Tomorrow's Joe (1970–1981)

1. S01E01Those are the Eyes of a Beast!April 1, 1970 8.0A former boxer and current drunkard named Danpei Tange meets a drifter named Joe Yabuki and sees potential in him. Tange offers to teach Joe
2. S01E02Season's bestThe Live in the Square JungleApril 8, 1970 10.0Danpei is severely hurt after trying to protect Joe from the yakuza. Joe goes to visit the head of the yakuza group to try to get reparation
3. S01E03Face the Fangs of the BeastApril 15, 1970 10.0Danpei works hard day and night to save up for Joe and his boxing gym. Meanwhile, Joe uses the slum kids to con some money out of people and
4. S01E04Shed Tears for the Burning Fist!April 22, 1970 10.0Joe holes up in an abandoned building after he gets caught lying to con people out of money.
5. S01E05For the Sake of Tomorrow! Part 1April 29, 1970 10.0Tange sends Joe a letter to teach him boxing while he's at the police hospital waiting for his fate.
6. S01E06Explode! Left Jab!May 6, 1970 10.0Joe ends up in a juvenile classification home and is quickly put into his place after trying to be cocky against his fellow inmates and thei
7. S01E07Don`t Judge the Wolf!May 13, 1970 10.0Joe, Tange, and the kids show up to court to hear if Joe will be sent off to the juvenile training school.
8. S01E08Toko High Security Juvenile PrisonMay 20, 1970 10.0Joe and Nishi spend their first night at the Toko Special Juvenile Training School and are quickly put into their places.
9. S01E09His Name is Rikiishi Toru!May 27, 1970 10.0Joe and Nishi are sent out with the rest of the inmates to do some farmwork. Later on, Nishi comes up with a plan to help Joe escape the isl
10. S01E10Scream of the Red Sunset!June 3, 1970 10.0Joe is completely out of it after getting punched by Rikiishi. However, later on, he had a huge surprise in store for everyone.
11. S01E11Burn at the Bottom of Hell!June 10, 1970 10.0Joe continues to practice boxing while he's alone in solitary. Danpei and the kids try to find a way into the juvenile training school when
12. S01E12Shout at the Burning SunJune 17, 1970 10.0Joe tells Yoko why he treats her so badly. Rikiishi tries to interfere and Yoko proposes that they settle this in a boxing match. Tange fina
13. S01E13Stand in the Ring of DestinyJune 24, 1970 10.0Joe and Rikiishi prepare for their upcoming match. After seeing just how powerful Joe's new punch is, Rikiishi devises a unique training met
14. S01E14Is it Time for the KO Gong Yet!?July 1, 1970 10.0Joe and Rikiishi finally have their first match. But for some reason, Danpei tells Joe to let Rikiishi keep knocking him down. Who will be t
15. S01E15White Mat's LullabyJuly 8, 1970 10.0Moved by the fight between Joe and Rikiishi, the inmates also start boxing.
16. S01E16The Setting Sun of TreacheryJuly 15, 1970 10.0Tange becomes the full-time boxing coach at the juvenile training school on Nogiku Island. Joe seems to finally be interested in training mo
17. S01E17Alone in the Middle of a StormJuly 22, 1970 10.0Joe keeps trying to get Tange to coach him again, but Tange just keeps ignoring him and concentrates on training Aoyama. No one expected Aoy
18. S01E18Ring Ropes of DespairJuly 29, 1970 10.0The dormitory boxing tournament begins and everyone finds out just how Aoyama defeated Numata.
19. S01E19The Fearsome Liver BlowAugust 5, 1970 10.0Joe and Aoyama's match finally begins, but who will come out on top?
20. S01E20Battle Scarred VictoryAugust 12, 1970 10.0Joe and Aoyama's match concludes and Tange reveals something to our two fighters.
21. S01E21A Small Fight with a Big HonorAugust 19, 1970 10.0Rikiishi tells Joe that they need to have their match sooner because something came up, so they have an unofficial match out in the rain.
22. S01E22The Legendary Rikiishi TooruAugust 26, 1970 10.0Rikiishi leaves Toko Special Juvenile Training School and Joe feels empty inside. Meanwhile, the final match of the dorm boxing tournament i
23. S01E23Farewell, Juvenile PrisonSeptember 2, 1970 10.0Following Rikiishi and Aoyama, Nishi is also going to leave the juvenile training school, leaving Joe all alone.
