__Gym:__ Shiraki
__Weight Class:__ Welterweight
__Style(s):__ Hybrid, Brawling Style
__Stance(s):__ Orthodox Stance, Brawling Stance
__Trainer:__ Shiraki Youko (minimal)

Rikiishi and Joe first meet in the juvenile detention center, where Rikiishi was introduced as a boxer who was sentenced to the juvenile detention center because he had punched an member of the audience half to death after they had claimed that the match was rigged in Rikiishi's favor, enraging him.

~!On their first encounter Joe challenges Rikiishi without knowing he was once a professional boxer and manages to punch him in the face once before Rikiishi knocks him out in one punch. Thus he was quintessential in motivating Joe to start taking boxing seriously, even if his only reason is to beat Rikiishi in a rematch.!~

~!Rikiishi is widely considered to be one of the most promising rookie boxers in the world, but his career is tragically cut short, as he dies immediately after his and Joe's rematch from his injuries and the toll his extreme weight loss training took on his body.!~

Joe Yabuki is a troubled young man who runs away from an orphanage. Wandering through the Tokyo slums, he meets former boxing trainer Danpei. Joe is later arrested and goes to a temporary jail where he fights Nishi, his future best friend, ​and leader of a group of hooligans. He and Nishi then go to a juvenile prison miles away from Tokyo. There Joe meets Rikiishi, a former boxing prodigy, and a rivalry develops between them. They face each other in a match in which Rikiishi dominates Joe until the latter hits him with a cross-counter, resulting in both being knocked out. This inspires the other prison inmates to take up boxing. Joe and Rikiishi vow to fight again. 
(Source: Wikipedia)

Yabuki Joe is left downhearted and hopeless after a certain tragic event. In attempt to put the past behind him, Joe leaves the gym behind and begins wandering. On his travels he comes across the likes of Wolf Kanagushi and Goromaki Gondo, men who unintentionally fan the dying embers inside him, leading him to putting his wanderings to an end. His return home puts Joe back on the path to boxing, but unknown to himself and his trainer, he now suffers deep-set issues holding him back from fighting. In attempt to quell those issues, Carlos Rivera, a world renowned boxer is invited from Venezuela to help Joe recover.


Joe, a teenage orphan in the slums of the Doya streets, meets Danpei, a homeless, alcoholic ex-boxing coach. Danpei, seeing Joe's boxing talent, decides to train him. When Joe is sent to a terrible juvenile home for petty crimes, he meets Rikiishi who becomes his boxing rival. Danpei arrives at the home to help Joe to train in order to defeat Rikiishi. When Joe decides to seriously pursue boxing, Danpei cannot get a coaching license because of his reputation as a drunk. 
(Source: AnimeNfo)

Yabuki Joe is left downhearted and hopeless after a certain tragic event. In attempt to put the past behind him, Joe leaves the gym behind and begins wandering. His return home puts Joe back on the path to boxing, but unknown to himself and his trainer, he now suffers deep-set issues holding him back from fighting. In attempt to quell those issues, Carlos Rivera, a world renowned boxer is invited from Venezuela to help Joe recover.

Japanese actor and disc jockey, whose credits included roles in television, film, stage and musical theater. He reached prominence in Japan for his starring role in the 1970 film Eros Plus Massacre, which was directed by Yoshida Yoshishige. He launched his acting career as a member of the theater company, Bungakuza, in 1964. He joined Bungakuza after leaving his university. Additionally, Hosokawa served as a professor at Osaka University of Arts beginning in 2004.

Hosokawa accidentally fell and suffered head injuries at his home on January 12, 2011. He died of subdural hematoma at a hospital in Tokyo, Japan, on January 14, 2011, at the age of 70.

Brother of the voice actors [Emanuela Rossi](https://anilist.co/staff/204647) and [Massimo Rossi](https://anilist.co/staff/96185), and cousin of the voice actors [Laura Boccanera](https://anilist.co/staff/96205) and [Fabio Boccanera](https://anilist.co/staff/95779).

A summary movie of the first season for people to get reminded on what happened before the airing of the second season.

Pilot films for Ashita no Joe, released as bonus material on the series' DVD box. 
 
- Aoyama-hen (prod. 1969/11/06) 
- Rikiishi-hen (prod. 1969/12/22)

3 short collaboration commercials between Japan life insurance and Ashita no Joe.

Tooru Rikiishi