"Ashita no Joe" (Tomorrow's Joe)
Yamashita Tomohisa
Iseya Yusuke
Karina
Kagawa Teruyuki
Executive producer - Hamana Kazuya
Consulting producer - Iyoda Hidenori
Original comic by Takamori Asao & Chiba Tetsuya
Screenplay - Shinozaki Eriko
Director - Sori Fumihiko
I told you kids not to play in there!
Get out!
Hurry! Let's get out of here!
Those little brats.
This is all he has?
- I don't have any money. - Quick! Run!
Let's get out of here!
Ah!
No! No! Don't touch my pork cutlet!
I said no!
But you don't have any money.
Mate, give me a refill.
Hey, you're gobbling down a lot of food, so buy me a refill with your money.
- It's old man Danpei. - Old man, if you want to drink, go out and earn some money!
Shut up, you brats!
- You're obviously loaded with money, so buy me one refill at least. - No.
- Just one drink would be fine. - Old man!
You're stuck doing this forever, huh?
If you have money to be drinking during the day, then pay back what you owe me too.
Surely paying back your debts instead of drinking is the way to go!
- Hey, do something about them! - Ouch! - Do something!
Don't touch me.
So you think you can say something worthwhile to me?
You've got a good punch on you, don't you? How about teaming up with me?
- You want to team up with me? - You're built to be a boxer.
It's sad to see you're still living in the past!
Miss, it's dangerous to get out here.
Ah!
Old man!
You think I want to have anything to do with you these days?
- You think I'd want that?! - No, no...
What the hell do you want?!
- I'm Joe. - Huh?
- Yabuki Joe. - Huh?
You bastard!
Your right upper cut was good! It got him good!
See! It's hitting him well!
Hey, hey, hey, how about aiming for tomorrow with me?
Tomorrow?
I'm talking about boxing! Martial arts! I could turn you into a first class boxer.
- I'm not interested. - Let me at him!
You're the real thing. You've got great moves. And you have a good shoulder on your small physique.
- You're got a good waist too. - What are you going on about!? - Let me at them!
Just enjoying today is good enough for me!
They were the first ones to throw a punch! They started the fight!
- Police, let Joe out! - Let Joe out!
What the heck are you talking about? He has a list of previous offenses a foot long.
Previous offenses?
What are previous offenses?
Theft, extortion, violence. He's been a worthless lout since he was a kid.
Eh! Wait on! Wait! Wait!
What's with him?
Darn it...
I'm not going to give up!
I'm not going to give up on you!
Joe~!!
Yabuki Joe's parent's whereabouts were unknown from a young age.
Sympathy should be given to him on that accord.
But he has shown no remorse since being arrested and there is a high likelihood of him re-offending.
Consequently I sentence him to a period in prison of a minimum of one year.
This is Yabuki Joe.
He's in here with you.
What a coincidence.
I never expected you to put up such a good fight earlier.
But you've finally been caught.
No, I'm not trying to upset you.
You're a much better guy than those who join the gangs.
Your name is Yabuki Joe, right? I'll call you Joe, okay?
My name's Nishi. In here I'm your senior...
Stop chatting and hurry up and clean the loo.
Sorry about that.
I hadn't realized that I was just chatting pointlessly. I'm sure it must be really filthy.
It really is very filthy. It stinks!
Hey! You're in my way! Can't you even manage something as simple as this?
I'm sorry!
Hey!
Sorry, but you have a face that looks like a toilet, so I mistook it for one.
Don't f*ck with me, kid!
Stop it!
Stay in there and calm down!
Shut up!
Let me out.
"From Tange Danpei"
"For the sake of tomorrow"
"Jab"
Danpei, you sure have changed.
I want to build my own gym.
I have to work hard for his sake.
Boxing again?
Correspondence education?!
"For the sake of tomorrow #1 Jab"
"To be able to create an opening or to stop your opponent on his feet, throw a short left punch."
"To do this, don't drop your elbow from below your left armpit."
"Aim for a slightly internal angle and try to hit with a curved, swooping motion."
I don't need to know how to punch!
Take that!
Ouch!
What do you think you're doing!? Bring it on!!
Oh! He'd only just gotten out of solitary confinement!
Hey! You want to go back to solitary confinement again?!
