Yoichi Hiruma

Infobox animanga character
name = Yoichi Hiruma
series = Eyeshield 21


caption = Yoichi Hiruma
first = Episode 1, Chapter 1
last =
creator = Riichiro Inagaki, Yusuke Murata
voiced by = Atsushi Tamura
Shinichirō Miki (Jump Festa) Derek Stephen Prince (English)
nickname =
alias = Control Tower of Hell
age = 17
gender = Male
species =
born = unknown
death =
occupation = High School Student, Football player
title =
relatives = Father
paux1 = 176 cm
paux1 name = Height
paux2 = 67 kg
paux2 name = Weight
divider = yes
aux1 = Quarterback / Strong Safety / Punter / Placekicker / Holder
aux1 name = Position
aux2 = Deimon Devil Bats
aux2 name = Current team
aux3 = Mao Devil Bats
aux3 name = Previous team
aux4 = 5.1 seconds
aux4 name = 40 yard dash
aux5 = 75 kg
aux5 name = Bench press

nihongo|Yoichi Hiruma|蛭魔 妖一|Hiruma Yōichi is a fictional character in the anime and manga series "Eyeshield 21". His Japanese voice actor is Atsushi Tamura (listed in the anime credits as "Atsushi Tamura of London Boots #1 and #2").

Overview

When a "Weekly Shonen Jump" popularity poll of the "Eyeshield 21" characters was conducted, Hiruma ranked number 1, unusual in a Jump manga, where the main character usually ranks first.Fact|date=June 2007 In a following poll for the "Dream Eleven", in which a team of eleven was created via a popularity poll of characters and their positions, Hiruma was the only character to receive not only over twice as many votes as the second-place finisher, Kid, but more votes than all the other candidates combined -- Hiruma with 9196 votes, and all the other quarterbacks with a total of 6971 votes."Eyeshield 21" manga; 211th Down, pg. 1-2.]

The latest "ES21" poll, to form All-Freshmen and All-Seniors (and in Deimon's case, All-Sophomores) teams, saw Hiruma come out on top here as well, with a total of 3968 votes."Eyeshield 21" manga; 258th Down, pg. 1-2.]

Riichiro Inagaki, writer of "Eyeshield 21", said that "all the characters" were his favorite characters, and that Hiruma is "especially" his favorite."Shonen Jump". Volume 4, Issue 2. February 2006. "VIZ Media". 15.]

Conception and development

Inagaki said that he developed Hiruma as a character that does not follow the Japanese concept of emphasis on sportsmanship and effort in the game; instead Hiruma is "only concerned with winning." Inagaki intended to make an "anti-hero" or, as he refers to the concept, a "devil-hero." Yusuke Murata, the artist, said that he every character design has to have a distinct quality as many characters are in groups and each one has to stand out; Murata chose to portray Hiruma as looking "close to being a demon" since he heard from Inagaki that Hiruma had "the personality of a demon."

Background

Hiruma is the mastermind, quarterback and de facto captain of Deimon's American Football club. He has pointy ears, sharp teeth, and looks and acts like a demon. His signature phrase is a loud "YA-HA", which he uses to express excitement in many instances. Hiruma is usually carrying some kind of firearm (usually concealed), including but not limited to flamethrowers, submachine guns, assault rifles (usually an M4A1 Carbine) or bazookas, which he fires mostly for intimidation. However, he has also used them for training purposes, such as shooting behind players to get them to run pass routes, though it is most likely that Hiruma generally uses rubber bullets, as during the Hakushuu game, in chapter 270, he stated to Sena "Kekeke, if you pull us down, I'll shoot you with real ammo, fucking chibi!". However, there are occasions, such as when he disposes of a training dummy, where Hiruma definitely uses real ammunition, on other occasion's though, his bullets can be deflected by lightweight objects such as notebooks. Hiruma was the first person to recognize Sena Kobayakawa's talent for running and dodging. He also owns a very vicious dog named nihongo|Cerberus|ケルベロス|Keruberosu - named for the triple-headed hell hound Cerberus that guards the gates of Hades. He often uses the dog to scare team members into running faster.