24. S01E24Return to Slum TownSeptember 9, 1970 10.0Joe finally leaves the juvenile training school and goes back to the slums where he's welcomed back with open arms, and Danpei has a surpris
25. S01E25Law of the Stray DogSeptember 16, 1970 10.0Joe finally feels like something might be changing in his life, but then he is visited by Guerilla, who's on the run from the police.
26. S01E26License of DespairSeptember 23, 1970 10.0Tange goes to the Japan Boxing Association to get his gym officially recognized. Meanwhile, Joe starts working at the grocery store Nishi wo
27. S01E27Bridge to TomorrowSeptember 30, 1970 10.0Tange is unable to get the license for his gym, but then, an unexpected visitor gives them an unbelievable offer.
28. S01E28Wager for GloryOctober 7, 1970 10.0Joe goes to see the All Japan Rookie Championship Tournament and figures out a way to get one of the members of the Boxing Association to gi
29. S01E29Challenge for TomorrowOctober 14, 1970 10.0Tange is able to get the license for his gym after the stunt Joe pulled at the All Japan Rookie Championship Tournament, but he says that Jo
30. S01E30The Ordeal of the Pro TestOctober 21, 1970 10.0Joe and Nishi go take the pro boxing test and Joe finds out that it's not as easy as he thought it would be.
31. S01E31Spread Your Wings, Pro BoxerOctober 28, 1970 10.0Joe passes the B-rank exam and takes his first real step towards becoming a pro.
32. S01E32The Road to the Shining RingNovember 4, 1970 10.0Nishi and Joe both have their debut matches in the pro ring.
33. S01E33Hooray for the First VictoryNovember 11, 1970 10.0Everyone celebrates after Joe's first victory. Noriko gets him violets but those are quickly overshadowed by the giant bouquet of roses Yoko
34. S01E34The Aspiring BoxerNovember 18, 1970 10.0Ishikura watches Joe win a boxing match and decides he wants to be just like him. He then suddenly shows up to Tange's gym wanting to join,
35. S01E35Do Your Best! Nishi!November 25, 1970 10.0Nishi loses all three matches so far after becoming a pro and loses his confidence. Tange, Joe, and the kids try to find a way to build his
36. S01E36Wolf Kanagushi Bares His FangsDecember 2, 1970 10.0Joe continues winning match after match and asks Tange when he's going to go up against Wolf Kanagushi. Tange tells him they're going to tak
37. S01E37Training FuriouslyDecember 9, 1970 10.0Joe, Tange, and Nishi are anxious about what Wolf's secret training could be. The kids decide they'll sneak into the Asia Boxing Club to fin
38. S01E38The Greatest Six-Round Bout in HistoryDecember 16, 1970 10.0Joe and Wolf's match finally begins. Whose training will bring them victory?
39. S01E39The Triple Cross of VictoryDecember 23, 1970 10.0Joe and Wolf's intense match finally comes to an end. Who will stand victorious?
40. S01E40An Oath to the SnowDecember 30, 1970 10.0Tange takes Joe, Nishi, and the rest of the neighborhood on a hot springs trip to celebrate Joe's victory, but on their way up, they find ou
41. S01E41Rikiishi Tooru`s ChallengeJanuary 6, 1971 10.0The new year has arrived and Joe finds out that Rikiishi is losing weight to become a bantamweight so he can face off with Joe.
42. S01E42A Man`s WorldJanuary 13, 1971 10.0Joe and Rikiishi continue training for their match. However, Rikiishi is starting to worry Yoko and Mikinosuke because he is going to extrem
43. S01E43A Cruel Weight LossJanuary 20, 1971 10.0Tange formally accepts Shiraki Gym's match request between Rikiishi and Joe and he tells Joe about Rikiishi's brutal weight loss regimen. Me
44. S01E44Rikiishi Tooru`s Hard Fight!January 27, 1971 10.0Rikiishi has his first match as a bantamweight against Pancho Leo. Who will come out on top?
45. S01E45Sway Back to Defeat Rikiishi!February 3, 1971 10.0Joe asks Tange and Nishi to help him improve his sway backs so he has a way to counter Rikiishi.
