Karasuno, like most Japanese schools, has a uniform and dress code. The male uniform consists of the classic black gakuran, white collared shirt, cream sweater and black pants. The women have a different uniform, which consists of a white blouse, red ribbon, cream sweater, black blazer, and a grey skirt[1]. However, since many students are often seen without the cream sweater and wearing t-shirts instead of the collared shirt, it is assumed that the dress code isn't strictly enforced.
Karasuno's volleyball uniform
The boys' volleyball club's uniform consists of a black tracksuit with white details. The members wear white t-shirts and black shorts during practice matches and often don a yellow sports bib on top. During official matches, the majority of players don a black jersey and shorts with orange details. The libero has a contrasting jersey in orange with black details.
The girls' volleyball club uniform consists of a black jersey and shorts, with white details. The libero has a contrasting jersey in white with black details.
Each grade has five classes, with classes 4 and 5 being college preparatory classes. Periods are 50 minutes long, with a 10-minute break in between. Subjects taught include English, modern Japanese literature, math, and physical education. After graduation, students generally either continue on to higher education or work.
The passing grade for exams is 40 points. Students who fail their final exams must take weekend supplementary classes and a supplementary exam for each failed subject; these may sometimes be held during summer vacation. The passing grade for supplementary exams is 80 points, and students must take them until they pass.
The school's Boys' Volleyball Club was founded many years ago and has often been associated with crows due to the school's name. Its banner, in fact, reads "Take to the Skies," which alludes to crows. It was said that Coach Ukai had a ferocious pack of crows during Karasuno's glory days.
As a former powerhouse of Miyagi, Karasuno has represented the prefecture at Spring High nationals nine times. One of those occasions was under the guidance of Coach Ukai and Tenma Udai, also known as the "Small Giant" ("Little Giant" in the anime), and was famous throughout Miyagi. However, after the initial success, Karasuno failed to pass its prefecture's preliminaries in future tournaments and therefore received the derogatory nicknames "The Fallen Champions" and "The Flightless Crows." It wasn't until five years later did the team finally return to nationals.
For a while, Karasuno did not have a coach due to Ukai's hospitalization after a few months of coaching the previous year. Daichi Sawamura took on both the captain and the coach's duties until Ukai's grandson, Keishin Ukai, became the new coach. The managers of the team consist of Kiyoko Shimizu, a third-year and the original manager, and Hitoka Yachi, a first-year recruited by Kiyoko after the first tournament.
A team photo with the official banner in the back.
Karasuno's main rivals within the Miyagi Prefecture are Aobajohsai High, Date Tech High, and Shiratorizawa Academy. The club's "destined" rival is Nekoma High, which Karasuno has always lost to. Because their animal representatives (cat and crow) are usually found by the dumpster, their matches are called the "Battle at the Garbage Dump." (In the anime it is referred to as 'The Trashcan Showdown.')
Karasuno's strongest attribute is its offensive power, with a heavy focus on attacks such as the quick strike, pipe-line, and synchronized attacks using tempo. It also utilizes uncommon techniques like the Calculated One-Point Two-Setter, the jump float serve, and a libero toss to throw off opponents.
For Interhigh's Miyagi Preliminaries, Karasuno was registered as team 5, Block A. Their venue was the Sendai City Gymnasium, along with Block B. They played over the span of two days (two games on the first day, one on the second) before losing in the third round to Aobajohsai. Overall, they placed within the top 16.
Spring High-Miyagi Prefecture Representative Playoffs (2012)Edit
For the first preliminary, Karasuno was registered as team 19, Group 4. Their venue was Kaji High School Gymnasium, along with Group 5. Because they placed within the top 16 during Interhigh, they were exempt from the first round of games and played only two matches. After winning their matches against Ohgiminami and Kakugawa, they were allowed to move on to the representative playoffs held in October.
For the representative playoffs, Karasuno was registered as team 10. They played at the Sendai City Gymnasium over a span of three days (one game on the first day, two on the second, one on the third). After winning all their matches, they became Miyagi Prefecture's Representative for the Spring High National Playoffs.
One of the team's strategic teamwork moves is known as mobbing, which is when they attack as a group to drive an opponent off. In the wild, this is a type of behavior that birds use against a larger predator on the prowl; this is another reference to Karasuno's nickname as crows.
Karasuno has the Kanji "crow" (烏 Karasu) in it’s name.
The girls warm up before their match in the Interhigh.
Karasuno High also has a girls' volleyball club, with Yui Michimiya as the captain during the Interhigh and Rinko Sudou replacing Yui after her retirement for the Spring High. However, they didn't do very well in their matches due to lack of practice[2].
There is a girls' tennis club, boys' soccer club, boys' basketball club, boys' tennis club, and boys' baseball clubs as well.
Karasuno High has two gyms and a track field. The girls' volleyball club and boys' basketball club practice in First Gymnasium; the boys' volleyball club practices in Second Gymnasium.[3]
The fictional brand for their uniforms and warm-up sweats is shown to be a foot with the letters "ics" underneath. The word for foot in Japanese is "ashi", so the full name would be "ashi-ics". This is a play on the name for the real life sports brand "asics", which in Japanese would be pronounced the same way. Asics is a Japanese sports company, and is recognized worldwide for their volleyball athletic wear.
Like many of the other teams featured in the series, all of Karasuno seems to wear "asics" volleyball shoes, based on their shoe design.
Other schools often misread Karasuno (烏野) for Torino (鳥野) because they have very similar kanji. Karasu (烏) refers to crows, whereas Tori (鳥) refers to birds in general.
While most schools usually reserve the number 4 for the team ace, Karasuno does not seem to have certain numbers reserved for the ace as both Asahi Azumane and Tenma Udai were both aces who wore different numbers. Karasuno instead seems to be a school that gives the number 4 to the libero; although in the opening scene of Hinata watching Karasuno at nationals, the libero can be seen wearing the number 2.
Like most Japanese high schools, Karasuno holds an annual sports festival. One of its’ events is a four-member relay race between the school's sports clubs. The winning club receives 20 boxes of sports drink mix.
Karasuno in season 3 anime now has its’ own cheering squad, consisting of students from the School itself and staff members such as the Vice Principal. However, their cheer is less coordinated when compared to powerhouse schools, as they only had a chance to practice a little after school during the day of the finals. While in the manga, this did not happen.
Karasuno has participated in the Spring High tournament nine times and this time is their first appearance in five years.
Karasuno High is based on Karumai Highschool in the Iwate prefecture.
Karasuno was initially named "Hiashi".
Karasuno is seen mainly using the volleyball brand "Molten" for their volleyballs.
After Karasuno's former coach, coach Ukai (Senior) retired, the boys’ volleyball team wasn't doing as well. As a result, they earned the nickname "Wingless crows".
During the Tsubakihara match, it was said that Karasuno has represented Miyagi in nationals nine times. One of these times was when the Little Giant was on the team.
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