The hit manga "Blue Lock" was adapted into an anime in October 2022. In 2023, it became the top-selling manga in Japan, surpassing popular titles like One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen. This article provides an in-depth explanation of Zantetsu Tsurugi, a character from Blue Lock. It includes details about their height, weight, abilities, past episodes, and images of their appearances in the anime.

What is the Anime "Blue Lock" Where Zantetsu Tsurugi Appears?

"Blue Lock" (BLUELOCK) is a Japanese manga series written by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and illustrated by Yusuke Nomura. It began serialization in Weekly Shonen Magazine (Kodansha) in issue 35 of 2018. In May 2021, it won the 45th Kodansha Manga Award in the shonen category.

Blue Lock is a facility designed to produce the ultimate egoist—a single forward chosen from 300 high school players to become the world's best striker, with the goal of leading Japan to victory in the World Cup. The story follows the strikers as they are thrown into a series of ruthless selection tests, each sharpening their skills while grappling with the harsh challenges presented by the unforgiving system.

Basic Information on Zantetsu Tsurugi from "Blue Lock": Height, Birthday and More

Name: Zantetsu Tsurugi
Zantetsu Tsurugi is known for his explosive acceleration and powerful shots with his left foot. His reaction speed to the ball is also exceptional. His trademark is his glasses, which give him an intellectual appearance, though in reality, he struggles with complex concepts. To hide this, he often uses difficult words, though he frequently misuses them. He dislikes being mocked by those who don’t know him well. He is nicknamed “Baka Zantetsu” (Dumb Zantetsu) by his teammates Reo Mikage and Seishiro Nagi from Team V.

Birthday: October 30
Age: 17 years old (Second-year high school student) ・ Scorpio
Hometown: Saitama Prefecture
Family: Father, mother, older brother, himself, younger brother
Height: 6 ft 1.6 in (187 cm)
Foot size: 11 in (28 cm)
Blood type: O
Team before joining Blue Lock: Kengaku High School Soccer Club
Preferred foot: Left
Favorite soccer player: Arjen Robben
Started playing soccer at age: 4
Motto: "Stick to your original intention"
Strengths (in his own words): Honest, a good guy, hardworking
Weaknesses (in his own words): Foolish at times
Favorite food: Hamburg steak and curry (both are generally delicious)
Disliked food: Fish (can't tell the difference in taste)
Best food pairing: Curry (…Wait, that's curry rice)
Hobbies: Meditation (sunbathing)
Favorite season: Summer (because everyone acts silly)
Favorite music: Fanfare from GI horse racing (makes me want to run)
Favorite movie: *The Mask* (Jim Carrey is just hilarious)
Favorite manga: *Parasyte* (Migi is just so funny)
Character color: Dark gray
Favorite animal: Rhinoceros beetle (feels like it embodies boyhood dreams)
Best subject: None
Worst subject: All of them
What makes him happy: Being thought of as smart
What makes him sad: Being thought of as stupid
Ideal type: Someone smart who doesn't call others dumb
Sleep duration: 7 hours
First thing washed in the bath: Brushing teeth (My family runs a dental clinic)
Things he often buys at convenience stores: Chocolate Monaka Jumbo
Mushroom or Bamboo Shoots Snack Preference: Mushroom
Recently cried over: Practicing to look cool with glasses (fake) but ended up poking my eye, causing tears
What he'd do on the last day of Earth: Sprint as fast as I can
What he'd do with 100 million yen: Build a pyramid of cash and dive into it
How he spends his days off: Meditation (sunbathing, walking the dog)

Source: Blue Lock Official Character Book, EGOIST BIBLE

Zantetsu Tsurugi's Background in Blue Lock

Zantetsu’s backstory is explored in the spin-off series Blue Lock: Episode Nagi.

Zantetsu's family runs a dental clinic, and he grew up surrounded by his kind and accomplished family members, with whom he maintains a good relationship. However, he was often looked down upon by his classmates due to his academic struggles.

A turning point in his life came when he chose running as his primary mode of transportation. To avoid the embarrassment of miscalculating fares, Zantetsu decided never to use public transportation and opted to run everywhere. Through this, he discovered his natural talent for speed.

Who is Zantetsu Tsurugi's Voice Actor in the Blue Lock Anime?

