Every fandom has its controversial topics, and in Haikyuu!!, one of the longest-running debates revolves around talent vs. hard work—especially when it comes to Oikawa Tooru.
Some fans insist Oikawa “isn’t talented,” often echoing his insecurities.
But if fans truly believe Oikawa is not talented, then they should be ready to argue with Iwaizumi and Coach Irihata, because the manga makes it very clear:
 |
| Haikyuu!! Manga ch. 60. Oikawa is talented |
 |
| Haikyuu!! Manga ch. 145. Oikawa is talented |
The anime simply softened the wording by replacing “talent” with “ability”.
We have already explored this topic in the previous article—click here to read it in full.
This time, we will focus on a different question:
If Oikawa is talented, then why isn’t he called a prodigy?
Why did he even receive a chapter literally titled “Oikawa Is No Prodigy”?
Was it because he is less talented than he thinks?
Or is there another interpretation of “prodigy” that fans often miss?
Fans frequently treat “prodigy” as a synonym for “talented” or “gifted,” and that misunderstanding causes debates around characters like Oikawa to become messy, emotional, and sometimes disconnected from what Furudate-sensei intended.
But here’s the twist:
Oikawa is undeniably talented and undeniably a genius… yet he is NOT called a prodigy.
That isn’t an insult—it’s a distinction. And a very important one.
To understand why, we first need to break down what prodigy actually means in the world of Haikyuu!!.
Anime Cuts vs. Manga Details: Why Fans Misunderstand “Prodigy”
The anime skipped several subtle but crucial moments that help define the term:
-
Watari’s internal monologue calling Nishinoya a “prodigy.”
-
Kitagawa Daiichi’s shocked reaction when Kageyama revealed he started volleyball in 2nd grade.
-
The nuanced reasons characters sometimes call others “geniuses.”
These missing details matter because they reveal something important:
In Haikyuu, someone is called a “prodigy” when they started much earlier and mastered the fundamentals long before everyone else.
-
Nishinoya had been training as a libero since middle school.
-
Kageyama had structured volleyball training years before most of his peers even touched a ball.
This is why Watari and others react the way they do. Not because Nishinoya or Kageyama were “born perfect,” but because:
They simply had a head start—and it paid off.
**Prodigy ≠ Gifted
Prodigy ≠ Talented
Prodigy ≠ Born Perfect**
A prodigy is someone who:
started early + trained seriously + invested long hours before others even began.
It is not about being born with special traits.
To make it easier, think of it this way:
**Being born in a royal family makes you royal by status…
but it doesn’t automatically make you behave like royalty.**
You still need to:
-
learn etiquette
-
study diplomacy
-
train in leadership
-
practice public behavior
-
develop discipline
Similarly, in Haikyuu:
-
Starting early doesn’t guarantee excellence.
-
Being gifted doesn’t guarantee success.
-
Being a prodigy doesn’t erase the need to work hard.
A prodigy isn’t someone who magically excels—they’re someone who had more time and a stronger foundation to develop their skills.
So Why Isn’t Oikawa Considered a Prodigy?
Because Oikawa didn’t start at the extremely early age that other characters did, nor did he receive high-level coaching from childhood.
Despite being interested in volleyball since he was young, Oikawa only began learning properly in middle school—supported by Iwaizumi’s own words.
He wasn’t a “volleyball royalty” who had a built-in head start.
He wasn’t molded by elite coaching systems from a young age, even though he trained his serve by himself.
Instead:
-
He started on the same starting line as most normal students, following the middle-school curriculum where teenagers first explore and develop their interests.
-
He improved steadily.
-
He discovered his strengths gradually.
This is exactly why characters like Iwaizumi and Coach Irihata use the word “talent” to describe him—not “prodigy.”
He is gifted.
He is athletic.
He is brilliant.
He is a genius by Kita’s definition (someone who works harder than normal people).
But he is not a prodigy.
And that’s not a downgrade—it’s a characterization.
Breaking Down the Definitions (Haikyuu-Style)
Through Furudate’s writing and interviews, these terms gain consistent meanings:
1. Gifted = Born with special traits
Examples:
-
Ushijima’s left arm
-
Oikawa, Bokuto, Asahi’s athletic build
-
Sakusa’s wrist flexibility
-
Hinata’s natural coordination
-
Height advantages (Tsukishima, Hyakuzawa)
2. Luck = Environmental advantages
Examples:
-
Supportive teammates (Osamu → Atsumu, Iwaizumi → Oikawa)
-
Good coaches
-
Early discovery of volleyball
-
Strong school programs
Nearly every major character has some form of luck.
3. Talent / Genius = Works harder than average (Kita’s definition)
Examples:
-
All Monster Generation players
Talent here is not passive—it’s earned through abnormal effort.
4. Prodigy = Started early + trained seriously
Examples:
-
Youth Camp members
-
Kageyama (started in 2nd grade)
-
Ushijima (also started early)
-
Nishinoya (libero training since middle school)
Prodigy is about time and foundation, not natural gifts.
The Bigger Picture: Everyone at the Top Is Talented
By the end of Haikyuu!!, characters like:
-
Hinata
-
Kageyama
-
Oikawa
-
Ushijima
-
Atsumu
-
Bokuto
-
Sakusa
-
Hoshiumi
-
Romero
-
Iizuna
-
Joffe, etc.
…all reach elite levels.
They are all talented geniuses, each with unique strengths and obstacles.
Furudate even stated that he gave Hinata extraordinary jumping ability to compensate for his late start and short height.
Likewise, Iwaizumi emphasized Oikawa’s naturally athletic body—a supportive factor that helped him catch up to those who started earlier.
So, Are We Still Arguing About Talent vs. Hard Work?
Once the terms are properly understood, the debate becomes much clearer:
-
Prodigy = early start + consistent training
-
Gift = natural physical advantages
-
Talent / Genius = abnormal hard work
-
Luck = supportive environment
-
Results = the unique combination of all the above
Oikawa is not a prodigy.
But he was born with gifts—and he worked hard to sharpen those gifts so he could catch up to players who started volleyball much earlier than him.
Understanding these distinctions helps us appreciate each character’s journey—without diminishing others.