For fans of Haikyu!!, a historic event three years in the making unfolded on Wednesday: Japan went head to head with Argentina in the men′s volleyball preliminary round at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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The Olympic match mirrored a pivotal scene in the beloved volleyball manga in which Team Japan squared off against Team Argentina in the Olympic finals. The moment was only alluded to in the manga, which saw Karasuno High duo Hinata and Kageyama, for Team Japan, face off against their longtime rival Oikawa (playing for Argentina). While the winner of said Olympic match was never revealed on the page, some fans like to believe that setter Oikawa came out on top.
Unfortunately for Argentina, that’s not how today’s very real match went. Japan beat Argentina 3-1 in a preliminary round Pool C match at the South Paris Arena.
It should then come as no surprise that “FLY HIGH,” the opening song for the anime adaptation of Haikyu!!, played immediately following Japan’s victory. (Another one of the anime’s themes, “Phoenix,” played during warm-ups.) Fans were even seen sporting Nekoma and Inarizaki towels, representing rival high schools in the manga.
Oikawa, you will always be No. 1 in our hearts, but today just wasn’t your day. At least we’ll always have the manga.
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