Akagi, Takenori

赤木剛憲

Takenori Akagi serves as the captain of the Shohoku basketball team and is Haruko's older brother. Although he initially did not think much of Sakuragi (who calls him "Gori" because of his gorilla-like physical presence), Akagi eventually recognizes Sakuragi's potential as a basketball player. Serious and disciplined, Akagi dreams of leading Shohoku to the national championship. His determination is evident in the match against Kainan, where he continued to play despite a serious ankle injury. Akagi views Ryonan's Uozumi as his biggest rival, though their rivalry is not antagonistic; rather, there is a respect that borders on friendship.
Akagi differs from the other starters in two ways. First, he is the most academically talented among them and is considered a model student. After the loss to Aiwa eliminates Shohoku from the Nationals, Akagi leaves the team along with Kogure to study for college entrance exams. In contrast, the other four had to beg their teacher for the chance to retake exams they had failed; otherwise, they would have been disqualified from playing in the Nationals for failing too many classes. Second, Akagi is the only starter who has not been involved in an actual fight, although he has used physical force against his own players (most notably Sakuragi, and once Mitsui after the gym fight) to keep them in line. He is the only character besides Rukawa who can take one of Sakuragi's trademark headbutts without being knocked out, and the only other character on whom Sakuragi has inadvertently dunked a ball (Murasame of Miuradai was the second in the manga; in the anime, the second person to be dunked on the head is Naito, also from Miuradai).
Regarded as the best center in Kanagawa prefecture, Akagi plays as a fairly typical center, using his height and power to score close to the basket. He also has a reputation for being a virtually unbeatable defender. As team captain, he maintains discipline among his players during matches. Akagi met his match during the game against Sannoh in the form of Masashi Kawata, considered one of the best high school centers. Initially intimidated when Kawata outplayed him, he regained his confidence thanks to Uozumi's encouragement and led his team to victory.