Hajime no Ippo#Anime

{{Infobox animanga/Header

| image = Hajime no Ippo 1.png

| caption = First {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volume cover, featuring Ippo Makunouchi

| ja_kanji = はじめの一歩

| ja_romaji =

| genre = {{ubl|Action|Comedy|Sports{{cite web|last=Marshall|first=Dallas|title=Fighting Spirit|url=https://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=1521|website=THEM Anime Reviews|date=January 8, 2013|access-date=July 13, 2018|archive-date=January 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115092152/https://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=1521|url-status=live}}}}

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Print

| type = manga

| author = George Morikawa

| publisher = Kodansha

| publisher_en = Kodansha (digital)

| demographic = {{Transliteration|ja|Shōnen}}

| magazine = Weekly Shōnen Magazine

| imprint = Shōnen Magazine Comics

| first = October 11, 1989

| last =

| volumes = 143

| volume_list = List of Hajime no Ippo manga volumes

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = tv series

| director = Satoshi Nishimura

| producer = {{ubl|Hiroshi Yamashita|Mitsuru Ohshima|Manabu Tamura|Masao Maruyama}}

| writer = Tatsuhiko Urahata

| music = Tsuneo Imahori

| studio = Madhouse

| licensee = {{English anime licensee|NA={{ubl|Geneon (former)|Discotek Media (current)}}}}

| network = Nippon TV

| first = October 4, 2000

| last = March 27, 2002

| episodes = 76

| episode_list = List of Hajime no Ippo episodes#Season 1: The Fighting! (2000−02)

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = tv film

| title = Hajime no Ippo: Champion Road

| director = Satoshi Nishimura

| producer = {{ubl|Hiroshi Yamashita|Manabu Tamura|Masao Maruyama}}

| writer = Kazuyuki Fudeyasu

| music = Tsuneo Imahori

| studio = Madhouse

| licensee = {{English anime licensee|NA={{ubl|Geneon (former)|Discotek Media (current)}}}}

| network = Nippon TV

| released = April 18, 2003

| runtime = 90 minutes

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = ova

| title = Hajime no Ippo: Mashiba vs. Kimura

| director = Hitoshi Nanba

| producer = {{ubl|Hiroshi Yamashita|Manabu Tamura|Masao Maruyama}}

| writer = Tatsuhiko Urahata

| music = Tsuneo Imahori

| studio = Madhouse

| licensee = {{English anime licensee|NA=Discotek Media}}

| released = September 5, 2003

| runtime = 60 minutes

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = tv series

| title = Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger

| director = Jun Shishido

| producer = {{ubl|Toshio Nakatani|Manabu Tamura}}

| writer = Kazuyuki Fudeyasu

| music = Yoshihisa Hirano

| studio = Madhouse

| licensee = Netflix (streaming)

| network = Nippon TV

| first = January 6, 2009

| last = June 30, 2009

| episodes = 26

| episode_list = List of Hajime no Ippo episodes#Season 2: New Challenger (2009)

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = tv series

| title = Hajime no Ippo: Rising

| director = Jun Shishido

| producer = {{ubl|Toshio Nakatani|Manabu Tamura|Tomohiro Shindo}}

| writer = Kazuyuki Fudeyasu

| music = {{ubl|Yoshihisa Hirano|Tsuneo Imahori}}

| studio = {{ubl|Madhouse|MAPPA}}

| licensee = {{ubl|Crunchyroll (streaming; former)|Netflix (streaming; current)}}

| network = Nippon TV

| first = October 5, 2013

| last = March 29, 2014

| episodes = 25

| episode_list = List of Hajime no Ippo episodes#Season 3: Rising (2013−14)

}}

{{nihongo|Hajime no Ippo|はじめの一歩||{{lit|The First Step}}}} is a Japanese boxing-themed manga series written and illustrated by George Morikawa. It has been serialized by Kodansha in the Shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Magazine since October 1989, with its chapters collected in 143 {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volumes as of April 2025. It follows the story of high school student Ippo Makunouchi, as he begins his career in boxing and over time obtains many titles and defeats various opponents.

A 76-episode anime adaptation produced by Madhouse aired on Nippon TV from October 2000 to March 2002. A television film and an original video animation (OVA) were released in 2003. A second series titled Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger aired from January to June 2009. A third series Hajime no Ippo: Rising aired from October 2013 to March 2014.

In North America, the first series, including the television film, was licensed by Geneon in 2003, which released it under the name Fighting Spirit. It was re-licensed by Discotek Media in 2020, including the television film and the OVA.

By July 2023, the manga had over 100 million copies in circulation, making it one of the best-selling manga series of all time. In 1991, Hajime no Ippo won the 15th Kodansha Manga Award in the {{Transliteration|ja|shōnen}} category.