Don't you want to hurry up and get back to freedom? You won't like this!
I am free. See!
I am free no matter where I am!
Is freedom to you just being able to hit anyone whenever you please?
That's a cheap freedom.
Wait...
Joe!? Joe... you should just leave it at that.
Don't muck around! Come and get me!
I don't plan on having extra time added to my sentence because of some stupid fight.
- You think you can beat Rikishi? - He's a pro boxer! - Yeah!
He's going to keep trying?
"Aim for a slightly internal angle"
"Hit with a curved, swooping motion."
He got hit.
Rikishi, that's enough!
Let go of me! Let me get him!
Stop it. There's no way a novice can beat him.
I got him with the jab.
"For the sake of tomorrow #2 Straight right punch"
Ah! It's a postcard from Joe!
Don't play around here, kids.
- What does it say? - There are no greetings. It just says, "There is a man who I want to knock down no matter what."
"So please keep sending me postcards."
"The one you sent today... was rather useful."
"To be able to continue to wear down your opponent after a left jab, you need to follow up straight away with a straight right."
"This is a basic attack move in boxing that works well."
"To throw a straight right punch, put all your weight into your right fist."
"Try to hit in a straight line to punch into your target."
"Then bring back your fist on the same course and same speed as you'd thrown it."
"It is a great punch that can knock down your opponent in an instant."
"For the sake of tomorrow #2 Snap"
"A boxer's life is in his wrist."
"Making your snap strong will also result in all your other punches being twice as effective."
Try it.
You want to keep it up? Huh?
Here he is.
Oh, Joe! Have you been well? Have you been practicing?
- I can't get out yet, so what are you doing here? - It's because this lady got in contact with me.
Hello.
Say hello to her. She's Shiraki Yoko. She's the daughter of the influential Shiraki family.
H... hello. Hello. Go on, Joe.
Shut up. Besides, why are you bowing down to her?
- What the heck...? - It's fine. I'll just tell him why I asked to see him.
I want you to be in a boxing match.
What do you mean?
In America they have used boxing as a focus for the energy of the inmates and it has succeeded in decreasing the troubles.
I wondered if that method may work here too, so we have decided to hold an exhibition match.
Shiraki owns a boxing gym. This also sounds like a good idea to us.
I'm not interested.
- Joe! Joe! - Don't kid me. It's obvious that it'll just a promotion for her gym.
Rikishi Tooru... He would be your opponent.
He's one of the boxers from our gym.
You really do manage to cause trouble, don't you?
Even I know of Rikishi's name!
If he hadn't created that incident and been jailed, he would be a boxing champion right now.
That's why I've been practicing seriously the whole time.
Anyhow, just tell me what the next punch is "for the sake of tomorrow."
Do you understand the meaning of "tomorrow"?
Huh?
Hit me.
Then I'll teach you... a punch that will cause you to either sink or swim.
What are you thinking wanting to have a match with someone like him?
I heard you had a fist-fight with him.
This isn't like you, Rikishi.
What would you do if your sentence was lengthened because you created trouble? You'll be released from here soon.
That's why I want to use this chance to hone my skills.
You are Shiraki Gym's ace.
You don't need to fight an amateur to have your face be known.
He was good enough to have been a pro boxer.
Well, only his jab was.
Don't worry. I'll show you I can easily knock out an amateur opponent.
That's nothing! Hey!
What happened to your voice?
You won't be able to beat Rikishi or anyone with punches like that! Hey!
Chairman Shiraki!
I'm so excited about this.
Boxing is a secret sport.
That's why I've left running the gym up to my grand-daughter here.
Here you go, Joe.
- I don't need it. - Your opponent is a pro.
What are you so afraid of, old man? I'll topple his with those punches I've mastered.
Joe, today I'll have you see what hell is.
Hey, this match will be done under amateur rules, right?
- Of course. There will be 3 rounds to the match. If they're knocked down 3 times in one round, they'll lose by technical knock out. - Hey!
- There's no KO [knock out] even if they're knocked down 3 times. - Eh?
Keep the match going until one of them is knocked out completely.
- That's against the rules! - Isn't a match like this with opponents of such different weights be against the rules too?
Rikishi is featherweight, but Joe is much lighter than that.
