HAiKYU!! Book One: Manga Review, Part One

“Haikyu!!” is a story of a ninth grade student who wants to become the best volleyball player in his school and league.

The Manga starts with Shoto Hinata in eighth grade in his first volleyball match.

The team he is up against is full of kids who are a lot bigger and taller than his teammates which causes them to lose the game.

Tobia Kageyama was the setter and main player for the team Hinata played against. Hinata quickly learned that Kageyama was the best player he’s ever gone up against and has made it his goal to become a better player than Kageyama would ever be.

The story then cuts ahead one year when Hinata and Kageyama are now first years and Hinata is quick to try to sign up for volleyball, but he runs into Kageyama, who is also there to sign up for the team.

Hinata and Kageyama quickly get into an argument when the team captain, Daichi Sawamura, decides to not let them join until the two settle their differences. The two quickly settle their differences and then they are eventually able to join the team.

That’s how the first half of this Manga begins. Hinata and Kageyama are good enough rivals for this story. It’s not perfect with some flaws here and there but overall it’s a good enough rival for what it represents.

The rest of the story is honestly very charming. Volleyball seems a trivial topic, but for the Manga, it has some mature moments that give what you’re reading more interest.

There aren’t any big conflicts or things to overcome so far in the story, but I’m interested in what is going to come next in this Manga and how the story continues. Hinata and Kageyama’s rivalry is really compelling, and I hope the further development of still keeps things interesting.

For anyone who is interested in sports but also wants just a nice slice of life story of a teenager who wants to be the best volleyball player in his league, but that also has conflict and entertaining characters, then this is a Manga I’d recommend.