Plot

{{Main|List of Hajime no Ippo characters{{!}}List of Hajime no Ippo characters}}

Ippo Makunouchi is an extremely shy high school student, unable to make friends due to always being busy helping his mother run their family fishing charter business. Because he kept to himself, a group of bullies led by Umezawa got into the habit of picking on him. One day, when these bullies gave him a rather serious beating, a middleweight professional boxer who was passing by stopped them and took the injured Ippo to the {{nihongo|Kamogawa Gym|鴨川ボクシングジム|Kamogawa Bokushingu Jimu}}, owned by retired boxer Genji Kamogawa, to treat his wounds. After Ippo awoke to the sounds of boxers training, the boxer who saved him, Mamoru Takamura, tried to cheer Ippo up by letting him vent his frustrations on a sandbag. It was then that they had their first glimpse into Ippo's talent for boxing. After that incident, Ippo gave the situation a lot of thought and decided that he would like to begin a career as a professional boxer. When he conveys this message to Mamoru Takamura, he gets verbally reprimanded: Takamura thought Ippo was taking professional boxing too lightly. However, Takamura felt that he couldn't outright refuse Ippo, especially since his feat of punching the sandbag much harder than anybody else in the gym (except for Takamura). Therefore, he challenges Ippo to catch 10 falling leaves from a tree simultaneously after a week of training, fully convinced that Ippo would fail, Takamura jogs away as he continues his roadwork.

However, after a week of tough training, involving nightly hours, Ippo manages the technique in the nick of time. He waits for the jogging Takamura to come by his usual path and surprises him by catching all 10 of the falling leaves and only doing so with his left hand. This impresses Takamura greatly, and he informs Ippo that the action required to catch all 10 leaves is called a boxing jab. Takamura invites Ippo back to the boxing gym for introductions.

When they got back to the gym, the coach, Genji Kamogawa, was not at all impressed by Makunouchi's lack of fighting spirit, and therefore, was challenged by Takamura to have a practice spar against a member of the gym. However, Kamogawa decides to give Ippo a severe challenge and tells him to spar with Miyata, who is 16, the same age as Ippo. Miyata is known as a boxing prodigy and is one of Kamogawa gym's future hopes. Takamura gets extremely worried with this prospect, as Miyata skill is way above the four-rounder pro boxer. As expected, Ippo loses by KO, but not until Miyata struggles dodging his punches and finally ends the match with his trump card: "The Counter". Coach Kamogawa decides that he has great fighting sense and spirit and decides to train him to eventually become the Japanese champion with a world ranking while Miyata became the OPBF (Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation) Champion. Both are expected to hit high in the rankings and, eventually, fight each other for the world champion's belt.

The story focuses heavily on character development—even during the matches something is learned about both fighters. Ippo has a habit of running into his opponents before matches, giving him a chance to learn more about their backgrounds and even sympathize with them. Ippo is an extremely timid and modest person who never assumes that he is strong enough. He instead draws courage from seeing the strength of his opponent and realizing that he is able to stand up to it. Ippo and his friendly rivalry with Miyata is the main draw in the early part of the series. That later changes to Ippo's path toward the Japanese Featherweight Championship and eventually the world championship. Along the way the audience is given glimpses into the other characters' pasts, motivations, relationships to others, and current boxing trials. A colorful cast of supporting characters and opponents as well as side stories concerning their paths in the boxing world rounds out the series.

Media

= Manga =

{{Main|List of Hajime no Ippo manga volumes{{!}}List of Hajime no Ippo volumes}}

Written and illustrated by George Morikawa, Hajime no Ippo has been published in Kodansha's Shōnen manga anthology Weekly Shōnen Magazine since October 11, 1989.{{cite web|script-title=ja:創刊時からの作品リスト|url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/SEP/02065/special/history/history03.html|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=January 8, 2020|language=ja|archive-date=December 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204222739/http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/SEP/02065/special/history/history03.html}} It has run in the magazine for over 30 years,{{cite web|script-title=ja:森川ジョージ「はじめの一歩」30周年をインタビューとマンガで振り返る書籍発売|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/347991|website=Comic Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|date=September 18, 2019|access-date=January 8, 2020|language=ja|archive-date=December 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206082438/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/347991|url-status=live}} and reached its 1000th chapter in December 2012.{{cite web|script-title=ja:「はじめの一歩」1000回を井上雄彦や高橋留美子らが祝福|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/81125|website=Comic Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|date=December 5, 2012|access-date=January 8, 2020|language=ja|archive-date=July 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714164251/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/81125|url-status=live}} It became one of the longest running manga series with over 1,400 chapters released in Japan by 2022. Kodansha has collected its chapters into individual {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volumes. The first volume was published on February 17, 1990.{{cite web|url=http://shop.kodansha.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3115321|script-title=ja:はじめの一歩 (1)|trans-title=Hajime no Ippo (1)|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=October 31, 2010|language=ja|archive-date=March 12, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050312020824/http://shop.kodansha.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3115321|url-status=live}} As of April 16, 2025, 143 volumes have been published.{{cite web|url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000409983|script-title=ja:はじめの一歩 (143)|trans-title=Hajime no Ippo (143)|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=March 3, 2025|language=ja|archive-date=March 21, 2025|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250321010132/https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000409983|url-status=live}} In June 2021, it was announced that the series would get a digital release, for the first time in 33 years of publication, starting on July 1 of the same year.{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=Hajime no Ippo Manga Gets Digital Releases on July 1|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-06-22/hajime-no-ippo-manga-gets-digital-releases-on-july-1/.174308|website=Anime News Network|date=June 22, 2021|access-date=June 22, 2021|archive-date=June 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622160237/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-06-22/hajime-no-ippo-manga-gets-digital-releases-on-july-1/.174308|url-status=live}}

