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Chikara Ennoshita (Japanese: 縁下 (えんのした) (ちから) Ennoshita Chikara) was a second year student at Karasuno High. He played as a substitute wing spiker for the Boys' Volleyball Team. In his third year, he became the team captain.

As of 2018, he is working as a physical therapist.

Appearance[]

Ennoshita is an average-looking guy with slightly down-turned eyes, causing him to have a somewhat sleepy look on his face. He has medium-length dark brown hair kept parted near the middle. His eyebrows and eyes are the same brown color. He doesn't usually attract much attention and often goes unmentioned even when he's on court.

Post-timeskip, Ennoshita's appearance appears to have not changed much but his hair seems slightly longer.

Personality[]

He's usually quiet, reserved and can sometimes be seen with a gentle smile on his face, but he can also behave boldly towards the other second-years. Ennoshita is the only second-year who's able to control Tanaka and Nishinoya. He has the ability to understand and relate to different people and has been noted to be a stabilizing presence for the underclassmen; this trait makes him a good candidate to be a captain. Despite this, Ennoshita lacks confidence in himself, mostly because of his lack of experience in matches, and initially had trouble while subbing in for Daichi in the match against Wakutani Minami. Ennoshita's also smart and has never received a failing mark before.

Background[]

Ennoshita is currently a second-year at Karasuno High. He joined the boys' volleyball club in his first year, but after the original coach, Ikkei Ukai, returned, he couldn't keep up with the grueling practices and started skipping, along with Kinoshita and Narita. Eventually, he realized how important volleyball was to him and returned to the team, but by that time, Ikkei had been hospitalized again. Because of this brief period of hiatus, he, Narita, and Kinoshita began calling themselves "The Ungrateful Second Years".

While Asahi and Nishinoya were gone from the team, Ennoshita filled in their spots. After their return, he now cheers from the bench during games.

Plot[]

Karasuno High Team Formation Arc[]

Ennoshita Kinoshita Narita s1 e3

Ennoshita first appears along the sidelines during the 3-on-3 first-years match.[1] Like many of the other current team members, Ennoshita was amazed and somewhat intimidated at the variety of abilities the first-years displayed. He later helps with welcoming the first-years to the team.

Aoba Johsai Practice Match[]

During the match, Hinata messes up Daichi's receive, which results in Ennoshita having to cover it. Hanamaki serves, and Ennoshita is easily able to receive it, which reminds Sugawara that Aoba Johsai's serves are supposedly strong and assumes that Karasuno is handling them well. During the second set, Tsukishima and Kageyama are both rotated in the front, as well as Ennoshita. Noticing the tension building between the two first-years, Ennoshita attempts to keep things peaceful but is ultimately ignored. Following this, as the three players jump up to block Iwaizumi, Ennoshita still has a look of worry on his face as his teammates continue to frustrate each other. Later on, Irihata acknowledges that even though Kageyama and Hinata are to be wary of, Karasuno's other players are still threats, describing all their strong points, but leaves out Ennoshita, who then expresses that he feels left out.

Asahi and Nishinoya's Return[]

Upon Asahi and Nishinoya's return to the team, Asahi is given a position as one of the starting line-up players and thus Ennoshita is no longer a starter. For a while, he stood on the sidelines cheering the team on in official matches with the other benched players, having never missed a game despite not playing.

Nekoma Practice Match[]

Karasuno starts the training camp leading up to the match against Nekoma. After Nishinoya mentions that Asahi took Ennoshita's spot on the team, the second-year reminds them that he ran away from the team once; puzzling Hinata and Kageyama.[2] The two later ask him about it and Ennoshita tells them about the time he, Kinoshita, and Narita left the team. The three would admit that they were part of the club for fun and the captain at the time was kind and was not too concerned about winning status. This changed when Ikkei Ukai returned to coach the team and everything became stricter and about winning matches. Because of this, the three and several others left the club as they were no longer enjoying it or were unable to keep up with the grueling training. However, the three decided to return when they realized how much they truly enjoy volleyball and promised the first-years that they would all be doing their best from then on.

Interhigh Arc[]

While changing in the clubroom with Tanaka, Ennoshita asks about the latter's frustrated expression.[3] Tanaka remarks that if some girls told them good luck and gave them charms, he would be even more fired up and Ennoshita coldly responds that he only thinks that way because he's a regular. He then chides Tanaka, saying that if Tanaka continues to think about such things, he would take his spot on the team.

