Some viewers may have missed this special OAD but in Season 9 Episode 2 we get a more detailed description of how Hinata and Kageyama got to the Tokyo training camp.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE FOLLOWING MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
The real conflict in the episode comes when Tanaka is unable to convince his sister to take Kageyama and Hinata to the Tokyo training camp. However, one day after Saeko Tanaka (Tanaka’s sister) comes home he begs her and gets into a kneeling position. After this Saeko Tanaka agrees to take Kageyama and Hinata to Tokyo. Many Non-Japanese viewers including myself may have been confused at the importance of the kneel and the drastic effect it had on Saeko Tanaka.
The kneeling position that we see Tanaka adopt and the image to the left are examples of the dogeza. While dogeza is not common in modern Japan it does have historical importance. It is used to show great respect often at the sacrifice of one’s own dignity and pride. In Japanese history, this may have occurred when a criminal pleads for forgiveness or when a peasant requests a loan from his/her lord.
Tanaka’s dogeza was done to plead for a favor. By kneeling into a dogeza Tanaka showed his sister that he desired this so much that he was willing to sacrifice his own dignity and pride (and we know how prideful Tanaka can be :). This gesture was enough for Saeko to get the two stars Kageyama and Hinata to the Tokyo training camp. Thank God for that! The training arc was one of my personal favorites, constant battles, good dialogue, and massive improvement within all the players.
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