What shall we do?
We can't accept such demands.
It's fine. It'll be over in one round anyway.
Right, it's been decided. Thanks.
You're pretty incredible, old man.
You really think these punches will knock him down that well.
You'll be the one who gets knocked out.
- Rikishi! - Beat the living daylights out of him!
Down! Stay back! 3... 4...
- 5... - Get out of my way!
- Rikishi! - Rikishi!
- Rikishi, could you KO him pretty soon. - Yeah! KO~
Fight!
Joe~!!
Down!
Stay back!
2... 3... 4... 5... 6... 7... 8...
- Hey... - What the hell...?
Fight!
- Didn't you say you'd KO me in the first round? - Joe!
This is bad. Rikishi is really mad right now.
This is all you can do, Joe. You can cope.
Mm... it hurts, old man!
This is bad! He's like a rock!
Old man, what kind of punches did you teach Joe? He's being pummeled up there!
All we can do is wait.
That's all I can, Joe.
Down! Stay back!
2...
3...
4...
5...
6...
7...
8...
9...
Will he manage to throw that punch?
Will he manage to throw it?
This is it...!
A cross-counter...?
Hitting as you're being hit. Simultaneously hitting each another with a counter-punch.
A double knock out?
You did it! You did it! Joe, you did it! Joe! You did it, Joe!
Thank you for taking care of him.
Thank you for everything.
I do apologize.
Somehow I can't help but miss him.
He is a trouble to be around. He's an unusual fellow.
Rikishi attacks! Rikishi attacks! Rikishi lands one to the face!
A right! He lands the straight punch. Rikishi is dominating his opponent.
The guy's on his last legs.
A left! He goes down!
Rikishi completely dominated with his offensive moves that toppled his opponent.
He knocked out Saburo in the first round.
Rikishi won the match!
I'll be waiting.
Hey, let's get going.
Here we are.
Ah!
- No, no... - Someone had dropped some money. - Just leave it.
See! Look!
"Tange Danpei Club"
I created this gym for you.
How about doing it seriously? Boxing.
"Mammoth Nishi, Yabuki Joe, Chairman: Tange Danpei"
What's Mammoth?
That's me.
You finally got released, Joe?
Do you know why this bridge is called Tears Bridge?
It's because this is the bridge which people cross to these slums in tears when their life has fallen apart and they've lost all hope.
They don't even have a roof to live under.
That means that they don't even have a place to rest for the night.
But they don't have any other place to go.
If things have turned like that, all they can do is try to cope in these slums.
You should walk the other way across this Tears Bridge.
"Tomorrow" will never come if you don't spend today well too.
Be covered in blood... be covered in sweat and dirt...
... be covered in scars...
... and be so strange that people call you crazy.
It's because of the day called "today"... that tomorrow will also come.
Joe...
You should look toward tomorrow as you fight your way through.
Be able to leave this town with your head held high.
Hey, give it a 1, 2! Come on, 1, 2!
Oh, 1, 2! Yeah, that's it!
Yeah! That's it!
Yeah, that one! Keep it up!
Again, 1, 2! Keep it up! Come on!
Go on! Go on! Lift your chin up! Your chin!
- Hey, hurry up! What are you doing? - Ah, yeah...
Off we go!
- Wait up... - He seems to be serious about this fighting business.
- Have you gotten carried away? - Yeah! - Dear...!
Have you finished that yet?
Hey! Look, hit him properly! Properly! Hey!
Joe~!
- Joe, there's trouble! - Joe, hurry! Hurry! Joe!
Joe, hurry! Hurry!
Joe...
- What do you want now? - Back off, Joe. He's not one to be messed with.
You're still mouthing off as usual.
I heard that you guys passed the pro boxing test.
Today we're here to celebrate that.
You guys are usually so half-hearted, but this time you looked serious when you said you wanted to box.
If that is true, I won't raise a finger to stop you.
I used to always play around by boxing when I was a kid too.
Come to my gang if things don't work out here.
I'd be willing to look after you any time.
Don't keep hanging around this half-serious place.
Well, who knows how long this poor club will be here for anyway?
You didn't know, Joe?
It says on the signs "No gyms in this town! Sports gyms are banned in this town!"
