Ichiro Yamanaka

Ichiro Yamanaka (山中 一郎 Yamanaka Ichirou) is a minor character in the anime series a Free! who appears in an Original Video Animation preceding season 3. He is one of three Iwatobi High School students who come to Tokyo as representatives at the Annual High School Mascot Competition. The contest features mascots from different schools across the country participating in events, one of which is sumo-style wrestling in life-sized mascot costumes. Ichiro is a member of the trio responsible for bringing the Iwatobi-chan costume to the event.

Appearance
Ichiro is of average height and a somewhat stocky build. He has dark brown hair, brown eyes and wears black eyeglasses. In the OVA, he is seen wearing a white dress shirt, brown school tie with polka dots and gray dress trousers. Over this is worn a pink haori trimmed with yellow and an image of Iwatobi-chan on the back. He appears to be the leader of the trio and is the person who enlists Makoto Tachibana's help. He wears an Iwatobi-chan cap at the tournament.

Story
In Tokyo, it's time for the annual High School Mascot Competition. Three students from Iwatobi High School are in town with the required life-sized Iwatobi-chan costume. They are excited, but distressed, because the beak is missing. When Makoto runs into them and they learn of his Iwatobi history, he is manipulated into wearing the costume and competing in the sumo-style wrestling contest between mascots.

Meanwhile, Haruka Nanase happens to find the missing beak when he accidentally steps on it while taking a walk. Realizing what it is, he heads to the contest venue where he meets the students and Makoto. There, he convinces a reluctant Makoto to defend his alma mater's honor, then stays to cheer him on to victory.