At the start of his first year in high school, Hinata stood at 162.8 cm, later growing to 164.2 cm midway through the school year. He is the second shor member of Karasuno’s volleyball team, with only Nishinoya being shorter. Hinata is easily recognizable by his unruly orange hair and brown eyes. His slim build and short stature often cause him to be mistaken for a junior high or even a grade school student. He typically wears his Karasuno school uniform, consisting of a black jacket and black pants, paired with a beige or tan sweatshirt underneath. In his debut appearance, Hinata was seen wearing the green volleyball uniform from Yukigaoka Junior High.

During volleyball matches, Hinata dons Karasuno’s black uniform, featuring white and orange stripes along the sides of his jersey and shorts. His jersey proudly displays the number 10 on the back, the same number worn by his idol, the Small Giant, as well as Karasuno’s name written in kanji. On the court, he is equipped with kneepads and white volleyball shoes accented with red.

Post-timeskip, Hinata has undergone notable physical changes. By his third year of high school, he grew his hair out slightly, though he later cut it when he moved to Brazil for further training. During his time in Brazil, Hinata followed a rigorous training and diet regimen, resulting in a significant transformation. He grew to 172 cm and developed a lean yet muscular physique from playing beach volleyball and adhering to his new lifestyle.

Hinata is known for his cheerful and energetic nature, often becoming overly excited and loud, though not as much as Nishinoya and Tanaka. His simplemindedness can sometimes lead him to act impulsively, but he also has a keen sense of observation. Hinata is surprisingly perceptive of social cues and highly empathetic toward others, often knowing just what to say to encourage his teammates in difficult moments. His natural charm helps him win people over easily, which his teammates occasionally use to their advantage. For example, Nishinoya agreed to help Hinata with his receives after being flattered by the first-year’s compliments. Hinata’s friendly and straightforward demeanor also enables him to befriend even the most reserved individuals, like Kenma from Nekoma High and Aone from Date Tech High.

Despite his generally bubbly personality, Hinata displays a serious and competitive attitude when it comes to volleyball. His passion for the sport is evident through his tenacity and constant desire for self-improvement. As noted by Sugawara, Hinata plays with unwavering determination, rarely backing down even in the face of adversity. He can also become quite intimidating when others underestimate him or speak poorly of his team. However, Hinata is not without his fears. He is often scared by larger, stronger opponents, which causes him to hide behind his teammates at times, though he quickly recovers and confidently challenges his adversaries.

At the start of his volleyball career, Hinata would become easily agitated before matches due to his lack of experience. His nervousness would manifest physically, giving him an upset stomach or frequent trips to the bathroom. His anxiety also led to mistakes, as he would fumble spikes or receives. Before Karasuno’s first practice match against Aoba Johsai, he was so nervous that he misunderstood Daichi and Kiyoko’s encouragement as added pressure, causing him to “short-circuit” mentally. He finally recovered after accidentally hitting a serve into the back of Kageyama’s head. Over time, Hinata learns to manage his nerves, and while he remains somewhat faint-hearted, his performance in matches improves significantly.

Academically, Hinata struggles, much like Kageyama, as his focus is overwhelmingly on volleyball. He admitted to Sugawara that since starting high school, he had never scored in the double digits on any of his s. However, when properly motivated, Hinata is capable of buckling down and improving his grades. This was particularly evident when he risked missing the Tokyo training camp due to low scores, but with the help of Yachi and his team, he studied hard and managed to raise his marks.

As a young boy, Hinata’s passion for volleyball was sparked when he passed by an electronics store and heard the name “Small Giant” from a TV broadcast. On the screen was Karasuno High’s volleyball match in the Spring Tournament, showcasing a player known as the Small Giant, who, despite his short stature, managed to overcome blockers significantly taller than him. Hinata was captivated by the sight of this player in Karasuno’s black uniform, and from that moment, he aspired to follow in his footsteps.

Upon entering Yukigaoka Junior High, Hinata immediately joined the volleyball club, only to find he was its sole member. Undeterred, he practiced alone in the corners of the gymnasium, on the sports ground, or even in the hallways, determined to improve despite the lack of teammates.

