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Shinji Watari (Japanese: (わたり) 親治 (しんじ) Watari Shinji) was a second-year student at Aoba Johsai High. He played as the libero for the Boys' Volleyball Team.

As of 2021, he is working at an aquarium in Kanagawa. 

Appearance[]

Watari has tan skin, with grey eyes and a similar colored grey buzz cut. He is of an average height and medium build.

After high school, he has let his hair grow out a little.

Personality[]

He appears to enjoy being challenged, smiling when Nishinoya repeats the libero set that he had used during their previous match. He is shown to be gentle and supportive of his teammates, trying to cheer up Kyōtani after the latter misses a point, regardless of Kyōtani's lack of proximity with the rest of their teammates. Like Kindaichi, Watari is shown to be overwhelmed and inspired by Iwaizumi when he does or says something cool.

Background[]

Before becoming a libero, it is mentioned that Watari had most likely previously played as a setter. This most likely explains his above average setting skills and techniques. However, it is unknown if he ever played as a setter for Aoba Johsai.

Plot[]

Karasuno High Team Formation Arc[]

Watari plays in the practice match between Karasuno and Aoba Johsai.

Interhigh Arc[]

Aobajousai1

In the middle of the first set, Karasuno manages to bump it multiple times and send it over to the back of Aoba Johsai's court. Although he is a libero, Watari sets to Hanamaki, and he is able to score. When Aoba Johsai is one point away from winning, Kindaichi tries to score against Karasuno but gets blocked. In an attempt to win the rally, and ultimately, the set, Watari manages to get the ball out of the court right before it falls to the ground. During the second rally, Tsukishima surprises Aoba Johsai's blockers with two tips in a row. During the second tip, Watari gets annoyed at this, but still manages to save it.

During the next rally, Watari sees that he would need to receive Tsukishima's hits again, and as he approaches to do so, Irihata yells at him not to get out of position as he still hadn't seen what Tsukishima is going to do. However, Watari still does so and fails to bump Tsukishima's slam. During the start of the third set, Takinoue and Shimada watch as Watari fails to save a free ball. As this happens, they recognize Aoba Johsai's good defense, but also say that Karasuno just has the better libero. However, when Oikawa digs the ball and can't set, he calls for Watari to do so and seems to be setting Iwaizumi but instead goes for Oikawa.[1]

Two girls watching the match notice this, and Takinoue tells them that Watari's set wasn't just a good set since there is a lot of regulations for this set, and Watari managed to dance around them without much difficulty, and while jumping as well. At this, Takinoue speculates that Watari may have been a setter before switching for libero. During a time-out, Hanamaki asks what they are going to do about Hinata's quick, and Irihata just tells them to ignore it. So when Hinata is jumping, no one is targeting him, and Watari gets a clear view of where he needs to be to dig, which leaves confusion, letting Oikawa pull a dump.[2] When Aoba Johsai is one point away from winning the match, Hinata spikes to the other side, but Watari manages to dig it, surprising the audience. He manages to dig the next spike from Hinata in the next rally. Despite this, he fails to save the next one.

Spring High Preliminary Arc[]

Aoba Johsai vs Date Tech[]

During the match, Watari easily recognizes Koganegawa preparing for a setter dump and bumps the ball for Oikawa to set. In the very same rally, Watari sets. As he does this, spectating Karasuno members wonder who he will set it to. In the end, he sets it to Oikawa. After Iwaizumi wins Aoba Johsai the game, Watari praises his teammate in awe.

Aoba Johsai vs Karasuno[]

Group s2-e20-3

During the first rally of the game, Watari is surprised at how Nishinoya could now set since he can do that himself. Shortly after, Watari fails to receive Hinata's slide and he notices that Hinata has learned to figure how to direct his shots. During the second rally, Oikawa requests Watari to purposely botch his next pass to have a decoy lure Karasuno's blockers in going to the left and letting Kyōtani score. Watari and Kyōtani successfully pull this off and Aoba Johsai wins the rally. Sometime later, Watari is the first one to be able to receive Yamaguchi's streak of points with his serves. Nishinoya, who is watching, expresses admiration for the libero as he does this.

Watari and Kindaichi s2-e20-1

After Kyōtani fails his spike, Watari attempts to cheer him up by being friendly with him, but the libero is quickly pushed away and Kyōtani subbed out. Not long after, Hinata is able to score past Yahaba. Near the end of the set, Sugawara serves but purposely aims at where Watari and Iwaizumi are standing so that Watari would hesitate about letting Iwaizumi have it or not. After Kageyama scores a dump, Aoba Johsai requests a timeout, and Yahaba expresses how he wishes Kageyama could've shared his skills as a setter with him. Upon hearing this, Oikawa remembers back at how even though the efforts for his work may not appear right away, they could always show up another time if he still keeps practicing, and Oikawa tells this to Yahaba and Watari next to him, which leads the both of them to find that their captain has changed.

During the game's final rally, Watari tries to keep the ball up, which he succeeds at but it goes into the net. However, Kyōtani is able to save it. After Aoba Johsai's loss, Watari breaks into tears. However, he is shown feeling better about himself when he gets ramen with the rest of the team. That night, he isn't shown being overly remorseful over Aoba Johsai's loss, unlike his other teammates, but he thoroughly studies the previous matches the team had.

Tokyo Nationals Arc[]

Seijoh s4-e23-1

With his team, Watari watches Karasuno's matches at Nationals in the school computer lab.

Final Arc[]

At the end of the series, Watari is shown watching the match between Argentina and Japan. He is now working at an aquarium in Kanagawa.

Statistics[]

High School Statistics
Power
 
2/5
Jumping
 
4/5
Stamina
 
3/5
Game Sense
 
4/5
Technique
 
3/5
Speed
 
3/5


Skills[]

  • Receives: As a libero, Watari is highly skilled in receiving spikes and serves. He is also able to make off-receives on command when needed for his team to execute certain plays.
  • Setting:
    Watari s2-e21-1
    Watari has been stated to most likely have been a setter before becoming a libero. He's confident in his setter abilities, and it's shown that he is fairly talented when he sets the ball when Oikawa is unable to. Watari is also capable of performing the libero jump set in which he jumps from behind the attack line to make a set to a teammate.

Jumping Reach: 290 cm.

Relationships[]

Aoba Johsai High[]

  • Kentarō Kyōtani and Shigeru Yahaba:
    End Credits s4-e14-1
    Watari seems to be the closest to the second-years since they attend the same class level. Like some of his teammates, he is somewhat timid around Kyōtani but is still seen attempting to try to establish a comradery with him. Watari is seen to get along well with Yahaba.
  • Aoba Johsai High:
    Group s2 e20 2
    Watari plays well with the team. He shows great respect toward his upperclassmen, especially Oikawa and Iwaizumi, and at times will look out for the first-years.

Trivia[]

  • Current Concern: He would like to build up more muscle.
  • Star Sign: Aries.
  • He is the oldest second-year student on the team.
  • Nomenclature:
    • Shinji (親治) – Closeness, Govern
    • Watari (渡) – To Pass

References[]

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