Nanjiro Echizen is the laid-back father of Ryoma Echizen and a legendary former professional tennis player known as "Samurai Nanjiro."
Despite being retired for over a decade, he maintains a muscular and well-toned physique.
Nanjiro has a cheerful, childish, and shamelessly perverted personality.
His daily routine includes reading gravure magazines on the temple's veranda or in the bell tower.
He is a smoker and frequently teases his cat, Karupin.
This often results in him getting bitten or scratched in retaliation.
Nanjiro is an alumnus of the Seishun Academy (Seigaku) tennis club, where he was mentored by Sumire Ryūzaki.
During a study-abroad period in America, he met and married Rinko Takeuchi, and they later had their son, Ryoma.
In his professional days, he was known as "Samurai Nanjiro" and boasted an incredible 37-0 undefeated record against the world's best.
He retired from the pro circuit after just a year and a half, right before he could claim the world No. 1 rank, due to an injury preventing him from competing in the Grand Slams.
His true reason for retiring was his realization that Ryoma would become a more formidable rival than anyone in the world.
He currently works as a temporary priest at a temple.
Even after more than a decade away from the professional scene, his skills have not faded in the slightest.
He consistently and effortlessly defeats Ryoma in their matches.
He is capable of playing entire matches with both of his eyes closed.
Nanjiro is the originator of many of Ryoma's signature techniques, including the "Samurai Zone," "Twist Serve," and the one-legged "Split Step."
Like Ryoma, he is an ambidextrous player.
The anime shows that he began playing with both hands to cover for a relatively weak backhand stroke.
He is the man who achieved the "Pinnacle of Perfection" 28 years ago.
However, he states that the "Pinnacle of Perfection" is a state that anyone has the potential to reach.
Ryoma Echizen
Nanjiro serves as both a father and an insurmountable wall for Ryoma.
While he easily beats his son, his "big dream" is for Ryoma to grow strong enough to one day surpass and defeat him.
Ryoga Echizen
Nanjiro rushes to Australia to prevent a confrontation between Ryoma and Ryoga.
Ryoga expresses a desire to "know the depths of Samurai Nanjiro," hinting at a complex dynamic between them. It is speculated that Nanjiro became the coach for Spain because it is Ryoga's home country.
Sumire Ryūzaki
She was Nanjiro's coach during his time at Seigaku.
In the live-action film adaptation, this relationship is reversed, with Nanjiro being the one who inspired Sumire to start playing tennis.
Seigaku Team
In the anime, the Seigaku regulars are unaware that Nanjiro is Ryoma's famous father.
Because of his odd behavior, they often treat him as a "suspicious person" whenever he appears.
His dominant hand is his right hand.
Even though he is a legend in the tennis world, he rarely watches Ryoma's official matches.
He only makes an exception and rushes to watch when he hears of a connection to his own past, such as learning his old acquaintance Mikiya Banda is coaching an opponent's team.
"You still have a ways to go."
This is his personal catchphrase and the origin of Ryoma's slightly different version, "You still have a ways to go."
The Prince of Tennis
His identity as Ryoma's father and a famous ex-pro is revealed relatively early in the series.
In the anime adaptation, he appears more frequently but is often mistaken for a strange intruder by the Seigaku team, who don't know who he is.
The New Prince of Tennis
He is revealed to be the coach of the Spanish national team.
According to Ryoma, he has held this position since before the start of the series, while Ryoma was still in America.
Despite being the head coach, he remained absent for most of the U-17 World Cup, leaving an acting coach in charge.
He finally makes his appearance during the final match against Japan.
While watching the Singles 2 match between Ryoma and Ryoga, he suddenly collapses on the court.
He is diagnosed with a cerebral aneurysm and rushed to the hospital, but his life is saved through treatment.
It is revealed that he had been experiencing symptoms leading up to his collapse.
The match is temporarily suspended, and his wife Rinko rushes to be by his side.
Voice Actor
Takashi Matsuyama
Stage Actors
The Prince of Tennis Musical 1st Season: Yukio Ueshima
The Prince of Tennis Musical 2nd Season: Shinnosuke Motoyama, Eiji Moriyama
The Prince of Tennis Musical 3rd Season: Masanori Tomita, Eiji Moriyama
The Prince of Tennis Musical 4th Season: Masaki Nakagauchi
The New Prince of Tennis Musical: Takashi Matsuyama, Masaki Nakagauchi (as young Nanjiro)
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