Hanamichi Sakuragi is an impulsive and hot-tempered high school student with little interest in sports until he meets Haruko Akagi, a girl who loves basketball. Hoping to impress her, he joins the Shohoku High School team despite having no experience at all. Gifted with exceptional physical abilities, Sakuragi gradually discovers the demands of basketball, learns how to play as part of a team, and faces increasingly talented opponents. Through rivalries, training sessions, and decisive games, his original motivation slowly develops into a genuine passion for the sport.
Manga
1990
Comedy
Drama
Sports
Philosophy
Shōnen
Slam Dunk
SLAM DUNK
- Kana Publisher
- Takehiko Inoue Writer
- Takehiko Inoue Artist
Details
- Type
- Manga
- Release
- 1990-09-18 — 1996
- Original title
- SLAM DUNK
- Countries
- JP
- Genres
- Comedy, Drama, Sports, Philosophy, Shōnen
- Volumes
- 31
- Status
- Completed
Synopsis
Slam Dunk
Volumes
Volumes (31)
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Volume 1
Basketball. The court, the ball, the hoop. The hopes, the dreams, the sweat. It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that—the best. They have one last year to make their captain's dream of reaching the finals come true—will they do it? Takehiko Inoue's legendary basketball manga is finally here, and the tale of a lifetime is in your hands! Sakuragi Hanamichi's got no game with girls--none at all! It doesn't help that he's known for throwing down at a moment's notice and always coming out on top. A hopeless bruiser, he's been rejected by 50 girls in a row! All that changes when he meets the girl of his dreams, Haruko, and she's actually not afraid of him! When she introduces him to the game of basketball, his life is changed forever...
Volume 2
New power generation. By a curious coincidence, Sakuragi found himself face to face with the captain of the basketball team who is none other than Haruko's brother. The challenge he won, he entered the basketball club to win the girl's favours. At the same time, the captain of the judo team, feeling the abilities of Sakuragi, tried to debaucher him from the basketball club to make him enter the judo club.
Volume 3
The farmers' baskets are difficult. Sakuragi is now a full member of the basketball club, but he is still confined to basic drills, which deeply frustrates him. It is then that a friendly match is organized against the formidable Ryūnan team.
Volume 4
The hero's appearance. The match begins, and because he is a beginner, Sakuragi cannot participate. Shôhoku struggles to score points against Sendô and Uozumi. But, following Akagi's injury, Sakuragi finally enters the game. However, he is paralyzed by stage fright.
Volume 5
Rebound. After a well-placed kick from Rukawa, Sakuragi wakes up, shows his true face, and participates with great fighting spirit. Captain Akagi returns to the game, and his team is now only 4 points behind with one minute left in the match.
Volume 6
The match between Ryônan and Shôhoku is in full swing. Sakuragi has finally made his first return to the field. The gap between the teams is narrowing: only one point and thirty seconds to play? Will Shôhoku High School cause surprise?
Volume 7
In middle school, Hanamichi Sakuragi was 'rejected' by 50 girls. Encouraged by Haruko Akagi, he joins the high school basketball team to get closer to the young girl. But daily life on the team is just a succession of frustrations because he is forced to undergo intensive basic training. Furthermore, he often clashes with Akagi, the team captain. One day, a match is organized against Ryonan High School, which is among the top 4 teams in the department. The Shōhoku team is initially leading, but thanks to Sakuragi's relentless fighting and Rukawa's subtle play, they manage to close the gap to one point against Ryonan. Then, with Hanamichi's lucky basket, Shōhoku takes the lead. Unfortunately, Sendō takes advantage of a moment of inattention to snatch the victory. Despite everything, the excitement of the match has stimulated the team led by Akagi, who continues to believe in their chances for the national title. It is at this moment that Ryōta Miyagi enters the scene, who had been hospitalized after a confrontation with a gang of thugs. This makes him another troubled boy on the basketball team.
Volume 8
Mitsui, considered at middle school as a true basketball prodigy, stayed away from the playing fields since sustaining a serious knee injury in a practice match with the Shôhoku team. He is back, but his intentions seem to have completely changed: is it revenge?
