Tennis no Oujisama On the Radio Monthly 2006 June

Title: Tennis no Oujisama On the Radio Monthly 2006 June
Artistes: Takahashi Hiroki & Kawahara Yoshihisa
Date of release: 24 June 2009
Catalog number: NECA-20071
Price: 2,100 yen (inclusive of tax)

Prism プリズム - Tachibana Kippei & Kamio Akira

This single from Tachibana Kippei and Kamio Akira of Fudoumine marks the 4th release in the duet series. Previous releases included those from Oishi Shuichirou & Kikumaru Eiji (Seigaku), Chinen Hiroshi & Hirakoba Rin (Higa) and Yanagi Renji & Niou Masaharu (Rikkaidai).





Track list:
1) Prism
2) Spirits of Hunter ~ Shishi no Shinnen ~ (The belief of a lion)
3) ACE of ACES
4) Prism - Instrumental

Release date: 27 August 2008
Price: 1300 yen
Catalog number: NECM-13017
Published by: TY Entertainment
Distributed by: King Record

Otanjoubi Omedetou, Tachibana Kippei!

Today's the birthday of the captain from Fudoumine i.e. Tachibana Kippei who was regarded as the Top 2 from the Kyuushuu region along with Chitose before he transferred to Fudoumine. I don't know if this is an uncanny coincidence but it seems like the more prominent captains (except Atobe) are either sick or injured thus resulting in them being M.I.A. for a long time. If not for the injury which Tachibana sustained during the Kantou Tournament, he would have taken part in the Senbatsu team camp along with Kamio and Ibu which meant more exciting battles to be seen. Anyway, it's just too bad that he has lost to Chitose in the Nationals so we probably won't be seeing him in action anymore. Nevertheless, there is still a chance of spotting him around since it's likely that many of the characters will be present during the Nationals' semi-finals and finals as spectators.

Name: Tachibana Kippei
School: Fudoumine Junior High Year 3
Date of Birth: 15 Aug
Zodiac Sign: Leo
Height: 179cm
Weight: 67kg
Blood Group: O
Playstyle: All-rounder, right-handed
Favourite shoes: NIKE Air Zoom Beyond
Favourite racquet: TOALSON SYSTEM-PEO03
Favourite food: Tea-based items
Hobbies: Japanese cuisine
Family members: Great-grandmother, grandmother, parents and younger sister
Father's Occupation: Employee at manufacturing company
Subjects good at: technical studies, English
Favourite colour: Blue
Type of girl he likes: Health-conscious

Otanjoubi Omedetou, Tachibana-san!

Today is Fudoumine's bucchou, Tachibana Kippei's birthday! Otanjoubi omedetou!

Well, Tachibana-san seems to be as "ill-fated" as our Tezuka-bucchou because they rarely play in matches. That's because they are usually not required to play since their teammates have won the earlier matches. However, Tachibana-san is worse-off than Tezuka in a sense because the latter had 3.5 episodes to himself when he played Atobe in the Kantou first round match but Tachibana-san only appeared for a while when he played Shishido in the Tokyo round and when he was thrashed by Kirihara during the Kantou semi-finals. Well, I don't think he's that lousy since he is the one of the Top 2 in Kyushu but the anime didn't give him too much "face" and he seems to be very low-profile as the captain cum coach cum player of the team. And it would have been interesting if he wasn't injured and could join the Senbatsu team.

If we look at the manga, there is a clear explanation why he came to Kantou because he used to be like Kirihara i.e. adopting a rough playing style and caused someone to be seriously injured. That is why he shaved his head and came to Fudoumine. Honestly speaking, the shaved head image makes him look like Buddha especially with that mole on his forehead. ^__^ Before that, his hairstyle made him look rough and resembled a gangster. However, in the manga when Fuji went to him and asked him to play seriously before the start of the Nationals, Tachibana looked very fired-up and extremely intimidating which means that he wasn't playing that seriously in the past? Anyway, the manga will probably give him more chances to appear in future.