Hiruma discovered football by chance; wandering around his hometown, he discovered a hole in a gate of an American military base where the soldiers were playing football for leisure. Befriending the soldiers on the base, he also instantly learned the strategies of playing poker, allowing him to become rich quick. Eventually Hiruma would meet his two most notable partners in crime by chance: Kurita after accidentally dropping a football strategy page from the roof of his middle school where he was relaxing, and Musashi when he was called in to fix the gate to the American base after Hiruma sneaked in again for another game with the soldiers. Eventually the trio would work together to become a football force: first by attempting to join the Shinryuji Naga (of which Hiruma and Musashi got in but abandoned due to both Kurita's failure on the entrance exam and the arrogance of fellow incoming freshman Agon Kongo) and eventually at Deimon High.

The Devil Bats' quarterback's main drive is to win the championship & make it to Japan's Christmas Bowl; but there is an underlying reason for all his schemes. Unlike other schools, Deimon has a rule that all its students must cease their extracurricular activities after the fall of their 2nd year, including the sports clubs. For both Hiruma and Kurita, this is their last chance with the football team.

Personality

Hiruma usually acts in a vulgar, bizarre, threatening manner so as to intimidate or disturb those around him into getting what he wants. He has a cunning, goal-oriented mind and does not seem to care what means he uses to accomplish those goals. His sense of morals is lax at best, but he is quick to find the moral flaws of others, which he keeps recorded in his "Book of Threats" or "Devil's Handbook", and uses this information to blackmail everyone from students to figures of authority into placing him in a position of power. He has little respect for authority and has in fact usurped authority over Deimon High School well before the series begins, using his power in the school to give himself beyond-perfect scores in all his classes and divert funds to the American football club as he desires. Besides blackmail, Hiruma can often intimidate others into taking the action he wants by waving around his vast arsenal of firearms. Even without having to take direct action, Hiruma's mere reputation is enough in some instances to make the majority of the student body fear him and bow to his authority.

Despite his penchant for blackmail and breaking seemingly every school rule without consequence, Hiruma adheres to the rules of American football without exception while playing. Inagaki says that Hiruma "does everything else to win" and is "only concerned with winning." Instead, Hiruma attempts to throw opposing teams offguard through taunts and insults. Even when Hiruma expresses excitement or happiness, he does so in a violent manner, by firing his guns into the air or kicking a teammate in the rear when they have executed well on a play. He addresses all members of the Deimon Devil Bats with a vulgar manner, beginning with "Fucking" and ending with a descriptive noun, such as "Shorty" for Sena or "Monkey" for Monta. Some characters, such as Kid, have observed that Hiruma's attitude and even aspects of his demonic appearance are an act to intimidate his opponents both on and off the field. Over time, the series has alluded to Hiruma's 'true' personality, which Sena and Mamori Anezaki have at times been shown to understand to some degree, as when one or the other correctly observes Hiruma to be worried, happy, or tired. In addition to these instances, Hiruma has shown compassion to others, though he continues to hide it with his demonic behavior - allowing Takami some privacy after a loss is one such instance. In addition, some of Hiruma's actions imply that he cares for the other members of the team more than he lets on. In the case of his two oldest teammates, Hiruma abandoned Shinryuuji High to join Kurita at Deimon High when Kurita failed to gain entrance into the school, and he forbid Musashi's kicking tee from being touched after Musashi had to leave the team, making it an almost sacred object in the Devil Bats' locker room. As the series progresses, Hiruma's feelings for his teammates become more apparent, especially the faith he places in Sena and Monta.

tory

Backstory

Seven years prior to the start of the series, Yoichi Hiruma, then ten years old, snuck into an American military base, where he witnessed a group of soldiers playing American football. Intrigued by the game, he soon caught on to its rules and later began studying its tactics. Hiruma became a regular spectator of the soldiers' games by sneaking through a hole in the wire fence surrounding the base. With his deep understanding of the game, he managed to successfully gamble on the winning teams, accumulating a large amount of money by the time he entered Mao Junior High, during which he dyed his hair to its current blonde color. Soon after Hiruma entered junior high, Ryoukan Kurita accidentally came across a series of scribbled plays that he had drawn up, and encouraged Hiruma to actively participate in the game. Although Hiruma at first had no interest in playing the game himself, he participated in one of the soldiers' games along with Kurita to replace two players who collapsed from heatstroke. While Hiruma and Kurita's team lost, along with all of Hiruma's winnings which he had gambled on the team, Hiruma became interested in starting his own American football team, with the ultimate goal of reaching the Christmas Bowl. In order to establish an American football club, Hiruma created an expansive information network to acquire blackmail on virtually everyone in the Tokyo area, which allowed him to threaten the vice principal of Mao into allowing the creation of the club. During this time, Hiruma briefly acquired muscle in the form of Agon Kongo, set up a surveillance system with a large supply of hacked cellphone cameras, and recorded the information he acquired in a 'threat notebook' which remains on his person to the present day. After the reestablishment of the American football club with Doburoku Sakaki as club adviser, Gen "Musashi" Takekura decided to join the club because he thought Hiruma and Kurita were "fun," perhaps due to their unusual and persistent methods of attempting to persuade him to join. Together, the three new friends made a pact to reach the Christmas Bowl.