46. S01E46The Man Who Risked DeathFebruary 10, 1971 10.0While Joe continues his intense training, Rikishi is equally devoted to maintaining his weight.
47. S01E47The Two Before the StormFebruary 17, 1971 10.0On the day of the match, Joe and Danpei reunite with Rikishi during the weigh-in and acknowledge his impressive weight-cutting success.
48. S01E48Showdown of DestinyFebruary 24, 1971 10.0Joe realizes that Rikishi has stabilized his body after extreme weight loss.
49. S01E49An Endless DeathmatchMarch 3, 1971 10.0Rikishi's uppercut grazes Joe's cheek, causing it to bleed. Alarmed, Joe moves in close during the third round, leading to an intense exchan
50. S01E50End of the BattleMarch 10, 1971 10.0Joe fortifies his guard for the first time in his professional career, but Rikishi's fierce attack knocks him down.
51. S01E51Burnt-out LifeMarch 17, 1971 10.0The fierce battle ends. Joe extends a congratulatory handshake to Rikishi, who starts to smile but collapses onto the mat.
52. S01E52Farewell, Rikiishi ToruMarch 24, 1971 10.0On the day of Rikishi's funeral, Joe leaves their condolences to Danpei and Nishi and tries to distract himself by playing energetically wit
53. S01E53The Man I HateMarch 31, 1971 10.0Joe wanders through the town on a snowy night, carrying memories of Rikishi. To Joe, who has no family, Rikishi was an irreplaceable presenc
54. S01E54The Ten-Count Bell of SorrowApril 7, 1971 10.0Three days after Joe disappeared, a ten-count gong was held at Korakuen Hall to mourn Rikishi's death. Joe watches the scene on a street-sid
55. S01E55The Wandering BalladApril 14, 1971 10.0Joe sees Wolf Kanagushi, who has become a bodyguard for the yakuza, on the streets.
56. S01E56The Wolf RevivesApril 21, 1971 10.0The brawl with Gondo is treated as extenuating circumstances. After being informed by reporters, Danpei quickly retrieves Joe.
57. S01E57A Wounded BeastApril 28, 1971 10.0Joe continues training and lands a powerful body blow during sparring with Nishi. However, Nishi notices that Joe avoids striking the head,
58. S01E58The Body Blow of VictoryMay 5, 1971 10.0The ten-round match between Joe and Tonotani begins. Danpei and Nishi, concealing their concerns, watch over Joe.
59. S01E59The Looming Black ShadowMay 12, 1971 10.0Having returned to form, Joe defeats several Japanese bantamweight contenders with his fierce body attacks.
60. S01E60The Fierce SparringMay 19, 1971 10.0Pre-match predictions favor Tiger in his fight against Joe. Around this time, the head of Bokuto Gym invites Joe to spar with him, saying it
61. S01E61The Thrown TowelMay 26, 1971 10.0In the fight against Tiger, Kunimoto, the Sun Gym president, claims to have uncovered Joe's weakness. In truth, Tiger realizes that Joe cann
62. S01E62Rikiishi Toru was AliveJune 2, 1971 10.0After the fight, Danpei shockingly reveals the truth to Joe. However, learning that his actual opponent is the 'ghost of Rikishi' haunting h
63. S01E63The Final ChallengeJune 9, 1971 10.0The slump in Joe's performance casts a shadow over the slums. Even so, Joe continues his desperate battle against himself, repeatedly striki
64. S01E64Enter CarlosJune 16, 1971 10.0Carlos prays for both fighters' success in the ring for Joe's match against Nangou. As the fight begins, Joe faces his poor condition and a
65. S01E65As Long as There's the RingJune 23, 1971 10.0After Joe's devastating loss to Nangou, Danpei dissolves the Tange Gym. He entrusts the future of Joe and Nishi to the proprietor of Hachiya
66. S01E66Setting Out for TomorrowJune 30, 1971 10.0Joe departs from the Namidabashi Bridge early in the morning and meets a boy who dreams of traveling to far-off places on his way to Ueno St
67. S01E67A Little AdventureJuly 7, 1971 10.0A postcard arrives, informing the children of Joe's whereabouts in Oarai. Determined to meet him, they head to Ueno Station, but an attempt
68. S01E68Fixed MatchJuly 14, 1971 10.0Joe's new career in the traveling show begins. Kawano attempts to promote Joe as a star by arranging fixed matches and instructing the other
69. S01E69Lullaby of the RanchJuly 21, 1971 10.0On a day off, Joe goes hiking with Inaba and falls off a cliff in the fog. Yuri, the daughter of a nearby Hiyama Ranch, rescues him.