Kodansha started publishing the series digitally in English on its K Manga service, with the first ten volumes (first 87 chapters) released in September 2023 and new chapters released every week.{{cite web|last=Saabedra|first=Humberto|title=Hajime no Ippo: Fighting Spirit! Manga Now Available in English Via K MANGA|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2023/9/26/hajime-no-ippo-fighting-spirit-manga-now-available-in-english-via-k-manga|website=Crunchyroll|access-date=September 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926234832/https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2023/9/26/hajime-no-ippo-fighting-spirit-manga-now-available-in-english-via-k-manga|archive-date=September 26, 2023|date=September 26, 2023|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=K Manga Adds Hajime no Ippo Boxing Manga in English|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-09-27/k-manga-adds-hajime-no-ippo-boxing-manga-in-english/.202900|website=Anime News Network|access-date=September 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927204018/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-09-27/k-manga-adds-hajime-no-ippo-boxing-manga-in-english/.202900|archive-date=September 27, 2023|date=September 27, 2023|url-status=live}}

= Anime =

{{See also|List of Hajime no Ippo episodes{{!}}List of Hajime no Ippo episodes}}

Hajime no Ippo has been adapted into an anime series franchise. The first 75-episode anime television series, produced by Madhouse, Nippon Television and VAP and directed by Satoshi Nishimura, aired on Nippon TV between October 4, 2000, and March 27, 2002.{{cite web|script-title=ja:はじめの一歩|url=http://www.madhouse.co.jp/works/2000-1999/works_tv_hajimenoippo.html|publisher=Madhouse|access-date=January 9, 2020|language=ja|title=Madhouse.co.jp|archive-date=September 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915012349/http://www.madhouse.co.jp/works/2000-1999/works_tv_hajimenoippo.html|url-status=live}} The episodes were collected into twenty-five DVDs released by VAP from March 16, 2001, to March 21, 2003.{{cite web|script-title=ja:はじめの一歩 Vol.1|url=http://www.vap.co.jp/shop/goods/goods.asp?goods=VPBY-11186|publisher=VAP|access-date=January 9, 2020|language=ja|archive-date=June 3, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040603154155/http://www.vap.co.jp/shop/goods/goods.asp?goods=VPBY-11186|url-status=live}}{{cite web|script-title=ja:はじめの一歩 Vol.25|url=http://www.vap.co.jp/shop/goods/goods.asp?goods=VPBY-11465|publisher=VAP|access-date=January 9, 2020|language=ja|archive-date=August 17, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040817180653/http://www.vap.co.jp/shop/goods/goods.asp?goods=VPBY-11465|url-status=live}} The last DVD includes a special episode which did not air in Japan, numbered 76. A television film titled Hajime no Ippo: Champion Road aired on April 18, 2003.{{cite web|script-title=ja:はじめの一歩 Champion Road|url=http://www.vap.co.jp/goods/1361936196119|publisher=VAP|access-date=January 9, 2020|language=ja|quote={{lang|ja|2003年4月18日にはテレビ・スペシャル「Champion Road」が金曜ロードショーにてオンエアされました。}} (The TV special "Champion Road" was aired on April 18, 2003)|archive-date=August 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801130224/https://www.vap.co.jp/goods/1361936196119|url-status=live}} An original video animation (OVA) titled Hajime no Ippo Mashiba vs. Kimura was released on September 5, 2003.{{cite web|script-title=ja:はじめの一歩間柴vs木村|url=http://www.vap.co.jp/smart/goods/1361936196214/|publisher=VAP|access-date=January 9, 2020|language=ja|title=VAP Official Site|archive-date=August 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801104840/http://www.vap.co.jp/smart/goods/1361936196214/|url-status=live}}

A second series titled Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger aired on Nippon TV from January 6 to June 30, 2009.{{cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|title=2nd Hajime no Ippo Show Named, Dated: New Challenger on January 6|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-11-27/2nd-hajime-no-ippo-show-named-dated/new-challenger-on-january-6|website=Anime News Network|date=November 27, 2008|access-date=January 9, 2020|archive-date=June 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616195124/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-11-27/2nd-hajime-no-ippo-show-named-dated/new-challenger-on-january-6|url-status=live}}