Karasuno vs Aoba Johsai[]

While Kageyama's switched out in order to collect himself and Hinata points out how Sugawara is supportive of the others, Ennoshita explains that Sugawara doesn't compliment the players simply to "get along", but rather to check on their conditions so he can figure out how to set to them.[4] Ennoshita adds that Sugawara is doing this more with Tsukishima since Sugawara doesn't know him as well as the third- and second-years. From this, Ennoshita is able to help Kageyama realize that he should try to communicate better with his hitters since everyone is different and therefore needs different sets in order to perform at their best.

Ennoshita continued to support the team as the match went on and looked upset when they eventually lost. During the dinner Ukai treats them to, Ennoshita began crying along with the others. The following day, he joins the other second-years in discussing the upcoming tournament to qualify for nationals. After learning from Ukai that Shiratorizawa won the Interhigh tournament, Ennoshita joins his teammates in wanting to get stronger so that they can make it to the Spring Tournament.

Tokyo Expedition Arc[]

When Takeda reminds the team that exams are approaching and how a single failed mark and taking make-up exams will prevent them from joining the upcoming summer training camps in Tokyo, Ennoshita catches Tanaka and Nishinoya when they attempted to escape.[5] Ennoshita, Kinoshita, and Narita go to Tanaka's house to help him and Nishinoya study where Ennoshita tries to help them improve their study methods while also being firm and preventing them from slacking off. He is also seen helping in welcoming Hitoka Yachi to the team as the new manager.

Though Ennoshita mostly is seen cheering for the team during the practice matches and carrying out the penalties, he does join the free practices due to wanting to perfect the timing of the synchronized attack. His want to do this caused Tanaka to feel as if his fellow teammate was wanting to take his spot.

Spring High Preliminary Arc[]

Karasuno vs Wakutani Minami High[]

Ennoshita s2 e17 5

Ennoshita feeling pressured.

After Daichi has to be switched out because of an injury in the match against Wakutani Minami, Ennoshita replaces him.[6] He's pressured initially because of the position he's filling and does not feel that he can match Daichi's leadership but is surprised when his teammates reveal that they expected him to come on. When Tanaka apologizes, Ennoshita responds that Daichi might've had to be removed from the game, but at least Tanaka isn't hurt as well.

At first, he has trouble in the match but after remembering his past when he left the team, he loudly yells at Wakutani Minami to bring it on and receives the next ball. Yamaguchi's switched in as well and Ennoshita covers up his mistakes. When Ukai returns, angry at Yamaguchi's serves, Ennoshita steps up for the first-year and remarks that Yamaguchi knows better than anyone what he did wrong.

During the third set of the match, Tanaka is able to see that Ennoshita is trying to play and lead like Daichi but tells him to just be himself. This allowed Ennoshita to finally be able to fit himself into the game and formulate a plan to counter Nakashima's block-out spikes.

Ennoshita s2 e18 7

Despite winning the match and getting complimented by Daichi, Ennoshita still has regrets and rushes off to the bathroom by himself. He notes that half of his spikes missed and only put in the effort with receives in the second half. But, after reminding himself that he needs to think about his next match, he regains his motivation.[7]

Aoba Johsai vs Date Tech[]

After Karasuno's match against Wakutani Minami ends, Ennoshita watches the game next to Sugawara. When Oikawa scores a service ace, Ennoshita concludes that Aoba Johsai is going to win the match.

Karasuno vs Aoba Johsai[]

In Karasuno's rematch against Seijoh, Ennoshita is back with the other waiting players but joins in Karasuno's early celebrations of their new attacks working against their opponent. In the second set, Kentarō Kyōtani is switched in to help give Seijoh an advantage. After several plays, Ennoshita is the one who sees that Kyōtani and Tanaka were having a rivalry with one another and pointed out that the two have been purposely aiming at and ricocheting several spikes off one another. When Karasuno eventually won the match, Ennoshita joins the team in celebrating having gotten their revenge.

Karasuno vs Shiratorizawa[]

During the middle of the first set, Ennoshita bandages Tsukishima's finger. Near the end of the third set, Asahi has a hard time saving the ball from out of the court and Sugawara compares it to how Ennoshita saved the ball during the Wakutani Minami match. Shortly after, Ennoshita is surprised when he sees that Hinata is about to jump extremely high to block Ushijima instead of spiking. After this, Hinata is shown to have remembered what Ennoshita had told him about starting a good jump with a good approach.

