<Basic>

Fuji Shusuke could probably be considered the most talented player at Seigaku next to Tezuka. That said, he's a purposely mysterious character who doesn't like to reveal much about himself, so, like Tezuka, it's hard to talk about Fuji without getting somewhat... complicated. But he is the character who usually just watches from the sidelines and smiles that oh-so-innocent smile that would have you believe there is little more to him than his unassuming demeanor. Of course, if you really believe that, think again.

<At First Glance>

Fuji is one of the calmest and most observant characters in the show. He enjoys watching all the matches he can and likes to provide occasional commentary on what's happening, which is his chief role in the series at the beginning of the story. His sweet smile and closed eyes give him a very unimposing appearance. But if this is as far as you've gotten with the character, you have some assumptions about Fuji that are oh so wrong. There is a lot underneath that gentle exterior that, really, nobody except Fuji is completely aware of.

<Personality>

Fuji is almost schizophrenic in a less comical way than, say, Kawamura. He isn't a terrible person. So it isn't that his gentle outward appearance is a complete act. He's generally pretty quiet and loves to watch what's going on around him. He also *usually* doesn't particularly care to crush anyone in a tennis match. This, however, is a very tentative statement. If you are good enough for Fuji to see you as a potentially entertaining rival, or if you have done something to make Fuji angry, you had better watch out. That's when the sadistic side of Fuji starts to appear. Even though on the surface Fuji is completely harmless, he definitely has his own calculated motives in what he does. He likes to keep his thoughts generally to himself, much like Tezuka. But unlike Tezuka, he gets a genuine thrill out of playing a good player and then attempting to crush them. The biggest example of this would have to be Ryoma, with whom we start to see Fuji's thought process when it comes to discovering a genuinely talented opponent. It is then and only then that Fuji's potential as a genius of tennis appears. There is a definite reason why Seigaku calls Fuji their 'prodigy' (or 'tensai' in Japanese). Apart from this odd kind of sadism, Fuji also is extremely protective of those he loves. This is most obvious in the case of his younger brother Yuuta. However, I believe one can detect traces of this fierce protectiveness of Fuji's in the way he treats Kawamura, his close friend Eiji, and even, at times, Tezuka himself. I also think Fuji generally feels this way about the Seigaku regulars as a whole. He has something of that "older sibling" vibe about him (no shock there, since he is one) most of the time, which may also be why he doesn't open up to people much. He'd prefer to keep his problems to himself. It's also why I think he's much less protective of the more responsible members of the tennis team, like Oishi and Inui. Given this fierce protectiveness, Fuji also has a lot of enemies. The prime ones would be Mizuki and Kirihara due to some bad history I'll get into later. So in a lot of ways, Fuji is a polarizing figure. He loves who he loves and he hates who he hates. He shows some hints of being capable of jealousy and the occasional petty slight, but overall he's a caring person even if he'd rather not wear his heart on his sleeve. He also seems to have a penchant for teasing those he likes on occasion.

<Tennis Ability>

Fuji is probably considered second only to Tezuka in tennis ability. And in case you don't think this is a particularly impressive feat, let me assure you that Fuji's tennis skills almost always involve defying the laws of gravity and general physics. As intimidating as Tezuka is once he steps on the court, and as creative as Eiji's tennis acrobatics can get, I would have to say that Fuji's triple counter moves are probably the most shocking moves in the series. There are characters with techniques that are more bizarre, but generally speaking, those moves aren't nearly as impossible to deal with. Case in point, Fuji's first attack, which he calls Tsubame Gaeshi, completely does away with the fact that a tennis ball is usually supposed to bounce when it hits the ground. Fuji uses the topspin his opponent puts on a ball and turns it into slice spin, which he then makes that much worse by putting his own slice on the ball. By the time it gets back into the opponent's court, the ball just skids across the ground. This is not, scientifically speaking, even possible.

But this is only the beginning of defying the laws of physics. (I'd sing the song from 'Wicked' but I think you get the point.) Fuji's second attack is called Higuma Otoshi. (The only consistent thing about these triple counter moves is that they're all named after animals. Tsubame Gaeshi = Swallow Return, Higuma Otoshi = Brown Bear Falling.) This is an attack that returns a smash into a high lob that goes over the opponent's head, lands inside the line, and then bounces out, leaving the opponent usually staring open-mouthed at Fuji. Okay, to begin with, NO ONE I know can consistently return a smash in any way, shape, or form. They're usually hit way too fast for that. But, what's more, I can't see how anyone can actually take the centrifugal force of a ball and turn it into an effective shot by spinning around and winding up with their back to the net. And yet this is what Fuji does, every single time someone smashes a ball in one of his matches. Come to find out later, Higuma Otoshi is almost nearly impossible to break, and only a very few people have done it. The list, in fact, is pretty much limited to Ryoma and then Fuji himself when he plays against Hyoutei's Oshitari.