In 2009, Rikiya Koyama, the voice actor of Mamoru Takamura, revealed on his blog that a sequel to the Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger television series was being planned.{{cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|title=Sequel to Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger Being Planned|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-06-12/sequel-to-hajime-no-ippo/new-challenger-being-planned|website=Anime News Network|date=June 12, 2009|access-date=January 9, 2020|archive-date=June 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630133822/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-06-12/sequel-to-hajime-no-ippo/new-challenger-being-planned|url-status=live}} In July 2013, it was reported in that a third season of Hajime no Ippo would air in 2013.{{cite web|last=Nelkin|first=Sarah|title=3rd Season of Hajime no Ippo Anime Green-Lit|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-07-19/3rd-season-of-hajime-no-ippo-anime-green-lit|website=Anime News Network|date=July 19, 2013|access-date=January 9, 2020|archive-date=June 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616235041/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-07-19/3rd-season-of-hajime-no-ippo-anime-green-lit|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Nelkin|first=Sarah|title=Hajime no Ippo Rising TV Anime's Cast, Staff Announced|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-08-23/hajime-no-ippo-rising-tv-anime-cast-staff-announced|website=Anime News Network|date=August 23, 2013|access-date=January 9, 2020|archive-date=June 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616174842/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-08-23/hajime-no-ippo-rising-tv-anime-cast-staff-announced|url-status=live}} The third season, titled Hajime no Ippo: Rising, ran for 25 episodes from October 5, 2013, to March 29, 2014.{{cite web|script-title=ja:#1（10/5放送）「最強の挑戦者」|url=http://www.ntv.co.jp/ippo/story/01.html|publisher=Nippon TV|access-date=January 9, 2020|language=ja|archive-date=February 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221001121/https://www.ntv.co.jp/ippo/story/01.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|script-title=ja:#25（3/29放送）「誓い」|url=http://www.ntv.co.jp/ippo/story/25.html|publisher=Nippon TV|access-date=January 9, 2020|language=ja|archive-date=July 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704054127/http://www.ntv.co.jp/ippo/story/25.html|url-status=live}}

