Haikyuu!! stands tall as a titan in sports anime and manga, touching millions of fans worldwide with its relatable characters and unique art style. Defying regular genre and medium conventions, it has achieved unprecedented international fame, crossing lines to reach both sports enthusiasts and anime fans. And it does so with such ease.
In a surprising turn of events though, Haruichi Furudate, the author of Haikyuu!!, was interviewed by Da Vinci in the year 2014, where he shared his candid insights into the making of this modern classic. Interestingly, Furudate confessed that he was unhappy when Haikyuu!! was first selected for serialization! But how is that even possible? Why would he think so? What exactly fueled his innovative spirit that later defined Haikyuu!!?
Why Was Haruichi Furudate Unhappy About Haikyuu!!’s Serialization?
Haruichi Furudate is really an odd fellow. He sought to complain about his manga being serialized! On the surface, this might seem like an unnatural thing, but Furudate actually feared his story could be terminated too early, cutting it short. Being a volleyball enthusiast himself, he felt that his story had a specific direction he wanted it to take, and the announcement of serialization initially worried him about all the limits it would impose. During the interview, when asked questions about his initial thoughts on this, he said,
Personally, volleyball has a special place in my heart, so I might have felt that way much more strongly, but no matter what kind of manga I would’ve started, the feelings I have at the beginning wouldn’t have changed. I would’ve still been scared of having to cut my story short (laughs).
Furudate felt pressured to make it an interesting story given any anime/manga has a definite timespan, and so eventually, Haikyuu!! also has to come to an end. He noted that he is somewhat of a pessimist and admitted that his first reaction when the serialization was announced wasn’t actually happy.
Even when I heard that Haikyuu!! would be serialised, rather than feeling the joy of grabbing the opportunity of serialisation, I thought, “So it’s finally the beginning of the ‘ending’…” I’m always surprised by how pessimistic I can be.
Despite these initial concerns, Furudate managed to direct his fears into motivation. He encouraged himself to stay focused and made sure the series followed his initially envisioned storyline. This mindset has remained constant throughout Haikyuu!!’s serialization and has fueled Furudate to keep up with his creative process, ultimately shaping the beloved series into what it is today.
Furudate Is Quite Touched, Knowing How Haikyuu!! Inspires Volleyball Lovers
Haikyuu!! comes across as a passion project, since it has achieved something no other sports manga has ever done: inspiring a new generation of volleyball enthusiasts. The impact that Haikyuu!! has created cannot be put into words unless one hears his emotions, and to what extent the series have touched him. Furudate received many heartfelt letters from readers who joined their school volleyball clubs after discovering Haikyuu!!.
Furudate even attended matches where he saw many younger fans who shared their passion for the game while talking about his series. These interactions bring him happiness and it makes up for his earlier pessimistic outlook. Haikyuu!! has proved to be an inspiration for people who want to take up this sport or continue with their volleyball obsession.
However, when I receive letters from readers about how they joined the volleyball club in school after reading Haikyuu!!, or when I go down to watch matches for research and see elementary and middle school students who know of Haikyuu!!, I can see that this manga has become a springboard for many people to start playing volleyball or to continue playing volleyball, and that makes me happy and lifts me out of my pessimistic state.
Furudate believes that a sports-related story’s success isn’t defined by its genre or the sport’s popularity. Instead, it’s the genuine connection with readers that matters. Haikyuu!!, as such, triumphs through its work by being able to connect with the audience in such a way. It’s also a testament to how a minor sports manga can inspire this much enthusiasm and devotion, which brings Furudate immense satisfaction.
All seasons of Haikyuu!! are available to watch on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
