I have compiled the words from the team banners that represent the principles of each high school in Haruichi Furudate’s popular manga “Haikyu!!”.

What do the meanings of the words on the team banners in “Haikyu!!” signify? Such as Karasuno High School’s “Fly,” Nekoma High School’s “Connect,” Aoba Johsai High School’s “Rule the Court,” Fukurodani Academy’s “Put Your Soul Into Every Ball,” and Inarizaki High School’s “We Don’t Need Memories”?

Karasuno High School: “Fly” (飛べ)

In “Haikyu!!,” the slogan “Fly” is used by the Karasuno High School Volleyball Club. The meaning behind this banner is a word of encouragement for the team members, expressing the wish for them to soar high and surpass their limits.

Particularly, the protagonist Shoyo Hinata, who is short and lacks the physical attributes typical of a volleyball player, finds this slogan a symbol of his own challenge and growth. His determination and progress in overcoming physical limitations to strive towards his goals are depicted throughout the story. The word “Fly” emblemizes this spirit.

Nekoma High School: “Connect” (繋げ)

The slogan “Connect” for Nekoma High School represents the tactics and spirit of the Nekoma High School volleyball team. This phrase emphasizes communication and collaboration among team members, underscoring the importance of trusting each other to connect the ball and unify as a team.

Nekoma High School values maximizing individual abilities while fostering a sense of unity and cooperation as a team, and this strategy is reflected in the slogan “Connect.” From this word, you can sense the team’s strong cohesion and unity as they combine each person’s strength to pursue a single goal.

Aoba Johsai High School: “Rule the Court” (コートを制す)

The slogan “Rule the Court” for Aoba Johsai High School’s volleyball team represents the team’s tactics and philosophy. This phrase emphasizes superiority and dominance on the volleyball court, aiming to present an overwhelming presence to the opposing team.

Aoba Johsai strategically progresses through the game, focusing on reading the opponents’ movements and controlling the play. As a result, they pursue control and supremacy on the court, and this slogan symbolizes that spirit. In other words, “Rule the Court” signifies the ability to analyze opponents, control situations, and lead the game at their own pace.

As part of this strategy, the playing style of “Tooru Oikawa” plays a vital role. Oikawa possesses a strategic mindset and high playing skills, orchestrating the team’s plays. His abilities and leadership bring to life Aoba Johsai’s slogan of “Rule the Court,” serving as a key to analyzing opponents and controlling the pace of the game.

Date Tech High School: “Iron Wall of Date” (伊達の鉄壁)

The slogan “Iron Wall of Date” used by Date Tech High School’s volleyball team symbolizes their strong defensive tactics. This phrase represents the team’s robust defense, akin to an “iron wall” that stops the opponents’ attacks.

Date Tech High School is known for its solid defense, almost impenetrable by other teams, and this style is reflected in the slogan “Iron Wall of Date.” From this phrase, you can sense that a strong defense is at the core of the team’s strategy.

Shiratorizawa Academy: “Be Courageous Warriors” (強者であれ)

The slogan “Be the Strongest” for Shiratorizawa Academy’s volleyball team embodies the school’s competitive spirit and philosophy, and the character “Ushijima Wakatoshi” is a prime example of this in action.

Ushijima Wakatoshi, as the team’s captain, exhibits leadership, guiding his team with a strong will and powerful play. His attitude materializes the essence of the “Be the Strongest” mantra, consistently aiming for greatness, refusing to lose, and confronting other teams with overwhelming strength.

Shiratorizawa Academy emphasizes not just individual talent but the overall strength and consistency of the team. Players like Ushijima manifest this spirit, allowing the team to perform at its best, regardless of the challenges they face. From this slogan and the example of Ushijima Wakatoshi, one can sense Shiratorizawa Academy’s mental fortitude and intense competitive drive.

Fukurōdani Academy: “On the Ball, Heart and Soul” (一球入魂)

The volleyball team of Fukurodani Academy adheres to the slogan “一球入魂,” which translates to “Putting one’s soul into every single ball.” This phrase symbolizes the team’s collective belief that every play, and particularly every individual ball, should be met with the highest level of effort and focus.

Kotaro Bokuto, the ace of Fukurodani, epitomizes this slogan perfectly. His style of play reflects a keen attention to detail and a strong commitment to giving his all to each ball. Bokuto’s attacks are characterized by unique timing and power, manifesting in a clear investment of all his energy and concentration into the ball each time.

Both the slogan and Bokuto’s play convey a profound meaning that volleyball is more than just a game; it’s a sport where the heart and soul of the players are engaged. Striving for excellence in every single ball not only contributes to winning the match but also fosters individual growth and harmony within the team.