== English release ==

In North America, the first series was licensed by Geneon Entertainment in 2003, which released it under the name Fighting Spirit.{{cite web|last=Macdonald|first=Christopher|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2003-11-01/geneon-licenses|title=Geneon Licenses|website=Anime News Network|date=November 1, 2003|access-date=April 4, 2007|archive-date=April 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419194702/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2003-11-01/geneon-licenses|url-status=live}} Geneon distributed Fighting Spirit on 15 DVDs with five episodes per disc. The first DVD was released on July 6, 2004 and the fifteenth released on December 19, 2006.{{cite web|title=Fighting Spirit – (V.1) The First Step|url=http://www.geneonanimation.com/MainContentPage.aspx?PageUID=e4f7842c-b100-4a9a-8ea8-e91dfc6e5c63&hdn_ProdID=7b99383a-ed45-4278-bd83-7c30013f38bb&Title=5b34013b-62eb-4ab5-8092-ae6c69f60e28&HideBrowser=1|publisher=Geneon Entertainment|access-date=January 9, 2020|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 20, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020210119/http://www.geneonanimation.com/MainContentPage.aspx?PageUID=e4f7842c-b100-4a9a-8ea8-e91dfc6e5c63&hdn_ProdID=7b99383a-ed45-4278-bd83-7c30013f38bb&Title=5b34013b-62eb-4ab5-8092-ae6c69f60e28&HideBrowser=1}}{{cite web|title=Fighting Spirit – (V.15) One Step Further|url=http://www.geneonanimation.com/MainContentPage.aspx?PageUID=e4f7842c-b100-4a9a-8ea8-e91dfc6e5c63&hdn_ProdID=714b653b-de90-4214-91f7-20231e016375&Title=5b34013b-62eb-4ab5-8092-ae6c69f60e28&HideBrowser=1|publisher=Geneon Entertainment|access-date=January 9, 2020|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 20, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020203459/http://www.geneonanimation.com/MainContentPage.aspx?PageUID=e4f7842c-b100-4a9a-8ea8-e91dfc6e5c63&hdn_ProdID=714b653b-de90-4214-91f7-20231e016375&Title=5b34013b-62eb-4ab5-8092-ae6c69f60e28&HideBrowser=1}} The TV film Champion Road was released on North America on January 9, 2007.{{cite web|title=Fighting Spirit – Champion Road TV Special|url=http://www.geneonanimation.com/MainContentPage.aspx?PageUID=e4f7842c-b100-4a9a-8ea8-e91dfc6e5c63&hdn_ProdID=fffb0042-bfb1-410f-ac62-fc5e4f8bb8bf&Title=5b34013b-62eb-4ab5-8092-ae6c69f60e28&HideBrowser=1|publisher=Geneon Entertainment|access-date=January 9, 2020|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 20, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020205521/http://www.geneonanimation.com/MainContentPage.aspx?PageUID=e4f7842c-b100-4a9a-8ea8-e91dfc6e5c63&hdn_ProdID=fffb0042-bfb1-410f-ac62-fc5e4f8bb8bf&Title=5b34013b-62eb-4ab5-8092-ae6c69f60e28&HideBrowser=1}} There were no plans to release the OVA, Mashiba vs. Kimura. Disc sales of the series did not perform well.{{cite web|last=Koulikov|first=Mikhail|title=Geneon Entertainment – Anime Central 2007|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2007/anime-central/geneon|website=Anime News Network|date=May 13, 2007|access-date=January 9, 2020|quote=During the question and answer session that concluded the panel, they mentioned that because Hajime no Ippo did not perform as well as hoped, it is not likely that Geneon will acquire the 2003 Hajime no Ippo – Mashiba vs. Kimura OVA.|archive-date=August 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801193722/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2007/anime-central/geneon|url-status=live}} In September 2020, Discotek Media announced that it had licensed the series, including the 76 episodes, Champion Road and, for the first time in North America, the OVA Mashiba vs. Kimura.{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|title=Discotek Licenses Rose of Versailles, Hajime no Ippo, Project A-Ko Anime|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-09-14/discotek-licenses-rose-of-versailles-hajime-no-ippo-project-a-ko-anime/.163988|website=Anime News Network|date=September 14, 2020|access-date=September 15, 2020|archive-date=April 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427230528/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-09-14/discotek-licenses-rose-of-versailles-hajime-no-ippo-project-a-ko-anime/.163988|url-status=live}} The first Blu-ray Disc set (episodes 1–24) was released on January 26, 2021;{{cite web|last=Sherman|first=Jennifer|title=North American Anime, Manga Releases, January 24–30|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-01-27/north-american-anime-manga-releases-january-24-30/.168830|website=Anime News Network|date=January 27, 2021|access-date=May 19, 2021|archive-date=October 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022035859/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-01-27/north-american-anime-manga-releases-january-24-30/.168830|url-status=live}} the second set (episodes 25–48) was released on March 30, 2021;{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=North American Anime, Manga Releases, March 28–April 3|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-03-30/north-american-anime-manga-releases-march-28-april-3/.171305|website=Anime News Network|date=March 30, 2021|access-date=May 19, 2021|archive-date=May 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519080216/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-03-30/north-american-anime-manga-releases-march-28-april-3/.171305|url-status=live}} and the third set (episodes 49–76, Mashiba vs. Kimura, and Champion Road) was released on October 26, 2021.{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=North American Anime, Manga Releases, October 24–30|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-10-26/north-american-anime-manga-releases-october-24-30/.178863|website=Anime News Network|access-date=January 18, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225112245/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-10-26/north-american-anime-manga-releases-october-24-30/.178863|archive-date=December 25, 2024|date=October 26, 2021|url-status=live}}

Hajime no Ippo: Rising started streaming on Crunchyroll in 2013, and the first series (including its 76th episode) was added to the platform in 2021;{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|title=Crunchyroll to Stream Hajime no Ippo Rising Anime|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-10-04/crunchyroll-to-stream-hajime-no-ippo-rising-anime|website=Anime News Network|date=October 4, 2013|access-date=January 9, 2020|archive-date=October 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024215322/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-10-04/crunchyroll-to-stream-hajime-no-ippo-rising-anime|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=Crunchyroll Adds Hajime no Ippo OVA, Original Anime's 76th Episode|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-10-19/crunchyroll-adds-hajime-no-ippo-ova-original-anime-76th-episode/.178636|website=Anime News Network|access-date=January 18, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603185701/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-10-19/crunchyroll-adds-hajime-no-ippo-ova-original-anime-76th-episode/.178636|archive-date=June 3, 2024|date=October 19, 2021|url-status=live}} Rising has since been removed from the platform. In June 2024, Netflix started streaming the 75 episodes of the first television series, in Japanese with English subtitles and with the original English dub, and the 76th episode only in Japanese with English subtitles.{{cite web|last=Hazra|first=Adriana|title=Netflix Streams Hajime no Ippo Anime in U.S.|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-06-03/netflix-streams-hajime-no-ippo-anime-in-u.s/.211455|website=Anime News Network|access-date=January 18, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822214034/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-06-03/netflix-streams-hajime-no-ippo-anime-in-u.s/.211455|archive-date=August 22, 2024|date=June 3, 2024|url-status=live}} In January 2025, Netflix started streaming New Challenger and Rising, making New Challenger officially available for the first time in English.{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=Netflix Adds Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger, Rising Anime|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2025-01-17/netflix-adds-hajime-no-ippo-new-challenger-rising-anime/.220157|website=Anime News Network|access-date=January 18, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118060955/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2025-01-17/netflix-adds-hajime-no-ippo-new-challenger-rising-anime/.220157|archive-date=January 18, 2025|date=January 17, 2025|url-status=live}}

