Teppei Kiyoshi (木吉 鉄平 Kiyoshi Teppei) is Seirin's founder and its previous ace. He is known as Iron Heart (鉄心, Tesshin) and is one of the Uncrowned Kings.
Teppei is very tall, even taller than Kagami. He has half-long, brown hair. His eyebrows are thick. He has dark eyes. His hands are also very big. This allows him to grab the ball tightly and change its course even at the last moment. He wears jersey number 7.
Teppei always seems goofy and sometimes even stupid. Despite his shallow appearance, he is very smart and is almost always plotting something. In game, he takes it easy at first, but when his game-instinct kicks in, he is ruthless and very professional. His catchphrase during games is "Let's go have fu~n!".[1] According to Hyūga, he is a very honest player.
Kiyoshi is also very caring for his team. Because he founded the club, he has a great affection towards his teammates and friends. He is willing to support them whenever they are in trouble and will protect them if they are threatened in any way[2], even at the cost of himself.
In Junior High school, Kiyoshi attended Shōei Junior High, an elite school with a strong basketball club. Because of his height and strength, he was one of the strongest players and was later known as one of the Uncrowned Kings, "Iron Heart" Kiyoshi. But then, the team had to face Teikō Junior High, the dominating champions. They were totally defeated and Kiyoshi's morale was crushed, as he saw Murasakibara towering over him in both height and ability.[4] Kiyoshi drags this trauma further along in his life.
When first entering Seirin High School, Teppei wanted to enter the basketball club. When walking in the hallway to deliver his application form, he ran into Hyūga. Teppei affectionately apologizes and sees Hyūga cellphone wallpaper, which was a picture of Ray Allen (famous NBA Player). Teppei asked him if he enjoyed basketball too and tells him that they are the same. Teppei introduces himself to Hyūga and suggests that they deliver their application together. Hyūga, who had no intention of entering the basketball club, told Teppei that there isn't even a basketball club in this school. Teppei brightly tells Hyūga that they should make a basketball club together.[5] Hyūga refuses, saying that he quit basketball.
It is revealed that Teppei is in the same class as Hyūga and Izuki and that he keeps bothering Hyūga to play basketball. When tries to pursue Hyūga yet again, Izuki comments that he would like to play basketball. Hyūga leaves and Izuki asks Teppei why he came to Seirin, wondering why he didn't go to an elite basketball school, as he is "Iron Heart" Kiyoshi. Teppei explains that he lives close to the school and that that is the only reason. He tells Izuki that as long that basketball is fun, it doesn't matter where he plays. He goes on by saying that really devoting yourself to something is what it means to enjoy it.[6]
Kiyoshi and Izuki are approached by Koga and Mitobe, who say that they want in the basketball club. He accepts and says that they have 5 members now, counting Hyūga. Izuki suggests that they ask a manager and says that he might know someone who is perfect for the job. Kiyoshi goes along with it and they approach Riko Aida. They ask her to join the basketball team, but she instantly refuses. Kiyoshi is unfazed and asks her again. Riko tells them that she only has the intention of joining a club that is determined to get to the top, she won't settle for anything less. The club leaves and Kiyoshi seems happy. He says that he's glad that they and Riko are the same.[7] Izuki also tells him that Riko's disgust for half-assed people/quitters comes from Hyūga.
