For the past 26 years, no team from Okinawa has made it past the Kyushuu Tournament. The run of misfortune finally ended this year with the surge of a new powerhouse, Higa. Under the leadership of Kite Eishirou, Higa dominated its Regional Tournament, dethroning Shishigaku, last year's National semifinalist. They have quite unorthodox techniques, based in Okinawan martial arts, as well as very... unconventional ways to treat their rivals, making them an oddball team among the present teams.
- The Fashionista: After Kite concludes that the key to being a successful tennis team is stylish hair, most of them went under makeovers: Chinen had a skunk stripe, Rin dyed his black hair blonde and Kite dyed his hair purple and got his trademark hairstyle (in which he spends 1 hour and 15 minutes every day).
- Flash Step: Shukuchihou, which allows them to move quickly from the back of the court to the net, and vice versa. Kite can use it to move in any direction due to his balance.
- Purple Is the New Black: They are the first school to be completely antagonistic (ethically questionable tactics and unsportsman attitude on the court), and their uniforms are purple. Fudoumine, the team with black uniforms is actually more heroic. However...
- Mysterious Purple: Despite their initial antagonistic behavior, the guys prove to not be completely evil since most of them were only targeting the coaches on their own coach's orders. They are redeemed only by their loyalty to each other and their drive to win together as companions who survived their Training from Hell.
- Sleeves Are for Wimps: Their team uniform is the only one that doesn't have sleeves. This is because they come from Okinawa, one of the islands in the south of Japan, known for its beaches and hot weather.
- True Companions: It's shown in flashbacks how they suffered the Training from Hell with the goal of going together to the Nationals. As much of a Smug Snake as Kite is, all his team respects him and goes in his direction. In New Prince of Tennis, all five Higa teammates get to share the room instead of being assigned to separate ones.
Eishirou Kite is the captain of Higa, whose nicknames are "Killer" and "The Hitman", as well as receiving a reputation for defeating the aces of many other teams. He has an aggressive play style and can quickly figure out and target the opponent's weaknesses. He scouts various players and teaches them "Shukuchihou", a technique based on martial arts that gives the opponent the impression that the user is able to approach the net or baseline in one step from anywhere on the court. He is the only member that is able to use the "Shukuchihou" in any direction due to his balance. He also teaches them their signature techniques. Kite remains composed and polite in front of other teams, yet extremely condescending towards them, and if physically attacked, won't hesitate to strike back. His tennis style combines the "Shukuchihou" with other techniques such as his powerful "Big Bang" serve, and his "Habu", a shot that curves randomly, making it extremely difficult to return.
- The Captain: The members of the Higa tennis club respect him, as he is the one constantly inspiring them to endure the hard training.
- Catchphrase: "Goya kuwasuyo."
- Childhood Friends: According to the fanbook "Perfect Edition Season 2 Volume 8", he and Kai knew each other since they were 5 years old.
- Combat Pragmatist: He's not above cheating if he can.
- Dick Dastardly Stops to Cheat: In OVA 6, during his match with Tezuka.
- Evil Counterpart: He resembles Tezuka and even has some of the same seriousness but has the completely opposite approach on the court. While Tezuka is honorable and completely against on-court violence, Kite relishes in it.
- Extreme Omnivore: He explains that the entire team is immune to Inui's juice because they're accustomed to eating goya (bitter melon).
- The Fashionista: According to extras, Kite was the one who suggested the team to have trendy haircuts after seeing a magazine photo of Chitose and Tachibana (back when he had long bleached hair), reason why the teammates all have signature hairstyles. Also his bio says he spends his money on Glasses care, Hair dressing place and fashion magazines. He also spends 1 hour and 15 minutes setting his hair.
- A Father to His Men: All his teammates respect and obey him.
- Faux Affably Evil: He appears to be polite and composed at first against Tezuka, but quickly drops this facade when Tezuka starts getting the upper hand.
- Fire-Forged Friends: With the way their match played out, he and Marui qualify as this.
- In the Back: He hits a ball at Marui in this way in The New Prince of Tennis during their doubles match against Kimijima and Tohno.
- Just in Time: In the sequel, when Tohno hits a ball aimed at Mori and Ochi after losing their doubles match, Kite deflects it away from them in the nick of time.
- Pet the Dog: He's quite the asshole to his rivals, but cares for his teammates. He can also be very kind to Ayaka from Umibe no Secret if he's the chosen love interest.
- Redemption Equals Affliction: He takes the brunt of Tohno's "executions" in place of Marui, whose eye was already injured because he felt guilty about the suffering he caused Marui when he pretended to betray him earlier in their match.