All of the gyms were ripped down and they were banned from rebuilding them.
Ah, the person behind that was the Shiraki family.
- Shiraki? - Mm. It was because of a proposal from that Shiraki Gym's owner that you hate.
She proposed turning the entire town into arenas and gyms, making everything into sports facilities.
Apparently she had started secretly preparing everything many years ago.
It isn't right. The people in these slums have nowhere else to go as is.
Joe~!!
It's been decided! Your debut match!
- It's hard to hear? - It's fine. - I get it. I get it. I'll fix it later.
- Go off into the venue. - Do that later.
Move! Move!
Joe! You're ready to go? Do it, then!
Put more speed into it. It's all about the speed. So...
In the red corner from Hokutosei Gym, weighing in at 118 pounds, it's Urusei Takeiho~!!
In the blue corner from Tange Gym, weighing in at 117 2/3 pounds, it's Yabuki Joe~!!
In the blue trunks with red gloves, from the Tange Boxing Club, it's Yabuki Joe.
We're looking forward to a good fight from Yabuki.
This is the pro debut match for him today.
Oh! Yeah, that's it! Keep that up!
That's it, Joe! This should be a piece of cake.
That's it! Box him into a corner! Box him in! Keep at him! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
Oh my? What is this all about? Yabuki has dropped both his arms to his sides.
Yabuki has no guards up.
- What are you doing, Joe?! - Put up your guards, Joe!
That little brat...!
What is he trying to do?
He's inviting his opponent to punch him.
Oh my! Will Yabuki go down now?
Down!
He's not getting back up. It's a KO! We have seen the appearance of an outrageous boxer, Yabuki Joe!
He went from no guards to a skillful cross-counter punch to win brilliantly in the first round through a KO.
A KO in the first round?!
Joe won~! Yippee~! Joe won~!
- Stop! - Rikishi has won! What a wonderful victory!
With his world ranking #5 punching strength he managed to tear apart his opponent with a KO in the second round.
- Rikishi, congratulations on your victory today. - Thanks.
Your world ranking has gone up too.
Which boxer are you most interested in at the moment?
- Naturally that is the current champion... - Before that, there is a man who I have to knock down first.
Who is that?
Rikishi! Rikishi, who is it? Rikishi, please tell us who that is.
- You're still influenced by him? - I just want to settle things.
Settle things? It would just be an exhibition fight. Besides, your weight class and Yabuki's are different.
Yeah.
That's why he saw my weight and pushed his own weight up to bantam class which is one class below mine to debut.
So what? You're a world ranked fighter. He's just a new, emerging boxer. The worlds you live in are different.
Please.... let me do my world champion match after I've settled things with this guy first.
There is was! His infamous cross-counter!
Since debuting he has won all 8 matches with a cross-counter KO punch.
Yabuki Joe really isn't someone to be messed with! I've never seen an unconventional boxer before!
You really are such an idiot!
Is the cross the only punch you know?
Are you listening, Joe? Huh? It's not just about winning. It's about boxing properly too.
Let me fight Rikishi now.
I knew this is how things would turn out.
You plan on taking on Rikishi with your cross punch?
- Take him on? Joe, Rikishi is a world ranking boxer. - I only turned pro because I want to fight him.
A match?
Mm. I'd like to have him go against Yabuki who is flying so high at the moment.
Have who go against him?
Maybe you know him? It's Wolf Kanagushi.
Of course I know him. He's ranked highly in the Japanese bantam class.
Based on his current form, I don't think it would be unusual for your boxer to have a match with someone of Wolf's class.
You've got to be kidding! Are you planning on crushing Joe?
Old man...
I will turn down such greedy matches.
Joe, off we go.
"We are against unjustly ignoring the people!" "We protest it!"
You've got to be kidding me! Look at these children! Were can they go if we're thrown out of here?
- Hey, you say something too! - This is our home!
- Who cares about your sports center? Let us continue to live here! - Yeah!
I've already spoken to the owners of this land and its buildings. If you have any complaints, please speak to them.
How dare you!
- Stop it! - Let me go! That hurts!
Leave it for today.
To compensate, I'll do that match with Wolf.
Wolf? Do you mean that Wolf Kanagushi guy?
- Joe, you have to beat him! - Yeah, crush him, Joe!
