A young drifter named Joe Yabuki wanders through the slums of Tokyo, but when the local ruffians try to give him a hard time he teaches them a rough lesson with his fists. The spectacle sparks a gleam in the eye of an old drunk who happens to be watching—Danpei Tange, a failed boxer and former coach who sees something special in the boy. He pleads with Joe to train with him off, but the cocky young fighter brushes him. Later, though, when Joe is arrested and put in a juvenile detention facility, he realizes that he’s going to need to hone his raw fighting skills if he wants to survive. Thus is born a partnership that might just take Joe all the way to the top…
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A young drifter named Joe Yabuki wanders through the slums of Tokyo, but when the local ruffians try to give him a hard time he teaches them a rough lesson with his fists. The spectacle sparks a gleam in the eye of an old drunk who happens to be watching—Danpei Tange, a failed boxer and former coach who sees something special in the boy. He pleads with Joe to train with him off, but the cocky young fighter brushes him. Later, though, when Joe is arrested and put in a juvenile detention facility, he realizes that he’s going to need to hone his raw fighting skills if he wants to survive. Thus is born a partnership that might just take Joe all the way to the top…
Season 1 episodes
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A former boxer and current drunkard named Danpei Tange meets a drifter named Joe Yabuki and sees potential in him. Tange offers to teach Joe how to box, but Joe isn't easily convinced.
Danpei is severely hurt after trying to protect Joe from the yakuza. Joe goes to visit the head of the yakuza group to try to get reparations for Danpei.
Episode credits
Directed by Hideo Nishimaki, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Danpei works hard day and night to save up for Joe and his boxing gym. Meanwhile, Joe uses the slum kids to con some money out of people and he runs into a woman named Yoko Shiraki.
Episode credits
Directed by Seiji Okuda, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Joe ends up in a juvenile classification home and is quickly put into his place after trying to be cocky against his fellow inmates and their boss Nishi.
Episode credits
Directed by Hiroshi Saito, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Joe and Nishi are sent out with the rest of the inmates to do some farmwork. Later on, Nishi comes up with a plan to help Joe escape the island, but they meet a man named Toru Rikiishi.
Episode credits
Directed by Hiroshi Saito, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Joe continues to practice boxing while he's alone in solitary. Danpei and the kids try to find a way into the juvenile training school when they unexpectedly run into Yoko.
Episode credits
Directed by Hideo Nishimaki, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Joe tells Yoko why he treats her so badly. Rikiishi tries to interfere and Yoko proposes that they settle this in a boxing match. Tange finally gets to train Joe again in person.
Episode credits
Directed by Hideo Nishimaki, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Joe and Rikiishi prepare for their upcoming match. After seeing just how powerful Joe's new punch is, Rikiishi devises a unique training method to counter it.
Episode credits
Directed by Hiroshi Saito, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Joe and Rikiishi finally have their first match. But for some reason, Danpei tells Joe to let Rikiishi keep knocking him down. Who will be the winner in the end?
Episode credits
Directed by Masami Hata, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Tange becomes the full-time boxing coach at the juvenile training school on Nogiku Island. Joe seems to finally be interested in training more with Tange, but Tange suddenly seems distant.
Episode credits
Directed by Hiroshi Saito, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Joe keeps trying to get Tange to coach him again, but Tange just keeps ignoring him and concentrates on training Aoyama. No one expected Aoyama to get into the tournament, but he then somehow defeats the rep for dorm 7, Numata.
Episode credits
Directed by Hideo Nishimaki, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Rikiishi leaves Toko Special Juvenile Training School and Joe feels empty inside. Meanwhile, the final match of the dorm boxing tournament is about to begin.
Joe goes to see the All Japan Rookie Championship Tournament and figures out a way to get one of the members of the Boxing Association to give Tange the license he needs for his gym.
Tange is able to get the license for his gym after the stunt Joe pulled at the All Japan Rookie Championship Tournament, but he says that Joe's not ready to become a pro yet himself. However, Joe's got his own ideas.
Episode credits
Directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Everyone celebrates after Joe's first victory. Noriko gets him violets but those are quickly overshadowed by the giant bouquet of roses Yoko sends him.
Episode credits
Directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Ishikura watches Joe win a boxing match and decides he wants to be just like him. He then suddenly shows up to Tange's gym wanting to join, but Tange surprisingly refuses.
Episode credits
Directed by Noboru Ishiguro, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Nishi loses all three matches so far after becoming a pro and loses his confidence. Tange, Joe, and the kids try to find a way to build his confidence back up and Kinoko finds a surprising solution.
Episode credits
Directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Joe continues winning match after match and asks Tange when he's going to go up against Wolf Kanagushi. Tange tells him they're going to take it nice and slow, but then, Otaka sends them an invitation...
