The Best Episodes Written By Yoshimi Shinozaki

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   10.0/10(1 votes)

   #1 - And Then, He Returned...

   S2:E110/13/1980

   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 opponent who has become a Yakuza muscleman and Goromaki Gondo, a henchman from an opposing Yakuza group.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki
2. 

   10.0/10(1 votes)

   #2 - One Man, One Flower... Venture into the Ring

   S2:E210/20/1980

   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 several months, Joe proves his punches are still as powerful as ever in his spar against Nishi. The bell to Joe's first comeback match echoes through the hall.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki
3. 

   10.0/10(1 votes)

   #3 - The Phantom... Strike the Temple!

   S2:E511/10/1980

   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 weakness in the ring. To prove them wrong, Joe unleashes a punch to Harajima's temple, the same punch that killed Toru Rikiishi. However, an unexpected physical reaction suddenly overwhelms Joe.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki
4. 

   10.0/10(1 votes)

   #4 - Howl... Dogs Will Bite

   S2:E611/17/1980

   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 Carlos Rivera, the world's No. 6 bantamweight boxer from Venezuela, watches from the ringside.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki
5. 

   10.0/10(1 votes)

   #5 - And then... The Beast Revived

   S2:E912/8/1980

   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 go see Carlos's bout. Before his bout against Tiger Ozaki, Carlos searches Joe out of the crowd and predicts a one round K.O. victory.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki
6. 

   10.0/10(1 votes)

   #6 - The Christmas Eve Gift

   S2:E1012/15/1980

   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 settle who is best. However, Carlos has another plan.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki
7. 

   10.0/10(1 votes)

   #7 - The Tange Gym... Is Indestructable

   S2:E131/5/1981

   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 struggling to accept that he could no longer physically box. At his retirement party, Nishi asks Joe to spar with him one last time.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki
8. 

   10.0/10(1 votes)

   #8 - Where is... Joe's Youth?

   S2:E141/12/1981

   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 to blame. Seeing the pain in Joe's eyes, Noriko suggests he quit boxing.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki
9. 

   10.0/10(1 votes)

   #9 - Distant Aim... Road to the World

   S2:E161/26/1981

   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, the World Bantamweight Champion. Joe vows to avenge Carlos, but before he can challenge Jose he must defeat Tarny Aronzo, the OPBF's No. 3 boxer from the Philippines and climb the ranks.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki
10. 

    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #10 - A Figure Seen... A Great Target

    S2:E172/2/1981

    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 party, Joe notices an unlikely man standing amongst the crowd. Who is the uninvited guest and what is his objective?

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki
11. 

    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #11 - And... The Morning's Measurement

    S2:E223/9/1981

    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 limit and that Danpei had altered the scale back at the gym. With only a few hours left until the final weigh-in, Joe resorts to drastic measures knowing full well that it might kill him.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki
12. 

    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #12 - The Burning Beast... And Ice

    S2:E233/16/1981

    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 join him. Seated across from Joe, Kim begins to tell him about his past. What horrifying truth about his past will Kim reveal to Joe?

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki
13. 

    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #13 - José... In Hawaii

    S2:E284/20/1981

    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 when he learns Jose is also having a bout in Hawaii.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki
14. 

    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #14 - Yabuki's... New Defense

    S2:E294/27/1981

    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 thought.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki
15. 

    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #15 - Farewell... Dear Old Things

    S2:E325/18/1981

    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 now the World’s No. 5 boxer, must defeat Leon Smiley.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki
16. 

    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #16 - The 13th King Comes From America!?

    S2:E335/25/1981

    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 knockout punch from either side, the winner is determined by points.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki
17. 

    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #17 - He... Fell with the Card

    S2:E346/1/1981

    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 of the unification bout, flies to Las Vegas to see Jose and Gomez’

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki
18. 

    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #18 - The Wild Child… Harimao

    S2:E376/22/1981

    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 by Joe, Gondo and his subordinates show up at the Tange Gym.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki
19. 

    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #19 - Unexpected Visitor... Gondo Goromaki

    S2:E386/29/1981

    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 Joe, who has regained his instincts as a former street fighter.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki
20. 

    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #20 - Two Beasts... in the Jungle

    S2:E397/6/1981

    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 Carlos is suffering from a severe case of punch-drunk syndrome.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki
21. 

    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #21 - Joe and Danpei... Two Everyday People

    S2:E438/3/1981

    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 tracks down Joe and visits the mountain lodge.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki
22. 

    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #22 - Yoko... Her Love

    S2:E448/10/1981

    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 happening to his body, and that he is going to fight Jose regardless.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Yoshimi Shinozaki