The Tensai who started it all...
For those who have read or watched Slam Dunk manga/anime. Do you know that the main character of Slam Dunk is based on a real life person of the same name as the manga character?

                          

Here's a brief translation of the report

Born in 1968, Sakuragi was just an ordinary kid in a Japanese worker-class family. His mother passed away when he was young, back then his height wasn't really significant. In fact, he was actually the shortest in his class and was constantly get bullied because of his height. Without knowing the love of a mother, he eventually learnt to use agressive force to solve his problems. At age 12, his height developed to an amazing 175cm and his built had become stronger from constantly involving in fights. There was once when he passed by a group of Tokyo University Independent Sports Students, he had some disagreements with these students and ended up fighting with them. When he fought, his display of amazing agility, speed and strength was discovered by a basketball instructors, and they all invited and accepted him to be a high school basketball player in training. However, his father was against of his involvement to be a basketball player, thus Sakuragi ran away from home and went to study in a faraway school in Hokkaido. His instructor gave all his savings for Sakuragi as he believed in the potential of this youth whose basketball ability is truly one of its kind in Japan.

At age 15, Sakuragi joined the youth basketball competition and he displayed such powerful jump that the audience were all captivated by such spectacular. They all wanted to find out more about this mysterious youth and the basketball fans were the most persistent folks who were highly interested in Sakuragi. Eventually, Sakuragi left Hokkaido and joined Nans La Lady's Basketball Organization. Because of his age, he was constantly being left out. However, due to his independent quality, his instructor gave him guidance and his basketball training had completely enveloped his entire life. At age 17, his natural basketball ability emerged. For a normal basketball training student, his height had increased to 189.2cm, and he displayed no fear, catching high, shielding low, showing energetic skills in the field. No matter where he went, everyone could see him clearly. With great cheer from the crowds, he single-handedly delivered 33 points.

Despite the fact that his team lost by 59:115, Sakuragi's professional performance in the competition had outshone. Taking Japan's basketball world by storm, he was then known as Japan's brightest teen basketball player.

Tragically, when Sakuragi was still growing up fast, news about his father fell ill reached him. As his father was the only member of his family, Sakuragi quickly prepared himself to travel back to Tokyo, and it was that path that took evrything away from him. Once he reached Tokyo, he stepped down the cab to cross the road. When he was about to cross the road to reach the hospital, an incoming speeding car lost control and knocked him down. Even with such strong bones, no stronger than the impact of a small bomb, Sakuragi fell and laid motionless on the road. Many passerbys quickly sent him to the hospital but it was already too late. Before sending him into the operation room, Sakuragi had serious internal bleeding and passed away at the age of 18.

Japan's basketball world were saddened by the lost of a potential "giant" after Sakuragi's death. And the manga artist of Slam Dunk took his inspiration based on the life story of Sakuragi.

1st Opening theme


1st Ending theme


2nd Ending theme (Mitsui's theme)


3rd Ending theme


4th Ending theme