Shuichiro Oishi
(大石 秀一郎) |
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Shuichiro Oishi (大石 秀一郎, Ōishi Shūichirō?) is a fictional character in the
anime and
manga The Prince of Tennis. His name is spelled
Shuichiro Oishi in the English manga, and it is spelled as
Syuichirou Oishi in Roman characters in the Japanese version of the TV show. It is spelled "Syuitiroh" in some artwork, probably because the "chi" hiragana technically belongs to the "t" row.
History
Oishi is a third year student at Seishun Academy (Seigaku) and the co-captain of the tennis club. Along with Eiji Kikumaru he is part of Seigaku's "Golden Pair," a doubles team that made it to Nationals the year before the series takes place. His only special shot is the "Moon Volley." This shot is a topspin lob that travels very high and lands just inbounds. Oishi is calm and rational in a match, and while he is not the greatest of singles players, as a doubles partner he is the perfect complement for the acrobatic Eiji.
Oishi is known as the mother of Seigaku, because he constantly worries and frets for the team's well-being. This doesn't mean that he cannot crack or even be mean, though; he can be as spiteful as the others, as proved when Eiji went too far with his teasing during a training session prior to the Hyoutei matches and Oishi ended up knocking Eiji to the ground in front of everyone.
He is also notable for his strange hairstyle (which changes every year) and his pet fish. In the absence of the team's captain, Kunimitsu Tezuka, Oishi reluctantly takes on the position of captain.
Oishi and Tezuka initially became friends in their first year in the club. Oishi had proposed to Tezuka that they take Seigaku to the Kantou Tournament during their time at the school, but Tezuka responded that they should go to the Nationals.
At one point, when Kikumaru was still a flashy singles player, Oishi played him and defeated him 6-4. From that point on, Kikumaru decided to play Doubles with Oishi until he could surpass him. Prior to the Kantou Tournament, Oishi's wrist is injured during an incident where he saves a pregnant woman from falling. His injury forces Takeshi Momoshiro to play doubles with Eiji Kikumaru. The match that ensues is remarked upon by Hyotei captain Keigo Atobe to be played not with just Momoshiro and Kikumaru, but with Oishi, as well - a doubles game with three.
Oishi returns for the match against Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku, and he and Kikumaru play once more. During this match, the pregnant woman he helped shows up with her husband and newborn baby to watch him. However, they suffer a loss to Masaharu Niou and Hiroshi Yagyuu.
In the manga, when Tezuka returns from rehabilitation, Oishi sacrifices his wrist (injured during the incident involving the pregnant woman that led to the formation of the Momoshiro-Kikumaru doubles pair) in a match with Tezuka, thereby offering Tezuka his place on the regulars instead of going through a ranking match.
In the Anime OVA, the above event occurs somewhat differently. As the anime had already had Tezuka return, he instead plays a match with Ryoma Echizen, who had left the team at the end of the TV series, and returned in the first episode of the OVA. The end result is the same, with Oishi giving up his place and reinjuring his wrist.
Although Oishi remains an observer during the match between Seigaku and Higa Chuu, when he observes Tezuka's match against Hyoutei Gakuen, he desires to make a comeback. Oishi re-registers to play with Kikumaru in Doubles 1, where the two are matched up against Ryo Shishido and Choutarou Ootori. The two doubles pairs go all the way to a tiebreak, and Oishi and Kikumaru achieve a new state called Synchro, where they move in perfect unison with one another. However, Kikumaru stops when he realizes the damage that will be done to Oishi's wrist and forfeits, allowing Shishido and Ootori to win.
Techniques
Moon Volley
A topspin-lob hit high into the air and landing directly on the baseline (or anywhere else that is unprotected at the time).
Australian Formation
A speciality formation Oishi and his double's partner Eiji Kikumaru perform. It involves standing directly on the center line and confusing the opponents as to which way each player will move when the ball is placed into the opposing court. It requires extreme knowledge of one's double's partner.
Spin Serve
Very similar to the Kick Serve whereas a large amount of topspin is added to the ball during the serve motion at an oblique angle causing it to bounce unusually high. Used against Shou Oota of Jyosei Shonan whose small body rendered him incapable of returning it.
Oishi Territory
This formation has the defense expert Oishi go to the net, while attacker Kikumaru stays in the back. Using this, Oishi combines his game making abilities with Kikumaru's Seal Step in order to control the flow of the game.
Synchronization
When playing in the nationals with Kikumaru as his doubles 1 partner, they become fully synchronized and moved as if they were one; breathing as one and knowing exactly what their partner's next move would be. It was said that doubles players could not go pro without 'synchronization'.
Trivia
- Oishi lives with his father, mother and younger sister. He has an uncle, Akitaka, who is the doctor who took care of Tezuka after his arm was injured.
- Oishi is often called the 'Mother of Seigaku' for his nurturing and caring disposition for other members of the team. This has also been mentioned by Inui in episode 71. This is parodied in the super deformed episodes, where Oishi is portrayed as the impulsive, loving, and somewhat violent mother of the TeniPuri family.
- Oishi seems to be pretty popular among the Seigaku female students. In the anime he once goes searching for Momoshiro, enters the second-year classrooms and is surrounded by girls who want him to sign their notepads.
- Oishi is also involved in the student council, as indicated in the Prince of Tennis manga fanbook.
