Fans of sports anime will be familiar with Haikyuu!! — a series about friendship, rivalry, grueling training, and the high-energy matches of high school volleyball. The story follows Shoyo Hinata, who loves the sport and joins Karasuno High with the dream of competing against top opponents. Below are profiles of fifteen of the brightest, most interesting and strongest characters from Haikyuu!!, summarizing their teams, positions, key traits and what sets them apart.
Daichi Sawamura — Captain of Karasuno High’s volleyball team and an outside hitter. Height: 176 cm. First appearance: Season 1. Daichi is a dependable, disciplined leader with a strong, well-trained body. He excels at defense and serves with power. Calm and responsible, he cares deeply about his teammates and enforces team discipline, becoming a fearsome presence when he is angry.
Yu Nishinoya — Karasuno’s libero, nicknamed the team’s ‘Divine Guardian’. Height: 159 cm initially, later 160 cm. First appearance: Season 1. Nishinoya is a defensive prodigy known for impeccable reception and lightning-fast reflexes, often rescuing the team from difficult serves. Energetic and expressive off the court, he becomes focused and deadly serious during matches.
Tetsuro Kuroo — Captain and middle blocker of Nekoma High. Height: 187 cm. First appearance: Season 1. Kuroo is a strong central blocker who confounds attackers by varying his jump timing. Versatile enough to play other positions, he is a strategic and reliable leader who looks out for his teammates, though he can be manipulative in pursuit of an edge.
Koshi Sugawara — Vice-captain and setter of Karasuno High. Height: 174 cm. First appearance: Season 1. Sugawara is observant and insightful, often helping the team with timely advice. He is skilled at organizing synchronized plays and creating distractions for opponents. Gentle but steadfast, he is deeply committed to volleyball and his goals.
Atsumu Miya — Top-level setter from Inarizaki High. Height: 183 cm initially, later 189 cm. First appearance: Haikyuu!!: To the Top. Widely regarded as one of the best high school setters, Atsumu combines multiple serve styles and an unpredictable passing repertoire. He can deliver accurate sets from awkward positions and alternates between powerful and float serves to unsettle opponents. Driven and competitive, he holds himself and others to high standards.
Kei Tsukishima — Middle blocker for Karasuno High. Height: 188 cm initially, later 195 cm. First appearance: Season 1. Tsukishima is a calculating strategist who studies opponents and teammates to anticipate plays. He appears aloof and condescending but harbors doubts about his own abilities. Direct and cool-headed, he loves the game while masking his emotions.
Satori Tendo — Middle blocker for Shiratorizawa Academy. Height: 187 cm. First appearance: Season 3. Tendo possesses uncanny intuition and the ability to predict ball trajectories, allowing him to position himself for blocks with great accuracy. Off the court he is sarcastic and teasing, but once a match starts he transforms into an overconfident, formidable force.
Tooru Oikawa — Captain and setter of Aoba Johsai High. Height: 184 cm initially, later 185 cm. First appearance: Season 1. Oikawa is known for powerful, precise serves that intimidate opponents and for his talent in drawing out the best in his teammates. He can seem playful and unreliable at first, but in volleyball he is ruthlessly serious and skilled at exposing weaknesses in the opposition.
Ryunosuke Tanaka — Outside hitter for Karasuno High. Height: 178 cm. First appearance: Season 1. Tanaka uses straightforward and diagonal attacks to confuse blockers about his intentions. Energetic and brash, he both motivates and intimidates teammates and opponents. He is also notable for his fondness for the team manager and for persisting even when rebuffed.
Kiyoomi Sakusa — Ace of Itachiyama Institute, an outside hitter ranked among the nation’s best. Height: 189 cm initially, later 192 cm. First appearance: Haikyuu!!: To the Top. Sakusa’s technique is extraordinarily precise; his flexible wrists allow him to strike the ball at difficult angles and impart spin that complicates reception. He pursues perfection both on the court and in his personal standards, valuing cleanliness and discipline.
Korai Hoshiumi — Ace and outside hitter for Kamomedai High. Height: 169 cm. First appearance: Haikyuu!!: To the Top. Despite his shorter stature, Hoshiumi is a fearsome opponent thanks to his high vertical and accurate attacks. He also contributes to blocking, making him a versatile threat. He resents being underestimated because of his height and constantly proves his capability.
Takanobu Aone — Middle blocker for Date Tech High. Height: 191 cm initially, later 192 cm. First appearance: Season 1. Aone’s size and stern expression earn him comparisons to a wall; his mere presence unnerves opponents. With excellent blocking technique, jump height and quick reactions, he is a daunting opponent. Off the court he is gentle and dependable.
Kotaro Bokuto — Captain and ace of Fukurodani Academy, an outside hitter. Height: 185 cm initially, later 191 cm. First appearance: Season 2. Bokuto’s powerful, variable serves create unpredictable trajectories that are very hard to receive. On the court he is explosive and versatile in both offense and defense, which made him a true ace. Social and lively, he easily connects with others.
Tobio Kageyama — One of the main protagonists and a prodigy setter for Karasuno High, nicknamed the ‘King of the Court’. Height: 180 cm initially, later 188 cm. First appearance: Season 1. Kageyama is a fiercely demanding player who delivers precise, forceful sets known for their ‘royal’ quality. He strives for perfection, pushes teammates to improve, hates to lose, and leverages others’ strengths to win.
Shoyo Hinata — The series’ main protagonist and a middle blocker for Karasuno High. Height: 162 cm initially, later 172 cm. First appearance: Season 1. Hinata is relentlessly driven and, despite his short stature, boasts exceptional jumping ability and speed. Those traits — along with his energetic presence — earned him the role of the team’s decoy, drawing opponents’ attention and creating opportunities for his teammates. Hinata trains tirelessly, never gives up, and fights until the end.