- Say My Name: "TEZUUKAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
- Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: Played Straight when he accepts Kimijima's offer to pretend to betray Marui in order to create a chance to injure Tohno, with the promise that he would be recommended into the First String. Later, it gets inverted, because Kite, moved by Marui's determination to continue the match despite being betrayed, ditches Kimijima's offer and teams up with Marui for good.
- Signature Move:
- "Shukuchihou". Unlike the others, he can move in any direction, rather than just back and forth.
- "Big Bang", which he taught Tanishi. In fact, he can also use almost all the moves his teammates can use, having taught his entire team their moves.
- Smug Snake: Though not as bad as Saotome.
- Also invoked in the Umibe no Secret Dating Sim, where Kite has very polite yet mocking speech patterns that he uses specifically to provoke people (like Akutsu). To be fair, if by that point he's fond of the Umibe girl Ayaka, he *does* show a kinder side (like apologizing to Ayaka openly if she gets caught in the fights and meaning it.)
- It gets exploited in New Prince of Tennis, since nobody knew if he was betraying Marui in favor of the opponents. Turns out he had to make it look convincing so they could take down Tohno.
- Stealth Expert: All the team is trained in Okinawa Martial arts. An example of his abilities is during the Yakiniku mini-arc, where he slips hot sauce in Ishida Gin's plate without anyone noticing.
Yuujirou Kai is the vice-captain who has a tendency to be brash and impulsive despite being the oldest member. He normally plays with his right hand, though he switches to his natural left-handed style while using a racquet with a reverse grip to use his "Viking Horn" shot, which curves before reaching the opponent's side. he utilizes this attack by waiting for his opponents reaction and at the last second, strikes back to the opposite side of the reaction.
- Characterization Marches On: He is quite kinder in Umibe no Secret, though like Kite he isn't above behaving not so nicely towards other players.
- Childhood Friends: According to the fanbook "Perfect Edition Season 2 Volume 8", he and Kite knew each other since they were 5 years old.
- Kick the Dog: See Saotome's section, as he was the one who injured poor Ojii under his orders.
- Number Two: He's the sub-captain, but Rin seems to have a very strong in-team presence as well.
- Punch-Clock Villain: He was instructed to do so.
- Reverse Grip: Does this with his racquet during his "Viking Horn".
- Signature Move: "Shukuchihou" and "Viking Horn".
Tanishi Kei possesses a large body, which allows him to utilize his "Big Bang" serve that uses his weight and the gravity from falling in order to make a nearly unreturnable serve. It takes a lot of stamina, which decreases its power over time, allowing it to be returned, which was taken advantage of by Ryoma.
- Acrofatic: He's rather fast for a big guy.
- Big Eater: In the yakiniku episode, he actually eats with tongs. The sight grosses out everyone around.
- Catchphrase: "Shimiti ichundo!" ("I'm gonna attack!").
- Extreme Omnivore: In the yakiniku episode, he can also withstand Inui's juices, which Eishirou says are mild to what he's accustomed to in Okinawa.
- Fat Bastard: He's pretty much built like a sumo wrestler.
- Signature Move: "Shukuchihou" and "Big Bang".
Rin Hirakoba is the only member of the team who likes fair play. He uses "Habu", which has the stance of a smash, except that it curves wildly and unpredictable while in the air and bouncing, and "Giant Habu", which curves immediately after leaving the racquet, though it causes his hand to go numb, limiting it to one use per match. Hirakoba is a very formidable player, being able to take out Fuji's triple counter and Takashi's Hadoukyuu. He is one of the few players to stand up to Coach Saotome, refusing an order to attack Seigaku's coach feeling the match was too interesting.
- Does Not Like Spam: A usual threat to Rin is forcing him to eat goya (bitter melon).
- Dye Hard: In-Universe. Flashbacks show his hair was black the previous year.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Openly questions Saotome-sensei's methods if he's pumped up enough in the match.
- The Lancer: Shares this position with the proper sub-captain, Kai.
- Signature Move: "Shukuchihou", "Habu", "Giant Habu".
Hiroshi Chinen is the tallest player in Higa Chuu, who uses his size and looks to mock and intimidate his opponents.
- Looks Like Cesare: Very tall, very pale, very dark-haired aside of the white stripe on his hair.
- Face of a Thug: Doesn't seem to be a bad guy per se. But holy shit, he looks creepy.
- Signature Move: "Shukuchihou".
- Out of Focus: After the National Tournament ends, both Shiranui and Aragaki don't join the other five in the adventures across Japan, let alone the U-17 camp.
- Plot-Powered Stamina: Althought both of them are known for having trained their underwater endurance, Aragaki ends up fainting after playing against Kaido and Inui, who are known to play very long games.
- Stone Wall: They can't use Okinawan Tennis techniques, but they make up for it with sheer staying power that could give Kaidoh a run for his money.
- Those Two Guys: They are and look plain compared to the rest of the team.