The voice actor portraying Zantetsu is Kazuyuki Okitsu. He is best known for his roles as Jonathan Joestar in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and Karim Flam in Fire Force, among many other appearances in popular anime series.

Zantetsu Tsurugi's Weapon

■Acceleration
Zantetsu decided to pursue a career in sports where he could make the most of his strengths, and instinctively chose soccer as his path.

His weapon is his explosive acceleration, particularly within the first 10 meters, where he even surpasses Hyoma Chigiri in initial speed. This acceleration applies not only to his running but also to his reaction time, making him a difficult opponent to beat in one-on-one situations.

■Left Foot Shot
Zantetsu’s sharp left-footed shots are another asset. When shooting from the right side toward the goal, he can apply a powerful curve to the ball. By the time he was set to face Team Z in the first selection, he had already scored five goals, showcasing his considerable offensive ability.

Zantetsu Tsurugi's Key Moments and Images from Various Episodes

Next, we will look back at Zantetsu Tsurugi's key moments in each anime episode, along with images.

■The Entrance Exam

During the dormitory entrance test, a tag game where “the last person holding the ball is eliminated,” Zantetsu misunderstood the rule, thinking it was a game where “you win if you steal the ball from your opponent,” leading to him being mocked by those around him.

■First Selection, Match 1: Team V vs Team Y
Zantetsu’s Team V faced off against Team Y, which included players like Ikki Niko and Hibiki Okawa. Together with Nagi and Reo, they dominated Team Y with an 8-0 victory, during which Zantetsu scored two goals.

After the match, Zantetsu was the only teammate to oppose Reo’s habit of trading side dishes. Later, in the bath, he had a chance to talk with Nagi about why they play soccer. After hearing Nagi’s reason for competing, Zantetsu thought, “He’s strange, but not a bad guy,” and the lingering tensions from the tag game were resolved, leading to reconciliation.

■First Selection, Match 2: Team V vs Team W
In the second match, Zantetsu’s team faced Team W, led by the Wanima brothers. Zantetsu followed Reo’s instructions and scored a perfect curve shot. Immediately after scoring, Zantetsu declared to Reo, “Use Zantetsu Tsurugi (me),” significantly broadening the team’s strategy. Riding this momentum, they went on to win 5-1.

■First Selection, Match 3: Team V vs Team X
In the third match, Team V took on Team X. While Zantetsu was internally relieved, thinking, “Glad I’m not on the same team as Barou,” he was still taken aback by Barou’s unexpected talents. However, Team V won with ease, securing a 5-2 victory.

■First Selection, Match 4: Team V vs Team Z
In their final match, Team V demonstrated their superiority against Team Z from the start. However, Team Z regained their spirit thanks to the efforts of Meguru Bachira, leading to a back-and-forth battle. Zantetsu realized that although he had the advantage in “initial speed,” Hyoma Chigiri surpassed him in “top speed,” allowing Chigiri to outrun him. In the end, Team Z won 5-4, but Zantetsu played a key role in challenging Chigiri and contributed defensively, making things difficult for Team Z until the final attack.

Second Selection

In the second selection, Zantetsu passed the first stage, ranking 53rd. While waiting to team up with Reo and Nagi, who had already formed a team and moved ahead (Nagi joined a team with Isagi and Bachira, while Reo teamed up with Chigiri and Rensuke Kunigami), Zantetsu was approached by Ikki Niko and teamed up with him. This event is humorously depicted in a bonus manga at the end of the comic volume.

In the spin-off series Blue Lock: Episode Nagi, it is revealed that Zantetsu eventually formed a team with Niko and Hiiragi and later faced off against Nagi, Barou, and Chigiri’s team. Zantetsu was recruited after this match and continued to win, eventually passing the second selection.

Third Selection
For the third selection, Zantetsu chose to join Team C, led by Kiyu Yukimiya and Nagi.

Summary

Zantetsu Tsurugi is one of the fastest players in the Blue Lock project. He tries to appear intelligent by wearing glasses and using complicated words, but this often results in clumsy mistakes. Acknowledging that he is "not academically inclined," Zantetsu finds joy in being seen as smart and is known for creating many memorable (and often misused) quotes. Fans can look forward to more of Zantetsu’s thrilling, speed-driven plays and his amusing one-liners in the future.

Source : Anime Blue Lock Official