Given how impressive Tsubame Gaeshi and Higuma Otoshi are, I was frankly skeptical that Fuji's third attack really could be all that and a bag of chips. I mean, Fuji's already superhuman, right? What else is left? Yeah, well, I was wrong, which isn't the first and won't be the last time I'm wrong about Fuji in some way. He's like that. Fuji's third counter move is the Hakugei or 'White Whale.' And as one might expect, the most shocking of Fuji's counters is very hard to describe effectively. Basically, Fuji hits a ball with spin so that it "hops" as it goes over the net. (Essentially, he's hitting a ball that flies somewhat irregularly through the air.) And once that ball reaches the ground, it spins so much that it flies back over the net and right into Fuji's hand. I know it's an anime, but I must say this... YEAH, RIGHT. Not in a MILLION YEARS could you do that. But I will say it's impressive. Apparently, though, Fuji does need a wind to be blowing toward his face to execute it correctly. I have no idea how he even comes up with these things, but again, he's clearly a talented player.

Fuji earns the title 'Prodigy' on the basis of his counter moves alone. But his talent doesn't just stop there. He's also got a 'Disappearing Serve' that is basically impossible to hit, where he spins the ball before hitting it. This is especially impressive because it's an underhand serve, which is generally far less menacing than an overhanded one. But then again, Fuji is certainly a genius and apparently capable of just about anything. Consistent with this fact is the reality that he rarely has to play his real game against anyone. This is probably just fine with Fuji. He'd rather not reveal all the cards in his hand, metaphorically speaking, and only a truly impressive player can encourage him to really give a match all he's got. Well, that, or maybe if you make him dangerously angry. Then you should probably just forfeit the match right then and there or risk utter humiliation, as I'm sure Mizuki or Kirihara could tell you.

<Plot Points>

Ah yes, the plot. Well, the plot is actually a lot less helpful in interpreting Fuji's character than you might expect. I think the reason for this is because at no point in the plot do we actually find out what Fuji is really thinking about what's going on. Actually, the most we discover about Fuji is revealed through what others say about him, and we mostly just have to take their word for it. I think this is why interpretations of Fuji's personality vary so much (and also why he's so popular with fanfiction writers). Really, with Fuji, who can possibly know what's going on behind that cheerful smile? Still, the plot does provide some helpful hints.

The first time we really see Fuji in action is in the second doubles match against Fudomine. He hits the Tsubame Gaeshi for the first time, and the collective tennis-observing masses are Impressed! with this. But really, this only reveals what we already suspected... Fuji is one heck of a tennis player. But when one of the opponents, Ishida, hits the superhumanly powerful Hadoukyuu with the intention of, to put it mildly, wiping Seigaku off the proverbial map... That's when things start to get interesting. Kawamura, Fuji's partner at the time, winds up injuring his wrist in an effort to protect Fuji, and Fuji is of course the first to notice the injury. He is less than pleased with this development and demands that the game be forfeited to Fudomine, refusing to let Kawamura continue playing. This both shows that infamous protectiveness I referred to and also Fuji's faith in all his teammates, since he convinces Kawamura to step off the court by finally saying that he's sure that "everything will be fine." What Fuji means is that there is no way that their friends are going to lose, so there is no need for Kawamura to worry. This is probably the first significant glimpse we have of Fuji's thought process.

There are continued hints later in the series of similar sentiments on Fuji's part. More than once, he brings an item into a match in memory of an injured friend, to motivate himself to seal off a victory for his team in their name. This happens both in the Hyoutei and Rikkai arcs, which are two VERY pivotal arcs in the plot. I guess it just goes to show that Fuji isn't at all above sentimental value. I have a feeling this might also tie in with his love for photography and with a picture of Yuuta and him that he keeps next to his... err, pet?... cactus.

This brings me to another MAJOR Fuji plot point... Yuuta. I know, I know, Yuuta's really a character, but the St. Rudolph arc is probably the time when the vicious side of Fuji becomes most obvious. And, of course, the St. Rudolph arc marks Yuuta's first appearance in the series. Fuji apparently has a complicated relationship with his sibling. It's kind of like one-sided sibling rivalry... Fuji, of course, was a tennis star at Seigaku before Yuuta even arrived at the school. By the time he was there, he was just referred to as 'Fuji's little brother.' Not wanting to be stuck in Fuji's shadow, he decided to leave Seigaku and winded up attending St. Rudolph. It was Tezuka, actually, who first observed that the situation must have been hard on Fuji. And it must have been... Fuji obviously loves his little brother dearly. And he also seems to have a hard time knowing exactly what to say to Yuuta, usually choosing instead to simply smile like he always does and remain silent. This is maybe the only time we see Fuji in a position where he seems uncertain of what to do. He usually has some plan behind that smile of his, but in the situation with Yuuta, he is powerless to do anything to change it.

It is Yuuta, however, and his moments of reminescing about better days, that reveal the depth of Fuji's love for his little brother. Out of all the people Fuji cares about, he seems most protective of his sibling. In one case during childhood, he took on several boys bigger than him in a fight because they were picking on Yuuta. However, it's also through Yuuta's perspective that we find out that Fuji has been a tennis prodigy ever since he was very small, which more than explains the sibling rivalry. Again, though, this rivalry is completely one-sided. Fuji really cares for his sibling, but he shows an inability to express it. In fact, later on, he shows a tendency to tease Yuuta and push his buttons when really he means it as a show of affection. Like I said, it's a complicated situation. It is not complicated in Fuji's mind, however, when it comes to protecting Yuuta. When Fuji discovers that Mizuki, St. Rudolph's manager, has been using Yuuta, he completely annihilates him in tennis just to humiliate him. Fuji is anything but above revenge when it comes to those he cares about. This is mainly where he gets his reputation as a sadist.

