Appearance in Anime

Kunimitsu Tezuka is a serious and disciplined third-year student who serves as Seigaku’s captain and strongest player. From the beginning of the series, Tezuka recognizes the immense potential in Prince of Tennis protagonist Echizen Ryoma and gives him a chance to become a regular by allowing him to compete in the Intraschool Ranking Tournament. Throughout the series, Tezuka takes on a mentor-like role for Ryoma, encouraging him to develop his own unique playing style and to become Seigaku’s “Pillar of Support.” Because of this, Ryoma views Tezuka as both a mentor and a rival. Like Ryoma, Tezuka was made a regular player in his first year, showcasing his talent early on.

Despite his incredible abilities, Tezuka struggles with a recurring injury in his left arm, which was originally caused by an upperclassman two years before the start of the series. Though the pain often flares up, he willingly sacrifices his well-being for the sake of his team, prioritizing Seigaku’s success over his own health.

Although he is known as Seigaku’s strongest player, Tezuka is initially not always seen in action during tournaments. This is because either his team secures victory before his match is needed or another player takes his usual Singles 1 position. However, his true abilities are first revealed in his Intraschool Ranking match against Inui, where he demonstrates his extraordinary skill and tactical brilliance. He also plays an unofficial match against Ryoma, decisively defeating him in order to push him to evolve as a player and become Seigaku’s new pillar of support.

Kunimitsu Tezuka has dark brown hair and wears glasses, which contribute to his mature and composed demeanor. As a child, his hair was parted on the right side, but as a third-year student, his hair is now parted on the left side. He is almost always seen with a stoic expression, reinforcing his calm and serious personality both on and off the court. His composed demeanor makes him appear intimidating to his opponents and inspires confidence in his teammates.

As the captain of the Seigaku tennis team, Kunimitsu Tezuka is known for his serious and disciplined nature. He is incredibly strict, valuing hard work, perseverance, and dedication above all else. One of his trademark phrases is “Don’t let your guard down” (“Yudan sezu ni ikou”), emphasizing his firm belief in always staying focused. Another significant phrase, directed at Ryoma Echizen, is “You will become Seigaku’s pillar of support” (“Omae wa Seigaku no Hashira ni nare”), showing his mentorship role and belief in Echizen’s potential.

Despite his rigid leadership, Tezuka is fair and impartial, treating all members of the team equally. If rules are broken, he does not hesitate to enforce discipline even punishing regular players when necessary. He often makes the team run laps as punishment, a habit he inherited from his predecessor, Yūdai Yamato. Though he is highly respected, he is also somewhat feared due to his no-nonsense attitude.

Tezuka is self-sacrificing, often putting the team’s success above his own well-being. Despite being warned about his arm injury, he frequently risks re-injuring himself to lead his team to victory, demonstrating his unwavering determination.

Though Tezuka rarely smiles, there are moments where his softer side is revealed. While in rehabilitation, he smiles when informed of his recovery, and after Seigaku wins the Nationals, he briefly smiles before quickly reverting to his usual serious demeanor when Fuji points it out. His stoic and expressionless personality is often played as a running gag especially when he remains unfazed after drinking Inui’s infamous vegetable juices, leading others to believe he is immune to them. However, he sternly declines another offer to drink it later, hinting that even he is affected.

Tezuka is addressed differently depending on familiarity. Most of his teammates, especially the younger members like Ryoma, Momoshiro, and Kaido, call him “Tezuka-buchou” (Captain Tezuka), emphasizing their respect for his leadership. Only Fuji Shusuke, Oishi Shuichiro, and Inui Sadaharu address him simply as “Tezuka”, reflecting their closer relationship.

A recurring joke in the series is that Tezuka appears older than his actual age, sometimes being mistaken for a teacher due to his mature demeanor. However, despite his serious and unshakable persona, Tezuka has a hidden weakness horror stories. As a first-year, he was deeply affected by scary rumors, particularly one about a flying library book, which caused him to panic and throw books in a frightened fit. Even as a third-year, he still reacts nervously when reminded of this experience, showing that beneath his calm and collected exterior, he is not completely immune to fear.

Tezuka’s character has been widely well-received since his introduction, consistently ranking in the top five most popular characters in every Shonen Jump character popularity poll for Prince of Tennis. His popularity extends beyond regular character rankings, as he has also remained in the top 10 in the annual Valentine Chocolate Recipient rankings, a poll where readers vote for characters they would like to send chocolates to, released annually by Takeshi Konomi in the manga.

Despite his strong fan following, Tezuka’s character has received mixed reviews from publications on manga and anime. Some reviewers criticize his lack of originality, arguing that his stoic, serious captain persona follows a predictable archetype often seen in sports anime. Additionally, the impossibility of some of his techniques, particularly the Tezuka Zone, has been pointed out as a contributing factor to why the story can sometimes seem over-the-top or unrealistic.

However, Tezuka’s personality and leadership qualities are generally praised by critics. One reviewer highlights his devotion to the team as one of the series’ standout moments, while another acknowledges that he is a strong captain who plays an important role in motivating the main character, Ryoma Echizen. Though some question his likability as a protagonist, his serious and self-sacrificing nature is widely regarded as one of the defining elements of Prince of Tennis.

Tezuka Kunikazu
Tezuka has a very close relationship with his grandfather, Kunikazu, whom he greatly respects. Their bond is evident as Kunikazu is deeply supportive of his grandson and even skips his shogi game (as seen in New Prince of Tennis OVA 1) just to go fishing and spend time with him.

Fuji Shūsuke
Tezuka and Fuji have been close friends since their first year at Seigaku. Over time, they have built a strong bond, and even though Tezuka does not openly express his emotions, he values Fuji’s friendship deeply. Fuji is one of the few people Tezuka considers a true rival, and they share a mutual respect for each other’s skills. Their silent understanding allows them to communicate without words, and they have exchanged several meaningful smiles throughout the series.

Yūdai Yamato
Tezuka’s former captain, Yamato, played a crucial role in shaping Tezuka’s ideals and leadership style. As Yamato’s successor, Tezuka carried on his philosophy of being the “pillar of support” for the team. Yamato was also the one who reminded Tezuka to enjoy tennis again, encouraging him to pursue his professional career in Germany.

Echizen Ryoma
Tezuka and Ryoma Echizen share a strong mentor-student relationship, with Tezuka recognizing Ryoma’s immense potential early on. He took it upon himself to train Ryoma, guiding him to become a player of his own style and pushing him to aim higher in his tennis career. Their bond is similar to Tezuka’s with Yamato, as Tezuka also designated Ryoma as the new “pillar of support” for Seigaku. He believed in Ryoma until the very end, cementing a deep rivalry and mutual respect between them.

Other Seigaku Seniors (Eiji, Oishi, Inui, Kawamura)
Tezuka has known his fellow third-year teammates since their freshman year, maintaining good relationships with them. Oishi, as his vice-captain, plays a crucial role in supporting Tezuka’s leadership, particularly during his absences. Inui is highly reliable as the team’s data specialist, with Tezuka trusting his analytical abilities to gather critical information for their matches. He is also on good terms with Eiji and Kawamura, though their interactions are not as frequent.

Momoshiro Takeshi & Kaidō Kaoru
As second-year regulars, Momoshiro and Kaidō often find themselves on the receiving end of Tezuka’s strict discipline, especially due to their constant arguments. Tezuka frequently scolds them and orders them to run laps as punishment. However, despite his stern attitude, he has faith that they will one day lead Seigaku as the next generation of regulars.