Kurita looked up to the Shinryuuji Naga, a team that had won every single Kanto Fall Tournament since its creation, so the three decided to join the team. Because Kurita could not hope to pass the Shinryuuji High entrance exam, Hiruma signed him up for the school's sports merit program, which would have permitted him to join the team. However, Agon applied for the program as well, because he believed the three to be "failures," and so Kurita was not permitted into Shinryuuji. Rather than leaving their friend behind, Hiruma and Musashi applied for Deimon High School, and together with Kurita established another new American football team, the Deimon Devil-Bats, with Hiruma as the quarterback, Kurita a lineman, and Musashi the kicker. Despite their lack of any other members, Hiruma remained enthusiastic about reaching the Christmas Bowl, simply recruiting members of other sports clubs to fill up the roster. Despite this measure, Deimon failed to win a single game, even losing 99-0 against the Oujou White Knights. Additionally, Musashi's father fell ill, requiring Musashi to take a greater role in his family's carpentry business and leave the team for an extended period of time.

Eyeshield 21

At the beginning of the series, Hiruma and Kurita, now in their second year of high school, aggressively attempt to recruit new members to the Deimon Devil Bats from the newer students. At first their only successful recruit is the reluctant Sena Kobayakawa, as Hiruma witnesses his incredible running speed and agility and forces him to be the team's running back. Hiruma additionally hides Sena's identity by making him wear an eyeshield and adapt the moniker 'Eyeshield 21'. Hiruma enters the Devil Bats into the Spring Tournament, where the team is eliminated early by the Oujou White Knights in a one-sided match, though Sena's potential as an ace runner appears briefly. Following their defeat, the Devil Bats search for members and prepare for the grander Autumn Tournament.

Hiruma, through intimidation, blackmail, cyber terrorism, and other similar methods, plays a crucial role in the development of the young Devil Bats team. He single-handedly devises the team's recruitment drives and game plans, as well as all of the training routines until Doburoku returns to the team and instructs the team on some occasions. Among Hiruma's many accomplishments in the series include circumventing the selection process to face the Nasa Aliens, using the Aliens' return trip tickets to the United States for the Devil Bats' training in North America, and winning 20,000,000 yen (approximately $200,000) at Las Vegas to pay off Doburoku's debts.

Unlike many of the members of the Deimon Devil Bats, Hiruma does not explicitly experience a great improvement in ability over the course of series, instead acting as a reliable "control tower" for the team. Hiruma's insight and strategic mind, especially his knack for devising trick plays, are critical in the Devil Bats' various matches. As the Devil Bats advance into the Kanto Tournament, Hiruma's relation to his teammates visibly changes, as he seems to place more faith in their abilities. Over time, this faith becomes critical in many of Deimon's victories, as several critical plays, such as an unexpected onside kick against Shinryuuji and a silent midplay huddle on the last play against Oujou, are based around the team members' ability to understand and believe in each other. Additionally, contrary to Hiruma's typically tactical mindset, he accomplishes several feats seemingly through sheer willpower, including recovering from a broken arm in just a few weeks prior to the Christmas Bowl against the Teikoku Alexanders. Eventually, in his final game against the Alexanders, Hiruma discards his objective outlook, putting faith in his teammates even when victory against Teikoku appears statistically impossible. It is this change in mindset that allows the Devil Bats to score on several consecutive drives against the otherwise perfect Alexanders.

Techniques and Strategies

Of the myriad of weapons at Hiruma's disposal, possibly the most devastating of all is his steel-trap mind. An expert strategist with a clever and cunning demeanor, he is a force to be reckoned with, both on and off the field. He can also think up to 17 strategies quickly, no matter the scenario, and even if he is under harsh conditions, he manages to stay focused. His game plans often appear insane, and often He is a well-rounded quarterback, possessing a strong throwing arm, mobility, fast reaction time, and the ability to notice details quickly. According to Ichiro Takami and Musashi, Hiruma lacks the body type for American football, but makes up for it with his cunning mind and force of will.

