Why Weren’t They Invited to the U-19 Youth Camp?

  

What criteria determine whether a player is invited to the U-19 Youth Camp?

Why was Chigaya Eikichi selected, but not Oikawa? And why weren’t Yaku or Osamu invited either?

We will try to analyze it.

In this analysis, we will explore these questions logically and rationally, based on the story context.

Please note, this analysis may not be 100% accurate to real-life procedures, but it aims to be as reasonable as possible matches with the story.

Let’s use the 5W+H method to find the answer.

How Are Players Selected?

There is a selection process rather than simple registration. The decision-makers are centralized—mainly the Youth Camp coaches with the help of the Japan National Team (JNT) coach.

However, Coach Hibarida only appears during national team activities, so the selection likely happens before the Spring Tournament, led by the Youth Camp representatives.

The closest significant event to this timing is the Final Prefectural match held in November, where the final team is chosen to represent the prefecture in the Spring Tournament.

Why That Timing?

Why is the selection held at this specific time?

Why not select players during the Inter-High Qualification (July–August), which would allow players like Oikawa to be considered?

It is certainly not limited to Oikawa alone. The most logical reason is fairness: the selection before the Spring Tournament allows new first-year players to compete under more equal conditions.

Since the Inter-High occurs just a few months after the new school year starts, some new players might not yet have secured regular positions on their teams.

In short, it is highly likely that qualifications happen during the Final Prefectural match, though earlier selections are not entirely ruled out. This answers the "Where" and "When" questions.

This implies that to compete for a spot in the U-19 Youth Camp, a player must participate in the qualification matches and showcase their skills.

Bench players have a much lower chance of being chosen.

Why Osamu Wasn’t Selected?

This explains why Osamu wasn’t selected despite having skills comparable to Atsumu. Chapter 279 and chapter 247—where Karasuno analyzes the Inarizaki match—are telling us that Osamu did not play during the prefectural match when Youth Camp representatives were present.

What About Chigaya Eikichi?

If we look at the players chosen, there might be questions:

Q: How was Chigaya Eikichi selected?

Q: Why were Sakusa and Motoya both chosen even though they are from the same school?

Q: Can a prefecture have two players qualified?

Q: Why weren’t Oikawa and Yaku selected?

The last question will be addressed in a follow-up analysis. For now, let’s focus on the others.

First thing to remember, just because Chigaya Eikichi doesn’t get as much spotlight as Oikawa (Seijoh match), Ushiwaka (Shiratorizawa match), or Atsumu and Aone (their respective matches), it doesn’t mean he is no good.

Think of it like the Argentina national team: they managed to beat Japan in 2016 even before Oikawa’s debut, implying strong players existed even if they weren’t highlighted in the story.

(This will be further explained in the Olympic analysis.)

Where Do These Players Come From?

Back to the Youth Camp topic—we need to see where these players come from. Chigaya is from Shinzen High School, which is not part of Tokyo. It’s been confirmed by Chigaya himself that Shinzen reached the Final Prefectural match but didn’t win.

This suggests that each prefecture might only get one ticket for the Youth Camp.

This seems to contradict the situation with Sakusa and Motoya, who both qualified despite being from the same prefecture.

So, which is true?

Before concluding, consider why Nekoma, Fukurodani, and Itachiyama qualified for the Spring Tournament even though they are from the same prefecture.

The answer lies in special treatment for large prefectures like Tokyo, which are allowed multiple representatives. (Better assume it also applies to the Youth Camp qualification rules) This explains how both Sakusa and Motoya could be selected for the Youth Camp despite coming from the same prefecture.

What Is the U-19 Youth Camp?

Previously, we talked about how, when, and where the qualifications for the U-19 Youth Camp happen.

This is the next part of that discussion, so make sure you’ve read the earlier explanation to avoid any confusion!

So, what exactly is the U-19 Youth Camp?

Season 4 made it crystal clear: the U-19 Youth Camp is all about preparing players for the World Championship—not the Spring Tournament (the national championship). In real life, there are many tournaments besides the Olympics, so the Youth Camp’s focus is on international competition.

This clears up why Chigaya Eikichi got picked even though his team didn't manage until Spring Tournament. The Youth Camp coaches recognized his individual skills and abilities.

Kageyama’s Future in the Youth Camp?