Joe~!
I'll get in contact with Chairman Tange about the particulars.
Anyhow... I've seen how rich people usually look at poor people.
But your eyes... seem full of hatred.
When I beat Rikishi, let me fight that other guy next.
Let me fight Rikishi.
Don't try to stop us with your silly schemes.
Forget about Rikishi.
We will keep battling until our fists are willing to accept it.
Don't step any further into a man's world.
Women have fists too.
Yeah! Throw a left! That's it!
Again! Again! Hey! Hey!
Alright! Towel, Joe. Good work.
- Yabuki, how do you feel about the match? - How do you plan on fighting him? - Don't get in the way while he's practicing!
I can't believe you went ahead and accepted a match without my permission.
- Chairman, what are his chances of victory against Wolf? - His chances?
Who knows what anyone's chances are before a match?
Thinking like that shows you know nothing about boxing!
- But his opponent said he's confident of victory. - Yes, yes. He said he's studying cross-counter punches with a line-up of experts.
Eh?
The formalities for a world championship match are in progress.
- Miss, we've spoken about that... - I added several conditions to it, but gave the general okay for it.
- Miss... - You're planning on getting in my way too?
Sorry, but I'll be off now.
You're so weak letting her walk all over you.
What? You're going to ignore me? Even though I came all this way to watch your match.
Hey, Rikishi...
Oh my, what are you doing here?
That's right, you two know each other, don't you?
What a great world to be in. If you win, even a criminal can become a star.
- You want to pick a fight with us? - Bring it on! - Rikishi, I'm still seeing a doctor for the injury from when you hit me 2 years ago.
Do you know the reason that the brilliant boxer Rikishi Tooru was charged for assault?
- I don't want to know. - He half killed a certain reporter.
It was because the reporter was about to write that Shiraki family's grand-daughter, Shiraki Yoko, actually grew up in the slums.
Imagine what the mass media would do if they knew the Shiraki family had ties to the slums...
Hit me! But I'll write about it as payback.
- Hm? - Stop acting so full of yourself!
Here.
Treat your fists well.
You call yourself a pro?
Is it that embarrassing to have people find out you grew up in the slums?
How pathetic.
I bet she's just trying to destroy the slums to hide her own past.
It's not up to you to decide whether that is pathetic or not.
Nice to meet you.
Hey! How dare you kids do that to her!
The ones she hates aren't them.
The town is bad. It is that town that caused them to be that way.
Stop it! Stop it!
She can't go near that town.
Because someday it may come to get her back again.
Those are the emotions she keeps inside herself each day.
So?
So you're working hard for the sake of that rich girl that you feel sorry for?
What? You want to fight? I'm more than willing to take you on right here.
If we don't have gloves on, it's just a pointless fist-fight.
These are everything to me.
Yabuki...
Give up your gloves.
I don't care if you knock Wolf down fair and squarely or not.
We have to settle things between us.
Wolf is in fine form these days. He's just entered the ring.
Yabuki has toppled all his opponents so far, but today his opponent is Wolf Kanagushi.
- What tactics will Yabuki use in this fight today? - Joe is on TV!
What? Oh! He is! This is his fight with Wolf!
- Oh, Joe! - You can do it!
Today don't let your guard down. Make sure to show some proper boxing today.
- Don't try to throw a cross punch. - Rumor has it that he studied cross punches very carefully.
Fight!
Right, the fight has begun. Yabuki Joe is known for his famous cross-counter punch. What tactics will he use today?
Ah! Straight away Yabuki goes for no guard!
Idiot!
There's something you want to do, right?
I'll play along.
There it goes! The cross-counter punch!
Down!
The one who fell was Yabuki. Yabuki was knocked down.
- What happened? Yabuki Joe is down. - 6...
7...
8...
9...
He stood back up. Yabuki stood up again on the count of 9.
- Ow, ow, ow... - Don't look downward!
- That hurts! - Whatever! Snap back into it! Come on!
He isn't a wolf.
- He's like a unicorn baby. - Stop talking and take some deep breaths.
Let's look at the punch that knocked Yabuki down in slow motion.
- What happened to Yabuki? - You can see after this that Wolf followed up his cross-counter.