Tokyo Nationals Arc[]

When the players were discussing their new height measurements, Ennoshita teases Hinata for this being the time his math is on point when he is able to right away figure out the differences since their last measurements. Ennoshita is present when the team receives news of Kageyama being invited to the All-Japan Youth Camp and expresses his amazement of how the team has been able to play alongside such a talented person. After this, he is seen informing the rest of the team that Hinata had crashed the First Year Training Camp at Shiratorizawa Academy. From then, he is mostly seen during the team practices and the practice match against Date Tech.

Ennoshita and Tsukishima s4-e9-1

When the team arrived at Tokyo and Daichi had to be in a meeting with Ukai, Ennoshita was put in charge of the team; to Sugawara's annoyance. Ennoshita discovered Kageyama and Hinata wanting to go out for a run but was concerned about them being out in an area they were not familiar with and 'forces' Tsukishima to go with them in order to make sure they returned safely and are not out too long.

Karasuno vs Tsubakihara[]

Just before the match against Tsubakihara began, Hinata's shoes are discovered to have been mistakenly taken and he therefore did not have them when the team arrived at the stadium. Ennoshita originally suggested that they should purchase Hinata a new pair of shoes until Kiyoko volunteered to retrieve the shoes herself.

Ennoshita joined in the cheer when Kinoshita was sent into the match as a pinch server. After the match, Ennoshita spotted Tanaka speaking with Kanoka and points out how Tanaka has the chance to have a girlfriend. Doing this exposed Kinoshita and Narita from having pretended not to eavesdrop but Ennoshita would continue his statement by saying he noticed Kanoka's behavior toward Tanaka just before the opening ceremony of the tournament and firmly believes that she may have a crush on Tanaka.[8]

Karasuno vs Inarizaki[]

Group s4-e16-3

Like the rest of the team, Ennoshita was overwhelmed at the presence of the Inarizaki band supporting their team. When Tsukishima and Kageyama are able to pull off an attack using Tsukishima's height to their advantage, Ennoshita is able to easily read their facial expression of not wanting to admit to one another that the attack worked.[9]

Karasuno s4-e25-1

When Tanaka is struggling during the game when trying to execute a cross shot, Ennoshita believes that Tanaka will be fine and reminds the others that Tanaka was the only second-year who never left the volleyball club. When Tanaka was able to finally make the cross-shot work, Ennoshita, Kinoshita, and Narita laugh happily. Like the rest of the team, Ennoshita is shown being surprised when Hinata was able to perfectly receive Aran's spike in the third set. Ennoshita joins the team on the court to celebrate when Karasuno wins the match.

Karasuno vs Nekoma[]

Ennoshita cheers for his teammates during the match against Nekoma. He finds amusement when hearing Sugawara name Asahi's block-out as the "Block Crusher". Ennoshita would join the team in running onto the court to celebrate when Hinata was able to use a receive to score the winning point for the second set.[10]

Karasuno vs Kamomedai[]

During the game, Hirugami is quick to score a blocking point, which is something that Yamaguchi is frustrated about but not surprised as they are facing "Hirugami the Immovable". Then, Sugawara takes a moment to think, repeating the "Immovable" nickname and Ennoshita notices that Sugawara likes the name. Into the second set, Ennoshita notices that Kageyama always makes his sets look easy, but after pulling after an especially impressive one, he was making it look even easier. Sugawara then explains that it's because he moved from standing right in front of the net to in the middle. Nearing the end of the third set, Hinata tearfully apologizes for not being able to take good care of his health. His team tries to cheer him up, including Kinoshita, but he doesn't know what to do and stutters a few words. Ennoshita doesn't know what to say either, so he doesn't speak.

After the third-years retire from the team and graduate, Ennoshita becomes the new team captain.[11] It is stated that Karasuno would attend the next Interhigh Tournament but would lose to Date Tech in the final round. Karasuno would later participate in the 2014 Spring Tournament and place in the top 16 when they were beaten by Inarizaki.[12]

Final Arc[]

Ennoshita's final appearance of the series is when he is revealed to have become a physical therapist after high school. Having been unable to leave work for the day of the MSBY Black Jackals and Schweiden Adlers match, he was not able to join his former teammates to watch the game but was able to watch it online.

