Sena Kobayakawa
The small runner who became the fastest legend on the gridiron.
Sena Kobayakawa (Japanese: 小早川 瀬那, Hepburn: Kobayakawa Sena), commonly referred to just as Sena (セナ), is a fictional character who is the protagonist in the manga and anime series Eyeshield 21, created by Riichiro Inagaki and Yusuke Murata. In the series, he is a first-year Japanese high-school student who becomes a gofer to avoid being bullied. His running ability is noticed by Yoichi Hiruma, the school's American football team's captain, who gets him to join the Deimon Devil Bats as the team's running back under the name "Eyeshield 21". Sena has appeared in other media from the series, including video games, original video animations (OVAs) and light novels.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Eyeshield 21
- First
- Eyeshield 21 Chapter 1: The Boy with the Golden Legs
- Voice
- Japanese
- Miyu Irino
- Romi Park (Jump Festa)
- Kokoro Kikuchi (younger)
- English
- Yuri Lowenthal
- Relatives
- Mihae Kobayakawa (mother); Shiyuma Kobayakawa (father)
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.
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.
- Sena was named MVP of the Kanto tournament after the Devil Bats won it.
More in Players & Coaches
Elsewhere in Eyeshield 21
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