Ashita no Joe 2

Look up at the stars

An infinite number of scattered lights

Floating above the ring

Today rainbow-coloured sweat will fly

It's not bright tonight! My life

At this moment is only small

Like a lit firework

Our red faces flare up

I don't understand tonight! Now I'm

Suited for this lonely smell

Hit the waves and break them

Things like kindness have no meaning

Autumn in Tokyo

Last winter, Toru Rikiishi died.

In memory of the boxer Toru Rikiishi,

the gong will be rung 10 times.

I ask you to please stand.

Something the matter, grandfather?

No, it's just that I thought that he might be here.

He isn't here, I'm sure of it.

Toru Rikiishi

Toru Rikiishi Versus Joe Yabuki

Episode 1: And Then, He Returned...

It's over... Everything's over now.

7...

8...

9...

10!

No, Joe! Don't stand back up! Stay on the ground!

Well done, Rikiishi.

Congratulations! You've finally done it.

You surprised me, Rikiishi.

I wasn't expecting that last uppercut.

But I'm not surprised about you. Well done.

The hit was very severe on Rikiishi,

Yabuki's right punch on the temple during the 6th round

was followed by a violent impact to the head

which caused a brain bleed.

That was the cause of death after the autopsy.

Hey, man! Go loll around somewhere else!

Where will the customers sit?

Bridge of Tears

Tange Boxing Club

Grandpa! Grandpa Kenkichi!

No news. Nothing at all.

- No postcard? - No.

- No telegram? - No.

A phone call?

Stupid, we don't have a phone.

Still, it's been more than 6 months...

He could give us some news...

Give up. It's useless to wait.

That guy is a real vagabond.

He has to prowl about somewhere.

And even if he was in the ring, he killed a man.

He will never come back to such a tragedy.

Liar!

Then why do you stitch up your punching bag everyday?

You clean the ring too.

The other day, you polished

Joe's training gloves. I saw you!

You're a liar, grandpa!

You know too that Joe is going to come back.

And you tell me to give up. That's not right!

Stupid!

He must understand me. Everyone has the right to dream.

The right to hope... We all need it.

Joe! Where are you? What's become of you?

A fight! A fight between yakuzas!

You making wisecracks on our territory?

Your territory? Since when does it belong to you?

You taking it like that? Very well.

You looking for a fight?

That's right. We have a good reason to...

Bro, your turn!

Who is this guy?

Bro, let them admire your face.

Yes. He's an ex-champion bantamweight, amateur category.

We're now seeing the champion of the world: Wolf Kanagushi.

Surely you remember his epic fight against Yabuki,

he became the new celebrity after the death of Rikiishi.

Wow! That's him, that's Wolf Kanagushi.

He had to stop because Yabuki broke his jaw.

Now, he is a henchman of the yakuzas.

Geez...

Well done, bro! That was amazing!

You're really impressive!

They should avoid hanging around that corner for a while.

I am sure...

that during that fight against Yabuki...

I could have K.O'd him if there had been a 2nd round.

Of course, bro. I'm convinced.

I would now be taking on the world championship.

Yes, the world championship. I'm sure of it.

Waitress! Another beer!

And then it would be you who Rikiishi would face.

Not that wimp Yabuki.

My beer! Are you deaf!? Bring me 5 or 6.

Boss...

Why are you talking about Rikiishi!

We were talking about me!

Of course, bro. We were talking about you, all about you.

Hmm, did I say the name Rikiishi? I don't even remember.

Here are your beers.

Idiot! I didn't ask for anything!

A little stone...

is enough to make you stumble. Yabuki was my little stone.

I have no luck at all.

The fate of a boxer can be decided

on a single punch, it's either shitty or miraculous.

Bro, I remember your fight against Yabuki