The main character of Haikyuu!!, Hinata Shoyo has a short stature, yet he stands tall among his peers by making use of a variety of positive qualities that contribute to his success as a volleyball player and teammate. He is many things. He is a friend, an older brother, a teammate, a volleyball enthusiast, and an inspiring personality.
Shoyo Hinata is a little man with a big jump. Shoyo, the protagonist of Haikyuu!, has shown a strong desire to play volleyball. He came to Karasuno with the intention of succeeding the Little Giant. Shoyo is a source of motivation for his teammates, despite being mocked by Kei Tsukishima and Tobio Kageyama. Shoyo has a knack for lifting the rest of the squad up when things seem dismal, even if they don’t want to admit it. Opponents sometimes underestimate Shoyo, yet he has consistently demonstrated that he is a capable player and a difficult opponent.
Here are a few facts about the formidable, charming, and sunshine Hinata Shoyo that might help you to get to know more about him while you binge-watch Season 4 of the series!
1. ‘Little Giant’
Hinata was 162.8 cm tall when he started high school and grew to 164.2 cm by the midway point of the year. Next to Nishinoya, he is the shortest member of the Karasuno volleyball squad. Due to his slim frame and tiny stature, he is frequently mistaken for a junior high (or even elementary school in some cases) student. Hinata is short in height for a volleyball player, but what he can’t cover in height, he does through motivation. Due to his small stature, he was sometimes referred to as a “midget” and looked down upon by others. However, it does not deter him because he possesses a weapon against his height in the form of his “godlike” jump. As a result, Hinata has gained a reputation as a skilled player.
Hinata had been undergoing hard training in Brazil following the time jump in which he had grown to 172 cm and developed a lean yet strong body as a result of playing on the beach and adhering to a strict diet and wellness regimen.
2. Shoyo Is Bright Like The Sun
Hinata refers to the sun or a location in the sun. It creates a really positive impression and fits Hinata’s personality. The “Sho” character that is in kanji refers to flying. There are multiple kanji letters that translate to “fly,” each with its own connotation. This Kanji signifies “to fly high in the sky with wings flapping around”. The character’s right side represents wings. The “yo” in Kanji is a character that stands for the sun or the sunlight. It has a bright and pleasant connotation and is widely used for both boys’ and girls’ names. Tsukishima’s name contains the character for “moon,” whereas Hinata’s name contains the word for “sun.” This refers to the fact that they are rivals despite being teammates, as well as the thought that Hinata is as bright as the sun in both personality and notoriety, in contrast to Tsukishima’s aloofness and low-profile.
3. What Hinata Shoyo Lacks In Height, He Makes Up With Jumping
Hinata compensates for his lack of physical height by having amazing jumping power. His vertical leap is 1.23 meters, or about 50 inches (48.4). He can jump diagonally to avoid blockers thanks to his mobility and agility. To raise his blocking height, he can add a run-up. Bystanders frequently describe his actions as “flying” because of his remarkable jumps. Hinata has learned a new jumping technique thanks to Kageyama’s instruction following the Training Camp Arc and seeing the new “Little Giant” – Korai Hoshiumi.
He performs a considerably higher jump with better mid-air stability by directing the momentum of his run-up into the balls of his feet. It’s known as the “BAM” jump because it makes a loud noise. Hinata is a middle blocker for the Karasuno team, despite his height. While his small stature does not always allow him to get stuff blocks, his jumping height and reflexes allow him to be in the right position at the right moment to grab a deflection, allowing the Karasuno squad to counterattack.
4. Hinata Is Not A Fan Of English
Murase Ayumu, Hinata’s voice actor, was born in Los Angeles. Therefore it’s natural that he can speak English. Hinata, the character he voices, is not particularly bright in English, and it quickly becomes his least favorite subject in school. His English grades have always been poor. Hinata is also a slacker student, as he is frequently observed dozing in class. Maybe it is because of his excessive volleyball practice. Hinata had mentioned before the final exam in the Tokyo Expedition Arc that he had never received a double-digit score on any of his school quizzes. He once failed an English exam by writing his answers in the wrong spot on the response sheet. Yachi has indicated that all of his answers were correct. Therefore he might have gotten a perfect score if he had placed them in the correct lines.
