Haikyuu is one of the most popular sports anime of the past two decades. With four seasons and hundreds of manga chapters, Haikyuu has consistently displayed phenomenal skill in writing thrilling athletics, potent character studies, and a classic shonen underdog story. Fans follow the trials and tribulations of the Karasuno volleyball team as they attempt to prove themselves as national contenders.
But in the difficult journey of sports, teams often have to undergo many failures before tasting real success. Throughout Haikyuu‘s story, fans have been hit with moments that absolutely devastate and break hearts. But even the sad moments prove just how spectacular this anime is.
10 Hinata Lost In The Very First Episode
The first episode of Haikyuu begins with a prologue match between the series’ two main characters, Hinata and Kageyama. Both middle schoolers at the time, the two faced off in a match that was particularly favored towards Kageyama’s team.
The game ended with Hinata having an impressive showcase of his athletic abilities but still failing to secure many points due to an inferior team. While the stakes of this match were low, fans couldn’t help but be heartbroken about Hinata’s realization that only winners get to continue playing.
9 Hinata & Kageyama Got Violent During Training
There is more to sports anime than just the tournaments and matches. Some of Haikyuu‘s best moments are in the in-between scenes, where characters train or recover before their next game.
One of the most tragic of these scenes occurred at the beginning of Season 2 when Hinata and Kageyama began violently fighting during a training session. Each character was struggling with complex feelings towards their growth as a team, making it hard for fans to feel like either of them was necessarily in the wrong.
8 Ohgiminami Learned To Give It Their All
One of the greatest lessons Haikyuu can give a viewer is the importance of trying. Even when the odds are stacked against them and their opponents are talented demigods, it’s always good to push forward and do their best.
This theme is often best showcased through some of Karasuno’s weaker opponents. Ohgiminami was a team Karasuno fought as first-round opponents in the Season 2 tournament. While they never stood a fighting chance, Hinata inspired the Ohgiminami players to give it their all in a way that fans couldn’t help but be moved by.
7 Yamaguchi Screamed At Tsukishima
Haikyuu is a thrilling example of athletics in anime, but it wouldn’t be as popular as it is without its large cast of well-rounded, deep characters. Karasuno is not just Hinata and Kageyama’s volleyball team, but rather a group of individuals each with their own complex motivations and emotions.
One of the more intricate character arcs was underway when fans watched as Yamaguchi called out Tsukishima and berated his best friend for refusing to go all out for volleyball. It’s a heartbreaking scene that shows two characters deep into their contrasting journeys and a natural conflict that arises from it.
6 Karasuno Lost The Final Match Of Season One
Many sports anime follow underdog protagonists and Haikyuu is no different. The Karasuno team is often remarked as being fallen champions, no longer possessing the skills to put up a good challenge for the competitive teams.
From the beginning, Hinata and the team had to prove themselves in spite of that reputation. But with the odds stacked against them, it only made sense they’d lose some games along the way. The most emotional came at the end of Season 1, where Karasuno endured a crushing defeat at the hands of Aoba Johsai.
5 Wakunan Were Tragic Side Antagonists
Over the course of Haikyuu, Karasuno faces off against a ton of different, unique opponents. Each opponent brings a new identity and style of play, making it reasonable for fans to develop favorites.
While it’s expected that fans grow attached to some of the repeat rivals, Haikyuu even manages to draw in fans for its one-off teams, such as Wakunan. Wakunan had only one match and didn’t pose a significant threat to Karasuno, but their post-game breakdown had fans sharing tears with the Wakunan captain.
4 Asahi Calls For A Toss During His First Game Back
While fans are quick to remember Haikyuu‘s climactic moments in various tournaments, it’s not uncommon for even practice matches to carry some strong emotional weight. Early in the first season, Karasuno attempted to persuade their ace Asahi back onto the team after a traumatic loss to Date Tech.
Asahi was hesitant, fearing to have the pressure of a difficult game on his shoulders ever again. But during a friendly practice match, fans broke into tears when they saw Asahi calling for spikes over and over again, determined to score a point no matter how many blockers stood in the way.
3 Daichi Got Almost Severely Injured
Sports can be a dangerous hobby for growing students. No matter what the sport is, it’s not uncommon for athletes to get injured, making it a fairly regular story arc throughout a wide variety of sports anime. But Daichi’s injury versus Wakunan might just be one of the most nerve-wracking examples.
After colliding with his teammate, Daichi was left unconscious on the ground for a prolonged period of time, terrifying fans that there may have been a severe injury. While Daichi ended up recovering, this was a moment that fans would remember forever.
2 Fans Cried When Aoba Johsai Lost To Karasuno
Fans of sports anime are used to the emotional resolution of the main characters losing a hard-fought match. Whether it’s volleyball or boxing, protagonists lose all the time. But Haikyuu has the rare ability to draw fans towards even the opposing teams.
Unlike many sports anime, Haikyuu has its viewers rooting for teams on both sides of the court. Even when Karasuno pulls out the victory in Season 2, fans had to bask in the tearful aftermath of Aoba Johsai’s loss before they could celebrate.
1 Yamaguchi Cries After Giving Up During A Serve
Yamaguchi may not be the best player on Karasuno, but with hard work and diligent practice, he managed to carve a small role on the team even in their most intense matches. Yamaguchi became an excellent pinch server that they could rely on.
But early in his training, he lacked the confidence to deliver on that role, cowering out in a match against Wakunan. The aftermath of that decision was heartbreaking for fans, as they watched Yamaguchi tear himself apart with guilt in an isolated bathroom.