Anime's Influence On Sports

Japanese graphic fiction, encompassing manga and anime, is deeply intertwined with the country’s culture, traditions, and beliefs, as well as contemporary life. However, their appeal extends far beyond Japan; they are cherished in Nepal and many other countries worldwide. Manga and anime feature diverse plots, attracting audiences of all ages and professions globally. Among their various influences, the impact of manga and anime on the sports sector is particularly noteworthy.

For instance, Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle, an animated movie based on the Japanese manga ‘Haikyuu!!’ by Haruichi Furudate, was released in Japan on February 16, 2024. Haikyuu is a sports manga based on volleyball. The movie was released in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines in April, and in Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and India in May. At the end of May, the movie was released in Australia and the Americas.  Meanwhile, in Nepal, Haikyuu fans had to wait until mid-June for the movie. Moreover, Haikyuu viewers waited four years for the movie, as the last episode of the anime came in December 2020; likewise, the fans are now waiting for the final part of the manga to be animated.

Manga has been termed ‘graphic novel’ as well; it is because a mangaka draws characters, actions, and backgrounds and writes dialogues in speech bubbles (manga is often published in black and white). Thus, creating manga based on sports is not easy. Revolving around a sports story demands actions on the field and training sketched properly to assist the readers in understanding how the game is underway. In Haikyuu, the way the spikes, blocks, receives, and services have been illustrated shows how capable the manga artists are with imagination and creativity. When the manga is made into an anime, the actions and characters, animated with colours, create a quality experience for the viewers despite knowing the plot already.

“Well, the freak quick (a move where the protagonist Hinata quickly spikes a well-set ball from setter Kageyama) is somewhat far-stretched, but the rest is very realistic. There are many things that players can relate to; I personally really love that,” said Yuji Nishida, a professional volleyball player from Japan, in an interview with Shonen Jump over the release of the final 45th volume of Haikyuu.

The interview, which was a group interview, consisted of professional Japanese volleyball players like Yanagida Masahiro and Yamauchi Akihiro; they praised the naturalness of volleyball in Haikyuu and commended the mangaka. Haikyuu’s author, Haruichi, was also a junior high school volleyball player, which motivated her to create a manga based on the sport.

Similarly, Haikyuu also played a role in motivating the new generation in Japan towards volleyball. Since Haikyuu is also viewed outside Japan, manga and anime have increased interest in volleyball among viewers, mostly teenagers and youths.

On the other hand, a similar scenario has been visible in other sports as well, because there are several popular manga and anime based on other sports, for example, Blue Lock (football), Kuroko’s Basketball, and Captain Tsubasa (football).

If we look at Blue Lock, the storyline is based on modern and advanced football. Moreover, the manga and anime have portrayed characters similar to real footballers like Kylian Mbappe (Julian Loki) and Harry Kane (Adam Blake). The skills and characters portrayed in Blue Lock have garnered the attention of many. 

Major reasons such sports manga and anime have gained popularity are characters, character development, intertextuality, naturalness, fantasy, and voice actors (in anime).

Genres influencing sports

Dragon Ball Z, a popular manga and anime series, has significantly influenced athletes across various sports, extending beyond the typical association of sports-themed fiction with athletic pursuits.

In football, several players have incorporated Dragon Ball Z references into their goal celebrations. Notably, on January 26, 2019, Achraf Hakimi of Borussia Dortmund scored against Hannover 96 and celebrated with teammate Marco Reus by performing the "kamehameha," a signature move of Dragon Ball Z's protagonist, Goku.

Another memorable instance occurred on March 21, 2022, during Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's first El Clásico match for Barcelona against Real Madrid. After scoring his second goal, Aubameyang enacted a celebration inspired by Goku's "instant transmission" technique. He retrieved an orange ball resembling a dragon ball from the sideline, closed his eyes, and touched his forehead. Aubameyang later explained, "It was a ball from Dragon Ball. With it, you can make a wish. I wanted to win and score a goal for my grandparents, who are gone."

Brazilian football star Neymar has also shown his admiration for the series by getting a tattoo of Goku on his back. The influence of Dragon Ball Z extends to fans as well, with many displaying character murals and tifos in stadiums.

Beyond football, UFC fighter and WWE wrestler Ronda Rousey has openly expressed her love for Dragon Ball Z. She has been seen wearing shirts featuring Dragon Ball characters and has discussed her appreciation for the series in interviews.

These examples demonstrate how manga and anime, particularly Dragon Ball Z, have inspired both professional athletes and fans, showcasing the cultural impact of these Japanese media forms beyond their country of origin.

“We'll try tackling life with as much energy as Goku! We loved every minute. Rest in peace, Toriyama-,” AC Milan posted on X after the death of Dragon Ball Z creator Akira Toriyama in March this year.

As one of the prominent football clubs, AC Milan, stated in the post, the way Toriyama showed the development of Goku, the way he tackled challenges, and how he never gave up and kept on honing his skills, along with how he believed in his nakamas (friends), has inspired many.

Even in Nepal, there might only be a few 90s kids who did not perform kamehamema or spike their hair with shampoo to imitate the spiky hairstyle of Dragon Ball Z characters. It was when Nepalis knew Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, and Pokémon as cartoons, not anime; still, the impact left by Goku, Naruto Uzumaki, Monkey D. Luffy, Ash Ketchum, Gon Freecss, and Ichigo Kurosaki, among others, goes deep. 

Meanwhile, we cannot ignore the relationship between manga, anime, and the ancient sport of martial arts. Martial arts have often inspired the actions depicted in manga and anime. Akira Toriyama mentioned that Bruce Lee motivated him to create Dragon Ball Z; popular anime and manga like Baki Hanma and Kengan Ashura also revolve around martial arts.

The presence of manga and anime characters and their iconic poses at the Tokyo Olympics was remarkable. Athletes from around the globe paid tribute to these characters in their celebrations. American shot putter Payton Otterdahl imitated Franky from One Piece, and the Italian cycling team celebrated with Dragon Ball Z poses after winning the gold medal, creating cherished memories for fans of both manga, anime, and sports. Personally, Japanese anime and manga have taught me the importance of relying on others, helping and respecting each other, and avoiding harm.

Athletes strive to win by following the rules of the game and trusting their teammates, coaches, and officials. Similar behaviour in everyday life benefits individuals as well. The way sports manga, anime, and real-life athletes have highlighted the importance of giving one's best in everything is commendable. As a fan of manga, anime, and sports, I hope this connection between Japanese graphic fiction and sports continues to flourish. Watching how manga, anime, and sports inspire each other to keep improving in their respective fields is highly satisfying.

(Paudel is a sports journalist at The Rising Nepal.)