But, Tsukishima's words might be intriguing. Why did he say there's no guarantee that Kageyama will "stay till the end" like Ushijima?

Remember, the Youth Camp’s goal is to groom players for the World Championship. That means trainees must keep and improve their score until they’re officially picked for the Japan National Team (JNT).

Tsukishima’s “staying till the end” is about maintaining that consistency.

And Tsukishima is skeptical. He sees mental struggles in Kageyama’s past that might hold him back. Even though Kageyama’s improved, Tsukishima still doubts him—and that’s probably why he’s annoyed by Kageyama’s sudden change after the Youth Camp.

New Rules for Youth Camp: Age Limit

From what Ennoshita said, only players who are two years or more younger than 19 can qualify. That basically kicks out all third-years.

There might be some mistranslation about the age being 15–16. Since the camp happens in early December, if the cutoff was the camp date, only Kageyama, Chigaya, and Sakusa would qualify.

But Atsumu and others are there too, so the age limit probably applies to the start of the year or school year. In other words, if you’re 15 or 16 at the beginning of the year, you can still be selected—even if you turn 17 by December. This explains why Yaku, Oikawa, Kuroo, Iizuna, and other third-years are missing from the camp.

Was the Rule Change to Exclude Oikawa?

Hold up! Don’t jump to conclusions.

To understand why they made these rules, let's put ourselves in the Youth Camp Coaches's position.

As mentioned before, the Youth Camp is serious business. They want players who are dedicated and plan to keep playing volleyball. Players who don’t have that passion—like Osamu—won’t make the cut because it wastes everyone’s time.

Third-years are at a crossroads, deciding their futures. Some might not see volleyball as their path. The story shows this clearly.

So, to avoid losing players mid-way, coaches prefer younger players to build their skills and mentality early on. Hence, third-years are out of the running.

What About Oikawa and Yaku in Their Earlier Years?

To be picked, players must make it to the final prefectural match as explained in the first analysis. Yaku and Kuroo from Nekoma, who have only just become successful this year, probably didn’t make it that far in their second year.

Oikawa and Seijoh, however, consistently reached finals in their first two years, so Oikawa and Iwaizumi had a strong shot.

But why did Ushijima get picked over Oikawa?

Oikawa vs Ushijima: Same Yet Different

If we compare Iwaizumi and Ushijima, Iwaizumi’s serve is solid but nothing extraordinary. Despite being a great ace, he’s still a step below Ushiwaka.

Next are Oikawa and Ushijima, who share many similarities. Both have strong serves. Oikawa's serve is even considered to have more control than Ushijima’s. Both were born with more athletic bodies than most others. They are both volleyball nuts.

Oikawa is an all-rounder, meeting the bare minimum to be selected. (That’s why, as unique as Hinata is, he hasn’t quite made the cut yet).

Oikawa also brings the “height and power” Japan craves, just like Ushijima. So, could Oikawa have made it if he stayed in Japan?

(We’ll explore that in Oikawa’s special series.)

Why Oikawa Still Didn’t Make It

Then, why didn't Oikawa get chosen like Ushijima?

Simple: position.

Ushijima is a spiker—and you need three spikers on court, so their chances are triple.

Setters? Only one per match.

That means Oikawa faces tougher competition, especially if there’s another setter of equal caliber.

Putting out Kageyama from the picture, since he was still in middle school, or Atsumu since we didn't get enough information of the former Inarizaki setter, is there another setter as good as Oikawa?

Yes! Oikawa is not one-of-a-kind, which means there are other setters out there who are also realistically ideal.

Who?

It’s Iizuna Tsukasa, Itachiyama’s setter. Why him out of many setters?

Ever wonder why Inarizaki never beats Itachiyama despite having top players like Atsumu, his copy Osamu, one of top five ace Aran, a skilled libero, and a unique bone Suna? Don’t forget Gin—he’s no pushover either. All of Inarizaki members are confirmed to be individually skilled.

Further analysis, Inarizaki-Itachiyama situation is like Karasuno-Seijoh. Karasuno had a better setter than Oikawa skill-wise, which Oikawa admits. (Please note that setting skill and being a setter aren’t the same—more on that later.)

Inarizaki’s setter also outshines Itachiyama’s in skill.

