The usual questions about ‘Ashita no Joe’ are, the first, whether Joe was dead or alive. The second is this, which Joe had loved Yoko or Noriko. Actually, one of the creators Chiba answered the second question, “Noriko.” So why didn’t Chiba’s answer end the debate? There are the circumstances. Read more
When did Yoko Shiraki fall in love with Joe Yabuki? Hadn’t Yoko loved Rikiishi when he lived? They weren’t talked about in the comics, but the author Takamori clearly spoke to his family during his lifetime. At the 50th anniversary event in 2018, Takamori’s words were open to the public Read more
Rikiishi Toru was the first man whom Joe couldn’t defeat. He made Joe a boxer, a heartbroken wanderer, and the Oriental-pacific champion. Rikiishi fascinated not only Joe but also many readers. At the time of serialization, comics weren’t thought of as being for adults. So, ‘Ashita no Joe’ was Read more
The last page of “Ashita no Joe” is well known. Japanese people sometimes use this posture to express “burnt-out” even today, and the discussion about Joe’s fate hasn’t stopped. However, in fact, there is a different original ending, which the readers at the time of publication did not know about. Read more
April 20th, 1973, Tokyo Once the issue of the magazine featuring the final episode of “Ashita no Joe” was released, all telephones in the editorial department began to ring at once. “Did Joe die?” “Does Joe live?” The chief editor repeated all through the day, Never say ‘dead’. Never say Read more