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Gaju Akagi

Gaju Akagi (赤城 賀寿, Akagi Gaju), is a major character in the anime and manga series Ballroom e Youkoso (Welcome to the Ballroom). Introduced as a first-year high school student, Gaju is a highly competitive and skilled ballroom dancer who has been dancing for over ten years alongside his younger sister, Mako Akagi. Though initially seen as brash and arrogant, Gaju is a passionate and driven dancer who deeply respects the art of ballroom and strives for perfection in both performance and partnership.

Gaju plays an important rival role to the protagonist Tatara Fujita, especially during the early stages of the story. He is the senior of both Tatara and Chinatsu Hiyama, and his actions and choices significantly influence their growth as dancers.

Background

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Appearance in anime

Gaju was born in Gunma Prefecture, where he and his younger sister Mako began dancing at a young age under the guidance of local teachers. The two developed strong technical skills and a natural chemistry as a sibling dance pair, quickly rising in the Junior Dance competitions, frequently competing against top dancers such as Kiyoharu Hyoudou and Shizuku Hanaoka.

When Gaju enters high school, he moves to Tokyo to continue his education and receive more advanced training, while Mako remains in Gunma. The geographical distance and emotional tension between the siblings cause a rift in their partnership, leading Gaju to pair with Shizuku Hanaoka Kiyoharu’s long-time partner creating significant drama and competition in the dance world.

Photo Section with Captions

Appearance

Gaju has a sharp and imposing appearance, with light brown hair styled upward, strong facial features, and a confident posture. His dancer’s physique is tall and athletic, which contributes to his commanding presence on the dance floor. He often wears dark, sleek ballroom practice attire, and during competitions, his formal outfits are always bold and perfectly fitted.

His intense gaze and expressive body language reflect his strong will and unyielding focus, both in and out of competition.

Personality

Gaju is fiery, blunt, and highly ambitious. He often comes across as arrogant and overconfident, especially when he criticizes others or asserts his opinion. However, beneath his pride is a dancer who is passionately dedicated to his craft and holds high expectations for both himself and his partner.

He has a tendency to be harsh, particularly toward his sister Mako, whose gentler approach to dancing contrasts with his more aggressive style. Despite this, Gaju deeply cares for Mako and is visibly affected by her growth and independence. His confrontational attitude masks an underlying respect for skill, effort, and authenticity in dance.

Role in the Story

  • From Partner to Rival
    Gaju first appears as Mako’s older brother and dance partner, but their creative and emotional disconnect leads him to abandon Mako to partner with Shizuku Hanaoka, causing a ripple effect that shakes up the dance circuit. His decision serves as a catalyst for Mako to develop her own strength and for Tatara Fujita to step up as her new partner in the Tenpei Cup.

  • Tenpei Cup Arc
    The Tenpei Cup features a major face-off between Gaju/Shizuku and Tatara/Mako. Gaju’s experience and power dominate early on, but Tatara and Mako’s growing chemistry impresses the judges and pushes Gaju to acknowledge their growth. This event marks a turning point in Gaju’s character, showing that while he’s competitive, he also respects genuine talent and emotional performance.

  • Ongoing Influence
    As Tatara and Chinatsu progress as a couple, Gaju remains in the narrative as a senior figure and rival, often providing critical commentary or serving as a contrast to Tatara’s style. His own partnership with Shizuku continues to evolve, though it is tinged with competitiveness and a desire to surpass Kiyoharu, Shizuku’s original partner.

Relationships

Mako Akagi
Gaju’s younger sister and original dance partner. Though he is hard on her and temporarily leaves their partnership, Gaju truly wants Mako to succeed. Her development into a confident dancer both surprises and moves him, deepening their sibling bond.

Shizuku Hanaoka
Gaju’s temporary dance partner and one of the top dancers in the series. Their partnership is technically impressive but emotionally strained due to differing motivations. Gaju respects her skill, but their relationship lacks the natural emotional flow seen in other successful dance pairs.

Tatara Fujita
Initially seen as an amateur and annoyance, Tatara earns Gaju’s respect through effort, talent, and growth. Though Gaju never loses his competitive edge, he acknowledges Tatara’s potential and helps push him forward, indirectly contributing to his development.

Kiyoharu Hyoudou
Gaju sees Kiyoharu as both a rival and a benchmark. While he envies Kiyoharu’s natural talent and connection with Shizuku, he is determined to match or surpass him through training and performance.

Trivia

    • Gaju’s decision to switch partners early in the series is one of the defining turning points of the Tenpei Cup arc.
      • He has a powerful and masculine dance style, emphasizing control and sharp movements.
      • Gaju prefers traditional ballroom techniques over freeform expression, which creates tension with more emotionally expressive dancers.
      • He moved to Tokyo on his own at age 16, showing his independence and dedication to improving as a dancer.
      • Despite being loud and aggressive, Gaju is deeply introspective when it comes to dance philosophy and technique.

    Legacy

      • Gaju Akagi represents the fiery, determined spirit of competitive ballroom dancing in Ballroom e Youkoso. While often abrasive, his journey reflects the tension between discipline and emotional expression, and his rivalry with both Tatara and Kiyoharu fuels much of the early series drama. His character embodies the struggle to balance ambition with empathy, particularly in the intimate world of partner dance.
        • Through his triumphs, defeats, and emotional growth especially regarding his sister Gaju ultimately becomes more than just a rival: he is a mentor, catalyst, and evolving figure in the world of competitive dance.