Kamomedai High School: “Habit is second nature” (習慣は第二の天性なり)

The slogan “Habit becomes second nature” for Kamomedai High School’s volleyball team emphasizes the importance of daily practice and effort, embodying the belief that consistent hard work gives rise to natural skill and ability.

This philosophy is reflected in the playing styles of team members Hoshiumi Kourai and Hirugami Sachirou.

• Kourai Hoshiumi is a symbolic player that demonstrates high-level techniques and the evolution of his playing style. His growth has been built on rigorous daily training and the constant pursuit of new skills. Hoshiumi’s play can be considered a concrete expression of the slogan “Habit becomes second nature.”
• Sachirou Hirugami has also developed a unique skill set in his position. His play shows continuous effort and mental strength, fitting perfectly with the team’s slogan. Hirugami’s approach to practice emphasizes the importance of the process of habituating techniques, resulting in his play becoming almost automatic, like a natural talent.

Kamomedai High School’s slogan symbolizes the team’s collective belief that a combination of skill and effort is the key to ultimate success. The hard work and growth of Hoshiumi Kourai and Hirugami Sachirou serve as perfect examples of this.

Inarizaki High School: “We don’t Need the Memories” (思い出なんかいらん)

The slogan “We Don’t Need Memories” for Inarizaki High School’s volleyball team illustrates their strict stance and intense focus on results. This slogan emphasizes the importance of striving for victory and success rather than creating sentimental memories.

“Shinsuke Kita” embodies this slogan with his rigorous training and relentless pursuit, leading to high levels of achievement within the team. His leadership and mental strength guide his teammates towards victory and inspire them.

On the other hand, “Atsumu Miya” also shares this spirit, pursuing team success through self-sacrifice and unity. His play focuses on contributing to the team’s goals rather than personal glory or memories.

These players represent the philosophy that their efforts should manifest in tangible results. They are not satisfied with mere memories, always seeking success at a high level. The words strongly express the team’s philosophy of not getting caught up in sentimental value or past achievements but constantly looking towards growth and success in the present and future.

Johzenji High School: “Sincere and sturdy”　(質実剛健)

The volleyball team of Johzenji High School uses the slogan “質実剛健,” a four-character idiomatic expression in Japanese. “質実剛健” emphasizes a focus on quality, practicality, and a solid, robust spirit. This phrase signifies a commitment to actual skills and functional abilities rather than unnecessary embellishments or mere appearances.

Wakutani Minami High School: “Show some tenacity” (粘りを見せろ)

The slogan “Show Your Persistence” for Wakutani Minami High School’s volleyball team emphasizes endurance and an unyielding spirit. This slogan symbolizes the team’s ethos of never giving up, regardless of the difficulty of the situation, and fighting to the very end.

Nohebi Academy: “Open and aboveboard” (正々堂々)

The slogan “正々堂々” (Sei Sei Dō Dō) of Nohebi Academy’s volleyball team is a four-character idiom in Japanese, meaning a fair and square attitude. This phrase symbolizes the team’s spirit of adhering to the rules and emphasizing fair competition, calling for honest and earnest play.

Tsubakihara Academy: “Even a slender stream becomes a great river.” (細き流れも大河となる)

The slogan “Even a small stream will become a great river” for Tsubakihara Academy’s volleyball team signifies that even a narrow stream can eventually grow into a mighty river. This phrase represents the belief that individual small efforts and growth, when accumulated, ultimately lead to significant achievements and a strong team. It embodies the philosophy that even minor endeavors and efforts should not be taken lightly.

Sarukawa Tech High School: “Stand up again and again.” (何度でも立て)

The slogan “Stand Up No Matter How Many Times You Fall” for Sarukawa Technical High School’s volleyball team emphasizes a strong mental attitude of rising again, no matter how many times one falls. It represents a spirit of never giving in to failure or setbacks, and persistently challenging oneself again and again. This slogan symbolizes the team members’ resolve and determination to continue moving towards their goals, even when faced with difficult situations.

Itachiyama Academy: “Effort.” (努力)

The volleyball team of Itachiyama Academy operates under the slogan “Effort,” which, in a nutshell, represents the relentless commitment required to achieve a goal. Though simple, this slogan is powerful and symbolizes the collective spirit of the team.

Kiyoomi Sakusa is a perfect example of this ethos. His talent and abilities are born from his unending dedication and hard work. His rigorous training and practice regimen not only shape his performance but also inspire his teammates, driving the entire team to continuous improvement. The slogan “Effort” embodies the strong will to pursue objectives that can only be reached through constant effort and dedication, something that Sakusa himself exemplifies.

Haikyu!! – Summary of Banners and Their Meanings from Each High School