shoe Size: 28.0 cm
Vision: 2.0 (Left & Right)
Dominant Hand: Right
Play Style: Counter Puncher
Favorite Brands: Shoes: NEW BALANCE CT 554 (Gray) / Racket: HEAD i.x5
Family: Father, Mother
Father's Occupation: Ramen shop owner (who was temporarily unemployed, adding to Jackal's financial woes)
Hobbies: Horseback riding, checking for sales
Favorite Subject: English
Least Favorite Subject: Japanese
Favorite Foods: Coffee, Yakiniku (skirt steak)
Favorite Color: Red
Favorite Movies: Films directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Favorite Books: Travel magazines
Favorite Music: The Brazilian national anthem, Enka
Motto: QUANDA SE BUSCA O CUTNE DA MONTANHA, NAO SE DA IMPORTANCIA AS PEDRAS DO CAMINHO (When you seek the summit of the mountain, you don't pay attention to the stones on the path)
Elementary Schools: Santos Private Elementary School → Kanagawa Third Elementary School
Frequent School Spots: Staff room, archives room
How He Spends His Allowance: Is often forced to treat Bunta Marui and Akaya Kirihara.
Preferred Type: Glamorous, fair-skinned women → "Sexy dynamites"
Ideal Date Spot: The zoo
Item He Wants Most: Sunglasses
Daily Routine: Shaving his head; during tournaments, he thinks about how to incorporate international cuisine into his family's new menu.
Dislikes: Chopsticks → Wasabi
Non-Tennis Skills: Hip-hop dance, catching and filleting fish with his bare hands
Lung Capacity: 8000ml
Sanada's Calligraphy for Him: 刻苦勉励 (Assiduous and Diligent Effort)
Shared Traits: He shares a voice actor (Hiroyuki Hiyama), a shaved head, and a teased-character persona with Ikkaku Madarame from *BLEACH*. He also shares his voice actor with Duke Watanabe.
Voice Actor: Hiroyuki Hiyama
Musical Casts:
- 1st Season: Jutta Yuki (Kanto), Shingo Toda (Nationals)
- 2nd Season: Kohei Shiota (Kanto & Nationals)
- 3rd Season: Yusaku Kawasaki (Kanto & Nationals)
- 4th Season: Seiya Omura (Kanto)
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