This is more than a cross-counter. It is a double cross-counter!
- He won't be able to win. - There's no way a guy from a gym in the slums like this can put up a fight against a guy from a huge gym.
Ouch! What was that for?
That hurt.
A cross-counter is a punch that uses the power from your opponent's punch to hit back with double the usual force.
But this was double that, turning it into an unbelievably forceful punch.
- Joe, you can do it! - Joe, you can do it!
Down!
3...
4...
5...
6...
7...
8...
You're okay? Good.
- Fight! - Put up your guards! Guards! Joe!
Chairman Tange is screaming at him to put up his guards.
Ah, but once again he's gone for no guard.
You idiot!
Stop! Don't hit him!
- Down! - Joe~!!
It's over.
Rikishi...!
Get up, Yabuki! You plan on bowing out before you even get to fight me?
- Please step back. - Get up, Yabuki!
- Please get back. - Get up! Get up!
Hey... he got back up!
Fight!
- Joe, do some boxing! Boxing, boxing! - - Yeah, throw some punches! - Put your guard up!
Boxing! Dodge him!
Listen to what I have to say at times! Joe!
Stop ignoring me!
- Joe! - What the heck are you doing!?
Did you see that? That's our Joe!
Brilliant! He's an amazing boxer!
That... is even more than a double. It was a triple cross-counter...!
He has the skills of a god.
What will his fate be?
Do you plan on losing weight to get into the bantam class?
You only just scraped into the featherweight class as is.
Why are you that determined to fight him that you're going this far to lose weight?
That sad guy and I are part of the same world.
I won't accept that.
Miss, why are you so against me fighting him?
Because he's not an opponent that you need to go to such extremes to fight!
Is that your only reason?
Aren't you more concerned than I am?
About that guy named Yabuki Joe.
It's the first time I've met someone like that.
He's someone that I want to beat, even if it may cost me my life.
You won't be able to cope with one of Yabuki's cross-counters in this condition.
He can hit me with a cross-counter if he wants.
Again!
Keep it up! Keep going!
Bring it on!
Come on!
Hit!
Bring it on! More! Faster!
Please help me out.
Good night.
"Storage room"
Yeah, I really can't watch what Rikishi's doing any longer.
He hasn't taken even a drop of water into his body. It's suicidal.
- He's trying to drop even more weight, despite being down to just skin and bones as is. - Shut up!
If you can't watch what he's doing, then don't look. It's up to him to do it if he wants to.
- Hey, Joe! There's no need to abuse the reporters! - Sorry about that. Let's leave it at that for today.
Water...
Sorry. I was the one who did that.
Because if you drink cool water straight away... your body won't cope.
It's okay.
Your weight won't suddenly increase with just that amount of water.
Please!
Don't push yourself any further than this!
Thanks to you I'm able to come to my senses again.
Thanks.... Miss.
88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99
Up you go! Okay! Here goes!
Here goes!
You can do it! Here you go! Keep going! Go on!
- Come on! - Okay, here goes!
Last set! 30 more to go!
He'll like this.
It looks good. Make it even darker.
- Wait up, you! - Hang on, hang on!
Go on. You have something to say to him, right?
Oh... that... you know, match of yours... good luck for it.
It's rare for anyone from these slums to make it, so you have the hopes and dreams of all of us resting on your shoulders too.
Fight for us too!
Jo, we'll be supporting you! We're behind you, Joe! Joe!
I'm in the middle of training, so please keep it short.
I want you to cancel the match with Rikishi.
Wait!
Please!
Because if he keeps this up, he'll ruin his body!
I'll do anything I can!
So please!
You stepped on it.
You can't stop Rikishi or me.
It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor.
Not when we're up there in the ring.
We'll keep punching until one of us falls.
That's all there is to it.
You have a good punch too.
But your way of using it is wrong.
117 1/2 pounds.
- Yes. - Okay.
That's okay, isn't it, Chairman Shiraki?
Okay next is Rikishi. Go ahead.
118 pounds.
That's the top limit.
Okay.
That's okay, isn't it, Chairman Tange?
Certainly.
- Joe... - Old man...
At times like this we can't say anything like what we heard yesterday.
- Go for it! - We're all here watching you! Show him who we are!
You can do it! You can do it!
