Sena Kobayakawa

Lore & Background

Because of his diminutive stature and weak appearance, Sena is bullied by his classmates in primary school; he is protected by Mamori Anezaki, his only friend. A new student, Riku Kaitani, teaches Sena how to outsprint his tormentors. Unfortunately, Sena uses his running ability to be a gofer, which allows him to improve his running and dodging ability. Soon after entering Deimon high school Sena is coerced into playing American football by Yoichi Hiruma, who recognizes Sena's running ability and forces him to join the school's American football club, the Deimon Devil Bats. To conceal Sena's identity and keep him from being recruited by other teams, Sena wears a green eyeshield and Hiruma gives him the alias "Eyeshield 21"—a name Hiruma claims is the title of the legendary running back of Notre Dame.

In Their Own Story

The Deimon Devil Bats enter the spring tournament; after winning a comeback victory in their first game they then lose to the Ojo White Knights, but the inexperienced Sena is able to outrun Ojo's star linebacker Seijuro Shin before collapsing from exhaustion, earning the latter's respect. Despite Deimon's elimination, Sena decides to stay on the team because he finds the sport fun. Sena and the Devil Bats prepare for the autumn tournament, hoping to be the best team in Tokyo to advance to the Kanto tournament and eventually the Christmas Bowl (the national championship between the best high-school American football teams from the Kanto and Kansai regions). The Devil Bats spend their time playing several exhibition games and recruiting new members to the team, including wide receiver Taro "Monta" Raimon who becomes best friends with Sena. The Devil Bats eventually lose a match against the visiting NASA Aliens from the United States but Sena befriends the team's ball boy turned running back Patrick "Panther" Spencer and the two promise to play each other again on the field. For the team's summer training, Sena and the Devil Bats take a vacation to NASA's hometown of Houston, where they meet Hiruma's and Kurita's former mentor Doburoku Sakaki, who reluctantly allows Hiruma's request to put the team through a dangerous training regimen known as the "Death March"—which involves traveling on foot from Houston to Las Vegas through the Mojave Desert. Before participating in the Death March, Sena reveals his identity to the rest of his teammates (with the exception of Mamori, who traveled with the team to America but was not present during Sena's reveal). During the Death March, Sena accidentally takes a detour to San Antonio where he meets Suzuna Taki and her brother Natsuhiko at the city's NFL's team's open tryouts. The Taki siblings accompany the Devil Bats for the remainder of the Death March, with Natsuhiko becoming the team's tight end and Suzuna as the head of their cheerleading squad. The Devil Bats successfully complete the Death March and return to Japan to compete in the fall tournament; during training, Sena develops a new technique called the "Devil Bat Ghost"—a unique juke that creates an afterimage of himself—which later becomes his signature move. Deimon wins their first games in the fall tournament thanks to Sena's improved skills. While facing the Kyoshin Poseidon in the quarterfinals, Sena learns from their star player Shun Kakei that his Eyeshield 21 identity belonged to another footballer of Japanese descent from Notre Dame High School's football team in America. Sena is reunited with Riku, who plays for the Seibu Wild Gunmen. Deimon loses in the semifinals against Seibu but are given a chance to qualify for the Kantō tournament if they can win a consolation game against the Bando Spiders. After learning that Bando's team captain Hayato Akaba is supposedly the real Eyeshield 21, Sena reveals his identity to Mamori and the general public before the game between Deimon and Bando. When Deimon wins, Akaba officially names Sena as Eyeshield 21 and reveals that the name is in fact a title traditionally passed down to Notre Dame's best runner. During the Kanto tournament, Sena makes several accomplishments in Deimon's games—including handing the Shinryuji Naga's prodigy player Agon Kongo his first defeat; and facing off against Shin again in Deimon's rematch against Ojo. When Hiruma's throwing arm is injured by Rikiya Gao during the game against the Hakushu Dinosaurs, Sena briefly fills in as quarterback. The Devil Bats win the Kanto tournament to play in the Christmas bowl and Sena is named as the tournament's MVP. For the Christmas Bowl, the Devil Bats face off against the undefeated Teikoku Alexanders, who are led by Takeru Yamato, the original Japanese Eyeshield 21. In the game, Sena proves his right to the Eyeshield 21 name by defeating Yamato and winning the championship. After winning the Christmas Bowl, Sena is asked by Japan's high school football committee to create a national team with Monta, Yamato and Taka Honjo. The four split up to find players for a Japanese team for the International Youth American Football tournament. At the World Tournament held in New York City, Sena and Team Japan advance to the finals against the U.S., where Sena once again faces against Panther; the game ends in a tie but Panther is named MVP and is given a contract to the NFL. In Sena's second year, he replaces Hiruma as Deimon's team captain and during his third year is invited to attend Notre Dame in the U.S., bringing his Eyeshield 21 identity to full circle. He returns to Japan to attend Enma College, opposing some of his former teammates and rivals (students at other colleges or employees at several company teams) as they compete to play in the Rice Bowl (the game between the best college team and the best semi-pro team). Some time later, Sena is chosen as one of two candidates from Japan for an open spot through the NFL's International Player Pathway Program, with the other being Hiruma. To determine who will receive the spot, Sena and Hiruma play against each other with their respective college teams in the Koshien Bowl (the national college championship game between East Japan and West Japan). In the game's final seconds, Sena manages to outrun every one of the Saikyodai Wizards' opposing players, securing a victory for the Enma Fires, however the winner of the IPPP's spot is never revealed.

Reader's Guide

Sena Kobayakawa begins as an unassuming high school student with a talent for running but no desire to play sports. Bullied and timid, he is coerced into the Deimon Devil Bats football team by Yoichi Hiruma under the secret identity of Eyeshield 21. Initially terrified of contact and failure, his perspective shifts when he discovers the pure joy of speed on the field. His primary attribute is unmatched acceleration and agility, allowing him to evade defenders through narrow gaps. Unlike power runners, Sena relies on evasion and stamina. As the series progresses, he matures from a hiding player into a confident leader who inspires his teammates. He learns that running away is not cowardice if it means protecting others, but running forward defines true strength. Key moments include his first touchdown as Eyeshield 21 and leading the Devil Bats to the National Tournament finals. His journey concludes with him accepting his dual identity publicly, proving he no longer needs a mask to be himself. Sena represents the underdog spirit that drives the entire narrative of high school football glory.

Did You Know?

• Sena's name is an homage to the Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna.
• In the 2003 OVA (pilot film), Sena was voiced by Yuki Kaida; Romi Park voiced him in the 2004 OVA 'Eyeshield 21: The Phantom Golden Bowl', and Miyu Irino voiced him in the 2005 TV anime.
• Sena's signature technique is the "Devil Bat Ghost," a juke that creates an afterimage of himself.
• The alias "Eyeshield 21" is claimed by Hiruma to be the title of the legendary running back of Notre Dame, not a name he invented with no connection to the university.
• Sena was named MVP of the Kanto tournament after the Devil Bats won it.