Kuranosuke Shiraishi

Infobox animanga character
name = Kuranosuke Shiraishi
series = The Prince of Tennis


caption = Kuranosuke Shiraishi
first = Manga chapter 249
last =
creator = Takeshi Konomi
voiced by = Yoshimasa Hosoya (Japanese)
age =
born = April 14
class = 3-2
relatives =
aux1 name = School
aux1 = Shitenhōji
aux2 name = Style
aux2 = Perfect Tennis, Left-handed

nihongo|Kuranosuke Shiraishi|白石 蔵ノ介| is a fictional character from the Japanese anime and manga series "The Prince of Tennis".

Background

Shiraishi is the captain of Shitenhōji middle school. Shiraishi is heralded as having 'Perfect Tennis', and is referred to as 'The Bible of Shitenhōji'. His skills are so great that he was already playing at S1 (Singles 1) when he was only in his second year, and his team that year gave the eventual repeat champions Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku their toughest match of the entire tournament when they met in the semi-finals. He is only shown to have one special shot, which is an unnamed shot where he hits the ball which spins in a ring motion while traveling towards his opponent.

Though he's famous for having 'Perfect Tennis', Shiraishi himself believes that perfect tennis is silly. However, when his team lost in the previous Nationals, Shiraishi realizes that no matter how you play, all that matters in the end is winning the match. As the captain of his team, he has to bring his team victory, even if he has to play using the skills he feels are boring.

Shiraishi is often shown sporting white bandages on his arm, for some unknown reason. There are several instances where he attempts to take them off, but never really finishes the process and winds them back up.

Shiraishi is also known to be the only person who can placate or appease Kintarō Tooyama, the youngest and wildest member of their team. It is apparent in the series that Kintarō has a very peculiar and strong imagination, and ever since he read a manga about monsters with poison claws, he's been irrationally and childishly (albeit seriously) afraid of Shiraishi.

Tennis style and techniques

;Perfect Tennis:"Perfect Tennis" is Kuranosuke Shiraishi's natural tennis style. It was first seen when Shiraishi is pitted against Shusuke Fuji in the Singles 3 slot during the National's Semifinal matches. Because of Shiraishi's hard work, he was able to master the basic forms of tennis and gradually obtained the "Perfect Tennis" where he can perform strokes without mannerisms or habitual actions that can lessen the use of stamina but can produce great results. Shiraishi noted that his tennis is considered a bible and became perfect due to countless victories. Because of his Perfect Tennis he obtained the name "The Bible of Shitenhouji".

;Entaku Shot (manga only):A technique first seen during his match against Fuji. When Shiraishi hits the ball, he gives it massive sidespin which causes it to fly in a ring formation until it hits the court, where it no longer bounces. It probably wasn't shown in the anime because the path of the ball was exactly the same as Kevin's "Illusion", maybe the Entaku Shot even being a basis for the "Illusion", with Tachibana's Wild Lion frame hitting style.

Plot overview

He is first introduced when the representatives of every team that will compete at the National Tournament gathered. In the previous year, he had placed himself in the singles 1 match against Rikkai Dai, but did not get to play since Shitenhōji was swept in the first three matches.

During the National's semi-finals, Shiraishi is pitted against Shusuke Fuji in Singles 3. It is the first time that Shiraishi's "Perfect Tennis" was shown. In the first half of the match, Shiraishi dominates because of his perfect playing style. Fuji's Disappearing Serve and infamous counters were all sealed by Shiraishi's tennis style, so he took the lead with 5 games to 0.

At the start of the second half, Fuji receives encouragement from Ryoma Echizen. With that, Fuji recovers and starts to play aggressively. After Fuji takes his first point, he displays his upgraded Triple Counters and even his fifth counter. With those, Fuji takes the lead with 6 games to 5. Before Fuji's match point, Shiraishi nearly returns Fuji's fifth counter. The next time Fuji uses the technique, Shiraishi is able to return it with a cord ball. Fuji continuously hits the the fifth counter, but Shiraishi returns them all, forcing the match to go into a tiebreaker.

In the end, Shiraishi wins with 7 games to 6, being the first person to ever beat Fuji in an official singles match.