In his third year, three first-years joined the club, but it still wasn’t enough to form a full team. To make up for the missing players, Hinata enlisted the help of his friends Izumi and Kōji from the basketball and soccer clubs. With this makeshift team, they entered their first volleyball tournament. Unfortunately, their first match was against the tournament favorite, Kitagawa Daiichi Junior High. While many doubted Yukigaoka’s chances, Hinata remained resolute and optimistic.

Right before the match, Hinata grew nervous and rushed to the bathroom, where he overheard Kitagawa Daiichi players mocking his team. When he stood up for his teammates, Tobio Kageyama, the “King of the Court,” intervened, chastising his own team for underestimating their opponents. However, Kageyama also belittled Hinata for his height and his belief that he could win. In response, Hinata boldly declared that he could jump and that he would win every match.

As the match began, Hinata’s initial excitement quickly turned to frustration when his spikes were effortlessly blocked by Kitagawa Daiichi’s formidable defense. Despite the one-sided nature of the match, Hinata never gave up, relentlessly chasing after the ball even at the risk of injury. When asked why he kept fighting, he simply replied that they hadn’t lost yet. During one play, Izumi made a poor toss, but Hinata amazed everyone by managing to hit the ball over the net, though it landed out of bounds, costing them the match. Despite their loss, Kageyama took note of Hinata’s exceptional stamina, jumping ability, and determination, though he disapproved of what he saw as wasted potential.

Yukigaoka lost the match without winning a single set, and the game only lasted thirty-one minutes. However, Hinata was deeply impacted by Kageyama, remembering his name and his title as the “King of the Court.” After the match, Hinata boldly confronted Kageyama, declaring that he would one day defeat him. Kageyama accepted the challenge but advised Hinata to get stronger first. Motivated by their encounter, Hinata trained rigorously, jogging, practicing with the girls’ volleyball team, and even joining the neighborhood mothers’ team to improve his skills.

After graduating, Hinata enrolled in his dream school, Karasuno High, determined to become a key player on their volleyball team. Living in Yukigaoka with his mother and younger sister, he makes a daily thirty-minute bike ride through the mountains to get to Karasuno. Coach Ukai once remarked that it would normally be a forty-minute ride, but Hinata had grown accustomed to the mountainous route since his junior high days.

Hinata is often described as clumsy yet incredibly athletic. Upon entering Karasuno, his volleyball knowledge was limited, and his focus was primarily on spiking. However, with the support of his new teammates, he quickly learned the fundamentals of the game. Despite his initial inexperience, Hinata constantly seeks ways to contribute during matches, experimenting with new techniques and adapting when things don’t go as planned. He is a fast learner, capable of improving by observing and mimicking others, although he often struggles on his first few attempts.

One of Hinata’s most unique abilities is his vision on the court. When he reaches the apex of his jump, he can see the entire court, including his opponents’ movements and even their facial expressions. This insight allows him to make strategic decisions mid-air.

Since the Tokyo Expedition Arc, Hinata’s skills have improved significantly. His coordination and mobility have enhanced, and he has mastered techniques such as flying receives, allowing him to make near-impossible saves. He is now proficient in mid-air battles, utilizing block-outs and feints. After two years of beach volleyball training, Hinata has gained remarkable balance and increased leg strength, leading Daichi to note that he no longer needs to take a knee during receives. His balance and dexterity are so developed that he can now spike with his left hand while turning mid-air.

Although Hinata is not known for his power, he compensates with speed, agility, and endurance. Above all, his grea assets are his tenacity and unyielding determination to win.

Height and Reach:

• April 2012: Jumping Reach: 327 cm
• November 2012:
  • Fingertip Height: 210 cm
  • Jumping Reach: 333 cm (spike) / 310 cm (no run-up block)
• Post-Timeskip: Jumping Reach: 350 cm

Skills

Speed and Reflexes

Hinata is the fas player on his team, with incredible reflexes and mobility. His stamina is virtually limitless, which he builds by riding his bike 30 minutes through mountainous terrain to school. On the court, he can rapidly switch from the left to the right side, often faster than his opponents can react. However, his speed can sometimes cause him to crash into the net or other players if he loses control.