== Music ==

The music for the first anime series was composed by Tsuneo Imahori, who also did the third opening theme song. Tracks of guitars, drums, piano, horns, and combinations of the instruments were used to help accentuate the mood and action of the scenes. The soundtrack was released in Japan on two CDs, First KO and Final Round. The music for the second series was composed by Yoshihisa Hirano. In the third series, Yoshihisa Hirano and Tsuneo Imahori are credited for the music.

=== Anime theme songs ===

;Opening theme songs

"Under Star" by Shocking Lemon (episodes 1–25)
"Inner Light" by Shocking Lemon (episodes 26–50, TV movie)
"Tumbling Dice" by Tsuneo Imahori (episodes 51–76)
"Hekireki" by Last Alliance (episodes 77–102){{cite web|url=http://www.ntv.co.jp/ippo/music.html|title=The Official Hajime no Ippo music page on NTV's Website|access-date=March 13, 2009|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023338/http://www.ntv.co.jp/ippo/music.html|url-status=dead}}
"Yakan Hikou" by Wasureranneyo (episodes 103–127)

;Ending theme songs

"Yuuzora no Kamihikouki" by Mori Naoya (episodes 1–25, TV movie)
"360°" by Mori Naoya (episodes 26–50, 75, OVA)
"Eternal Loop" by Saber Tiger (episodes 51–74, 76)
"8 AM" by Coldrain (episodes 77–102)
"Buchikome!!" by Shikuramen (episodes 103–127)

= Video games =

A total of nine video games based on the series have been released, included on the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance, Wii, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, and PlayStation 3. Three of the games have been released in North America and in PAL territories.

Ippo and Takamura have also appeared in the 2009 crossover video game Sunday vs Magazine: Shūketsu! Chōjō Daikessen as playable characters.

{{Video game titles|

{{Video game titles/item

|title=Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting!

|date={{vgrelease|JP|July 31, 1997{{cite web|script-title=ja:はじめの一歩|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M725181|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|access-date=January 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113143549/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M725181|archive-date=January 13, 2024|language=ja|url-status=live}}}}

|release=1997—PlayStation

|notes=

Published by Kodansha.

}}

{{Video game titles/item

|title=Victorious Boxers: Ippo's Road to Glory

|article=Victorious Boxers: Ippo's Road to Glory

|date={{vgrelease|JP|December 14, 2000{{cite web|script-title=ja:はじめの一歩 VICTORIOUS BOXERS|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M723538|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|access-date=January 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113144038/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M723538|archive-date=January 13, 2024|language=ja|url-status=live}}|EU|2001|NA|November 5, 2001{{cite web|title=Victorious Boxers|url=http://www.gamespy.com/games/2927.shtml|website=GameSpy|publisher=GameSpy Industries|access-date=January 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031005042633/http://www.gamespy.com/games/2927.shtml|archive-date=October 5, 2003}}}}

|release=2000—PlayStation 2

|notes=

Published by Entertainment Software Publishing

}}

{{Video game titles/item

|title=Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting!

|date={{vgrelease|JP|December 12, 2002{{cite web|script-title=ja:はじめの一歩 THE FIGHTING!|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M722622|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|access-date=January 13, 2024|language=ja|archive-date=January 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113184150/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M722622|url-status=live}}}}

|release=2002—Game Boy Advance

|notes=

Published by Entertainment Software Publishing.

}}

{{Video game titles/item

|title=Hajime no Ippo 2: Victorious Road

|date={{vgrelease|JP|January 29, 2004{{cite web|script-title=ja:はじめの一歩2 Victorious Road|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M722322|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|access-date=January 13, 2024|language=ja|archive-date=January 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113184633/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M722322|url-status=live}}}}

|release=2004—PlayStation 2

|notes=

Published by Entertainment Software Publishing.

