Takekura, Gen
Summary
Musashi, whose real name is Takekura Gen, serves as the kicker and linebacker for the Devil Bats, wearing jersey number 11. He stands 177 cm tall and weighs 77 kg, with a blood type of A and a birthday on April 2. A second-year student who graduated from Maou 13th Middle School, he is one of the original three members of the team, alongside Hiruma and Kurita. Although he is only 17, he is often mistaken for an older individual due to his buzz-cut and initial stubble. During the spring of his freshman year, Musashi left the team because his father fell seriously ill, forcing him to drop out of school to become a construction foreman for Deimon High. Despite his desire to return to football, he initially refused to rejoin the Devil Bats. However, after witnessing the determination of Sena and Monta, he agreed to come back on the condition that they build a truly strong team. In the manga, his comeback occurs during the match against Seibu, following an incident where his father struck him for abandoning the squad. In the anime adaptation, he does not rejoin until the game against the Bando Spiders, where he engages in a rivalry with their kicker, Sasaki Koutaro, whom Hiruma notes has never missed a kick. Musashi possesses an incredibly powerful right leg, which allows him to pin opponents deep in their own territory or force touchbacks on kickoffs. While Hiruma famously labeled his kick the "60-yard Magnum" to make Musashi appear invincible, the student consistently corrects people, stating that this title is a fabrication. His nickname, Musashi, is an alternative reading of the kanji in his surname, Takekura, and is derived from the famous samurai Miyamoto Musashi. This connection highlights his need to execute two kicks per possession, mirroring Miyamoto’s dual-wielding sword style. Furthermore, his rivalry with Sasaki Koutaro parallels the historical rivalry between Miyamoto Musashi and the legendary swordsman Sasaki Kojiro.
