A N I M E / O T A K U : PART 2

Ashita no Joe

Other Title:

Tomorrow's Joe

Synonyms:

Rocky Joe

Champion Joe

Type:

TV

Aired:

April 1, 1970 to September 29, 1971

Source:

Manga

Genres:

Action, Drama, Shounen, Slice of Life, Sports

Synopsis:

Joe Yabuki is a troubled youth, whose only solution to problems is throwing punches at them. What he lacks in manners and discipline, he makes up for with his self-taught fighting skills.

One day, while wandering the slums of Doya, Joe gets into a fight with the local gang. Although greatly outnumbered, he effortlessly defeats them, drawing the attention of Danpei Tange—a former boxing coach turned alcoholic. Seeing his potential, he offers to train Joe into Japan's greatest boxer. At first, Joe dismisses Danpei as a hopeless drunk; but after the trainer saves his life, he agrees to live with him and learn the art of boxing. Unfortunately, Joe's personality makes him an unruly student, and he often falls back to his old ways.

To survive the harsh world of his new career, Joe needs to trust his mentor and master the techniques taught to him. However, the road to becoming a professional boxer is rife with struggles that will test his mettle to the end.

Characters and Voice Actors:

- Main:

Tooru Rikiishi

Joe's rival in Ashita no Joe.

- Nakamura, Shuusei (Japanese)

- Hosokawa, Toshiyuki (Japanese)

- Nicotra, Angelo (Italian)

Danpei Tange

Danpei is Joe's serious, cautious and responsible mentor who gets him started in his boxing career. He is fond of sake, being overly cheerful when drunk which contrasts with his strict everyday self. He is also very polite when talking to people that hold higher ranks than himself, something that annoys Joe, who doesn't care for such things.

Prior to meeting Joe, it is stated that Danpei used to be a boxer himself.
However, after the loss of one of his eyes, we learn that he was forced to give up on his own boxing career, aiming to become a coach instead. But due to his violent, strict, passionate and even desperate approach in training his boxers (who couldn't take it and abandoned him for better gyms) he became jobless and eventually a homeless alcoholic.

After meeting Joe and claiming that he has massive potential for the sport, he gives up on drinking due to the former's aversion to alcoholism (only drinking on special occasions) and vows to train him to be Japan's or even the world's best boxer, with the hope of a better tomorrow for the both of them.

- Fujioka, Juukei (Japanese)

- Dominici, Arturo (Italian)

Joe "Aniki, Assassin, Shinigami, Brawler" Yabuki

The protagonist of the story. He is known for his long bangs and for always wearing a worn out beige coat and a red flat cap.

Not long after birth he found himself in many orphanages and facilities. However, he quickly grew tired of the boring life and frequently escaped, eventually finding his way to the Doya Town the story takes place in.