Both Inarizaki and Karasuno's (ver. season 1–2) playstyle is very individualistic, while Seijoh focuses on teamwork. We saw Karasuno lose to Seijoh in Season 1.

The Inarizaki coach’s comment at Season 4’s end hints their toughest opponent is a compact, teamwork-driven team like Seijoh. That’s why they lost to Karasuno, who started building teamwork in Season 3.

So, we can assume that Iizuna, as Itachiyama’s captain and main setter, can lead teamwork like Oikawa, even if his skill isn’t better than Atsumu’s.

And considering Iizuna is from Tokyo—a prefecture that probably gets multiple Youth Camp slots—it gave him an edge over Oikawa in Miyagi.

Fun fact: Iizuna was also considered the best junior high setter, just like Oikawa in his prefecture.

Personality-wise, Iizuna seems more reserved but can be just as petty as Oikawa. This similarity with Oikawa might explain why Iizuna stays under the radar, unlike Kageyama and Atsumu.

Atsumu is basically an aggressive Kageyama copy, but Kageyama’s playstyle evolution in Season 4 makes Atsumu unique enough to shine.

So, Oikawa isn’t a one-of-a-kind setter, which makes his competition even tougher.

However, the fact that Iizuna suffered a more severe injury than Oikawa is probably a way to show Oikawa’s superiority over Iizuna—because certainly, an injury can hinder someone’s progress, can’t it?

So glad Oikawa has a future athletic trainer taking care of him before it got too late like with Iizuna.

What can be debated in this analysis.

If the goal of the Youth Camp is to prepare players for the World Championship, then there shouldn’t be a fixed quota per prefecture—especially if a prefecture has several high-quality players, as the Youth Camp coaches themselves mentioned in regard to Miyagi.

However, it would likely be difficult for fans to accept that Oikawa wasn’t invited alongside Ushijima.

That’s why the theory that Oikawa’s chances were hindered by the presence of another setter of the same grade—with talent equal to his—makes more sense than simply blaming it on a regional slot limitation.

Does that clear up the confusion about the U-19 Youth Camp?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Oikawa’s Post-Timeskip Stats: Real or Fake?

Have you ever searched for Oikawa Tooru’s post-timeskip stats? Maybe you’ve even shared them on social media, thinking they were canon. But let’s pause for a second—especially if you’re a Haikyuu!! manga reader—do you actually remember seeing those stats in the manga?

Unfortunately, I have to say it:

Those stats are fake.

They’re not official. They were never released in the manga.

So, let’s break down and debunk this so-called “official” stat sheet, point by point.

1. The Height Claim

The fake stat claims Oikawa is 193.4 cm tall.

But look again at the manga panels—particularly when he’s standing next to Ushijima Wakatoshi, who is canonically 192.7 cm post-timeskip.

Oikawa clearly appears shorter than Ushiwaka in the Argentina vs. Japan match. That alone casts doubt on the height claim.

In short: if he’s shorter than a 192.7 cm character, he can’t be 193.4 cm.

2. Captaincy Status

The rumor goes that Oikawa is the captain of his team, Club San Juan. But let’s be clear:

There is no mention of him being captain in the manga.

Some fans argue, “Well, he has the personality of a captain!”

That may be true—but we all know Haikyuu!! doesn’t always give the title of “captain” to the most commanding player.

Take Kageyama, for example: he led Karasuno, the Adlers, and even the JNT with his sheer presence—but he was never a captain.

So Oikawa’s “Rule the Court” banner? It reflects his playstyle, not necessarily his position.

Even Hinata once described both Oikawa and Kageyama as “evil leaders”—players who dominate the court through intensity and control, not necessarily captain roles.

Verdict?

Sure, it’s possible Oikawa is captain. But realistically? It’s probably below a 49% chance, especially when local Argentinian players likely outrank him in seniority and team history.

3. Favorite Food

Another stat claims Oikawa’s favorite food is something new—but canon sources only mention two:

• Milk bread (anime & manga)

• Foie gras (from a light novel)

Anything beyond these two is purely fanfiction.

4. Gold Medal Confusion

Here’s where things get more speculative.

Some fans interpret Oikawa’s post-timeskip dialogue about chasing gold as proof that he beat Japan. But the manga’s timeline tells a different story:

• Argentina beat Japan in 2012 and 2016.

