Episode guide
Tomorrow's Joe: Tomorrow's Joe 2
47 episodes · premiered Oct 13, 1980
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.
- Episode 1: And Then, He Returned... Oct 13, 1980 · 25m After inadvertently killing Toru Rikiishi in the ring, Joe Yabuki finds himself aimlessly wandering the city at night, when he comes across a fight between Wolf Kanagushi, his former…
- Episode 2: One Man, One Flower... Venture into the Ring Oct 20, 1980 · 25m After 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 return to the ring. Even after being away for…
- Episode 3: Messenger From Hell... Joe Yabuki Oct 27, 1980 · 25m Joe proves his comeback K.O. victory is no fluke. With his powerful punches, Joe sends his opponents to the hospital one after another. The rival boxing club owners see Joe as a serious…
- Episode 4: Back Then, The Ten-Point Bell Ringed Nov 3, 1980 · 25m Joe, a fledgling boxer, is unfairly matched up against Tiger Ozaki, the National Bantamweight Champion. Despite the odds, Joe sees it as an opportunity to instantly climb to the top and is…
- Episode 5: The Phantom... Strike the Temple! Nov 10, 1980 · 25m After a humiliating defeat against Tiger Ozaki, Joe agrees to another bout despite Danpei's protests. Under Tiger Ozaki's guidance, Ryu Harajima, Joe's opponent takes advantage of Joe's…
- Episode 6: Howl... Dogs Will Bite Nov 17, 1980 · 25m Despite learning his inability to strike his opponent in the temple is psychological, Joe is undeterred and trains for his upcoming fight against Koji Nango. Joe climbs into the ring while…
- Episode 7: Wandering... Like a Wild Beast Nov 24, 1980 · 25m Without 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" and urges him to retire. Unable to accept his…
- Episode 8: That Guy... Burning Man Carlos Dec 1, 1980 · 25m Danpei closes the gym and disappears to make Joe realize that his career is over. However, Joe refuses to give up boxing and continues to train. He catches Carlos Rivera's second match on…
- Episode 9: And then... The Beast Revived Dec 8, 1980 · 25m Joe is slowly released from the ghost of Toru Rikiishi during his heated spar against Carlos. After realizing Joe can punch his opponent's temple again, Danpei reopens the gym and the two…
- Episode 10: The Christmas Eve Gift Dec 15, 1980 · 25m It'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-covered park, Joe challenges Carlos to a fight to…
- Episode 11: Beginning of the Struggle... Carlos VS Joe Dec 22, 1980 · 25m As 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 on a heated and breathtaking fight. However…
- Episode 12: Night of the Snow Storm... The Endless Fight Dec 29, 1980 · 25m Joe loses consciousness after being hit with Carlos' powerful uppercut. However, he refuses to go down without spending every last ounce of his strength. Carlos' "invincible punch"…
- Episode 13: The Tange Gym... Is Indestructable Jan 5, 1981 · 25m With Joe's bout against Carlos now over, Joe, Danpei and the people from the neighborhood are busy organizing Nishi's retirement party. However, unbeknownst to everyone, Nishi was…
- Episode 14: Where is... Joe's Youth? Jan 12, 1981 · 25m Joe visits the Shiraki Gym to pick up his prize money. There, he learns the World Champion had defeated Carlos. Joe also learns Carlos had become incapacitated as a boxer and that he was…
- Episode 15: For Whose sake...? Deadly Rush Jan 19, 1981 · 25m Without a boxing club willing to organize a bout against Joe, Danpei visits Yoko for help. However, instead of organizing a bout against a Japanese boxer, she chooses Usman Somkit, the…
- Episode 16: Distant Aim... Road to the World Jan 26, 1981 · 25m With a lightening fast victory against Usman Somkit, all eyes are back on Joe. Meanwhile, Joe finally gets the opportunity to watch the gut-wrenching bout between Carlos and Jose Mendoza…
- Episode 17: A Figure Seen... A Great Target Feb 2, 1981 · 25m Joe steps onto the gym scale and makes an unwelcome discovery. Meanwhile, Kanto TV has announced their exclusive broadcasting rights to all of Joe's bouts in Japan. At the announcement…
- Episode 18: Those Knuckles... The Mark's Message Feb 9, 1981 · 25m Joe 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. When in fact, Kim is eager to take on Joe, as…
- Episode 19: Fighting Machine... Dragon Kim Feb 16, 1981 · 25m With 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 secretly gathers information about Joe. Joe and…
- Episode 20: My Bantamweight... Weight Loss Challenge Feb 23, 1981 · 25m Despite the match being three weeks away, Joe is struggling to lose weight. Desperate to lose weight, he turns the gym into a dangerously hot sauna. After almost passing out, Danpei urges…
- Episode 21: Rikiishi... I Hear the Song Mar 2, 1981 · 25m With Danpei vehemently against Joe's dangerous weight loss, Joe leaves the Tange Gym. He visits the Shiraki Gym and locks himself up in the very same room where Toru Rikiishi once starved…
- Episode 22: And... The Morning's Measurement Mar 9, 1981 · 25m After a grueling weight loss regimen, Joe finally loses enough weight to stay in the bantamweight class. However, during the official weigh-in, Joe discovers he is actually over the weight…
