haikyuu is one of the most popular sports anime of the last two decades. With four seasons and hundreds of manga chapters, haikyuu has consistently displayed a phenomenal ability to write exciting athletes, powerful character studies, and a classic shonen underdog story. Fans follow the trials and tribulations of the Karasuno volleyball team as they try to prove that they are national contenders.
But in the difficult road of sport, teams often have to suffer many failures before they taste true success. Throughout the history of haikyuu, fans have been met with devastating and heartbreaking moments. But even the sad moments show how spectacular this anime is.
10 Hinata Gets Lost In The First Episode
The first episode of haikyuu It begins with a prologue match between the two main characters of the series, Hinata and Kageyama. The two, high school students at the time, face off in a match that especially favors Kageyama’s team.
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The match ended with Hinata putting on an impressive display of her athletic skills, but not scoring many points due to the team’s inferiority. Although the stakes in this match were low, the fans couldn’t help but be heartbroken as Hinata realized that only winners can keep playing.
9 Hinata and Kageyama get violent during training
Sports anime is much more than tournaments and matches. Some of the best moments of haikyuu they are in the middle scenes, where the characters train or recover before their next match.
One of the most tragic scenes occurred at the beginning of the second season, when Hinata and Kageyama began to fight violently during a training session. Each character struggled with complex feelings toward their growth as a team, making it difficult for fans to feel that any one of them was necessarily wrong.
8 Ohgiminami Learned To Give It All
One of the greatest lessons haikyuu can give the viewer is the importance of trying. Even when the odds are stacked against you and your opponents are talented demigods, it’s always good to go ahead and do your best.
This theme is best shown through some of Karasuno’s weaker opponents. The Ohgiminami was a team that Karasuno fought against in the first round of the Season Two tournament. Although they never had a chance to fight, Hinata inspired the Ohgiminami players to give it their all in a way that fans couldn’t help but tear up.
7 Yamaguchi yelled at Tsukishima
haikyuu is an exciting example of athleticism in anime, but it wouldn’t be as popular as it is without its large cast of deep, well-rounded characters. Karasuno is not just Hinata and Kageyama’s volleyball team, but a group of individuals, each with their own complex motivations and emotions.
One of the most intricate story arcs was set in motion when fans watched as Yamaguchi called out Tsukishima and berated his best friend for refusing to play volleyball. It is a heartbreaking scene that shows two characters deeply involved in their contrasting journeys and a natural conflict that arises from it.
6 Karasuno Lost The Last Match Of The First Season
Many sports animes follow underdog protagonists and haikyuu is no different. Karasuno’s team is often regarded as a fallen champion, no longer possessing the skills necessary to challenge competitive teams.
From the start, Hinata and the team had to prove themselves despite that reputation. But with the odds stacked against them, it was only fitting that they would lose a few games along the way. The most emotional came at the end of the first season, when Karasuno suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Aoba Johsai.
5 Wakunan Were Tragic Secondary Antagonists
Along the haikyuu, Karasuno faces a lot of different and unique rivals. Each opponent brings a new identity and playstyle, making it reasonable for fans to develop their favorites.
Although it is to be hoped that fans will grow fond of some of the recurring rivals, haikyuu It even manages to attract fans of its specific teams, such as Wakunan. Wakunan only had one match and did not pose a significant threat to Karasuno, but his meltdown after the match had fans sharing tears with the Wakunan captain.
4 Asahi calls for a pitch during his first match back
Although fans are quick to remember the highlights of haikyuu in various tournaments, it is not uncommon for even training matches to carry a strong emotional weight. Early in the first season, Karasuno attempted to convince his ace Asahi to return to the team after a traumatic loss to Date Tech.
Asahi was hesitant, fearing that the pressure of a tough match would be back on his shoulders. But during a friendly training match, fans broke down in tears when they saw Asahi calling for spikes over and over again, determined to score a point no matter how many blockers got in the way.
3 Daichi Was Almost Seriously Injured
Sports can be a dangerous hobby for growing students. Regardless of the sport, it’s not uncommon for athletes to get injured, making it a fairly common story arc in a wide variety of sports anime. But Daichi’s injury against Wakunan could be one of the most harrowing examples.
After colliding with his teammate, Daichi was left unconscious on the ground for a long period of time, terrifying fans who thought he might have suffered a serious injury. Although Daichi eventually recovered, this was a moment that fans will remember forever.
2 fans cried when Aoba Johsai lost to Karasuno
Sports anime fans are used to the emotional resolve of protagonists losing a hard-fought match. Whether in volleyball or boxing, the protagonists always lose. But haikyuu he has the rare ability to draw fans even towards opposing teams.
Unlike many sports anime, haikyuu he has his viewers cheering on the teams on both ends of the pitch. Even when Karasuno gets the victory in the second season, fans had to enjoy the tears after Aoba Johsai’s defeat before they could celebrate.
1 Yamaguchi cries after surrendering during a serve
Yamaguchi may not be Karasuno’s best player, but with hard work and diligent practice, he managed to carve out a small niche for himself in the team even in their most intense matches. Yamaguchi became an excellent pinch server that they could trust.
However, early in his training, he lacked the confidence to play that role and chickened out in a match against Wakunan. The aftermath of that decision was heartbreaking for fans, who watched as Yamaguchi writhed with guilt in an isolated bathroom.