Appearance in Anime

Seiichi Yukimura is the captain of the Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku Chuu Tennis Club, widely recognized as one of the Three Demons (Sannin Bakemono) alongside Sanada Genichirō, known as “The Emperor”, and Yanagi Renji, known as “The Master.” He is one of the few players in the series introduced early on but does not fully showcase his strength until the Nationals Finals.

Yukimura was a Rikkai Dai regular since his first year, demonstrating exceptional talent alongside Sanada and Yanagi. His dominance in the sport earned him the title “Child of God” (Kami no Ko), as he had never lost a single match or even dropped a game before his Nationals Finals match against Echizen Ryoma.

However, much of his time during the series is spent hospitalized due to an illness similar to Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a neurological disease that causes paralysis in the limbs. This forced him to step away from tennis for most of the season while undergoing intensive treatment. Eventually, he faced a high-risk surgery with only a fifty percent survival rate, yet he chose to proceed and successfully recovered, making a triumphant return to the court.

Despite his overwhelming strength and reputation, Seiichi Yukimura has a calm and somewhat delicate appearance. He has chin-length wavy navy blue hair and brown eyes which sometimes appear violet or blue depending on the lighting in the anime. His fair complexion and composed demeanor contrast with the intense energy he brings to the court. While he is fairly tall, he is slightly shorter than his teammates Sanada and Yanagi.

One of Yukimura’s signature traits is the way he wears his Rikkai Dai jersey. Instead of wearing it normally, he drapes it over his shoulders like a cape, never putting his arms through the sleeves. This distinct style carries over to the U-17 Camp in New Prince of Tennis, where he continues to wear his U-17 Camp jersey in the same fashion.

Another defining feature is his headband white in the manga and green in the anime which he is always seen wearing around the courts. Unlike Sanada, who maintains a stern and serious expression, Yukimura smiles more frequently, adding to his deceptively graceful and composed presence.

Seiichi Yukimura is known as one of the Three Demons of Rikkai Dai and is often referred to as “The Child of God” or “The Demigod” in the anime due to his immense strength and undefeated record on the tennis court. His seemingly invincible style of play makes him a fearsome opponent, respected and acknowledged by both teammates and rivals as an unshakable force in the tennis world.

Outside of matches, Yukimura presents himself as a soft-spoken and kind individual with an air of grace and dignity. He is calm, quiet, and observant, rarely being caught off guard by anything happening around him. He also possesses a teasing streak, particularly with his childhood friend Sanada Genichirō, whom he has known since they were four years old. Despite his composed nature, Yukimura is proud and deeply disciplined, believing strongly in hard work, perseverance, and victory.

When stepping onto the tennis court, Yukimura undergoes a dramatic transformation, displaying an unyielding willpower and an unforgiving, brutally honest attitude. He is an exceptionally strict captain, refusing to accept anything less than absolute victory from both himself and his team. Unlike Sanada, who believes in defeating opponents through sheer force and dominance, Yukimura is more strategic and calculating he does not seek to conquer his opponents head-on, but rather to render them completely powerless.

Yukimura possesses an incredible mental fortitude, one that many describe as terrifying. His style of play is so precise and flawless that he is never caught off guard by any secret move or special technique. Because of this, many view him as an invincible monster on the court. His composure, discipline, and sheer mental strength are what make him one of the most respected players in Japan.

Initially, Yukimura valued tennis solely as a means of victory, prioritizing dominance over enjoyment. However, his loss to Ryoma Echizen in the Nationals Finals forced him to reassess his philosophy. Realizing that tennis could be enjoyed beyond just winning, he started to play for the love of the game rather than just for conquest. However, unlike Ryoma, who finds joy in tennis for its own sake, Yukimura admits that his happiness in tennis still comes from being stronger than everyone else.

During the U-17 training camp, he initially hoped to have a friendly match with Sanada, but changed his mind after seeing how seriously competitive Sanada was. Later, Yukimura struggled with yips, but overcoming them reaffirmed his desire for strength and cemented his unique perspective on tennis.

Many fans compare Yukimura to Fuji Shūsuke, as both players exhibit gentle and quiet personalities off the court but become ruthless and intense once they start playing. Their transition from kind and composed to cold and dominating on the court highlights their duality as players.

Much like his U-17 Camp roommates, Fuji Shūsuke and Shiraishi Kuranosuke, Yukimura has a strong interest in gardening. This is showcased when the three of them are seen observing plants in their shared room. Shortly after the Nationals, Yukimura also invited Shiraishi to visit Rikkai Dai’s gardening club, further emphasizing his passion for horticulture.