- Episode 23: The Burning Beast... And Ice Mar 16, 1981 · 25m With 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 to the same restaurant, asks Joe if he could…
- Episode 24: The Gong Chimes.. The Ring of the Devil Mar 23, 1981 · 25m Kim's manager confidently predicts Kim's victory during the pre-fight press interview. Danpei and Nishi encourage Joe in the locker room, but Joe is not his usual self. Unsurprisingly, Kim…
- Episode 25: In Round 6... A Miracle Occurred Mar 30, 1981 · 25m Joe has fought beyond his limit, yet he refuses to go down. Unable to comprehend how Joe can continue to fight, Kim slowly becomes unhinged and resorts to using his deadly technique known…
- Episode 26: A Champion... And a Loser's Glory Apr 6, 1981 · 25m With is victory over Kim, Joe is now the OPBF Champion. His next goal is to defeat Jose Mendoza, the World Bantamweight Champion who crushed Carlos. Then one day, Joe learns about a…
- Episode 27: Boxing... A Requiem Apr 13, 1981 · 25m Joe 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 at a boxing gym, and is no longer a Yakuza…
- Episode 28: José... In Hawaii Apr 20, 1981 · 25m As 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 reluctant about the fight, but quickly changes his mind…
- Episode 29: Yabuki's... New Defense Apr 27, 1981 · 25m Knowing Jose is watching from the ringside, Joe predicts a two round K.O. victory. However, Joe quickly realizes that defeating his Hawaiian challenger will be harder than he originally…
- Episode 30: Grand Champion... José May 4, 1981 · 25m After successfully defending his title, Joe is eager to challenge Jose more than ever. Then one day, Yoko invites Joe to spend some time with Jose and his family on a horse ranch. Joe…
- Episode 31: Meaning... of the V Sign May 11, 1981 · 25m As 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 construction is finally complete and Danpei…
- Episode 32: Farewell... Dear Old Things May 18, 1981 · 25m Jose, the WBC World Champion must fight Harold Gomez, the WBA World Champion in a unification bout to determine the true World Bantamweight Champion. Meanwhile, Joe, the OPBF Champion and…
- Episode 33: The 13th King Comes From America!? May 25, 1981 · 25m Leon dominates the fight and Joe is on defense. However, Leon’s underhanded tactics light a fire inside Joe and the fight quickly becomes a fierce and tightly contested battle. With no…
- Episode 34: He... Fell with the Card Jun 1, 1981 · 25m Jose, the WBC World Champion and Gomez, the WBA World Champion will fight head to head to determine the true World Bantamweight Champion. Joe, who has won his right to challenge the winner…
- Episode 35: The Champion ...Alone Jun 8, 1981 · 25m Yoko, 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 Joe fights one last bout before his title match…
- Episode 36: Yoko's... New Attempt Jun 15, 1981 · 25m Harimau, 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 Tange Club to introduce him to Joe, but Joe…
- Episode 37: The Wild Child… Harimao Jun 22, 1981 · 25m Joe is humiliatingly caught off guard by Harimau, not once, but twice. Admitting he’s lost his street fighting instincts, Joe asks Goromaki Gondo, a Yakuza henchman for his help. Invited…
- Episode 38: Unexpected Visitor... Gondo Goromaki Jun 29, 1981 · 25m The bout between Joe, the Brawler and Harimau, the Wild Beast begins. At first, Joe struggles to keep up with Harimau’s agility and speed. However, Harimau proves to be no match against…
- Episode 39: Two Beasts... in the Jungle Jul 6, 1981 · 25m Yoko arranges Carlos to be admitted into a hospice to recuperate. However, Dr. Kinninski, the world’s leading authority on punch-drunk syndrome delivers the devastating diagnoses that…
- Episode 40: Joe Fired Up… The Target is Near Jul 13, 1981 · 25m Noriko 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 arrives in Japan just two days after their bout has…
- Episode 41: José arrives in Japan… The Match Date Approaches! Jul 20, 1981 · 25m Noriko 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 arrives in Japan just two days after their bout has…
- Episode 42: A Shock… Yoko's Premonition Jul 27, 1981 · 25m After noticing Joe might also be suffering from punch-drunk syndrome, Yoko asks Dr. Kinninski for his professional opinion. Dr. Kinninski is reluctant to give a concrete diagnosis without…
- Episode 43: Joe and Danpei... Two Everyday People Aug 3, 1981 · 25m In 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. Desperate to tell Joe about his health, Yoko…
- Episode 44: Yoko... Her Love Aug 10, 1981 · 25m On 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 Carlos. She learns Joe is well aware of what is…
- Episode 45: Joe VS. José... The Gong of the Match Rings Aug 17, 1981 · 25m Joe and Jose finally face off in the ring. With his impenetrable defense, Jose dodges Joe’s attacks while hitting him with his own punches. After receiving countless blows and unable to…
- Episode 46: The Violent... Endless Fight to the Death Aug 24, 1981 · 25m Jose 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 punch-drunk syndrome. Jose moves to Joe’s blind spot…
- Episode 47: The Great End Aug 31, 1981 · 25m No one doubts Jose’s victory, but something begins to change. While, Jose is unable to knockout Joe completely, Joe masters Jose’s corkscrew punch and continues to fight with a blatant…