Ashita no Joe (あしたのジョー , transl. "Tomorrow's Joe") is a influential and acclaimed Boxing Manga created by Kajiwara Ikki and Chiba Tetsuya and published on 1968. which had its anime adaptation in 1970, with the second season released in 1980.
The story revolves around Yabuki Joe, a homeless teenager who acts impulsively upon arriving in a small slum in San'ya, Tokyo. where he ends up running into another homeless person, Tange Danpei, who is soon revealed to be a former boxer and trainer who was fired because of his aggressive behavior in the rings, in addition to being betrayed by his disciple. Danpei soon notices Joe as an ideal figure as a Boxer for his better future.
But initially Joe rejects Danpei's invitation and ends up committing petty crimes to help the local population. soon he is arrested as a minor offender, but his aggressive attitudes made him go to juvenile prison, where he had to learn hard about what life is.
Everything changes when he meets another prisoner, Rikiishi Tooru, who challenges him to a boxing match. Joe feels motivated by this moment and from there begins the protagonist's story of overcoming and tragedy.
The manga and anime have become important symbols for Japanese animation and society, with numerous parodies involving iconic scenes.
