The classic boxing anime Tomorrow's Joe is finally coming to the US

Crunchyroll has started streaming the first part of the classic series Tomorrow is Joealso known as Ashita not Joeyesterday. This “old” boxing story had a huge impact on the entire manga and anime industry. It was written by Asao Takamori and illustrated by Tetsuya Chiba, running on Kodansha Weekly Shōnen Magazine from 1960 to 1973, compiled in 20 volumes.

The plot revolves around Joe Yabuki, a teenage orphan drifting around Japan, who one day meets former boxing trainer Danpei Tange, who currently spends his days drinking after a “done” career. Danpei offers to train Joe, but the boy ends up in juvenile detention, where he meets former boxing prodigy Tōru Rikiishi. Millionaire Mikonosuke Shiraki and Danpei organize a boxing tournament in the detention center, and Joe loses the final match to Rikiishi. At this point, they promise each other that they will fight again in a professional tournament. That's when Joe's journey truly begins.

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This is it first time first Tomorrow is Joe the anime is officially available in the US (in fact, TMS began airing the first three episodes on November 1st for a limited time). Only 35 episodes are available, with the remaining 44 debuting on December 3, 2024. In Japan, it originally aired from 1970 to 1971. The sequel, Tomorrow is Joe 2 (1980-1981), is available on Amazon Prime Video.

Joe Impact tomorrow in Japan

The manga serialization was an unprecedented success for working class people and students in Japan. Famous author and far-right nationalist Yukio Mishima was a big fan. The Japanese Red Army also referenced the series after hijacking a plane in Japan and taking it to North Korea: the group's leader stated: “Don't be fooled. We are Tomorrow's Joe,” when he assumes the authority of the act. These are two extreme examples of how the story resonated with people during times of intense political struggle in postwar Japan. Joe was seen as a working class icon.

Not only was the manga powerful on people (and influential on other manga), but so was the anime, directed by Osamu Dezakireference is made to this day. Naruto's Episode 133 (featuring Sasuke vs Naruto) director Atsushi Wakabayashi stated that the boxing series was a reference to him. Tomorrow is Joe the anime also created several assets still used to this day, especially in fighting anime. The cross meter scene is a good example:

Anniversary Anime Megalobox

In 2018, Megalobox aired in Japan and internationally. This TMS and 3xCube production was part of the 50th anniversary of Tomorrow is Joe. It takes place in the late 21st century, when boxing competitions require athletes to fight using motorized exoskeletons. Underground fighter Junk Dog joins a competition aiming to defeat the current champion. It spawned the sequel Megalo Box 2: Nomadbroadcast in 2021,

Source: ANN