Mikami, Tatsuo
Seiyuu / Dub
Summary
Tatsuo Mikami is a former goalkeeper for the Japanese national team and the dedicated coach of Genzo Wakabayashi. He first appears in chapter 1 of Captain Tsubasa. Renowned for his rigorous methods, he subjects Wakabayashi to grueling training before his match against Nankatsu and Tsubasa. After Wakabayashi becomes discouraged following a conceded goal, Mikami strikes him and threatens to quit coaching, a harsh lesson that helps Wakabayashi regain his composure. During the national tournament, when Wakabayashi is sidelined by injury, Mikami treats his wounds to ensure he can play in the final. Driven by a desire to elevate Japanese soccer, he is sent to West Germany by the national organization after the tournament, taking Wakabayashi with him. Mikami returns to Japan three years later to oversee the middle school national tournament with the goal of assembling the All Japan Jr. Youth team for the International Jr. Youth Tournament in France. He is highly receptive to player input, heeding Misugi’s tactical advice and even respecting the decision to bench Tsubasa. He tasks Wakabayashi with playing the villain to highlight the strength of international opponents. His strategy succeeds in the first two matches by keeping Misaki and Misugi in reserve, but he makes a critical error against France by allowing Misugi and the Tachibana twins to play, depleting the substitution list and leaving five players injured by extra time. Despite the team’s resilience, Mikami’s pivotal decision to start Wakabayashi in the final against West Germany proves decisive. In the World Youth series, Mikami coaches the All Japan Youth team and selects Wakabayashi as the starting keeper, causing Wakashimazu to quit. When Mikami requires surgery for peritonitis, Gamo takes over coaching duties, a transition driven by Gamo’s passion rather than just Mikami’s health. Wakashimazu returns after the Asian preliminaries, apologizing to Mikami, who acknowledges their mutual stubbornness stemming from their shared goalkeeper mindset. In Road to 2002, he coaches the Japan Youth team, led by Sawada, guiding them to victory in the Asian preliminaries with a tight final match against Korea.