• Oikawa only joined Argentina in 2020, making Tokyo his Olympic debut.

• There’s no official record of Argentina beating Japan after he joined.

Let’s also consider real-world timing:

The Haikyuu!! manga ended on July 20, 2020.

The actual 2020 Olympics began three days later, on July 23.

Furudate-sensei didn’t even know the real Olympic results when the manga concluded—so there’s no way the story confirms Oikawa (or Argentina) winning gold.

The Bigger Picture

Let’s think from the author’s perspective.

Haikyuu!! is a story about rebuilding Japan’s volleyball dream team—the Monster Generation. After two consecutive Olympic defeats to Argentina, Furudate-sensei crafted a redemption arc to inspire pride and hope in the Japanese team.

So does it make sense that, after all that, the author would give the final gold medal to… Argentina?

Just to boost Oikawa?

It would completely undercut the emotional payoff and motivation behind the final arc.

In reality, Haikyuu!! ends the Olympic story on a deliberately open-ended note. It’s not about who wins gold. It’s about where the characters are going, not where they’ve landed.

Final Thoughts

So what does this all mean?

Oikawa’s supposed post-timeskip stat sheet is built on shaky ground—and quite likely not canon at all.

From the height to the captaincy, to the gold medal assumptions—it’s mostly fanmade speculation that’s gotten out of hand.

Have You Been Tricked?

If you’ve believed or shared those stats, don’t worry—you’re not alone. These things spread easily, especially on social media.

But now that you know the facts, share this article to help clear up the misconception. Let’s give Haikyuu!! the credit it deserves—for being intentional, thoughtful, and grounded in subtle detail.

Is Atsumu Really the Best High School Setter?

It's true, but also not.

Canon says yes... but does it tell the full story?

His title is official, yet there are flaws in how it was determined. That’s where the debate begins.

In Haikyuu!!, we often hear about the "Top 5 Spikers," "The Best Setter," and "The No. 1 Libero" through magazine rankings. However, these titles are always subject to debate. That’s expected because while these rankings are canonically stated, they are not without flaws.

This isn’t about arguing against canon. Instead, it’s an analysis of the canon itself. Furudate-sensei ensures that his story remains as rational as possible, and that’s what we’ll explore.

A Simple Example

Take, for example, Hyakuzawa—a player who only started volleyball in high school. His team never reached Nationals, yet he became a member of Japan’s National Team (JNT). This means he must have developed into one of the best players over time. This suggests that skill progression between the pre-timeskip and post-timeskip periods plays a role in evaluating a player’s true potential.

Hyakuzawa Yudai

This same reasoning applies to why Atsumu’s title as "The Best High School Setter" is debatable. The timeline plays a crucial role.

1. The Role of Nationals in Recognition

If you look at those who received official titles, they all played in the Nationals. This means players like Oikawa—who never led his team to Nationals—would never gain national recognition, even if he were better than Atsumu.

Oikawa Tooru

Takeda-sensei’s statement about Kageyama during Karasuno’s first Nationals match supports this idea. He notes that Kageyama’s skills were hidden until that moment. Additionally, Coach Hibarida, a key figure in player evaluation, only appears at Nationals. This suggests that selectors like Hibarida and his colleagues would base their opinions on players who competed at that level.

JNT Coach, Coach Hibarida

This logic also applies to Yaku’s case. While Komori Motoya is officially recognized as the No. 1 high school libero, we barely see his skills in action, aside from his movements in the U-19 Youth Camp. That said, considering he played alongside "annoying wrist" Sakusa, it’s reasonable to expect that he has excellent digging skills.

In contrast, Yaku’s abilities have been evident since Season 1—his quick adaptability against Asahi, his strategic digs against Hinata, and his ability to stop spikers simply just being on the court. Yet, because Nekoma only reached the Nationals in Yaku’s third year, and because Coach Hibarida wasn’t watching their match, Yaku’s skills remained unknown to the national-level decision-makers.

Morinosuke Yaku

With this example, we understand why Oikawa was overlooked. His lack of national experience meant he couldn’t compete for the title of "Best High School Setter."

You might want to argue with something like, "But Oikawa is really no better than Atsumu," right? Unfortunately, the official poll in the manga didn't agree with it. This means there are factors that make Oikawa better than Atsumu that we missed. I'll uncover it in a special series about setter comparison.

