Chapter 503

Memories of the Hat
Chapter Info
Next	Chapter 504
Chapter	503
Previous	Chapter 502
Volume	56
Japanese Title	帽子の思い出
Romanized Title	Bōshi no Omoide
Pages	20
Arc	Dragon Slayer Arc
Episode	Round 1 (Season 3) (p.16-19)
Issue	Weekly Shōnen Magazine #52, 2000 (cover date): December 6, 2000
Release (JP)	November 22, 2000

Memories of the Hat is Round 503 of Jōji Morikawa's Hajime no Ippo manga series.

Details

• Characters Introduced: Sakuma, Kazuo Makunouchi
• Title Page Character(s): Mamoru Takamura, Tatsuya Kimura, Masaru Aoki, Genji Kamogawa, Manabu Itagaki, Haruhiko Yagi, Shinoda

Summary

Looking at the venue's ring, Kimura is worried that fighting harsh battles that gets him constantly beaten on will destroy his body. Kamogawa asks Yamaguchi about the diagnosis. Yamaguchi claims that while she isn't an expert on brain damage, Ippo's body must be hurting, as any more of the New Dempsey Roll would have had permanent damage. Yamaguchi adds that he must take time to rest, but when he recovers, she predicts he will do the same kind of punches and his body will continue to suffer. Takamura believes that all athletes in every sports are ticking time bombs and hope the bomb never goes off, and if they want to complain about the pain or that it is tough, they should just quit. Yamaguchi notes that if he strengthens his back and legs, he can throw those punches without any pain. Hearing Aoki, Itagaki, and Kimura say that if he does that, no one in the country would be able to defeat his Dempsey Roll, Kamogawa thinks that any more matches within the country is meaningless, so it is time to think about his next step. While Ippo and Kumi walks to the former's house, Kumi asks Ippo why he started boxing, as she thinks he isn't suited for it because he is always kind and gentle, and that him becoming champion is enough. Ippo claims that it isn't enough, as he started boxing to become strong. While Ippo believes he is stronger physically now, he still hasn't caught up to a certain someone whose power isn't just physical, but the strength to live. When Ippo and Kumi arrives to the house, Ippo soon passes out, and Hiroko puts him to bed with a wet towel over his head. Kumi and Hiroko comment about how they get worried about Mashiba and Ippo respectively. Kumi notices a family photo that has a young Ippo and his father, Kazuo, and Hiroko notes how Ippo has always been shy and relied on his father, who was probably more suited to be a boxer than Ippo. Kumi states how no matter how much she worries about Ippo, he will never stop boxing. Hiroko asks her if she wants him to stop, since she has to worry about her brother and Ippo. Hiroko adds that no matter what anyone says, Ippo will never stop boxing, as he is more stubborn than anyone, not wanting to quit or take the easy way out. Hiroko grabs Ippo's fishing cap and tells Kumi about how it is one of Ippo's unforgettable memories.

Hiroko remembers the past. Hiroko and a young Ippo is at the port when Kazuo arrives with his new boat as well as his own fishing cap. Kazuo tells Hiroko that he will be done as a fisherman after his next trip to be able to be at home more and train Ippo, planning to open up a fishing ship store as he can't see himself being an office worker. Kazuo heads off for his last trip for a week, where a rough storm is about to form. Later at the house, while Ippo is excited that his father will be at home more after his trip, Hiroko is worried more than usual, as the storm must be worse at the sea. At the sea, Kazuo and his crew have to board a life boat as their boat is about to sink. However, the fisherman, Sakuma has his legs stuck under a heavy container. Kazuo stays on the boat to move the container off his legs and gives him a life jacket. While Sakuma was able to get off the boat, Kazuo was unable to in time, and is left on the sinking boat as a wave separates him from the rest of the crew. Kazuo vows to himself that he will make it home, screaming Ippo's name.