The following are Hiruma's techniques and/or abilities:

*Devil's Handbook - Not really part of the arsenal he uses on the field, though one can say that it's his most potent weapon, aside from his cunning mind. At the beginning of the series, he uses it to force students from other clubs to become support players for the football team. This book is not limited to the secrets of students and teachers at Deimon; Hiruma has been known to blackmail city officials, work crews and storekeepers (in one case he even used it to commandeer a JSDF tank).
*Psychological warfare - By using rumors, bluffs and threats, Hiruma can unnerve the opposing teams, as well as to bolster morale among his own teammates. The most famous example of this is the network of lies he makes up about Eyeshield 21, Sena's alias. He even use spectators to cheer to the team as distraction, while he is busy creating a play.
*Play Action (Fake Handoff) - Hiruma is a master of making the football disappear from sight, fooling many different defenders including even Shin. Prior to the Autumn Tokyo Tournament this was the only physical technique that Hiruma employed in games, but it developed a reputation for even deceiving the cameramen who recorded the game.
*Quarterback Blitz - Realizing that the Nasa Alien's Shuttle Pass was their key strategy, Hiruma had all his lineman and backfield players rush the quarterback to prevent him from throwing the ball. The strategy is bolstered by the team's ability to decide the number of blitzing players with no huddle, using a series of signals sent by Mamori, Yukimitsu, and even Cerberos from the bench.
*Wishbone - A formation which uses three running backs in a "Y" shape behind Hiruma. Hiruma has the option of handing the ball off to one of the three running backs or keeping it himself, utilizing his talent for fake handoffs. The running backs who don't receive the hand off are additionally used as extra blockers. Due to Hiruma's ability to make snap decisions, this strategy is extremely adaptable, and the player who runs the ball is not determined until the middle of the play. Shun Kakei used Hiruma's quick decisions against the Devil Bats by having the Poseidon deliberately leave the team with only the option of having Sena run through the line, where he would encounter Shun who would be ready to tackle him. However, Natsuhiko Taki's abilities still leave Deimon with a passing option despite having three running backs, and this allowed the Devil Bats to continue their offensive with the Wishbone.
*Air Option - Not named such, but very similar with. By adding Yukimitsu as additional Wide Receiver, and employing Natsuhiko Taki's abilities to catch, Hiruma can freely choose to whom he's going to pass: Monta for long passes using his great catching ability, Yukimitsu for mid-length passes using his ability to read defensive formations, or Taki for short passes using his tall build and flexibility.
*Devil Laser Bullet - Hiruma's signature pass, a powerful throw that puts a tight spiral on the ball. The pass has an unusual trajectory - a straight line, even regarding harsh weather conditions and gravity. Only Monta is capable of catching this pass out of Deimon's players.
*Hail Devil Pass - A very fast, long and low version of the Devil Laser Bullet. Because of its tight trajectory, it does not rely on chance to succeed like the more common Hail Mary pass.
*Sign Language - Hiruma ordered Mamori to provide some kind of secret code to communicate with the sideline after the game with the Kyoshin Poseidon. Unlike the codes most sports teams use to communicate, the signs Mamori sends are long and complex, and described as "telling a long story" by Wakana, Ojo's manager. Because of their complexity, however, Hiruma and Mamori can communicate any intended thought necessary from across the field.
*Play Action (Fake TFP Kick) - A fake point-after kick with Hiruma switching from holding the ball in place to taking the ball as quarterback and attempting to score a two-point conversion. Combined with the Sky Devil Bat Dive, this play scores the winning points against the Shinryuuji Naga.
*Spike - Hiruma purposely discards a down after a successful advance to stop the clock by throwing the ball to the ground.
*Clock Play - A direct tribute to an actual play from the 1994 NFL season, in which legendary Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino hoodwinked the entire New York Jets defense, and won the game. In the final minute of their game against Shinryuuji, Hiruma had Deimon line up as if he were going to spike the ball, but with Monta appearing to line up late while acting spaced out - in reality setting up for a long pass that depends on Monta getting a head start on the entire defense.
*Shotgun - The same tactic used by the Seibu Wild Gunmen in which Monta, Sena, Taki, and Yukimitsu all line up as wide receivers. The tactic gives Hiruma a wide number of passing options by forcing the opposing defense to spread out and cover the various receivers.