Did Coach Hibarida Intentionally Skip the Karasuno vs. Nekoma Match?

The answer appears to be yes. As with any character analysis, it’s important to examine actions through the lens of their objectives and context.

Coach Hibarida attended the U-19 Youth Camp with a specific purpose: scouting potential players for the World League. By the time he appeared, the camp coaches had already filtered the participants—Hibarida was there to evaluate those who had met the “minimum bar,” as referenced in earlier observations.

IG: @haikyuu_true

After the camp, he began attending select matches to continue assessing these candidates in real-game scenarios. He was seen at the match featuring Kageyama and Atsumu, later at the one with Sakusa and Motoya, and finally at the Kamomedai match, which included both Kageyama and Hoshiumi.

Notably, Kageyama was the only U-19 candidate participating in the Karasuno vs. Nekoma match. Given that Hibarida had already observed him in the match against Inarizaki, it would have been more efficient for him to focus on matches involving a wider pool of candidates. Match scheduling conflicts may have also influenced his decision, making his absence from the Nekoma game a strategic choice rather than an oversight.

In short, Hibarida’s scouting approach appears deliberate, focused, and aligned with his role as a national team selector.

IG: @haikyuu_true

2. The Timeline Factor

Another reason Atsumu’s title is debatable is the timeline. When Karasuno reached Nationals, Atsumu was in his second year, meaning he had at least a year to establish himself as the best setter. It’s likely he was already Inarizaki’s starting setter in his first year.

By the time of the Winter Tournament, many third-years had already retired, reducing Atsumu’s competition. Meanwhile, Kageyama had just made his Nationals debut. Since Karasuno had previously failed to qualify, Kageyama’s skills had remained largely unknown on a national scale (prior to his debut). As a result, Atsumu earned the title.

If we truly wanted to determine the best high school setter, the evaluation should have been extended until the end of the pre-time skip. However, Furudate-sensei never provides an explicit post-national ranking, likely out of respect for his characters. Instead, we are given an image of Kageyama being chosen to join JNT in 2016, which should have been enough explanation.

3. The Influence of the Team

Atsumu’s title is also influenced by his team. Different teams provide different synergy and impact a setter’s reputation.

For example, Kenma is not the best setter in a traditional sense, but he is a strategic genius. When Taketora compared him to Kageyama, he strongly opposed the praise. Ukai’s monologue explains why: Kenma played with a team that had strong receivers, so he didn’t need to handle poor passes as often. In contrast, Karasuno struggled with receiving (aside from Daichi and Nishinoya), forcing Kageyama to work harder to connect imperfect passes. Kageyama’s ability to handle bad receives is superior.

Kenma and Taketora

Atsumu, too, benefited from playing for Inarizaki—a team filled with individually strong players. He had Osamu, his twin with near-telepathic coordination, making their attacks more unpredictable. He also had Aran, a top-tier spiker, and strong blockers and liberos. Because of this, any highlight-worthy plays by his teammates also reflected well on Atsumu as a setter.

Inarizaki Team

However, this also reveals his weakness. Unlike Oikawa and Kageyama, Atsumu didn’t have to elevate a weaker team. Oikawa and Kageyama proved they could make weaker teams stronger, making their abilities more versatile. This is why their skills can challenge Atsumu’s title.

The Rationality of Furudate’s Writing

Some might ask, "Why make Atsumu’s title canon if it’s debatable? Isn’t canon supposed to be absolute?"

That’s a fair question. However, as mentioned before, Furudate-sensei is a rational writer. He once stated that he tends to overthink—something reflected in characters like Kageyama and Akaashi, who are highly analytical.

But not all canon is debatable. Some facts are set in stone. For example, it is canonically confirmed that Oikawa has an athletic build, as stated by Iwaizumi in Season 1. This is supported by Oikawa’s high power stats and his serve being on par with Ushiwaka’s. Additionally, we never see workout equipment in his room, implying that he can naturally maintain his physique with lesser effort than those who don't have an athletic build like Kageyama—whose athleticism is also acknowledged by Sugawara but is clearly a result of rigorous training.

The one who confirms it is Iwaizumi—Oikawa's best friend, a wrestling champion, Kageyama's senior (who can definitely compare these two), and a future athletic trainer. Not to mention, the situation of his confirmation doesn’t support him being biased toward Oikawa.