Volume 9
The High School Basketball Team Shôhoku is only one week away from the first match of the departmental championship. It is an atypical but solid team that will take the court against Miuradai High School: in addition to the usual stars, Rukawa and Sakuragi, a new heavy hitter has joined the ranks in the form of Hisashi Mitsui. Although his return to the club was not without setbacks, he is nevertheless a player of great talent. Warning: gifted players are on the rise!
Volume 10
We are approaching the final stages of the departmental championship. Reinforced by the presence of Mitsui and Miyagi, Shôhoku High School is facing Shôyô High School. But, the task is not expected to be simple: thanks in particular to the five giants who make it up and give it an unquestionable mastery of the ball, the team of Shôyô starts the game on a frantic rhythm. However, the proud Hanamachi did not say his last word.
Volume 11
The Shohoku High School basketball team has entered a decisive match: they are facing the Shōyō High School team, whose reputation as the best team in the Kanagawa department does not seem exaggerated. They need to reach the finals, where the four best teams in the department will compete. Will Hanamichi finally show everyone the full extent of his talent?
Volume 12
Mitsui finally returned to the club thanks to Coach Anzai. Victory after victory, Shôhoku High progresses in the departmental competition, playing a match against Shôyô High. Thanks to Mitsui and Rukawa, the Shôhoku High team finally won by a margin of 2 points!! Shôhoku must now face another formidable opponent: Kainan dai Fuzoku High!!
Volume 13
In the first match of the group final of the departmental tournament, Kainandaifuzoku High School, relying on an effective strategy, manages to find Sakuragi's weakness and overwhelmingly dominates their opponent! Will the Shôhoku team be able to regain the upper hand?
Volume 14
In the game against Kainan Daifuzoku High School, Shohoku lost his captain Akagi as a result of an injury. Thanks to a super Rukawa, he still managed to return to the score. Akagi decided to return to the game despite his injury.
Volume 15
Rukawa tied the two teams in the absence of the captain. Unfortunately, the score gap widens considerably. Shōhoku tries to close the 4-point difference separating the two teams. And there are only two minutes left to play!! Japanese reading sense.
Volume 16
After their difficult but impressive match against Kainan's team, Sakuragi's team-mates know that the road will be long before they can win the national title. The performance against Kainan was enough to cast doubt among the next opponents who did not wait for Shôhoku at this level of the competition.
Volume 17
Sakuragi and his teammates are about to face the Ryônan team, which has dominated its previous opponents with disconcerting ease. The tension is at its peak, and the Shôhoku high schoolers are more determined than ever. Japanese reading sense.
Volume 18
In the second round of the final phase, Ryônan managed to put pressure on the Kainan kings, but lost the game after the extension. So we end up with the game between Shôhoku and Ryônan that will determine the team that will be qualified for the last remaining place in the national tournament. Japanese reading sense.
Volume 19
After difficult overtime, Kainan High School manages to bring Ryūnan High School to its knees, thus qualifying for the national finals. Shōhoku and Ryūnan will therefore have to face each other for the last qualifying spot. With 8 minutes left in the match, Shōhoku is leading by 7 points.
Volume 20
Shôhoku wins match after match to reach the final phase where the team faces the university-affiliated Kainan High, but ends up losing by a margin of two points. Later, in the second match, the kings of Kainan suffer under the pressure of Ryônan. However, they manage to win the match in overtime, which qualifies them for the national tournament. One match remains, pitting Ryônan against Shôhoku and determining the last team to qualify: 6 points separate them at halftime in favor of Ryônan, but Shôhoku rallies and now leads by 7 points in the last 8 minutes.
Volume 21
Shôhoku and Ryônan compete for the qualification: Shôhoku takes the lead in the match, but the renewed energy of Sendô allows Ryônan to rise to the score gradually. Shôhoku finds himself in a bad posture, because Mitsui has just collapsed...
Volume 22
Now that Shôhoku has won his place in the national tournament, the wildest dreams become possible and Mr Anzai's wisdom will come at a point to lead the champions...
