Kaname Shigeyoshi was born and raised in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. His parents are wealthy construction company owners, and his family residence is a large mansion complete with a private basketball court in the garden. He has an older sister named Sayuri. Despite his privileged background, Kaname prefers simplicity and typically commutes to school by bicycle.

In middle school, Kaname already stood close to 180 cm tall and played for the prestigious Saijō Junior High basketball team, where he quickly became known as a promising talent. However, his height created overwhelming expectations, particularly from his team’s manager, Tsukishima. Unable to endure the pressure, Kaname quit basketball during his second year.

Choosing to avoid both basketball and rigorous academics, Kaname enrolled at Kuzuryū High instead of Saijō High. Initially, he joined the Chemistry Club, distancing himself from the sport. His abilities, however, resurfaced during a friendly basketball match involving all the school’s clubs, where he impressed others with his distinctive skyhook shot. This performance caught the attention of Sora Kurumatani and his teammates, who encouraged him to join the basketball club. Although Kaname initially declined and fabricated an excuse about poor health, he later apologized for lying. After a one-on-one match with Sora, he officially joined the team.

Kaname Shigeyoshi stands at approximately 200 cm (6 ft 7 in), making him the tallest member of Kuzuryū High’s basketball team. He has medium-length black hair, matching dark eyes, and notably long arms that complement his position as a center. Outside of basketball, he is often seen wearing a face mask.

On the court, Kaname wears the jersey number 12 and typically uses sneakers from the ASICS Japan series.

Kaname Shigeyoshi is portrayed as a reserved and soft-spoken individual. He speaks slowly, tends to be laconic, and often shows little to no outward expression. Despite his quiet demeanor, he occasionally delivers dry or sarcastic remarks, particularly in response to insults, revealing a subtle wit beneath his calm exterior.

In addition to his presence on the court, Kaname is academically gifted, consistently achieving top marks across his subjects, which highlights his intelligence and disciplined nature.

Kaname Shigeyoshi initially struggles with stamina, which often limits him to a substitute role. Over time, however, he gradually adapts to the demands of playing as Kuzuryū High’s starting center. His signature move is the hook shot, a technique he has refined to a high level. The shot is described as nearly unstoppable, with opponents frequently committing goaltending violations when attempting to block it.

While Kaname’s physical strength and endurance remain weaknesses, he steadily works to improve in these areas. His height and long reach provide him with a natural advantage on both offense and defense, making his presence on the court valuable even when he is not at peak condition. In addition, his strong hand-eye coordination allows him to effectively synchronize with teammates, as shown when he successfully received and finished Chiaki Hanazono’s difficult passes.

The given name Kaname (要) translates to “need,” “necessity,” or “essential,” reflecting something of central importance. His surname, Shigeyoshi (茂吉), combines shige (茂), meaning “lush” or “luxuriant,” and yoshi (吉), meaning “lucky” or “good.” Together, his full name can be interpreted as “essential, fortunate abundance.”