Later, the newly-formed basketball club goes for dinner in the Maji Burger, where they discuss positions. Kiyoshi says that he really wants Hyūga to join them and at that moment, Hyūga enters the restaurant, but flees when he sees Kiyoshi. Kiyoshi hurries after him and catches up. Kiyoshi takes him to a street ball court and challenges him to a one-on-one. He says that if Hyūga gets one basket in, he'll stop in trying to get him in the team. Hyūga is irritated and says to not look down on him. They begin playing, but Kiyoshi dominates Hyūga and blocks every shot. Hyūga fails in scoring and Kiyoshi tells him to let it go, that he was wrong to give up on basketball. He says that Hyūga likes basketball, the same as himself. Kiyoshi says that he too tasted despair after playing Teikō, but that in the end, he didn't give up. Hyūga yells to stop, that he already knows he loves basketball.[8]
Kiyoshi is first seen after Seirin lost in the Interhigh preliminaries. He texted Riko that he will be discharged from the hospital and after he heard from Seirin's loss, he thinks by himself that it's that what makes every new challenge fun.[9]
A week later, Kuroko practices by himself after training. He shoots, misses and Kiyoshi picks up his ball. He tells Kuroko that he has seen that all he can do is pass, but that he likes that style of playing and that he just lacks experience. Kuroko asks who he is and Kiyoshi gives his name and offers him candy, to which Kuroko declines. He further introduces himself as the founder of the Seirin High School basketball club.[10] He spells out his name in separate kanji's, but Kuroko reacts bluntly and uninterested.
As Kuroko asks what he is doing here, Kiyoshi explains that he will be discharged from the hospital in a week and that he came to take a look. He then saw a worried Kuroko and says to Kuroko that he has expectations from him and that he's interesting. He explains why basketball has different positions and says that the sixth player is a specialist. He continues by saying that he has never seen such an extreme specialist as Kuroko, but that the only thing Kuroko has accomplished so far is intimidation. He asks the ball from Kuroko and takes a shot himself, while saying that the only one who decides his limit is Kuroko himself.[11] He concludes that Kuroko should have more faith in his abilities and leaves after that.
Another week later, Kiyoshi and Kagami both officially return to training, with Kiyoshi wearing his match jersey in order to raise the tension. The rest of the Seirin team react annoyed to his return, but Kiyoshi doesn't notice. After being scolded by Hyūga and changing to his training uniform, he introduces himself to the freshmen. Riko asks if he's already fully recovered and Kiyoshi confirms, but says that his skills will be a bit rusty. He tries to make a statement by declaring their goal for the year, but forgets where they are actually headed. After finding out they are practicing towards the Winter Cup, he tells the team to not only aim for the top of the mountain, but also enjoy the scenery underway.[12]
When the training commences and Kagami goes wild, Kiyoshi tells him to calm down and challenges him to a on-on-one, betting the ace position on it. Kagami tells him that it doesn't matter if he's handicapped, that he'll still go at full power. Kiyoshi agrees and says that he wants that. They start their showoff and both are equally matched. While Kagami is impressed by Kiyoshi's speed, Kiyoshi is amazed by Kagami's jump strength. In the end, Kagami was still able to pass Kiyoshi and dunk the ball, marking his victory.[13] Kagami leaves and Riko and the other scold him for his decision. Hyūga points out that Kiyoshi was wearing his indoor shoes and that it's no wonder that Kiyoshi lost.
Later, Hyūga treats Kiyoshi coffee on his discharge. Kiyoshi admits that he could've won if he wore his basketball shoes, but that he's still rusty. He also says that the freshmen Kuroko and Kagami are really interesting, but that they seem to have problems. The feeling of the loss against Tōō isn't quite healed yet and it doesn't seem to get better. Kiyoshi and Hyūga agree to try to get Kuroko and Kagami out of it.
While he is currently able to play, the knee injury he sustained during his freshman year was quite severe: formally speaking it required surgery, but the process would make him unable to play basketball for the rest of his high school career. He instead opted to rehabilitate without invasive procedures, though he would only be able to do so for one year at the best. Despite this setback, he vows to make the most of the time he has.
He along with the rest of the first years went to a streetball tournament. They were supposed to play against Yōsen High in the finals, but were stopped when the rain started.