70. S01E70The Guy I'm Worried AboutJuly 28, 1971 10.0Yoko organizes a Carlos vs. Nangou match in Sendai, where Joe performs. Interested in Joe, Carlos and Robert visit the Namidabashi Bridge an
71. S01E71Carlos the Uncrowned EmperorAugust 4, 1971 10.0Joe's performances continue at the sparsely attended Hakusan Shrine. During a break, Joe positions himself in front of the TV Kawano bought,
72. S01E72Return to the Shining RingAugust 11, 1971 10.0A postcard from Noriko brings news about the Namidabashi community. However, since watching Carlos's fight, Joe has been unable to focus on
73. S01E73The Cross Counter ReturnsAugust 18, 1971 10.0Returning to Tokyo, Joe visits Yoko and requests to spar with Carlos. Reluctantly, Yoko agrees and insists they use heavier 16-ounce gloves
74. S01E74Setting Out TodayAugust 25, 1971 10.0Tange Gym fell into disrepair during Joe's absence. Joe begins rebuilding it with Danpei and the children.
75. S01E75Carlos, Magician of the RingSeptember 1, 1971 10.0As Joe resumes training in the Namidabashi slums, Noriko watches with a complex expression. Meanwhile, the day of Carlos's match against Har
76. S01E76The Burning ChallengeSeptember 8, 1971 10.0Yoko finalizes the contract for a Carlos vs. Tiger match. Carlos confidently declares he will win with a first-minute KO.
77. S01E77Battle of MenSeptember 15, 1971 10.0Robert's old friend, promoter Henry James, arrives in Japan. Henry arranges a match between Carlos and the world champion, Jose Mendoza, and
78. S01E78Duel!! Carlos Vs. Yabuki JoeSeptember 22, 1971 10.0The day of Carlos's match against Tiger arrives. As a boxing fan, Danpei expresses his feelings about Joe's journey. Yoko quietly encourages
79. S01E79Let the Shining Tomorrow Burn in the Distance!!September 29, 1971 10.0Carlos counters Joe's rope-side techniques with an improvised move, nullifying Joe's strategy. He then proposes an all-out brawl with no tri

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

1. S02E01Season's bestAnd Then, He Returned...October 13, 1980 10.0After inadvertently killing Toru Rikiishi in the ring, Joe Yabuki finds himself aimlessly wandering the city at night, when he comes across
2. S02E02One Man, One Flower... Venture into the RingOctober 20, 1980 10.0After a long absence, Joe returns to Tange Gym where he is welcomed with open arms. He pays his respect at Rikiishi's grave and swears to re
3. S02E03Messenger From Hell... Joe YabukiOctober 27, 1980 10.0Joe proves his comeback K.O. victory is no fluke. With his powerful punches, Joe sends his opponents to the hospital one after another. The
4. S02E04Back Then, The Ten-Point Bell RingedNovember 3, 1980 10.0Joe, a fledgling boxer, is unfairly matched up against Tiger Ozaki, the National Bantamweight Champion. Despite the odds, Joe sees it as an
5. S02E05The Phantom... Strike the Temple!November 10, 1980 10.0After a humiliating defeat against Tiger Ozaki, Joe agrees to another bout despite Danpei's protests. Under Tiger Ozaki's guidance, Ryu Hara
6. S02E06Howl... Dogs Will BiteNovember 17, 1980 10.0Despite learning his inability to strike his opponent in the temple is psychological, Joe is undeterred and trains for his upcoming fight ag
7. S02E07Wandering... Like a Wild BeastNovember 24, 1980 10.0Without a club willing to organize a bout against him, Joe's career seems over for certain. Even Danpei says, "Joe Yabuki, the boxer is dead
8. S02E08That Guy... Burning Man CarlosDecember 1, 1980 10.0Danpei closes the gym and disappears to make Joe realize that his career is over. However, Joe refuses to give up boxing and continues to tr
9. S02E09And then... The Beast RevivedDecember 8, 1980 10.0Joe is slowly released from the ghost of Toru Rikiishi during his heated spar against Carlos. After realizing Joe can punch his opponent's t
