Chigiri: Which player is Chigiri based on in Blue Lock? Explained

Which player is Chigiri based on in Blue Lock? Explained

Modified Aug 03, 2024 10:56 GMT

Muneyuki Kaneshiro's Blue Lock is the next big thing in the sports genre for the animanga world. The series took the world by storm given its deep dive into football and the intricate components that make up the most popular sport on the planet.

Moreover, its plethora of characters, based off of real-life footballers, stole the hearts of viewers with their unique styles and "weapons". Among these characters stands the Red Panther, Chigiri Hyoma. He received such a moniker thanks to his immense pace and reddish-pink hair color.

Many thought his character was inspired by Welsh footballer Gareth Bale due to their explosive pace. However, Kaneshiro clarified and stated that Chigiri was based off of Japanese player Ryo Miyaichi.

Blue Lock's Chigiri is based on Ryo Miyaichi

Chigiri Hyoma is based off of Ryo Miyaichi (Image via Sportskeeda)

As mentioned, Chigiri Hyoma's character has found inspiration from Japanese superstar Ryo Miyaichi. Miyaichi was born into a sporting family, with both his father and brother prevalent names in basketball and football respectively. He began playing football in his elementary school years at Sylphid F.C. in Nagoya.

In 2010, he tried out for Arsenal FC and impressed manager Arsene Wenger, signing a professional contract just a year later. Upon joining Arsenal, he was loaned out to Dutch side Feyenoord. His skills promoted the Dutch media to nickname him "Ryodinho" (after Ronaldinho) and the Japanese Messi.

He briefly represented Arsenal during the 2011-12 season before getting injured in November 2011. After that, he completed loan spells at Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic before returning to Arsenal in 2013.

He was once again loaned out, this time to FC Twente before returning and signing for German side FC St. Pauli. His time (six years) at St. Pauli was plagued by injury as he returned to Japan in 2021, donning the colors of Yokohama F. Marinos.

Chigiri's abilities and their similarities with Miyaichi's style of play

As seen in Blue Lock, Chigiri has a similar style of play to Miyaichi's. Chigiri is the Archetype: Counter Attacker, a style where the player uses their pace to run past defenders and create unexpected scoring opportunities at any time.

They also possess a certain shooting ability, to finish off the created chance. These types of players either chase long balls pinged into them or carry the ball themselves with pace.

Chigiri's biggest weapon proved to be his blistering pace. His naturally powerful leg muscles and impressive footwork enable him to dart down the field. Through these two, he is able to spring and dribble past defenders with ease.

This is in tandem with Miyaichi, who was a technically gifted winger capable of bursting down the field and dribbling past opponents. As stated by Wenger, Miyaichi possessed natural technical ability, great balance, and phenomenal pace, and excelled in passing and crossing.

Lastly, under the mentorship of Chris Prince, Chigiri developed a style that combined all the different skills and techniques he learned in Blue Lock. He would pick his ideal shooting zone, cut inside to reach the zone, and unleash a well-placed shot at goal.

This is akin to what many players do and what Miyaichi does as well, dribbling to the outside of the box before sharply cutting inside and accurately rifling the ball into the top corner.