Hit him with a right punch!
See! Look! Look! Look at Joe's pants!
Rikishi, we're backing you to win!
Rikishi, KO your opponent!
Now we'll hold the special match of a bantam class round.
In the blue corner from Tange Gym, weighing in at 117 1/2 pounds, it's Yabuki Joe~!
In the red corner from Shiraki Gym, weighing in at 118 pounds, it's Rikishi Tooru~!
Yabuki Joe versus Rikishi Tooru - it's a personal fight that is about to come true after crossing the weight issue.
Both watch out not to throw high or low blows.
Make this a fair, just fight that is suitable for this special match. That's all from me.
At the weigh-in yesterday it seemed that Rikishi had dropped his weight as much as was physically possible.
Yes, but he seems to have recovered well today.
Can we say that Rikishi Tooru is physically recovered enough?
Right, it's time for the much anticipated first round.
The gong has sounded. They both have their eyes on each other's faces from the start.
Who will be the first one to throw a punch?
Oh my! Naturally he's done it again! Yabuki is going for no guard against Rikishi too.
- He could've made contact if he wanted. - Damn it! He's pretending to throw crosses.
- Yabuki's cross-counter is one which he throws when his opponent throws a straight right. - Yes.
Yabuki's cross won't work on an upper like was just thrown.
Joe! Don't keep waiting for the punch you want! Jump on in and throw some punches!
- That's it, Joe! Like that! - Yabuki has made contact with Rikishi.
- These punches must be making their mark on Rikishi. - Keep it up! Keep it up!
Joe, you're doing great!
- Joe, go for it! - Don't let up on him!
Joe~!!
He's down! Yabuki is Joe! He was floored by Rikishi's uppercut.
Yabuki was struck hard.
Fight!
Stop!
Rikishi really is someone to be reckoned with.
You have to put everything into it.
Fight him with some proper boxing.
Joe, Joe, Joe! Remember the things "for the sake of tomorrow." #1, 2, 3!
Okay! Here goes!
Off you go!
Right, it's the second round. Ah! Yabuki has his guard up!
Yabuki usually goes with no guard, but this time he's put his guards up.
Short! Short! Short! It's working! Keep it up!
Get up! Stand back up, Joe~!!
Rikishi is down! Rikishi was knocked down!
Down! Stay back!
3...
4...
5...
6...
7...
8...
- You're okay. - I'm fine.
Fight!
He fell rather strangely just then.
Is Rikishi slightly concussed? He hit his head, but stood back up again.
Rikishi has put his guards down. Rikishi is going for no guard first!
What do you want?
- Don't kid with me! - Stop! He wants your counter punch!
Yabuki has also dropped his guard. It's turned into an outrageous match!
Alright, Joe. That's good!
- Hey, hey, hey, don't be stupid! - We don't need to watch you just stand there!
- Yabuki, show us your moves! - If nobody throws any punches, we all lose!
Shut up! You don't know what you're talking about!
It's going well.
The first one to throw a punch will lose.
But I'll lose on points if it stays like this.
But if you throw your cross, he'll counter it.
You'll be ruined if you do that.
Think it through calmly, Joe. Okay?
It's because I was sullen.
I was always angry.
I didn't have any hopes or dreams.
I was wrong for throwing them away.
But I blamed it all on society and rebelled.
Then I met Rikishi.
Before I was a boxer...
.. no matter what I did...
... it never felt like how I feel when I'm in the ring.
I never knew this feeling of completeness that makes my passions burn.
It's burning such a bright red.
Burning...
It's firing me up.
Thanks... old man.
Fight!
It's over.
All of it is over.
The one who claimed victory in this legendary fight was Rikishi!
You won! That was a splendid victory.
Joe, just lie still. Joe... come on. Hey!
I never expected you to throw an upper then.
You both put up a great fight!
Joe, you did great!
Joe~!
It was a great fight!
Rikishi!
- Get a doctor! Hurry! - Rikishi!
Rikishi~!
Get him straight into the doctor's office!
Rikishi...
Rikishi...?
Rikishi!
Rikishi...!
Rikishi...
I guess Joe isn't coming?
It was an accident.
As well as having lost so much weight, he also struck his temple during the sixth round.