Joe, Tange, and Nishi are anxious about what Wolf's secret training could be. The kids decide they'll sneak into the Asia Boxing Club to find out what Wolf's training is, but things go terribly wrong.
Tange takes Joe, Nishi, and the rest of the neighborhood on a hot springs trip to celebrate Joe's victory, but on their way up, they find out that Wolf may have been incapacitated.
Episode credits
Directed by Toshio Hirata, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Joe and Rikiishi continue training for their match. However, Rikiishi is starting to worry Yoko and Mikinosuke because he is going to extreme lengths to lose weight.
Tange formally accepts Shiraki Gym's match request between Rikiishi and Joe and he tells Joe about Rikiishi's brutal weight loss regimen. Meanwhile, Nishi doesn't seem to be losing any weight...
Rikishi's uppercut grazes Joe's cheek, causing it to bleed. Alarmed, Joe moves in close during the third round, leading to an intense exchange of hooks.
Episode credits
Directed by Kazunori Tanahashi, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
On the day of Rikishi's funeral, Joe leaves their condolences to Danpei and Nishi and tries to distract himself by playing energetically with the children by the riverside.
Episode credits
Directed by Noboru Ishiguro, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Joe continues training and lands a powerful body blow during sparring with Nishi. However, Nishi notices that Joe avoids striking the head, arousing suspicion.
Episode credits
Directed by Soji Yoshikawa, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Pre-match predictions favor Tiger in his fight against Joe. Around this time, the head of Bokuto Gym invites Joe to spar with him, saying it is to substitute for Nishi, who injured his fist.
Episode credits
Directed by Noboru Ishiguro, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
In the fight against Tiger, Kunimoto, the Sun Gym president, claims to have uncovered Joe's weakness. In truth, Tiger realizes that Joe cannot properly strike the face.
Episode credits
Directed by Hideaki Kitano, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
After the fight, Danpei shockingly reveals the truth to Joe. However, learning that his actual opponent is the 'ghost of Rikishi' haunting him, Joe strengthens his resolve.
Episode credits
Directed by Yoshifumi Seyama, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
The slump in Joe's performance casts a shadow over the slums. Even so, Joe continues his desperate battle against himself, repeatedly striking the sandbag's temple position.
Episode credits
Directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Carlos prays for both fighters' success in the ring for Joe's match against Nangou. As the fight begins, Joe faces his poor condition and a referee influenced by the Hyo clan.
Episode credits
Directed by Motoo Honda, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
After Joe's devastating loss to Nangou, Danpei dissolves the Tange Gym. He entrusts the future of Joe and Nishi to the proprietor of Hachiya, but Joe resolves to continue boxing alone.
Joe departs from the Namidabashi Bridge early in the morning and meets a boy who dreams of traveling to far-off places on his way to Ueno Station. Joe sympathizes with his story.
Episode credits
Directed by Soji Yoshikawa, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
A postcard arrives, informing the children of Joe's whereabouts in Oarai. Determined to meet him, they head to Ueno Station, but an attempt at fare-dodging is discovered, forcing them to disembark.
Episode credits
Directed by Hiroshi Saito, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Joe's new career in the traveling show begins. Kawano attempts to promote Joe as a star by arranging fixed matches and instructing the others to take deliberate losses.
Episode credits
Directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Yoko organizes a Carlos vs. Nangou match in Sendai, where Joe performs. Interested in Joe, Carlos and Robert visit the Namidabashi Bridge and learn how much Joe is still loved by the community.
Joe's performances continue at the sparsely attended Hakusan Shrine. During a break, Joe positions himself in front of the TV Kawano bought, intently watching Carlos's match against Nangou.
Episode credits
Directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
A postcard from Noriko brings news about the Namidabashi community. However, since watching Carlos's fight, Joe has been unable to focus on his performance.
Episode credits
Directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Returning to Tokyo, Joe visits Yoko and requests to spar with Carlos. Reluctantly, Yoko agrees and insists they use heavier 16-ounce gloves for safety.
Episode credits
Directed by Motoo Honda, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
As Joe resumes training in the Namidabashi slums, Noriko watches with a complex expression. Meanwhile, the day of Carlos's match against Harashima arrives.
Episode credits
Directed by Masayuki Hayashi, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
Robert's old friend, promoter Henry James, arrives in Japan. Henry arranges a match between Carlos and the world champion, Jose Mendoza, and proposes canceling the fight with Joe.
Episode credits
Directed by Motoo Honda, Osamu DezakiWritten by Osamu Dezaki
The day of Carlos's match against Tiger arrives. As a boxing fan, Danpei expresses his feelings about Joe's journey. Yoko quietly encourages Joe as they pass in the hallway.