Ep 6. That Man, Echizen Nanjiro...

Ryoma Echizen is a young tennis prodigy who aims to become the best tennis player in Japan. In season 1 episode 6 of The Prince Of Tennis, titled "That Man, Echizen Nanjiro," Ryoma's father, Nanjiro, makes his debut appearance. Nanjiro is a former tennis player and a famous figure in the world of tennis, known as "Samurai Nanjiro."

Ryoma's father is a bit of an enigma; he is often seen drunk and carefree, and he seems to have a complicated relationship with his son. Ryoma feels like his father has never shown interest in his tennis, and he is annoyed by his father's constant absence from his life. However, in this episode, we get to know more about Nanjiro and the reasons for his behavior.

The episode starts with Ryoma and his teammates on their way to the U-17 Tennis Training Camp, which is a prestigious tennis camp attended by the best young tennis players in Japan. While at the station, they run into Nanjiro, who is also on his way to the camp. Ryoma is surprised to see his father there, but Nanjiro acts nonchalantly, insisting that he is just there to visit an old friend.

As Ryoma and his father travel to the camp together, Ryoma starts to learn more about his father's past. Nanjiro tells Ryoma about a match he played against a legendary player named William Statham, who was known as "The Prince of Tennis." Nanjiro explains that he quit tennis after that match and never played another official game. Ryoma is shocked to hear about his father's past, and he starts to understand why his father is always pushing him to become a better player.

At the camp, Ryoma and his father part ways, and Ryoma starts to focus on his training. During one of his matches, Ryoma faces off against one of the top players at the camp, a boy named Akaya Kirihara. Their match is intense, and both players show off their incredible skills. In the end, Ryoma emerges victorious, impressing both his teammates and the other players at the camp.

After the match, Ryoma meets up with his father, who has been watching his matches from the sidelines. Nanjiro congratulates Ryoma on his victory and tells him that he is proud of him. Ryoma is taken aback by his father's praise, and he starts to see his father in a new light.

The episode ends with Ryoma and his father returning home together. Ryoma finally understands why his father has always been so hard on him, and they share a rare moment of camaraderie. As they part ways, Nanjiro tells Ryoma that he will always be there for him, no matter what.

Overall, "That Man, Echizen Nanjiro" is a touching episode that sheds light on the complicated relationship between Ryoma and his father. It's a great episode for fans of the show who want to know more about the backstory of one of the show's most fascinating characters.