| Makoto Sakurai | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Japanese Name: | 桜井 誠 |
| Romanized Name: | Sakurai Makoto |
| English Name: | Makoto Sakurai |
| First Appearance: | "Nichijou Episode 14" |
| Birthday: | April 8[1] |
| Affiliated: | Izumi Sakurai (sister) Hajime Sakurai (father) Manabu Takasaki (coach/teacher) Ogi (Friend/Senior) Kenzaburou Daiku (Friend/Club leader) Yuria Sekiguchi (Friend/Classmate) |
| Alignment: | short |
| Japanese VA: | Takahiro Hikami |
| English VA: | Dallas Reid |
Makoto Sakurai (桜井 誠, Sakurai Makoto) is Izumi Sakurai's younger brother, and a male student at Tokisadame High School, who joins the Igo-Soccer Club during the 2nd half of Nichijou. He is also the one that eventually informs Kenzaburou Daiku,  that Igo-Soccer is actually a sport, despite Daiku having made the name for the club up on the fly.
Appearance[]
Makoto has short, messy, light-brown hair, the same as his sister Izumi. He is almost always seen with his eyes as slits; his open eyes have only been seen very briefly while he was demonstrating Igo-soccer to the Igo-soccer club.
He wears a white loose fitted, buttoned shirt, (that he often keeps buttoned down to the disdain of his sister, Izumi) black pants, and a pair of white and blue sneakers. He shares this outfit with Daiku and Ogi. He appears to be taller than Sekiguchi but slightly shorter than Ogi.
Background[]
Makoto performs the 'Solo German Supplex' earning him three points.
Makoto is a sophomore student at Tokisadame High School. His first appearance in the anime is Episode 14, although his first prominent inclusion in the manga is Volume 4,  where he asks to join the Igo-Soccer Club and shocks Daiku by revealing it to be an actual sport. He then immediately figures out Manabu Takasaki has a crush on his sister, after Takasaki mistakenly asks him if Izumi has a boyfriend. Although not knowing what he sees in her[2]He decides to take advantage of this, threatening Takasaki with exposure if he doesn't agree to coach the Igo-Soccer Club he recently joined. Takasaki first refuses twice but eventually gives in, after Makoto bribes him using a picture of his sister from when she was in high school. Much later, in Volume 6, he berates Izumi for entering his room without permission and becomes mortified upon finding out she discovered an inappropriate magazine he had been hiding.[3]In general, he is seen most often with the other members of the Igo-Soccer Club, often being roped into their shenanigans, an example being when he accidentally trapped Ogi in a birdhouse in Volume 9.[4] In a flashback in Chapter 155, he's shown to have once been more affectionate towards Izumi, looking up to her and holding her hand on the way back from school, however after he was teased for holding hands with a girl, he became more independent, doing the laundry, taking baths and even cooking by himself.
Personality[]
Makoto gets flustered upon being confronted by Izumi over his magazine
Unlike his sister Izumi Sakurai, Makoto is much more forward and self-aware of both himself and his surroundings, being more easygoing and confident. He can best be described as Izumi's foil, being more open and less easily intimidated, and he often speaks his mind without hesitation. He is quick to lose his temper when annoyed however, and is prone to shouting and becoming disorientated, and is also not above using blackmail to get what he wants (an example being bribing Manabu Takasaki to be the advisor of the Igo Soccer Club). The intent behind many of his schemes is not usually malicious, however. When flustered or frightened, he exhibits traits similar to Izumi, such as excessive stammering, sweating and blushing, and often panics when confronted or in an awkward situation. He seems to hold a certain disdain for authority, refusing Izumi's request to button his shirt, and blackmailing Takasaki, both teachers. Regardless, Makoto is good natured and enthusiastic and has a clear passion for Igo-Soccer, having been proficient in his last school, and clearly cares about his fellow club members: an example being when he steps in to stop Daiku from giving his first kiss to Manabu Takasaki, saying that he should save it for that "special someone"
His manipulation of Takasaki aside, Makoto overall as a person is fairly likeable. He seems proud of his skill in Igo-Soccer as he is seen practicing several times on his own and gladly takes part in activities when in the club. He does show a more confrontational side towards Izumi, often dismissing her, and becoming embarrassed and angry upon finding out she had searched his room and found an inappropriate magazine.[5]Although here again he acts more like his sister, panicking and lying on the spot, and he does seem to still love and look up to Izumi, though he doesn't show it. Makoto seems to have a certain amount of pride and clearly wants to be liked and thinks a lot of himself, showing resentment towards his sister for embarrassing him, and not wanting to be affiliated with her at school.[6]
A younger Makoto in a flashback. 
Relationships[]
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Izumi (left) and Hajime Sakurai (right) are Makoto's sister and father respectively.
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Izumi Sakurai[]
Izumi is Makoto's elder sister. She calls him Mako-chan. Originally, he is shown to be quite hostile towards Izumi, refusing her help in buttoning his shirt, and showing a rebellious streak. Makoto openly finds her annoying, expressing a desire to live alone due to her constant intrusions, and wondering what Manabu Takasaki even sees in her[7] Despite this deep down, he does seem to care a lot for Izumi, and he never openly insults her or otherwise tries to harm her, an example being holding her hand again in a flashback after previously saying he wouldn't. He also assures her he isn't angry at her after she repeatedly enters his room without permission, though arguably he was just reassuring her to get her to leave. Later, he even suggests to Takasaki he set up a date between him and Izumi[8]. Izumi meanwhile often tries to be firm with Makoto, but cowers due to his intensity, resulting in her advice usually falling on deaf ears. She does seem absentminded when dealing with him however, as she frequently forgets to knock on his door first before entering, a point of constant annoyance for Makoto. (Though his exasperation at her is more comedic than genuine anger).
Manabu Takasaki[]
Makoto asks Takasaki to become the advisor of the Igo-Soccer Club. and later Takasaki becomes his coach. Due to Manabu's crush on Izumi, Makoto is able to convince him to become the advisor of the club through blackmail and then bribery. Neither seems to dislike the other and later, they play against each other in an Igo-Soccer game[9] Takasaki usually treating Makoto like an equal.
Kenzaburou Daiku[]
Makoto joins Daiku's club and Daiku welcomes him enthusiastically. Daiku is bewildered when Makoto demonstrates his Igo-Soccer skills. Daiku is regularly impressed with Makoto's skills, and the former even stops him from giving his first kiss to Takasaki.
Ogi[]
Makoto and Ogi are good friends and spend time together outside of club activities, such as getting ramen together. [10] He later accidentally gets him trapped in a birdhouse[11], although Ogi doesn't seem to hold a grudge for this, respecting his immense skill in Igo-Go Soccer.
Yuria Sekiguchi[]
A classmate and fellow club member. They don't interact much, though she's there with him as they try to convince the Vice Principal not to shut down the club.
Etymology[]
- The name Makoto means "sincerity" (誠).
- Makoto's surname Sakurai means "cherry blossom" (桜) (sakura) and "well, mine shaft, pit" (井) (i).
Trivia[]
- Makoto has at some point been the daifuku mascot.
- When Manabu Takasaki encounters Makoto Sakurai for the first time, he mistakenly assumes that he is romantically involved with Sakurai-sensei.
- He likes skeletons[12]
- According to Makoto, Izumi walks around 'half dressed' at home[13]
Quotes[]
- "Just try that again!! Come in here again and you'll see what happens!! Got it?! You'll see!!"
- "You're in love with my sister, right?"
- "AVALANCHE JOSEKI: THREE STAR POINTS!!!"