Seiichi Yukimura is an All-Rounder with an unshakable mental game that makes him one of the most formidable tennis players in Japan. His playstyle revolves around systematically breaking down his opponents, forcing them into a state of complete helplessness. His most fearsome ability is his capacity to strip his opponents of their five senses one by one, rendering them unable to perceive, react, or function properly during a match. This technique, known as his “Child of God” ability, causes his opponents to succumb to yips, leaving them powerless to continue. Jürgen Borisovich Volk, the German U-17 captain, described Yukimura’s play as flawless, showing no openings and producing an overwhelming sense of futility in his opponents. As doubt creeps in, they lose confidence, motivation, and ultimately the ability to play against him effectively.

Yukimura’s dominance is so profound that he has effortlessly returned even the most powerful techniques from elite players such as Ryoma Echizen and Sanada Genichirō. His match history includes completely overwhelming Kintarō Tōyama while still wearing his Rikkai Dai jersey on his shoulders and shutting down Sanada’s best techniques in their U-17 match despite Sanada temporarily overcoming the yips. His technical prowess was further cemented when he defeated U-17 All-Japan representative No. 11 Fuwa Tetsuhito, securing a place among Japan’s U-17 2nd String 20 Players. Even Volk, a world-class professional, acknowledged Yukimura’s incredible willpower after witnessing him overcome his own yips during their Pre-World Cup exhibition match.

Beyond his psychological warfare, Yukimura is a highly skilled and technically proficient player, capable of countering some of the most powerful shots in the series with precision and control. He was able to return Sanada’s string-breaking “Rai” (Lightning) using only the butt of his racket and deflect Volk’s vortex-spinning “Wirbel Taufe,” a move that few could even touch. Additionally, he effortlessly countered both personal and copied special techniques from Ryoma and Sanada during their matches. His ability to shut down elite players was evident in his 7-1 victory over Sanada in a tiebreaker match at the U-17 camp, even though Sanada momentarily overcame the effects of his ability.

Though primarily a singles player, Yukimura has also demonstrated exceptional skills in doubles. He has successfully partnered with Sanada for Rikkai Dai, showcasing a strong and disciplined dynamic. In the Pre-World Cup Exhibition match against Germany, Yukimura partnered with Tokugawa Kazuya, forming an impressive team that utilized “Ability Resonance” to hold their ground against Jürgen Borisovich Volk and his partner, Frankensteiner. Despite facing two of the strongest U-17 German players, Yukimura and Tokugawa managed to win three games, surprising many who initially believed they would be completely overpowered.

Seiichi Yukimura is one of the most complete players in Prince of Tennis, combining tactical brilliance, psychological warfare, and elite technical mastery. His ability to mentally break his opponents while still being able to win purely on skill alone makes him one of the most respected and feared players in the tennis world.

Seiichi Yukimura shares deep and meaningful relationships with several key players in the Prince of Tennis universe, each adding different dimensions to his character.

His closest and most significant relationship is with Sanada Genichirō, whom he met at a tennis club when they were just four years old. Since then, they have been inseparable, forming a strong bond of trust, respect, and loyalty. Sanada sees Yukimura as his leader and closest friend, displaying unwavering devotion to him. Yukimura, in turn, values Sanada’s strength and discipline, often placing trust in his abilities as both a vice-captain and a competitor. Sanada is also one of the very few people Yukimura can openly rely on and is likely the only person who can truly understand the weight of Yukimura’s leadership. Even though they are best friends, Yukimura is one of the only people Sanada will unquestioningly obey.

Despite being from different schools, Yukimura and Kuranosuke Shiraishi of Shitenhōji share a strong friendship due to their mutual love for plants. They often exchange gardening tips, and after the Nationals, Yukimura even invites Shiraishi to Rikkai’s flower garden, where they continue to share knowledge and appreciation for plants. Their bond strengthens further at the U-17 Camp, where Yukimura, Shiraishi, and Fuji Shūsuke become roommates. The three get along well, engaging in discussions about plants and even decorating their shared room with various species. This friendship highlights Yukimura’s softer and more artistic side, contrasting with his otherwise dominant and intimidating presence on the tennis court.

One of the most defining moments of Yukimura’s career is his match against Ryoma Echizen, who became the first person to ever defeat him in a formal match. This match forces Yukimura to reevaluate his perspective on tennis. Before facing Ryoma, Yukimura played solely for the sake of winning and domination. However, after experiencing defeat, he begins to understand the joy of the game beyond just victory. Despite the loss, Yukimura holds no resentment towards Ryoma and instead grows from the experience, learning to enjoy the sport in a way he never had before.

Each of these relationships showcases a different facet of Yukimura’s character, from his deep trust in Sanada, his camaraderie with fellow plant lovers like Shiraishi and Fuji, and his personal growth influenced by Ryoma’s challenge. These bonds not only shape his personality but also define his evolution as a player and leader.