About “Yowamushi Pedal” in a few words:

Yowamushi Pedal is a sports anime series that follows Sakamichi Onoda, a high school otaku who discovers his talent for cycling and joins the Sohoku High School cycling club. Along with his teammates, including the captain Shunsuke Imaizumi and the sprinter Shoukichi Naruko, Sakamichi participates in challenging races and competes against rival teams to become the best in Japan. The series explores themes of perseverance, friendship, and the thrill of competition, all set against the backdrop of the exhilarating world of bicycle racing.

Meet the characters from Yowamushi Pedal

Onoda Sakamichi

Oh man, Onoda is the purest cinnamon roll of a cyclist — earnest, ridiculous stamina, and somehow still an otaku who brings his anime spirit to every pedal. He looks like a nervous little librarian but then he just keeps going and you’ll be like wait what, where did that endurance come from? He’s awkward in social stuff, but if you hand him a map or a candy bar he transforms into supportive engine-mode, which is adorable and slightly terrifying in a good way. Also he forgets to be cool on purpose? No he’s just genuinely that sweet, probably has spare socks and a stack of anime DVDs in his jersey.

Naruko Shoukichi

Naruko is a firecracker — loud, flashy, and permanently hyped about sprinting; his legs are basically confetti cannons. He’s the kind of guy who’ll shout in your face and then hand you a weirdly sincere compliment five seconds later, which makes you love him and want to punch him, in a good way. Loves speed, loves the spotlight, and yes, he totally has a ridiculous pre-race ritual that may or may not involve a neon hat. He gets under people’s skin but also makes them try harder, which is probably his secret hobby: chaos motivation.

Imaizumi Shunsuke

Imaizumi is all precision and quiet rage-y energy, the kind of ace who looks like he’s measuring the air and then just wins, brutally efficient and kind of temperamental. He’s competitive to a fault but actually has this weird soft spot for team loyalty and will brood his way into caring about everyone — slowly, like a grumpy gardener. He’s technically exquisite: posture, cadence, the whole chef’s-kiss thing, though he’ll never admit he’s proud. Also sometimes he’s surprisingly goofy? Like a textbook stoic who owns a sock with a cartoon frog, don’t ask.

Makishima Yusuke

Makishima is the elegant climber you can’t stop staring at — tall, graceful, almost like he’s dancing up the mountain while the rest of you are waddling. There’s something poetic about him; he notices wind and lines and tiny details and talks about them like they’re secret treasures, which makes him a little spooky and extremely magnetic. He’s calm but also wild, philosophical and kind of rabbit-eared in his charm (metaphorically, I think — or maybe literally, who knows). Honestly he could probably read a slope like a love letter and quietly judge your technique with a smile.

Tadokoro Jin

Tadokoro is big, warm, and unexpectedly ferocious on the climbs — like if your favorite gentle giant decided to single-handedly carry morale and snacks for the entire team. He’s a literal tank but also a big softie: cries at supportive speeches, bakes for teammates, maybe hides a collection of tiny plushies under his jersey, don’t laugh. His strength is almost comic-book level, but he’s laughably humble about it and will insist he just ate a weirdly large lunch. Inspires everyone not because he’s flashy but because he’s steady, dependable, and somehow both clumsy and inspirational at once.

Kinjou Shingo

Kinjou is the classic captain energy: imposing, composed, and a little scary in a “don’t let him look disappointed” way, but with an unexpected dad-joke arsenal. He’s tactical, old-school, and somehow manages to be both a mentor and a silent assassin out on the flats — calm as a pond but with killer top speed when it counts. He cares deeply about discipline and tradition but will also secretly smuggle comfort food to late-night trainees, like some benevolent warlord who bakes. Occasionally he’ll hum ancient cycling hymns? I might be making that up, but it fits, right.

Manami Sangaku

Manami is that mythic free soul who rides like he’s part mountain himself — effortless form, dreamy expressions, and a habit of appearing at the perfect scenic spot to stare at the horizon. He loves solitude and long climbs but will join a team moment if he’s in a very rare good mood, which makes him mysterious and secretly soft. There’s an almost aloof elegance to him, like he’s both aloof and very emotionally available on alternate Wednesdays. Also, rumor has it he sometimes naps mid-ride? Probably not, but the idea is charming.