There is one other way, however, that Fuji exhibits some sadistic tendencies. This way, though, is quite a bit more lighthearted, and I doubt that Fuji means for it to be vicious. But when it comes to something like Inui Juice, even though he is the only Seigaku member who actually enjoys drinking it, he "likes to see people suffer even more." So apparently, when all the Seigaku members wind up on death's door from drinking those toxic concoctions, Fuji likes to sit back and enjoy the show. Clearly, some of the claims that Fuji can be rather evil are not entirely inaccurate.

I would caution that there is still a lot more to Fuji's personality than being sadistic, however. The biggest proof of this is actually an observation from Fuji's older sister, who clearly dotes on both of her little brothers and seems to know a lot about them. She observes during the Rikkai arc that Fuji only plays at his true potential against an inferior opponent when that opponent has done something to make Fuji angry. Otherwise, he "tends to play at their level." She notes that this is because Fuji is really a kind person at heart and has little interest in completely destroying anybody. (Again, this is true only so long as you don't hurt someone Fuji cares about.) We also discover in this same match that Fuji could care less if somebody just attacks him. He only gets angry when a person is attacking someone he loves. I think that shows a special kind of nobility in Fuji's character, though some have rightly noted that it also shows a bit of a possessive streak.

Overall, for most of the plot, Fuji can be seen in the background, observing what is going on and showing a great deal of insight in doing so. He has an uncanny knack for sensing what's about to happen, especially in a tennis match. And he often looks on happily when the rest of his team is celebrating. But as for his own thoughts, Fuji would much rather keep them to himself and leave the self-exposition to the openly emotional characters. But when those closed eyes open and reveal those shockingly blue irises, you had better pay careful attention to what happens next, if you really want to understand the enigmatic Fuji Shusuke.

<Odds and Ends>

Well, just as much as Fuji is enigmatic, he's also pretty eccentric. Case in point, he apparently takes care of a cactus that he keeps in his room. If you ask me, that's a pretty unusual hobby. Wouldn't some flowers or maybe a nice houseplant be a little more conventional? Not that Fuji is concerned with convention, of course. He also seems to have a thing for photography. (He's the one snapping away pictures when Seigaku goes for a random all-night mountain climb.) I think that in part reveals he has a sentimental streak. His way of phrasing things also shows a love for the poetic. I'm not sure that anyone can talk as dramatically as Fuji can. A person just has to listen to his tennis commentary to figure that out. Fuji also enjoys being mysterious and hard to understand. He is especially tickled when he succeeds in scaring the pants off of his teammates, as is the case in one school black-out during the middle of a typhoon. He puts on a freaky mask, creates havoc, and then cheerfully confesses that he's "always wanted to do that." Another notable thing about Fuji is, of course, his invulnerability to Inui Juice. I'm guessing that his sadistic tendencies must, in a way, extend to himself as well, if he actually enjoys drinking that poison. Ugh. One other thing I found interesting about Fuji is that, consistent with his "pretty boy" appearance, he is actually described as looking "like an angel descended to earth" during the Rikkai arc. Now, there are a lot of bishounen-y characters in Prince of Tennis. But Fuji just might have won the coveted prize of "Prettiest Pretty Boy" in PoT, especially in some uber-yummy shots of him holding a white feather in his hand during this scene. Wow. O_O So, really, I guess Fuji does embody all the "bishounen" stereotypes... pretty face, sweet smile, gorgeous eyes, mysterious personality, feminine voice, ivory skin, lithe body... and heck, his sweat sparkles. And that's bonus points. :P

<My Take>

Ahhh, darling Fuji. How do I love thee? Shall I count the ways? No, because then I'd be stuck working on this page for another three weeks. (Like it isn't long enough. Sheesh.) But really, Fuji is a great character, and it doesn't surprise me one bit that his popularity is off the charts with just about everyone. He's an impressive tennis player and an intriguing person who is a heck of lot of fun to try and figure out. Not that I've even come close to succeeding, mind you. I'm sure that I've still got a lot to discover about Fuji before I'll even be close to understanding how that delightfully complicated mind of his works.

But in the meantime, I can enjoy his impossible tennis moves, those gorgeous blue eyes, and an endless supply of eye candy. Okay, so I admit it. For me, Fuji was love at first sight. I am, after all, a bishounen fanatic, and Fuji both fit the mold and broke it at the same time. He is a one-of-a-kind, first class bishounen, and that's not something you get in every series. So enjoy him, ladies. He's a treasure.

And with that, farewell, my sweet prince. And may flights of angels retrieve thy tennis balls during matches. Unless, of course, you just used your Hakugei move, in which case you shall have no need of them.

<Screencaps>

Coming soon!

<More Thoughts>

Coming soon!