Conclusion

In the end, Atsumu being the best high school setter is both true and debatable. While he is the officially recognized best High School setter, factors like team composition, timing, and exposure at Nationals all played a role in securing his title.

Haikyuu! The Ideal Setter: Coach Ukai’s Journey of Realization

Among Haikyuu!! fans, one moment that never fails to spark discussion is Coach Ukai’s visible admiration for Atsumu Miya during the Inarizaki match. When Atsumu’s skill and words—"I went with the higher number to support my team, because I’m a setter."—*move his teammates, even the substitutes, and Ukai claps in approval, many can’t help but wonder: does Ukai value Atsumu over his own setters?

Coach Ukai praised Atsumu. Season 4 To the Top Ep. 8

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Ukai has openly praised an opposing setter. During the Aoba Johsai match, he compares Oikawa to a maestro, guiding his team with skill and charm. Yet, despite Kageyama’s undeniable talent as one of the best setters in the game, Ukai’s praise for him is more reserved. This raises a big question: Why does Ukai, who coaches players like Kageyama and Sugawara, seem to give higher praise to other setters? Do his own players lack something that Oikawa or Atsumu have?

Coach Ukai praised Oikawa Tooru. Season 1 Ep. 19

To answer this, we must delve into Ukai’s own history as a setter. As a high school player at Karasuno, Ukai believed an ideal setter should be a “con artist”—someone who could manipulate opponents through clever plays and uplift their team with encouraging words. This belief, shaped by his experiences on the bench watching a more vocal setter take his place, influenced how he evaluated setters as a coach.

Players like Oikawa, Atsumu, and Sugawara exude charisma, making it easy for them to inspire their teams with words and actions. Oikawa, with his smooth manipulation of both teammates and opponents, stands as the epitome of Ukai's ideal setter. Atsumu, similarly, thrives on his ability to communicate with his team and opponents alike, weaving his way through playful mind games and sharp words. Sugawara’s soft-spoken nature belies his ability to bring the team together, offering support through his trust in their abilities. This communication style, especially the ability to play mental games or rally teammates with their words, naturally earns Ukai’s admiration.

But then comes Kageyama—an introverted, blunt prodigy whose communication style seems at odds with Ukai’s ideal. Kageyama is technically brilliant, yet his inability to express his leadership with the same fluidity as Oikawa or Atsumu leaves Ukai’s admiration for him largely unspoken. Ukai’s belief that a setter should also be a communicator, someone who can easily support and motivate, contrasts Kageyama’s quiet, straightforward approach. For much of the series, it seems Kageyama’s personality disqualifies him from being Ukai’s “ideal setter.”

Haikyuu! manga ch. 366

This all starts to change during the Kamomedai match. Kageyama begins to encourage his teammates in his own way. His words may not be as flashy as Oikawa’s or Atsumu’s, but they’re sincere, and they have an impact. In that moment, Ukai starts to realize something important: Leadership doesn’t look the same for everyone. Kageyama doesn’t need to play mental games or deliver grand speeches to lead his team. His leadership comes through his actions—his precise, flawless, trusting, and threatening sets that play to his teammates' strengths. This marks a turning point for Ukai, helping him see that being a great setter doesn’t mean fitting into a single mold. Kageyama’s quieter, yet equally powerful, form of leadership is just as valuable.

This realization deepens after the time skip. By the time the Adlers face MSBY, Ukai sees the full extent of Kageyama’s growth. Kageyama is no longer the angry, isolated player he once was in middle school. He has learned to blend his technical brilliance with a strong bond of trust with his teammates. Kageyama has become “The King of the Court,” not because of his charm or smooth words, but because he has built his ruling through hard work, consistency, and the unwavering trust of those around him.

Haikyuu! manga ch. 389

Coach Ukai’s journey teaches us that greatness isn’t confined to a single ideal. Kageyama’s growth, from the blunt, introverted setter to a powerful, respected King, shows us that leadership can take many forms. Ukai’s shift in perspective—from valuing only charismatic, extroverted setters to appreciating the quieter yet equally powerful leadership of Kageyama—reminds us that success comes in many shapes and sizes, and true greatness lies in understanding and appreciating these differences.