Volume 23
This is the big start for Hiroshima and his inter-lycée summer tournament. Qualified the Shohoku team, falls into a rather difficult block where they will have to face the team of Sanno Technical High School, winner last year... But before that, they will have to defeat Toyotama's team. Famous for the offensive game in run&gun Toyotama dominates from the first minutes. Mr Anzai replaces Sakuragi with Yasuda in order to calm the game, Shohoku climbs up and the game gets more balanced. But Rukawa is deliberately pushed by a boy nicknamed "the champion killer" and loses consciousness...
Volume 24
It's the first round; Shôhoku faces Toyotama High, one of Osaka's strongest teams. Rukawa gets injured during the first half, and his team, overwhelmed by Toyotama's powerful attacks, trails by 6 points. For the second half, Mr. Anzai decides to implement the same tactic as their opponent, "Run&Gun." Shôhoku slowly catches up in the score, eventually taking the lead, notably thanks to Rukawa, who, despite being hampered by his injured eye, refuses to be intimidated, completely destabilizing his usual scorer who was convinced he would give up. At the end of the match, Shôhoku wins after five minutes of madness. But the joy of victory quickly gives way to another challenge, as their next opponent is none other than Sanno Technical High, whose team is currently the best in the tournament...
Volume 25
Shohoku beat Toyotama and must now face Sanno, the best high school basketball team in Japan. After long hesitation, Mr. Anzai decides to show them a K7 video of Sanno's old matches. The team quickly realizes that Sanno has not lost its reputation. And their morale takes a hit. However, Mr. Anzai remains confident in his team and manages to re-motivate his troops. Thus, a fully energized Shohoku team takes to the court; the match is far from won, but they will give their best...
Volume 26
Mitsui makes an excellent start to the game, his 3-point shots allow Shohoku to lead to the score against all expectations. But the replica is not waiting, the coach Domoto brings Kawata's little brother, a giant of 2m10 whose opponent will be Sakuragi. The coach Anzai places all his confidence in the boy's "genius" and proposes to his players to place all the offensive on the shoulders of Hanimichi. He will now have to prove that the hours of training he has performed have borne fruit....
Volume 27
After being 'rejected' by 50 girls in middle school, Hanamichi Sakuragi joins the high school basketball team to get closer to the young Akagi. While the other members of the team train hard for the national title, Sakuragi is enraged to be confined to basic drills. After several consecutive victories in the departmental tournament, the Shōhoku team reaches the final phase, where they are defeated by the team from Kainan University-affiliated high school. However, they manage to secure a spot in the national tournament with this latter team. With the national tournament in mind, Sakuragi begins a Spartan training regimen where he shoots 20,000 times. In the second round, Shōhoku must face the best high school team in Japan, the Sannō Technical High School. Right from the start, the Miyagi-Hanamichi duo amazes the audience with a lightning-fast offense that concludes with an alley-oop. Shōhoku takes control of the match by finishing the first half with a two-point lead; everything will therefore be decided in the second half...
Volume 28
An illustration of social reintegration through sports. The determination of a boy who wants to enter the world of basketball for the sake of a young girl's affection.
Volume 29
In April, I traveled to the East Coast of the United States to observe the NBA and take some notes. On the day of my arrival, the Chicago Bulls set an NBA record by winning their 70th victory. I attended the last game of the Philadelphia team in their historic stronghold, the "Spectrum" stadium. The following season, they would move to a new arena. I also followed the Washington team's last game as the "Bullets"; since next year, it will be renamed the "Wizards" (what a strange name!). It was an unforgettable and historically rich journey of changes.
Volume 30
Also in the final of the interlycée tournament, Shôhoku beats the Sannô team champion, Sawakita. This one shows an exceptional level of play. But against all expectations, this performance awakens the fighting spirit of Rukawa whose game finally allows Shôhoku to heel their opponent again. Moreover, "Sakuragi-le-genie" did not say his last word...
Volume 31
We are in the final moments of the inter-high school tournament match. There is one minute left in the game, and the Sannô team is leading 76 to 71. Sakuragi got injured when he fell, Rukawa seems to be running out of energy, and Akagi "the Gorilla" no longer really believes in it... So close to the goal... Will the Shōhoku team find the necessary energy to close this gap with only one minute left in the game...? And besides, isn't it said that participation is what matters...? And the Slam Dunk series concludes with this volume 31...
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