Character of the day (7)

Character: Mitsuyoshi Anzai or as I've known him my whole life (المدرب غسان)
Known from: Slam dunk (manga & anime)
Role: Supporting character
Age: Don't know the exact age, but he's in his 50's
About the character: Coach Anzai or the white haired devil is the coach of shohoku high-school basketball team. At first sight Anzai may seem like a big panda walking around that rarely speaks, but further on you'll learn how great he is :D

Anzai-sensei has such a mysterious unique character. He has a loose way of managing his players and rarely scolds anyone. But, underneath that calm and gentle as a lamb figure, lies a great strategic mind, a sharp eye and a smart brain. Anzai-sensei as well as Akagi saw Sakuragi's potential and were patient with him in his learning process. Anzai manages to motivate his players and wipe away their insecurities restoring their faith in themselves.

It seems that Anzaki was a college team coach 10 years before the events in this anime. He was a tough coach, who wanted to get the best out of his players especially if they had talent. His character only changed after tragic events concerning his star player, Yazawa. Yazawa couldn't take the coach's tough repetitive training and decided to go to America to fulfill his dream his way. What breaks Anzai is the letter he gets five years later in Yazawa's funeral after passing in a car accident. The letter was written by Yazawa one year after he left, he regretted leaving Japan and understood that the coach was right. He was ill-treated by his US teammates and was keen on training to get better and be worthy of the coach's team.

What urged me to choose this character today, is that when I was listening to some music this morning I suddenly heard his laugh in my ear XD It was one of TV's most distinguished laughs ever! The guy laughs like Santa!! Ho!ho!ho!

Another thing that makes Anzai-sensei soo cool, is that he is respected by everyone and is noted as something big in the basketball world, but that doesn't stop Sakuragi from touching his fat chin and chubby belly XD The sounds it makes and their expressions are priceless. What makes it funnier is that Anzai doesn't really mind that behavior :D

Note: Since Spacetoon didn't finish the anime and also the fact that I watched this like 15 years ago, I had to search for more info to ensure everything is correct :D