Table of contents
- Who is Tobio Kageyama in Haikyu!!?
- Kageyama profile: age, birthday, height and number
- Why is Kageyama called the King of the Court?
- What are Kageyama’s skills and stats?
- How does Kageyama change during the series?
- Who are Kageyama’s key relationships?
- What happens to Kageyama after the timeskip? (spoilers)
- Who voices Kageyama?
- Where can you watch Kageyama in the anime?
- Is KageHina canon?
- Tobio Kageyama FAQ
Who is Tobio Kageyama in Haikyu!!?
Kageyama is a first-year student at Karasuno High School and the team’s starting setter. He shares the lead with Shoyo Hinata, and the series follows their move from rivals to partners. Haikyu!! ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from February 2012 to July 2020.
He is not the usual sports-anime hero. He is blunt, intense and a perfectionist, and much of his arc is about learning to set for the people who hit his passes instead of demanding that they keep up.
Kageyama profile: age, birthday, height and number
Kageyama is 15 at the start of the series, was born on December 22, 1996, and is listed at 180.6 cm in April of his first year and 181.9 cm by November. He weighs 66.3 kg and wears number 9. Profile data comes from the series’ official character data as listed on MyAnimeList and fan wikis.
| Japanese name | 影山 飛雄 (Kageyama Tobio) |
|---|---|
| Birthday | December 22 (Capricorn) |
| Age at start | 15 |
| Height | 180.6 cm (5'11") in April, 181.9 cm (5'11.6") in November |
| Weight | 66.3 kg (146 lb) |
| Team | Karasuno High (former: Kitagawa Daiichi Junior High) |
| Position and number | Setter, #9 |
| Favorite food | Pork curry with a soft-boiled egg |
| Japanese voice actor | Kaito Ishikawa |
| English voice actor | Scott Gibbs |
Fan sites list him at about 188 cm as a pro player after the timeskip. That figure is not part of his high school profile.
Why is Kageyama called the King of the Court?
"King of the Court" was an insult. His teammates at Kitagawa Daiichi gave him the name in late middle school because he gave orders and set the ball without regard for what his hitters could actually do. In a key match, his own teammates refused to hit his tosses, and the team lost.
| Nickname | Given by | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| King of the Court | Kitagawa Daiichi teammates | Mocking name for his domineering style |
| Bakageyama | Hinata | "Baka" (idiot) joined to his surname |
| Tobio-chan | Oikawa | A teasing, condescending pet name |
His name carries a contrast. In 飛雄 (Tobio), the characters suggest "fly" and "hero," while 影山 (Kageyama) means "shadow mountain."
What are Kageyama’s skills and stats?
Kageyama is a setter, the player who touches the ball second and decides which hitter gets it. His official stats are 5 out of 5 in stamina, intellect and technique, and 4 out of 5 in power, jump and speed. He is best known for pinpoint tosses, the quick attack with Hinata, and a strong jump serve as anri teieri blue lock.
| Stat | Score | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 4 | Strong serves and spikes for a setter |
| Jump | 4 | Allows jump sets and the jump serve |
| Stamina | 5 | Long practice sessions, often alone |
| Intellect (game sense) | 5 | Reads blockers and chooses the best hitter |
| Technique | 5 | Accurate, fast tosses |
| Speed | 4 | Quick footwork to reach the ball |
One note on "intellect": it measures game sense, not school performance. A pro-level stats listing on Anibase gives him 5 in speed and top marks for serving and setting.
How does Kageyama change during the series?
He moves from a controlling setter to a team-first one. Hinata’s team loses to Kageyama’s Kitagawa Daiichi in straight sets in a match lasting about 31 minutes, which is how they first meet. Kageyama then fails to get into Shiratorizawa, the top school he wanted, and ends up at Karasuno, where Hinata is also a first-year.
At Karasuno he has to learn to adapt his tosses to each hitter instead of forcing hitters to adapt to him. His stated goal is to become the team’s control tower, a setter who serves his teammates. Senior setter Koshi Sugawara and the coaching staff help shape that change.
Who are Kageyama’s key relationships?
| Character | Relationship | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Shoyo Hinata | Rival turned partner | Their quick attack is Karasuno’s signature play |
| Toru Oikawa | Former senior, rival setter | Kageyama admires him, and Oikawa refused to teach him |
| Koshi Sugawara | Karasuno senior setter | Shows Kageyama what supportive setting looks like |
| Kei Tsukishima | Teammate | Mocks the "King" label, and the two develop respect on court |
| Wakatoshi Ushijima | Rival, later pro teammate | Kageyama wanted to play at his school, and later both play for the Schweiden Adlers |
What happens to Kageyama after the timeskip? (spoilers)
Spoiler warning: this section covers the final chapters. After high school, Kageyama joins Japan’s national team at 19 and plays in the 2016 Rio Olympics. He signs with the Schweiden Adlers in the V.League Division 1 and faces Hinata, who returns from Brazil, in a November 2018 match.
Both later play for Japan at the Tokyo Olympics, which the manga places in 2021. Kageyama then moves abroad to Ali Roma in Italy’s Serie A, and the story closes on a match between Ali Roma and Hinata’s team, Asas São Paulo from Brazil.
Who voices Kageyama?
Kaito Ishikawa voices Kageyama in Japanese, and Scott Gibbs voices him in English. Ishikawa is also known for voicing Genos in One Punch Man.
Where can you watch Kageyama in the anime?
Seasons 1 to 4 of Haikyu!! stream on Crunchyroll, and the film Haikyu!! The Movie: Decisive Battle at the Garbage Dump (called The Dumpster Battle in English) came to Netflix and Crunchyroll on October 31, 2024. It opened in Japan on February 16, 2024. Streaming catalogs differ by country, so check your region.
The second film in the final two-part movie, Haikyu!! the Movie: VS The Little Giant, is set for 2027.
- Haikyu!! Season 1 to Season 3
- Haikyu!! To the Top (Season 4)
- Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle (film)
- Haikyu!! VS The Little Giant (film, 2027)
Is KageHina canon?
No. KageHina is a fan pairing of Kageyama and Hinata, and the series presents them only as rivals and partners on court. The pairing remains one of the most popular in the fandom because their bond is the center of the story.
Tobio Kageyama FAQ
How old is Tobio Kageyama?
Kageyama is 15 at the start of Haikyu!!, a first-year at Karasuno High. His birthday is December 22.
How tall is Kageyama?
He is listed at 180.6 cm (5'11") in April and 181.9 cm (5'11.6") in November of his first year at Karasuno.
Why is Kageyama called the King of the Court?
His Kitagawa Daiichi teammates gave him the name as an insult for forcing his tosses on hitters without considering their ability.
What position does Kageyama play?
Kageyama plays setter and wears number 9 for Karasuno. His strongest stats are stamina, intellect and technique, each rated 5 out of 5.
Who voices Kageyama?
Kaito Ishikawa voices him in Japanese and Scott Gibbs voices him in English.
Which team does Kageyama play for after the timeskip?
He plays for the Schweiden Adlers in Japan’s V.League and later for Ali Roma in Italy, and he represents Japan at the Olympics.
Is Haikyu!! finished?
The manga ended in July 2020. The anime is wrapping up with two final films, and the second, VS The Little Giant, is set for 2027.
Are Kageyama and Hinata a couple in canon?
No. They are rivals and partners in the series. KageHina is a popular fan pairing.