}}

{{Video game titles/item

|title=Victorious Boxers 2: Fighting Spirit

|article=Victorious Boxers 2: Fighting Spirit

|date={{vgrelease|JP|December 28, 2004{{cite web|script-title=ja:はじめの一歩 ALL☆STARS|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M753741|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|access-date=January 13, 2024|language=ja|archive-date=January 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113185415/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M753741|url-status=live}}|EU|August 26, 2005{{cite press release|title=Victorious Boxers 2 - Fighting Spirit Unleashed on PlayStation®2|url=http://www.xplosiv.net/Default.aspx?MID=D31A878C48E6&NID=27904FB3-CC99-4CCD-B647-8088C560B9E3|publisher=Empire Interactive|access-date=January 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807132431/http://www.xplosiv.net/Default.aspx?MID=D31A878C48E6&NID=27904FB3-CC99-4CCD-B647-8088C560B9E3|archive-date=August 7, 2007|date=February 27, 2005}}|NA|November 20, 2006{{cite web|title=Victorious Boxers 2: Fighting Spirit (PS2)|url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/hajime-no-ippo-2-victorious-road/|website=GameSpy|access-date=January 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713124800/http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/hajime-no-ippo-2-victorious-road/|archive-date=July 13, 2007}}}}

|release=2004—PlayStation 2

|notes=

Known in Japan as {{Nihongo|Hajime no Ippo: All Stars|はじめの一歩 ALL☆STARS}}.{{cite web|last=Macdonald|first=Christopher|title=Hajime no Ippo: All Stars to come to the U.S.|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-09-05/hajime-no-ippo-all-stars-to-come-to-the-u.s|website=Anime News Network|access-date=January 13, 2024|date=September 5, 2005|archive-date=June 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605191129/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-09-05/hajime-no-ippo-all-stars-to-come-to-the-u.s|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Keller|first=Matt|url=http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=3130|title=Victorious Boxers 2: Fighting Spirit Review|website=PALGN|access-date=May 4, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 8, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070908151452/http://www.palgn.com.au/article.php?id=3130}}
Published by Entertainment Software Publishing.

}}

{{Video game titles/item

|title=Victorious Boxers: Revolution

|article=Victorious Boxers: Revolution

|date={{vgrelease|JP|June 21, 2007{{cite web|script-title=ja:はじめの一歩レボリューション|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M753746|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|access-date=January 14, 2024|language=ja|archive-date=January 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114120932/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M753746|url-status=live}}|NA|October 16, 2007{{cite web|title=VICTORIOUS BOXERS: REVOLUTION for the Wii will start shipping to retailers on October 16, 2007, with a suggested retail price of $39.99|url=http://www.xseedgames.com/news.php?id=30|publisher=Xseed Games|access-date=January 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031054754/http://www.xseedgames.com/news.php?id=30|archive-date=October 31, 2007|date=October 3, 2007}}|EU|April 11, 2008{{cite web|last=Garratt|first=Patrick|title=Worldwide releases: Friday April 11|url=https://www.vg247.com/worldwide-releases-friday-april-11|website=VG247|access-date=January 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926065614/https://www.vg247.com/worldwide-releases-friday-april-11|archive-date=September 26, 2022|date=April 8, 2008|url-status=live}}}}

|release=2007—Wii

|notes=

Known in Japan as {{Nihongo|Hajime no Ippo: Revolution|はじめの一歩レボリューション}} and in Europe as Victorious Boxers: Challenge.
Published by AQ Interactive.

}}

{{Video game titles/item

|title=Hajime no Ippo: Portable Victorious Spirits

|date={{vgrelease|JP|December 20, 2007{{cite web|script-title=ja:はじめの一歩 PORTABLE VICTORIOUS SPIRITS|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M753743|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|access-date=January 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114125213/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M753743|archive-date=January 14, 2024|language=ja|url-status=live}}}}

|release=2007—PSP

|notes=

Published by D3 Publisher.

}}

{{Video game titles/item

|title=Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting! DS

|date={{vgrelease|JP|December 4, 2008{{cite web|script-title=ja:はじめの一歩 THE FIGHTING ! DS|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M753744|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|access-date=January 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114125537/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M753744|archive-date=January 14, 2024|language=ja|url-status=live}}}}

|release=2008—Nintendo DS

|notes=

Published by D3 Publisher.

}}

{{Video game titles/item

|title=Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting!

|date={{vgrelease|JP|December 11, 2014{{cite web|last=Nelkin|first=Sarah|title=Hajime no Ippo Boxing PS3 Game's 1st Promo Introduces Characters, Fighting System|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-10-02/hajime-no-ippo-boxing-ps3-game-1st-promo-introduces-characters-fighting-system/.79473|website=Anime News Network|access-date=January 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906222942/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-10-02/hajime-no-ippo-boxing-ps3-game-1st-promo-introduces-characters-fighting-system/.79473|archive-date=September 6, 2023|date=October 2, 2014|url-status=live}}}}