10. S02E10The Christmas Eve GiftDecember 15, 1980 10.0It's Christmas and the mood is merry in the slums. Snow begins to fall, as Carlos and Joe's fire burn quietly inside of them. In the snow-co
11. S02E11Beginning of the Struggle... Carlos VS JoeDecember 22, 1980 10.0As the New Year's Eve bell counts down the passing year, Joe and Carlos' bout kick off with the sound of the boxing bell. Joe and Carlos put
12. S02E12Night of the Snow Storm... The Endless FightDecember 29, 1980 10.0Joe loses consciousness after being hit with Carlos' powerful uppercut. However, he refuses to go down without spending every last ounce of
13. S02E13The Tange Gym... Is IndestructableJanuary 5, 1981 10.0With Joe's bout against Carlos now over, Joe, Danpei and the people from the neighborhood are busy organizing Nishi's retirement party. Howe
14. S02E14Where is... Joe's Youth?January 12, 1981 10.0Joe visits the Shiraki Gym to pick up his prize money. There, he learns the World Champion had defeated Carlos. Joe also learns Carlos had b
15. S02E15For Whose sake...? Deadly RushJanuary 19, 1981 10.0Without a boxing club willing to organize a bout against Joe, Danpei visits Yoko for help. However, instead of organizing a bout against a J
16. S02E16Distant Aim... Road to the WorldJanuary 26, 1981 10.0With a lightening fast victory against Usman Somkit, all eyes are back on Joe. Meanwhile, Joe finally gets the opportunity to watch the gut-
17. S02E17A Figure Seen... A Great TargetFebruary 2, 1981 10.0Joe steps onto the gym scale and makes an unwelcome discovery. Meanwhile, Kanto TV has announced their exclusive broadcasting rights to all
18. S02E18Those Knuckles... The Mark's MessageFebruary 9, 1981 10.0Joe is eager to take on Yongbi Kim, the OPBF Bantamweight Champion, but according to Danpei, Kim is avoiding Joe because he's afraid of him.
19. S02E19Fighting Machine... Dragon KimFebruary 16, 1981 10.0With Joe and Kim's Championship match now confirmed, Yoko sends Suga to South Korea to find out Kim's mysterious past, while Kim's manager s
20. S02E20My Bantamweight... Weight Loss ChallengeFebruary 23, 1981 10.0Despite the match being three weeks away, Joe is struggling to lose weight. Desperate to lose weight, he turns the gym into a dangerously ho
21. S02E21Rikiishi... I Hear the SongMarch 2, 1981 10.0With Danpei vehemently against Joe's dangerous weight loss, Joe leaves the Tange Gym. He visits the Shiraki Gym and locks himself up in the
22. S02E22And... The Morning's MeasurementMarch 9, 1981 10.0After a grueling weight loss regimen, Joe finally loses enough weight to stay in the bantamweight class. However, during the official weigh-
23. S02E23The Burning Beast... And IceMarch 16, 1981 10.0With the final weigh-in now over, Danpei brings Joe to a restaurant so he can enjoy a small meal before his match. Kim, who happened to come
24. S02E24The Gong Chimes.. The Ring of the DevilMarch 23, 1981 10.0Kim's manager confidently predicts Kim's victory during the pre-fight press interview. Danpei and Nishi encourage Joe in the locker room, bu
25. S02E25In Round 6... A Miracle OccurredMarch 30, 1981 10.0Joe has fought beyond his limit, yet he refuses to go down. Unable to comprehend how Joe can continue to fight, Kim slowly becomes unhinged
26. S02E26A Champion... And a Loser's GloryApril 6, 1981 10.0With is victory over Kim, Joe is now the OPBF Champion. His next goal is to defeat Jose Mendoza, the World Bantamweight Champion who crushed
27. S02E27Boxing... A RequiemApril 13, 1981 10.0Joe happens to run into Wolf Kanagushi, a former boxer at a pachinko parlor. He is relieved to learn that Wolf is now working as a trainer a
28. S02E28José... In HawaiiApril 20, 1981 10.0As the OPBF Champion, Joe’s first title defense match has been confirmed in Hawaii. Not wanting to go all the way to Hawaii, Joe is reluctan
