202:. In the series, Ryoma is portrayed as a twelve-year-old tennis prodigy who won four consecutive Junior Tennis Tournaments in America. His father is Nanjiro Echizen, a former tennis pro nicknamed "Samurai Nanjiro". At his father's request, Ryoma returns to Japan in order to attend Seishun Academy ("Seigaku"), a private middle school famous for its tennis team. Due to his cocky attitude, he constantly butts heads with some of his upperclassmen as well as anger most of his opponents in tennis matches. Still, he, along with his team, evolve as tennis players in order to win the National Tennis Tournament. Throughout the story, Ryoma continues to find his own style of tennis by creating original techniques instead of merely being a copy of his father. Ryoma also appears in other media adaptations of the series including
257:'s review of the series' first manga volume, they comment on how his skills doesn't "leave much room for improvement,...making it difficult for the reader to latch on and share in his experiences," and that his character "comes across as dull, cold and untouchable." However, they remark that the highlights of the volume are the "numerous methods Ryoma takes to make his opponents eat their words on the tennis court." When a reviewer from the same site reviewed the first DVD volume, he had a similar response in regards to Ryoma's skills, in that it eliminates underdog appeal, and describes Ryoma as "terse, reserved, and arrogant, which makes him difficult to like." John Sinott of
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MangaLife was similarly surprised at the character's unnatural abilities. Chris
Beveridge of Mania, however, sees Ryoma as one who does not come off as "over the top or too serious," yet still cites the character's "serious level of confidence," and also comments on how "Ryoma's nature as someone who has seen a good bit of the world comes into play nicely at times." Though Jeffrey Harris of
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echoes the same sentiments in regards to Ryoma's personality, seeing him as cocky and unlikeable despite having the talent to back up his attitude. His review of the next two DVD volumes went on to describe how Ryoma's impossible tennis moves hindered his ability to enjoy the show, and Park Cooper of
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and DVDTalk both finding Ryoma's cocky and "arrogant" attitude difficult to like. Though they both find his tennis skills undeniable, they comment on how that makes it "difficult for the reader to latch on and share in his experiences," eliminating the tension that comes with underdog appeal. The ANN
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Ryoma has been fairly popular among readers, having always stayed in the top four most popular characters, even placing first in two of the polls. Also, Ryoma's character has been featured in more soundtracks than any other character in the series. His likeness has appeared in numerous types of other
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character popularity poll of series, Ryoma has been fairly popular among readers; he won both the first and third popularity polls; he ranked second in the second poll; and third in the fourth popularity poll. Also, since Ryoma is the main character of the series, he has been featured on more
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reviewer, however, believes that some of the highlights of the series are the numerous ways that Ryoma defeats his opponents. On the other hand, Mania comments that Ryoma does not come off as too "over the top or too serious, but just the right level to be intimidating." And
Jeffrey Harris of
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The real reason I can't enjoy this show though is because it doesn't capture the sport of tennis. They make up idiotic shots that defy the laws of physics. It's not just Ryoma that has this magical ability, but every player has a signature shot that just wouldn't be possible in the real
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merchandise as well, including key chains and clothing. However, in publicized reviews for the anime and manga, his character has received mixed reviews, with his personality being heavily criticized. Reviewers from
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Ryoma's something of a quiet type but with a serious level of confidence. Not the type that comes off as over the top or too serious, but just the right level to be intimidating to those who goes against.
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soundtracks than any other character, with some featuring only himself. Numerous types of other merchandise have been released in his likeness, including key chains, clothing, and mugs.
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also sees Ryoma as a "fairly stiff and cold character," he believes that the character begins to warm up to his teammates and is "slowly breaking out of his shell." Jian DeLeon of
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In publications focused on manga and anime reviews, Ryoma's character has received both positive and negative remarks, though his personality is largely criticized. In
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As the series starts he's cocky and arrogant, and though he has the talent to back it up that still doesn't make him likeable.
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cites that though Ryoma starts off as "stiff and cold," he slowly starts to break out of his shell.
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magazine named him nineteenth on a list of "The 25 Most
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customers voted him as their 15th favorite black haired male anime character.
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Manga: An
Anthology of Global and Cultural Perspectives
370:"テニスの王子様（週刊少年ジャンプ） 商品一覧 (Prince of Tennis merchandise)"
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Manga: An
Anthology of Global and Cultural Perspectives
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577:"フライングチェリー (Single) (Limited Edition) (Maxi)"
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16:Fictional character from The Prince of Tennis
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700:. Mania Beyond Entertainment. Archived from
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450:. Mania Beyond Entertainment. Archived from
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503:Konomi, Takeshi (2003). "Genius 158".
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395:"The Prince of Tennis Box Set, Vol. 1"
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851:Musical: The Prince of Tennis
698:"Prince of Tennis Box Set 04"
448:"Prince of Tennis Box Set 01"
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311:Prince of Tennis Vol. 10
119:(paternal half brother)
870:The Prince of Tennis II
372:(in Japanese). Shueisha
279:, Ryoma is compared to
121:Nanako Echizen (cousin)
114:Rinko Echizen (mother)
91:In-universe information
531:(2007). "Genius 333".
801:The Prince of Tennis
600:. Anime News Network
425:. Anime News Network
195:The Prince of Tennis
32:The Prince of Tennis
920:Jump Ultimate Stars
239:According to every
19:Fictional character
287:Hanamichi Sakuragi
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155:Ambidextrous
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63:Kanata Hongō
59:Portrayed by
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862:Discography
857:Productions
242:Shonen Jump
212:soundtracks
208:video games
198:created by
182:protagonist
151:Left-handed
148:All-Rounder
126:Nationality
101:Samurai Jr.
936:Categories
881:Characters
759:B00NXK8VY6
735:2014-11-02
708:2009-05-25
682:2009-05-24
672:Manga Life
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562:2009-05-23
489:2009-05-25
458:2009-05-25
429:2009-05-24
401:2009-05-24
376:2009-05-23
293:References
49:Created by
644:. DVDTalk
397:. DVDTalk
282:Slam Dunk
235:Reception
112:(father)
106:Relatives
69:Voiced by
35:character
829:Seasons
825:Episodes
820:Chapters
315:Shueisha
259:DVD Talk
204:musicals
129:Japanese
96:Nickname
73:Japanese
729:Complex
269:Complex
192:series
184:of the
169:越前 リョーマ
81:English
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604:May 5,
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134:School
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186:manga
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606:2014
537:ISBN
509:ISBN
347:ISBN
319:ISBN
188:and
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804:by
484:IGN
264:IGN
248:NTT
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