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Takenori Akagi
Akagi
Name
Aliases Gori

Gorilla

Characteristics
Gender Male Male
Birthday May 10
Age 18
Height 197 cm (6'5½")
Weight 90 kg (198 lb.)
Hair Color Black
Eye Color Black
Professional Status
Occupation Basketball player
Team Shohoku High School
Year 3rd year
Position Center
Jersey Number #4
Personal Status
Relatives Haruko Akagi (younger sister)
First Appearance
Anime Debut Episode 2
Voices
Japanese Voice Kiyoyuki Yanada
English Voice Jun Legaspi (TV5 Dub)
Montreal Repuyan (GMA Dub)
[v · t · e]

Takenori Akagi (赤木 剛憲 Akagi Takenori) is the captain of the Shohoku basketball team and Haruko's older brother. Despite not thinking too much of Sakuragi at first (who addresses him as "Gori" for gorilla due to his immense physical presence), he actually realizes Sakuragi's potential as a basketball player. Serious and disciplined, Akagi's dream is to lead Shohoku to the National Championship. His determination is shown in the match against Kainan, where he played on despite a serious injury to his ankle. Akagi considers Jun Uozumi of Ryonan to be his rival, though their rivalry is not antagonistic; indeed, there is respect that borders on friendship.

Appearance

Personality

Akagi is a strict and a responsible team captain of the Shohoku Basketball team. He implements discipline towards his players especially Sakuragi. As described by Yasuda, he is very serious with the respect of the older years. He appreciates a dedicated person and likes cleanliness. He is also a studious person and can have enough time with basketball and academics.

Despite being strict, he keeps reminding Sakuragi his purpose in the court which is rebounding and as a major support for the team. Above anything else, is his great determination to win, which was shown when he refused to sit down because of his ankle injury against Kainan and continued to play despite hurting. He never gave up on his dream of bringing Shohoku to the National Championship.

Plot

Akagi, along with Kogure and Aota, went to Kitamura Junior High. When he joined Shohoku High's basketball team, he was considered exceptionally tall for a freshman, at 193 cm. Akagi always had a reputation of playing as a one-man team prior to the timeline of the series, because his teammates were too unskilled to complement his abilities.

Shintai University offered Akagi a basketball scholarship prior to the Inter Highs, which they withdrew after Shohoku lost to Aiwa.

Abilities

Regarded as the #1 center in the Kanagawa prefecture, Akagi plays as a fairly typical center, using his height and power to score close to the basket. The best known is his "Gorilla Dunk" which came from his nickname, "Gori", given by Sakuragi.

He is reputed for being a virtually unbeatable defender under the basket along with his "fly-swatter" block. He is also a strong rebounder and Sakuragi learned under his tutelage. Many players noted that there is no other center like Akagi, a center who usually being the heart of the team and playing at a different level despite being in high school.

His performance as center during the Kanagawa Tournament drew the attention of the prestigious Shintai Basketball team, whose coach and ace visited Akagi at his house in order to recruit him.

Relationships

Shohoku

Haruko Akagi

Akagi is very protective of his little sister. He is also the one who taught her everything about basketball since they were little. He always makes sure no one flirts with her, as it was seen many times when he drags Sakuragi away from her to make him focus on basketball.

Kiminobu Kogure

Kogure is Akagi's best friend since middle school. He always supported Akagi's dream of the national championship, and never hesitates to help the latter when he needs help. During their first year of high school, he chose to remain with Akagi to support him, despite the others abandoning the idea of playing basketball with them.

Hanamichi Sakuragi

The first meeting between the two was terrible and awkward, as Sakuragi insulted basketball, which caused Akagi to challenge him in one-on-one handicap match. Thanks to Haruko's "cheering", Sakuragi manages to win the match with a slam dunk, even though Akagi scored 9 baskets. Sakuragi begin to humorously mock Akagi as old-looking gorilla, until he realized that Akagi is in fact her older brother. At first, Akagi refused to recruit him due to his violent and immature personality, and also due to the fact during their handicap match, Sakuragi accidentally pulled Akagi's blue trousers, showing his bare butt to the crowd, which made them burst into laughter much to his embarrassment. Eventually, he accepts him to be part of the team,. During practice or during matches, whenever Sakuragi does his immature antics, especially from other schools and coaches such as Moichi Taoka, Akagi is often seen punching him in the head. He is also responsible for Sakuragi's rebounding prowess, thanks to his tutelage, Sakuragi earned the name of "Rebound King". Even though Akagi gets irritated at Sakuragi's personality, he does appreciate his determination and efforts in the game, as he always compliments the latter for his hard work. He showed a compassionate side towards Sakuragi during their loss against Kainan, consoling him after he made a small mistake passing the ball to Kazuma Takasago, who was mistaken as him. Nevertheless, Sakuragi in return respects Akagi as a captain. But he still address him as "Gori", much to Akagi's annoyance.

Rivals

Jun Uozumi

The two are known to be rivals, though it's clear that Akagi is the better center. Their rivalry is not antagonistic as they also respect each other. In the end of the battle between Shohoku and Ryonan, both emotionally give a friendly hug. Uozumi is the one who woke his spirit up after being outplayed by Masashi Kawata of Sannoh.

Toru Hanagata

Hanagata considered him as the strongest opponent he had faced so far. Akagi also got a hard time defending because he is a technical center that can shoot from other areas and is also a strong rebounder.

Masashi Kawata

Akagi found his match in Masashi as he was outplayed and proved that he is Japan's #1 center indeed. However, with Uozumi's wake up call, he accepted his loss as a Center but not Shohoku losing, which enabled him to fight back and bring life to his team once again.

Quotes

-To Hanamichi Sakuragi: "How's that? This is the 'kid's game' that you look down on. Don't underestimate basketball!"

-To Kiminobu Kogure: "Basketball isn't something you can be forced to play.""

- To Hanamichi Sakuragi: "The one who controls the rebound controls the game."

-To himself about (Sakuragi): "Haruko, this strange guy that you found has become a member that Shohoku can't afford to lose."

-To Shohoku High: "We might not be best friends, and you guys always piss me off. However, this team is the best... thanks to you."

Trivia

  • Akagi's counterpart is most definitely Patrick Ewing because they have the same physical appearances and they have same position in the court.
  • Akagi has a poster of Michael Jordan during a lay up, in his room
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