He appears at the Winter Cup alongside Seirin at the opening ceremony and while entering the field. At the tip-off for their match against Tōō Academy, he jumps for the ball against Wakamatsu.[14] Seirin tries to go full power from the start, but gets the ball stolen away by a strong Tōō. Sakurai and Aomine cause a turnover and when Aomine dunks the first point, Kiyoshi starts running to the other side of the field. Izuki passes to Kuroko and Kuroko prepares his Ignite pass Kai, meaning to pass to Kiyoshi. Kuroko launches his new pass and it gets past Aomine and reaches Kiyoshi, who accepts the ball with effort. He jumps towards the basket, but Wakamatsu caught up with him and blocks his dunk. But before he can, Kiyoshi changes his movements with his large hands and passes underhands to Kagami, who jumps behind them and dunks the ball.[15]
He later jumps against Wakamatsu again for the rebound, but loses and Wakamatsu gains the ball. Kiyoshi is amazed by Wakamatsu's strength and speed, comparing him to Kagami.
In the second quarter, Kiyoshi is seen taking Seirin's first point. He receives Kagami's pass and fakes a pass to a cutting Izuki, but turns around and goes for the lay-up himself.
As one of the Uncrowned Kings, Kiyoshi's skills are superior than most other players. Kiyoshi is the tallest player of Seirin, but prefers to play point guard. Because of Seirin's lack of center, he agreed to play both positions.[16] Koga described it as a supervising position under the basket. This describes his role in the team very well, he plays under the basket and positions himself as center (for dunks and rebounds), but also has an amazing field of vision and pass sense.[17] In the words of Shoichi Imayoshi, Kiyoshi is an odd-ball center that possesses the pass sense of a guard. Also, as a center, he is just plainly strong and skilled. Iwamura has said that Kiyoshi is the second strongest center of the league, only virtually losing to Murasakibara, one of the Generation of Miracles.[18] He is very durable, as he was able to withstand Kirisaki Daīchi's constant foul play. These skills combined with his postponement, make him a very unpredictable and strong player.
Kiyoshi has abnormally large hands, which give him a great advantage for playing basketball. He uses his large hands for grabbing the ball and is so able to hold on to the ball longer, when other players had to release it already. Kiyoshi's right of postponement is that he has the freedom to change his movements and tactics very late, when he has already read (or more accurately: seen) his opponents movements. This gives him the advantage that it is meaningless to predict his movements, because Kiyoshi can change his choices at any time. He has displayed this when he is playing under the basket and tricks his opponent into a hook shot, but passes to Hyūga instead.[20] This is a skill that is first seen in the game against Josei High, but he has possessed it since his days in Junior High school.
A second skill Kiyoshi has learned because of his abnormally large hands. Instead of already possessing the ball, like with his right of postponement, Kiyoshi uses his hands for something entirely different: rebounding. Instead of jumping towards the ball with both hands to grip to ball tightly for the other centers not to steal it, Kiyoshi can grab the ball with one hand as powerful as with two hands. This gives him a great advantage, as one can jump higher and reach the ball faster with one hand. This way, he can get to the ball before the other centers and have a successful rebound. He learned this from Kagetora's training, by training his hand strength with a giant rock. He first showed this in the match against Yōsen High.
Although point guard is not Kiyoshi's position, as mentioned before, he does posses a corresponding pass and field sense. For that reason, he had to play PG in the match against Yōsen High, due to the height and power of their opponents. Kiyoshi has also been seen to successfully shoot a three-pointer.
"If their hearts get fragile, I'll become their support. If they're threatened, I'll become their shield. I'll sacrifice myself any day to protect everyone. That is why I came back!!"[21]
In the original datebook, Characters Bible, an early character concept sketch of Kiyoshi is seen. Instead of his current messy hair, he has longer and flat hair, resembling Mitobe.
On the first character poll, Teppei ranked 13th, with 390 votes.
On the second poll, he went up to third place, with 1097 votes.
According to the Kuroko no Basket light novel -Replace-, Teppei became terrified of rats after watching a horror movie about mutant rats attacking a town.
If following the Japanese school year (in which school begins and ends in April), then Kiyoshi would be the 3rd eldest among his teammates (Tsuchida would be the 1st and Hyūga 2nd).
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