Paris Olympics: Anime series ‘Haikyuu’ shines through the Japan vs Argentina volleyball match

The well-known anime theme song has previously drawn appreciation from elite volleyball players like Yuji Nishida and sparked a general interest in the game

Showbiz

By Sneha Sengupta On Jul 31, 2024

SPOILER ALERT!

As fate turned around and Team Japan faced Argentina in the Olympic men’s volleyball preliminary round Pool C match, sports anime gods smiled down on them.

Haikyuu Theme songs were played at Paris Olympics today where Japanese volleyball team faced off against Argentina. pic.twitter.com/84Ou8dUk6Z

— Anime News And Facts (@AniNewsAndFacts) July 31, 2024

The devoted followers of the Shonen title were not blind to this ideal homage to Haikyuu anime. As soon as Team Japan scored a winning point at the South Paris Arena, the wildly popular opening theme song from the show, “Fly High,” could be heard playing. This massive fandom quickly alerted social media to the unexpected 2024 Olympics moment. After losing their first match against Germany on Saturday, the Japanese team eventually defeated Team Argentina on July 31 (3-1).

Haikyuu’s impressive spectrum which had inspired people across the globe

The birth of the Haikyuu manga in Weekly Shonen Jump Magazine in 2012 changed the perception for the sport, which was once thought to be in decline. “Haikyuu!! Documentary: “We became stronger with manga!” launched on 2016 showed how reading Haruichi Furudate’s stories gave many volleyball players the motivation they needed to pick up the sport.

Masahiro Yanagida, the former captain of the Japanese national team, is said to have been “immensely grateful” for the fictional work of art’s ability to spark an extraordinary phenomenon, according to The Japan Times. The outlet also reports that the number of boys who joined high school volleyball clubs jumped from 35,000 in 2012 to 50,000 in 2024.

In a rematch between Japan and Argentina at the Olympics, Oikawa faced off against some of the most beloved characters from Haikyuu, Hinata, Kageyama, and other series. Even though the match was never depicted in the manga, it was eventually made a reality at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris using actual professional athletes.