Statistics[]

High School Statistics
Power
 
3/5
Jumping
 
2/5
Stamina
 
3/5
Game Sense
 
3/5
Technique
 
3/5
Speed
 
2/5

Ennoshita's fundamentals are all intermediate and he has a decent playing style, but his abilities aren't outstanding overall. He is predominantly a left-wing spiker but played as an opposite hitter during the Wakutani match (Shimada stated that he was not used to playing opposite). Ennoshita is level-headed and good at analysis during games, allowing him to often see through his opponents' plans. This ability gives him a stable presence on the team, similar to Daichi, which is one of the reasons why Ennoshita was chosen to be the captain next year. He's an all-around player that excels both at offense and defense.

As of mid-November:

  • Fingertip Height: 223 cm.
  • Jumping Reach: 305 cm. (spike) / 290 cm. (block)

Relationships[]

Karasuno High[]

  • Daichi Sawamura:
    Daichi and Ennoshita s4-e10-1
    Ennoshita often compares his own skills and leadership to Daichi, at times believing that he cannot compare to his upperclassman even though others and Daichi himself tell him otherwise. Despite this, Ennoshita heavily respects Daichi and is often relied on by the third-year to help keep the rest of the team in line. Once the third-years eventually graduated, Ennoshita is very emotional when they leave and as Daichi appoints him the new team captain.
  • Hisashi Kinoshita and Kazuhito Narita:
    Narita
    He appears to be good friends with Kinoshita and Narita and is often seen with them during practice or games. They have known one another since they were first-years and because of their past with leaving the team, they support each other greatly during matches.
  • Yū Nishinoya and Ryūnosuke Tanaka:
    Second years s2 e17
    Ennoshita knows Tanaka and Nishinoya very well and is always the one scolding them for their antics on Daichi's order. Despite this, he maintains a close relationship with them and keeps an eye on them whenever they get out of hand. He also willingly helps them study on their exams for their sake, though they never seem pleased about this. Additionally, Ennoshita was quite blunt with Tanaka after explaining his worries about Kanoka to the second-years and was tired of Tanaka always making fun of himself when talking to Kiyoko. To Tanaka and Nishinoya's dismay, he can talk normally with Kiyoko without being ignored because unlike his teammates, Ennoshita doesn't seem to be attracted to her.
  • Karasuno High:
    Karasuno s4-e25-2
    Ennoshita has a stabilizing presence on the team and is able to communicate with the first-years well. He is considered the "Don of the Second Years" for his ability to rein in Tanaka and Nishinoya. Most of the members find him similar to Daichi and see him as the next captain.

Quotes[]

  • (To Asahi) "It's not like I've been playing in the earnest the whole time. I ran away from it once too."[2][13]
  • (To Kageyama) "I might sound biased, but I think our spikers are pretty skilled."[4][14]
  • (To Tanaka) "Don't think I'm gonna warm that bench forever."[15]
  • (To himself) "If I don't get this ball, then I don't deserve to be on this court."[16]
  • (To himself) "This is the first time I've fought 'til the very end. Even though it's like this, I'm still not satisfied at all."[7]
  • (Out loud to Karasuno) "The things that people tend to take to heart vary from person to person."[17]

Trivia[]

  • Current Concern: Even when he's really fired up, people tell him he looks sleepy.
  • Star Sign: Capricorn.
  • He wears white gym shoes with black accents.
  • There's a running gag of Ennoshita being a genius filmmaker as Director Ennoshita. He has made several movies comprised of both his own teammates and players from other teams. 
  • He's one of few people who is able to have a normal conversation with Kiyoko which annoys Nishinoya and Tanaka.
  • He is the third oldest second-year on the team after Nishinoya and Narita.
  • In Haikyuu's first popularity poll, Ennoshita ranked 22nd with 954 votes.[18] In the second popularity poll, he dropped to 28th with 1,602 votes.[19]
  • When asked about Ennoshita's name, Furudate said: "I gave him this name with the image of succeeding greatly in the future."[20]
  • His name comes from the expression "en no shita no chikara mochi" (Japanese: (えん) (した) (ちから) () ) which refers to a person who does a thankless task or who works without expecting credit.
  • Nomenclature:
    • Chikara (力) – Power
    • Ennoshita (縁下) – Below Destiny

References[]

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