- Then also banging his head on the rope like that caused a blood clot in his brain. - I couldn't do anything.
Rikishi said to give these to you.
He said he'll be waiting for you in the ring.
Rikishi was so fired up that he didn't mind putting his life on the line to fight you.
He left you with boxing.
Don't let his feelings go to waste.
We'll be waiting.
You still haven't heard from him?
It's been 10 days now.
I guess he probably isn't coming back.
What a waste. Plenty of other boxers have experienced the same tragedy before.
- But only one in ten boxers are able to cope with it. - Stop telling me things that are irrelevant!
Of course he'll come back!
- We're just saying... - Shut up!
- Get out! - Oh, sorry, sorry. We'll go outside. - Get out!
Would you be willing to keep these for him?
I'd like you to give them to Yabuki when he gets back.
Ah... ah!
I'm planning on canceling the demolition and reconstruction of the slum area.
Eh?
Watching their match made me realize that I'd always been running away from who I truly was.
I'm sorry. I just wanted to tell that to someone.
Yeah.
We were called scum, but boxing was the one thing that we could cling onto to keep ourselves afloat and alive.
Do you think I'll let it end here?
Isn't that right... Joe?
Joe...
- Ah, thanks for the meal. - See you.
Now we will start the ten count gong to remember the first anniversary of Rikishi Tooru's death.
"Rikishi Tooru"
Ah!
Joe~!
Joe, welcome back!
Old man...
... teach me it again.
I'll make hands for tomorrow.
Joe~! You're back, Joe~!
Starring: Yamashita Tomohisa, Iseya Yusuke, Karina, Katsuya, Kagawa Teruyuki
I held it down but it didn't vanish
Osaekonda sore wa kiezu
It sinks to the bottom of the lake again slowly
Mizuumi no soko e yukkuri to mata shizundeku
A person who runs after two hares will catch neither
Nito wo ou mono itto moezu
Getting tired of contradictions, my heart became a little heavy
Mujun ni tsukarete sukoshi kokoro ga omoku naru
If I try to run away, I'll just end up feeling more afraid
Nigetara yokei kowaku naru dake tte
I should have known that
Wakatte wa iru tsumori
I can't say things like, "Don't worry, surely it'll be okay someday"
Shinpai shinakute mo itsuka kitto nante ienai
Wanting to be spoiled because I lack courage means that I can't see
Jishin no nasa ni amaetecha mienu
My internal passage (Show me love)
Watashi no uchi naru passeeji (Show me love)
Internal passage (Baby, show me love)
Uchi naru passeeji (Baby, show me love)
It's all in my head (Can you show me love?)
It's all in my head (Not a dream)
The purple signals are shining, suspending my thoughts
Murasaki no shingou ga hikatte shikou teishi
The only thing I can't stop are my worries
Fuan dake ga tomaranai
I am weak
Watashi wa yowai dakedo sore wa betsu ni
But that's not something to be particularly embarrassed about
Hazukashii koto janai
Actually anyone can carry a deep darkness within themselves
Jissai dare shimo fukai yami wo kakaeterya ii
At times I feel ill, struggle, yell and scream
Toki ni yande mogaite sakende sakende
I follow the origins of the pain (Show me love)
Itami no moto wo tadotte (Show me love)
I follow the origins (Baby, show me love)
Moto wo tadotte (Baby, show me love)
It's all in my head (Can you show me love?)
It's all in my head (Not a dream)
Let's forget all the theories we have built up
Kizukiageta seorii wasureyou
If we climb a mountain, it's something we can come down from too
Yama wa nobottara oriru mono yo
Actually no matter how deep the love may be, it won't be perfect
Jissai donna ni fukai ai mo kanpeki janai
You can only give that to yourself
Jibun de shika jibun ni shite agerarenai
The courage to accept yourself (Show me love)
Jibun wo mitomeru Courage (Show me love)
The courage to accept (Baby, show me love)
Mitomeru Courage (Baby, show me love)
Actually it was something I realized after dreaming so much
Jissai yume bakari mite ita to kizuita toki
It's the first time I took a step out with my own might
Hajimete jiriki de ippo fumidasu
My internal passage
Watashi no uchi naru passeeji
Internal passage
Uchi naru passeeji
It's all in my head