5. Shoyo Is A June-Born Gemini
Hinata’s birthday falls on June 21, 1996, which makes him a Gemini. Now you can twin with him! Hinata is a typical Gemini, loud, extroverted, and usually always happy. He never lets his flaws get in the way of his success, and he seeks to adapt to and overcome problems whenever they arise. Even the quietest of his friends find themselves opening up to him since he is so easy to get along with. While his versatility helps him improve his game, it also comes with a lot of impulsivity, which he uses to his advantage on the volleyball court. Hinata, who suffers from anxiety, is prone to making rash judgments that may or may not benefit him and his squad. Even still, no matter how bad things become, he maintains his composure and prioritizes his team, and these traits are prominent in some of Hinata’s most memorable episodes from the Haikyuu!! Anime.
6. The Ability To Befriend Anybody
Shoyo’s excellent temperament allows him to get along with a wide range of people. While other shonen heroes are undoubtedly outgoing, it’s uncommon to come across a character that recognizes that a joke that works with one person may not work with another. Shoyo is acutely aware of the situation. This tendency was evident early in the series when he approached Kenma on the street because he recognized his volleyball shoes. Few individuals would approach a stranger on the street and strike up a conversation, but Shoyo did exactly that. The second time this happened was when Shoyo met Aone. Shoyo was able to befriend Aone despite the fact that he rarely spoke. Their interactions are usually quiet, but their respect for one another is obvious. There is a running gag in the fandom and the series that Hinata tends to run into new friends/opponents when going to the bathroom.
7. The Decoy Master
Shoyo is so enthusiastic about volleyball that he feels the ball is destined for him to hit every time the setter delivers it. It doesn’t matter if Shoyo is the one who hits the ball because the opponent believes he will because the enthusiasm is genuine. Due to his obsessive attitude, Shoyo has acquired the title of “Ultimate Decoy.” Though Shoyo dislikes his nickname, his abilities as a decoy make him a crucial member of the team and the team often uses this method to gain points, of course, Shoyo has no clue prior to this trick which serves the best result because of his genuineness which makes it seem like he’s the real target.
Furthermore, because of his volatility, Hinata is viewed as a major threat, according to Kuroo. Hinata has just added the blend-and-distract strategy to his arsenal. He can now match his tempo to the rest of the team for a fully coordinated attack or surge ahead for a minus-tempo quick. Hinata has also learned to act as a decoy for himself, according to Daichi. Hinata makes visible motions and gives the impression that he is protecting one location to entice spikers to hit there, only to move to another spot and accept the hit perfectly.
8. The Fastest Player
Hinata is iconic for his fast reflexes and speed. He is recognized as his team’s fastest player, with exceptional reflexes and mobility. He also appears to have boundless stamina, which he maintains by commuting to school on his bike for thirty minutes over the mountains, not to mention the daily activities performed during volleyball practice. Hinata can effortlessly switch from the left to the right side of the court before his opponents respond. His speed, on the other hand, might be a liability if he travels too fast, as too much momentum can cause him to collide with the net or another player.
9. The Oldest First Year
Hinata is the oldest first year on the team in contrast to Kagyeyama, who is the youngest first year which does sound bizarre because of their personalities, with Hinata being childish and energetic and Kageyama being somewhat reserved and mature. His birthday is on the summer solstice (June 21, the year’s longest day and shortest night), as opposed to Kageyama’s, which falls on the winter solstice (December 22, the longest night and shortest day of the year). Hinata is the oldest among the first years, with Yachi being the second oldest, followed by Tsukishima, Yamaguchi, and finally Kageyama. Hinata might not seem like the oldest type, but he is an older brother to his younger sister Natsu Hinata.
10. He Never Gives Up
Shoyo’s cheerful outlook prevents him from being dragged down by anything. Shoyo is unconcerned with his flaws, blunders, or ridicule from others. He’s learned to laugh it off and keep pushing forward when he makes a mistake on the court. Shoyo’s upbeat attitude irritates others who look down on him. Shoyo is only motivated to prove his opponents wrong when they belittle or underestimate him. Nothing appears to be able to stop Shoyo, which is commendable. Shoyo has the strongest mental fortitude of any character in the series. In volleyball, his major strength is his unwavering determination to win. Despite his preoccupation with the sport, Shoyo maintains a positive attitude toward improvement. Every experience is an opportunity for him to learn something new.
Also Read: 10 Reasons Why Haikyuu Is The Best Sports Anime