Jumping

Hinata’s vertical jump is one of his standout abilities, reaching nearly 50 inches (48.4 in or 1.23 m). Combined with his mobility, he can jump diagonally to evade blockers. His jumps have earned him the reputation of appearing to “fly” according to spectators. With guidance from Kageyama and inspiration from Kōrai Hoshiumi, Hinata has developed a new jump technique that focuses the momentum of his run-up into the balls of his feet, allowing for higher jumps with better mid-air control. This technique is known for its distinctive “BAM” sound upon takeoff.

Decoy

Dubbed the “Ultimate Decoy,” Hinata’s ability to attract opponents’ attention makes it easier for his teammates to score. His unpredictability on the court, noted by Kuroo, is one of his grea strengths. Hinata has mastered the art of blending into his team’s movements or charging ahead for a minus-tempo quick attack. He can now even act as a decoy for himself, baiting opponents into targeting certain areas before switching to a different position to make a perfect receive.

Minus-Tempo Quick Strike

Hinata and Kageyama’s signature attack involves a toss to Hinata’s spike point. Initially, Hinata spiked with his eyes closed due to his lack of skills, but after refining the quick attack, he now spikes with his eyes open, gaining control over mid-air battles. The duo has also developed a vertical spike off of the quick, where Hinata spikes straight down from close to the net.

Block-Out

During a match against Lev, Tsukishima, and Kuroo, Hinata accidentally learned how to block-out by hitting the ball off Lev’s fingers. He now uses this technique against multiple blockers, though he occasionally struggles with accurate targeting. After two years of beach volleyball, he has mastered this skill.

Rebound

Hinata learned the rebound technique from Bokuto during a summer training camp. The move involves hitting the block intentionally to allow the ball to return to his team for another attack.

Feint

Hinata learned the feint from Bokuto, a technique that involves tapping the ball just over the blockers’ hands. This tactic, used against teams like Johzenji High and Aoba Johsai High, catches opponents off guard.

Back Attack

Hinata and Kageyama use the back attack only in critical moments. Though Hinata’s first attempt at this technique failed, he successfully executed it against Shiratorizawa, with Sugawara dubbing the attack “Back Minus.”

Receives

Originally, Hinata struggled with receiving and often used his body to keep the ball in play. During the Tokyo Expedition Arc, he improved significantly, mastering the flying receive and using techniques like the Split Step. By the match against Inarizaki, Hinata was able to make high-level receives, such as one of Aran’s spikes. Post-timeskip, Hinata fully mastered receiving during his training in Brazil, becoming capable of handling powerful serves and spikes.

Open Spike

With his improved jump, Hinata has become adept at hitting open spikes from high tosses. He successfully used this skill against a three-man block in later matches.

Setting

Inspired by his time at the First-Year Training Camp, Hinata worked on his setting skills. His training in Brazil has brought his setting ability close to Atsumu’s level, making him the backup setter for the Jackals. He uses this skill to surprise opponents by switching between setting and spiking mid-play.

Serves

Hinata struggled with serving initially, often lacking power and accuracy. Over time, he gained better control, and post-timeskip, he began using jump serves. His new physique has added power to his serves, making them more difficult for opponents to receive.

Left-Handed Spiking

While training in Brazil, Hinata taught himself to spike with his left hand. This new technique proved effective during a match against the Adlers, catching opponents by surprise.

Blocking

Although Hinata plays as a middle blocker, his shorter height makes it difficult to get stuff blocks. However, his jumping ability and reflexes allow him to make deflections, enabling Karasuno to counterattack. He has also learned to time his blocks for occasional kill blocks and uses his blocking to guide opponents into hitting straight shots.

Straight Spikes

Initially, Hinata’s straight spikes depended on Kageyama’s special tosses. As he improved, Hinata gained the ability to perform straight spikes independently, using them effectively in his third year at nationals and in his professional career.