Ashita no Joe: A thorough review of the soul of boxing and a story of youth

Tomorrow's Joe - Ashita no Joe

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

April 1, 1970 - September 29, 1971

■Frequencies

25 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 79

■Original Story

Asao Takamori and Tetsuya Chiba

■ Director

Osamu Dezaki

■ Story

One day, a young boy named Yabuki Joe comes to the flophouse district of the downtown area that spreads across Namidabashi Bridge. When Joe rescues a girl named Sachi from the Yakuza, boxing fanatic Danpei Tange is enthralled by his strength and takes him under his wing, hoping to turn him into a top boxer. Despite Danpei's wishes, Joe is sent to a juvenile detention center for deceiving Shiraki Yoko, the daughter of a philanthropist and wealthy family. There, he meets Chikaraishi Toru, who becomes his rival, and suffers his first defeat at the hands of Chikaraishi's punches. Now that he has a rival to surpass, Joe's passion for boxing is ignited and he decides to undergo intensive training from Danpei...

■Explanation

The fateful story of Yabuki Joe, Chikaraishi Toru, and Tange Danpei is here! "Hit him!" "Stand up! Stand up, Joe!!" This is the animated version of the hugely popular boxing manga, which gave birth to many famous lines, and is a masterpiece that has captivated people of all generations. This is the first directorial work by Dezaki Osamu, who has demonstrated his extraordinary visual sense in his work "Goku's Great Adventure" and "Dororo". In addition to the rough lines and dynamic drawings, and the delicate camerawork and cuts that are unique to Dezaki, which are close to the protagonist's feelings and make full use of slow motion and subjective shots, the bold introduction of transmitted light, the depiction of sweat using transparent paint, and the mist of rain expressed by tapping a brush on the cel, the experimental spirit of adding the texture of real light and water to the traditional cel animation method is also the true essence of this work. The lead voice actors, Teruhiko Aoi and Shigeki Fujioka, were selected, and their presence was a hit, with phrases such as "You must hit it" and "Stand up, Joe," along with the theme song written by Shuji Terayama, still known to many people. The show was very popular, but the anime airing caught up with the manga serialization, and the show was forced to end after a year and a half. The story of this work also comes to an end with the match against rival Carlos Rivera.

■ Main staff

・Original story: Asao Takamori, Tetsuya Chiba ・Director: Osamu Dezaki

■ Theme songs and music

・TM
・"Tomorrow's Joe"
Lyrics by Shuji Terayama; Music by Masao Yagi; Singer by Isao Bito

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

"Ashita no Joe" was a work that had a huge impact on the Japanese animation world in the 1970s, and its influence has not faded to this day. This work succeeds in depicting a human drama through the sport of boxing. In particular, the relationship between the main character, Yabuki Joe, and his rival, Rikiishi Toru, deeply moves viewers. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and recommended points of "Ashita no Joe".

The appeal of the story

The story of "Ashita no Joe" begins in a downtown flophouse district. The main character, Yabuki Joe, meets boxing fanatic Tange Danpei while rescuing a girl who has been harassed by the Yakuza. Danpei recognizes Joe's talent and tries to train him to be a top boxer. However, Joe is sent to a juvenile detention center, where he meets Rikiishi Toru. Through his fights with Rikiishi, Joe's passion for boxing is rekindled and he decides to undergo intensive training from Danpei. This story depicts a man who rises from difficult circumstances and challenges himself to pursue his dreams. In particular, the rivalry between Joe and Rikiishi deeply moves viewers. After Rikiishi's death, Joe's fight to carry out Rikiishi's will gave courage to many people.

Character Appeal

The characters in "Ashita no Joe" are extremely appealing. In particular, the main character, Yabuki Joe, has a rough and rebellious personality, but deep down he has a pure passion. His growth and change resonates with viewers. Rikiishi Toru is also a character with a strong will and high ethical standards, and his presence has a major impact on Joe's growth. Furthermore, Tange Danpei is a strict coach who believes in Joe, and his guidance supports Joe's growth. The relationships and growth of these characters enhance the appeal of "Ashita no Joe."

The appeal of visual expression

"Ashita no Joe" was director Dezaki Osamu's first film, and its visual expression was extremely innovative. The rough lines and dynamic drawings visually express the intensity of boxing. Additionally, the camerawork, which makes full use of slow motion and subjective shots, succeeds in visually conveying the protagonist's feelings. Furthermore, experimental techniques that incorporate the texture of real-life light and water, such as the depiction of sweat using transmitted light and transparent paint, and the spray of rain created by brush strokes on cels, made a visual impact. These visual expressions make "Ashita no Joe" an even more appealing work.

The appeal of voice actors

The voice actors of "Ashita no Joe" also add to the appeal of the work. In particular, Aoi Teruhiko, who played Yabuki Joe, and Fujioka Shigeyoshi, who played Rikiishi Toru, brought their characters to life with their strong presence. Famous lines such as "You must strike" and "Stand up, stand up, Joe" left a deep impression on viewers. In addition, the theme song "Ashita no Joe", written by Terayama Shuji, left a strong impression on viewers with lyrics that symbolize the theme of the work and Bito Isao's powerful singing voice. These voice actors and music further enhance the appeal of "Ashita no Joe".

Recommended points

"Ashita no Joe" is a work that has succeeded in depicting a human drama through the sport of boxing. In particular, the relationship between the protagonist Yabuki Joe and his rival Rikiishi Toru deeply moves the viewer. Director Dezaki Osamu's innovative visual expression and the presence of voice actors such as Aoi Teruhiko and Fujioka Shigeyoshi also enhance the appeal of the work. Furthermore, the theme song "Ashita no Joe" written by Terayama Shuji left a strong impression on viewers with lyrics that symbolize the theme of the work and the powerful singing voice of Bito Isao. These elements make "Ashita no Joe" a masterpiece that will be loved by generations to come. I highly recommend this work not only to those who are interested in boxing and sports, but also to those who are interested in human drama and visual expression.

Related works and recommendations

For those who enjoyed "Ashita no Joe," we also recommend the following related works:

• "Star of the Giants" - Another sports-themed work, it depicts a human drama through baseball. The growth of the main character, Hikaru Hoshi, and his confrontation with his rival share a common theme with "Ashita no Joe."
• "Tiger Mask" - A wrestling-themed work, the protagonist Tiger Mask's fight for the children at an orphanage moves viewers. Like "Ashita no Joe", it depicts a human drama through sports.
• "Aim for the Ace!" - A tennis-themed work that depicts the protagonist Hiromi Oka's growth as a tennis player. The themes of sports and youth are shared with "Ashita no Joe."

Like "Ashita no Joe," these works also succeed in depicting human drama through sports, and leave a deep impression on the audience. Please be sure to watch these works after enjoying "Ashita no Joe."

summary

"Ashita no Joe" is a masterpiece that succeeds in depicting a human drama through the sport of boxing. Many elements enhance the appeal of the work, such as the relationship between the protagonist Yabuki Joe and his rival Rikiishi Toru, the innovative visual expression of director Dezaki Osamu, the presence of voice actors such as Aoi Teruhiko and Fujioka Shigeyoshi, and the theme song "Ashita no Joe" written by Terayama Shuji. I highly recommend this work not only to those who are interested in boxing and sports, but also to those who are interested in human drama and visual expression. In addition, for those who enjoyed "Ashita no Joe", I also recommend related works such as "Star of the Giants", "Tiger Mask", and "Aim for the Ace!". These works also succeed in depicting human drama through sports, and deeply move the viewer. Please enjoy these works along with "Ashita no Joe".