|release=2014—PlayStation 3

|notes=

Published by Bandai Namco Games

}}

Reception

Hajime no Ippo won the 15th Kodansha Manga Award in the {{Transliteration|ja|shōnen}} category in 1991.{{cite web|last=Hahn|first=Joel|url=http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/kodansha.php|title=Kodansha Manga Awards|website=Comic Book Awards Almanac|access-date=August 21, 2007|archive-date=January 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109204725/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/kodansha.php|url-status=live}} The series also received a Special Award at the 43rd Kodansha Manga Award, commemorating 110 years since Kodansha's founding in 2019.{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|title=43rd Annual Kodansha Manga Awards' Winners Announced|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-05-10/43rd-annual-kodansha-manga-awards-winners-announced/.146582|website=Anime News Network|date=May 10, 2019|access-date=September 28, 2020|archive-date=May 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510161344/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-05-10/43rd-annual-kodansha-manga-awards-winners-announced/.146582|url-status=live}} On TV Asahi's Manga Sōsenkyo 2021 poll, in which 150,000 people voted for their top 100 manga series, Hajime no Ippo ranked 47th.{{cite web|script-title=ja:テレビ朝日『国民15万人がガチで投票!漫画総選挙』ランキング結果まとめ！栄えある1位に輝く漫画は!?|url=https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1609599746&p=3|website=animate Times|publisher=Animate|date=January 3, 2021|access-date=January 3, 2021|language=ja|archive-date=January 3, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210103110302/https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1609599746&p=3|url-status=live}}

By September 2008, the Hajime no Ippo manga had over 73 million copies in circulation.{{cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|title=Hajime no Ippo Reportedly to Return to TV in January|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-09-15/hajime-no-ippo-reportedly-to-return-to-tv-in-january|website=Anime News Network|date=September 15, 2008|access-date=January 10, 2020|archive-date=June 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623111835/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-09-15/hajime-no-ippo-reportedly-to-return-to-tv-in-january|url-status=live}} By November 2019, it had over 96 million copies in circulation.{{cite web|script-title=ja:「はじめの一歩」の“限定お宝本” ボクシング・フェザー級トーナメント入場者に非売品小冊子をプレゼント、特別展も開催|url=https://hochi.news/articles/20191118-OHT1T50181.html?page=1|website=Sports Hochi|date=November 18, 2019|access-date=June 27, 2022|language=ja|archive-date=June 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627050411/https://hochi.news/articles/20191118-OHT1T50181.html?page=1|url-status=live}} By July 2023, it had over 100 million copies in circulation.{{cite web|script-title=ja:漫画『はじめの一歩』累計1億部突破連載34年で作者・森川ジョージ氏「全て皆様のおかげです」|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2287012/full/|website=Oricon News|date=July 14, 2023|access-date=July 14, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=July 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714192519/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2287012/full/|url-status=live}}

Anime Academy gave the first anime series a glowing response; all five reviewers rated it above 90%, with one referring to the series as "the cream of the crop" of the sports genre in anime, and another stating that "fighting and character development have never tangoed so well together".{{cite web|url=http://www.animeacademy.com/finalrevdisplay.php?id=143|title=Hajime no Ippo Review|publisher=Anime Academy|access-date=2009-01-08|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-02-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215025321/http://www.animeacademy.com/finalrevdisplay.php?id=143}} Gia Manry of Fanboy.com listed the series as one of their "Top Ten Underrated Manga".{{cite web|last=Manry|first=Gia|url=http://www.fanboy.com/2008/01/underrated-manga-hajime-no-ippo.html|title=Underrated Manga: Hajime no Ippo|website=Fanboy.com|date=January 8, 2008|access-date=2009-01-08|archive-date=January 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119102641/http://www.fanboy.com/2008/01/underrated-manga-hajime-no-ippo.html|url-status=live}} IGN listed Hajime no Ippo: Rising among the best anime series of the 2010s.{{cite web|title=The Best Anime of the Decade (2010 - 2019)|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2020/01/01/best-anime-of-the-decade-2010-2019|website=IGN|date=January 1, 2020|access-date=January 4, 2020|archive-date=January 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101214124/https://www.ign.com/articles/2020/01/01/best-anime-of-the-decade-2010-2019|url-status=live}}

References

External links

{{Official website|https://pocket.shonenmagazine.com/episode/13933686331772734561|Hajime no Ippo official manga website at Pocket Shōnen Magazine}} {{in lang|ja}}
{{Official website|http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/content/top.php/02065/1000000058|Hajime no Ippo official manga website at MAGAMEGA}} {{in lang|ja}}
{{Official website|https://shonenmagazine.com/special_page/ippo30th|Hajime no Ippo 30th anniversary website at Weekly Shōnen Magazine}} {{in lang|ja}}
{{Official website|http://ippo-100.com|Hajime no Ippo 100th volume commemorative official website}} {{in lang|ja}}
{{Official website|http://www.ntv.co.jp/ippo/|Hajime no Ippo official anime website at Nippon TV}} {{in lang|ja}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070608193205/http://www.vap.co.jp/ippo/main.html Hajime no Ippo anime official website at VAP] {{in lang|ja}}
{{Official website|https://www.vap.co.jp/ippo2/|Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger official website at VAP}} {{in lang|ja}}
{{Official website|https://www.vap.co.jp/ippo3/|Hajime no Ippo: Rising official website at VAP}} {{in lang|ja}}
{{Anime News Network|manga|3069}}