*Killer Hornet - A strategy created by Hiruma in the last play against the White Knights: Hiruma called Taki, Monta, and Sena to form a make-shift huddle after receiving the kickoff. This hides the ball from view and prevents the opposing team from seeing who is carrying it. Each player then suddenly explodes forward with each appearing to carry the ball. This confuses the kicking team momentarily, allowing the true ball carrier to advance more easily. Against Ojo, Sena successfully scored the winning touchdown with this play. The same tactic was used to confuse Teikoku in the opening kickoff, by having Ichimaru return the ball instead.
*The Lonely Center - A trick play which has only Kurita defending in front of Hiruma while the other members of the Devil Bats are positioned to the left. This tricks the Dinosaurs into using just Gao to break through the line, instead of the normal four to five linemen. With Gao preoccupied, Hiruma is given the time needed to throw the ball. Furthermore, the strategy is also used as bait to get the opposing linemen to rush Hiruma from the empty side, which leaves the rest of the field open for a lateral to Sena. However, the play relies on the center's ability to defend one-on-one against the defensive lineman.
*Quarterback Draw - While Hiruma has run the ball himself many times, the tactic in question is a play that relies upon confusing the opposing defense. The Devil Bats use the Shotgun formation and then have all four receivers run to the same spot on the field, following which Hiruma shouts "4x Devil Laser Bullet!" However, instead of passing, Hiruma runs to the side and carries the ball alone.
*Play Action (Pass Fake/ QB Decoy) - Unlike the Play Action/Fake Handoff he usually engages in, Hiruma has three receivers, (Monta, Taki and Sena), gather to his left in a bunch formation. This makes the opposing team believe that he will pass the ball to the left after the play begins. However, the ball is snapped directly to Sena, while Monta, Taki and the others clear a path for him to run. Since the opponent will be concentrating on stopping a pass, this gives the Devil Bats more space for a run.
*The Gargoyle - An extension of Hiruma's psychological warfare, in which he merely takes up a position on the field. This would have no effect if not for the fact that the tactic was deployed after Hiruma appeared to have broken his arm when he was sacked by Gao. By acting as if he were uninjured, Hiruma tricked Hakyushuu into temporarily believing he was still a threat on both offense and defense, and for a a short time the Dinosaurs avoided throwing to his position.
*Devil Dragon Fly - A variation of the Shinryūji Naga's Kongo Brother's Dragon Fly, using both Sena and Hiruma as quarterbacks. By using unexpected laterals and fake-hand-off tricks deployed by Hiruma, they manage to confuse Hakyushuu's defense.
*Hail Mary Pass - A very long forward pass thrown near the end of a half or end of a game where there is no possibility for any other play to score points. This play is unlikely to be successful, because of the general inaccuracy of the pass and the defensive team's preparedness for the play makes it likely that it can intercept or knock down the ball. Hiruma uses this play against the Teikoku Alexanders to test Taka's capabilities and as a set-up for a single true long pass during which Taka and Monta had to run a short distance back to the line of scrimmage and then forward again.
*Audible - A no-huddle strategy employed in an attempt to catch up by 35 points in the final ten minutes of the game against Teikoku, wherein Hiruma calls the play as Deimon is lining up. The plays are given two-digit numbers, but Mamori devises a system to make the code harder to crack. Hiruma instead calls a three-digit number, preceded by the name of a team the Devil Bats previously faced. Depending on whether Deimon defeated, lost to, or tied with that team, the first, second, or third (respectively) digit is eliminated from that number, leaving the two-digit play number. The strategy also has Mamori using hand signals to communicate the hut count to the team, making the code harder to crack
*21 - Rather than a play decided upon beforehand, this is an audible call whose meaning can vary from game to game. The Devil Bats execute a play that they have been preparing for the whole game - in the case of the Christmas Bowl against Teikoku, a long pass in which Monta finally defeats Taka and scores Deimon's first points in the game.
*Christ Cross - Another variation of running play, where Monta and Sena cross paths with Quarterback (Hiruma) as their center. This will hide the true ball carrier, however due to Sena and Monta's initial inexperience with the play as well as never having used it before, their first use of the Christ Cross results in a fumble with the ball almost being stolen by Teikoku.
*Devil Cross - The "warped" version of Christ Cross, in which after the Christ Cross performed, the ball carrier stil can laterals the ball toward the Quarterback, after luring the defense, giving the pass play more options and freedom. In this case, after the ball being passed back to Hiruma, Hiruma pass it back to Sena, when he realized that all his target pass had been marked tightly, but Sena had been left open.

ources

*Various "Eyeshield 21" manga chapters (character guides) and anime episodes.

References