29. S02E29Yabuki's... New DefenseApril 27, 1981 10.0Knowing Jose is watching from the ringside, Joe predicts a two round K.O. victory. However, Joe quickly realizes that defeating his Hawaiian
30. S02E30Grand Champion... JoséMay 4, 1981 9.0After successfully defending his title, Joe is eager to challenge Jose more than ever. Then one day, Yoko invites Joe to spend some time wit
31. S02E31Meaning... of the V SignMay 11, 1981 10.0As the OPBF Champion and world champion hopeful, it seems everyone wants a piece of Joe now. Meanwhile, the new Tange Gym that’s been under
32. S02E32Farewell... Dear Old ThingsMay 18, 1981 10.0Jose, the WBC World Champion must fight Harold Gomez, the WBA World Champion in a unification bout to determine the true World Bantamweight
33. S02E33The 13th King Comes From America!?May 25, 1981 10.0Leon dominates the fight and Joe is on defense. However, Leon’s underhanded tactics light a fire inside Joe and the fight quickly becomes a
34. S02E34He... Fell with the CardJune 1, 1981 10.0Jose, the WBC World Champion and Gomez, the WBA World Champion will fight head to head to determine the true World Bantamweight Champion. Jo
35. S02E35The Champion ...AloneJune 8, 1981 10.0Yoko, who feels Joe has lost his wildness within, offers to give up her exclusive rights to Jose’s fights in Japan, under the condition that
36. S02E36Yoko's... New AttemptJune 15, 1981 10.0Harimau, a wild beast-like man who grew up deep in the Malaysian jungle has been confirmed as Joe’s challenger. Yoko brings Harimau to the T
37. S02E37The Wild Child… HarimaoJune 22, 1981 10.0Joe is humiliatingly caught off guard by Harimau, not once, but twice. Admitting he’s lost his street fighting instincts, Joe asks Goromaki
38. S02E38Unexpected Visitor... Gondo GoromakiJune 29, 1981 10.0The bout between Joe, the Brawler and Harimau, the Wild Beast begins. At first, Joe struggles to keep up with Harimau’s agility and speed. H
39. S02E39Two Beasts... in the JungleJuly 6, 1981 10.0Yoko arranges Carlos to be admitted into a hospice to recuperate. However, Dr. Kinninski, the world’s leading authority on punch-drunk syndr
40. S02E40Joe Fired Up… The Target is NearJuly 13, 1981 10.0Noriko and Nishi are engaged. Joe is happy from the bottom of his heart to see his long-time pal marry his dream girl. Meanwhile, Jose arriv
41. S02E41José arrives in Japan… The Match Date Approaches!July 20, 1981 10.0Noriko and Nishi are engaged. Joe is happy from the bottom of his heart to see his long-time pal marry his dream girl. Meanwhile, Jose arriv
42. S02E42A Shock… Yoko's PremonitionJuly 27, 1981 10.0After noticing Joe might also be suffering from punch-drunk syndrome, Yoko asks Dr. Kinninski for his professional opinion. Dr. Kinninski is
43. S02E43Joe and Danpei... Two Everyday PeopleAugust 3, 1981 10.0In order to avoid Danpei finding out about his health, Joe decides to train with Nishi and Danpei at a mountain lodge, far away from Yoko. D
44. S02E44Yoko... Her LoveAugust 10, 1981 10.0On the day of the title match, Yoko finally tracks down Joe in his locker room and urges him to cancel the fight before he ends up like Carl
45. S02E45Joe VS. José... The Gong of the Match RingsAugust 17, 1981 10.0Joe and Jose finally face off in the ring. With his impenetrable defense, Jose dodges Joe’s attacks while hitting him with his own punches.
46. S02E46The Violent... Endless Fight to the DeathAugust 24, 1981 10.0Jose is rattled by Joe’s sudden comeback, but quickly realizes Joe is no longer able to see out of his right eye, due to the effects of punc
47. S02E47The Great EndAugust 31, 1981 10.0No one doubts Jose’s victory, but something begins to change. While, Jose is unable to knockout Joe completely, Joe masters Jose’s corkscrew

Season 2 ranked & reviewed