A New Step is Round 1 of the Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger anime, which is the adaptation of Jōji Morikawa's Hajime no Ippo series.
Details[]
- Characters Introduced: Arnie Gregory, Mr. Sakaguchi
- Locations Introduced: Yamada Boxing Gym
Summary[]
At the Makunouchi Fishing Boat, Ippo helps Hiroko, Umezawa, and the customers get the boat ready. As Ippo sends them off, he is embarrassed by being called "champion" by them, but they believe he should show some pride since he won his first JBC featherweight title defence match. At the Kamogawa gym, Yagi watches as Ippo does mitt practice with Kamogawa, Takamura hits the sand bags and Shinoda having Aoki and Kimura do shadowboxing. Afterwards, Shinoda and Yagi mention to Kamogawa in his office how Ippo has the prestige of being the champion now, Takamura has a match before his world title match coming up soon, and Aoki and Kimura are both motivated to work hard due to their influence. Kamogawa doesn't see Ippo as "prestigious," as he is a far cry from acting like a real champion, and that Ippo, Aoki, and Kimura need to aim higher, as they all have potential of reaching much greater glory than they could ever imagine. Kamogawa wishes for Shinoda, Yagi, and him to continue whipping the boxers into shape. In the Kamogawa gym's shower, Aoki asks Ippo about how Kumi is doing since Tomiko wanted to know. Aoki believes that it should be time for Ippo to tell her how he feels about her since he defended his JBC title. Takamura warns Ippo that her brother Mashiba might have something to say about it if he makes a move on her. Ippo becomes terrified at the thought of Mashiba wanting to kill him, but Takamura suggests that if Mashiba does show up, to knock him out with his "megaton punch" of the world heavyweight champion, grabbing Ippo's penis that he believes would knock Mashiba and Kumi out with one blow.
After getting out of the shower, Ippo, Takamura, and Aoki notice Kimura packing a bag. Kimura reveals to them that he will be sparing with Miyata since his OPBF title match will be coming up soon. While Ippo is excited for Miyata, Takamura thinks Ippo should show some guts and say that he will go and take the OPBF belt. When Ippo declines, Takamura asks if he wants to fight Miyata one day. Ippo answers that he would like to someday, but e blushes as he adds that Miyata is strong and cool. Aoki wonders if Ippo is going after both Kumi and Miyata, but Ippo claims that he just looks up to Miyata as a boxer. Kimura leaves the Kamogawa gym to spar with Miyata. Walking home, Ippo notices the tree where he caught the ten leaves. Ippo catches some leaves and remembers how it is where it all started, remembering his memories of Miyata. Ippo believes that Miyata can win his OPBF title match and become the champion.
At the Kawahara gym, Miyata goes down for the third time during his spar against Kimura, who is shocked by it and tells him to quit holding back. Miyata wonders why it seems like he is holding back. Miyata's father stops the spar, claiming that the title match is in one week and that Miyata will be doing light practice until then, not wanting him to get injured and ruin his title match. Kimura thinks that he must have gotten stronger, as he sparred Miyata to build his confidence, but it ended up working the other way around. Noticing Miyata's father glaring at him, Kimura states that Miyata must have been at the peak of exhaustion from his training, and if he was serious he would have been beaten. Miyata's father mentions that Miyata was serious and that was his full power at the featherweight class. He reveals that in their time overseas, Miyata had eleven matches in one year since they couldn't space them any further apart, as while a greater interval between matches would help recover from exhaustion and damage, it would have made it impossible to get his weight back down to 126 pounds (57 kg) for a match. He explains that it isn't a simple matter of gaining or losing weight anymore, Miyata's physique can't be allowed to leave the limits of the featherweight class. Kimura notices that Miyata is taller than him. When Kimura states that Miyata should stop worrying about being a featherweight since he could easily make it as a lightweight and may even make it to the world title in that weight class. Miyata's father points out that he has said the same thing to Miyata many times, which makes Kimura remember Miyata's rivalry with Ippo. As Kimura is worried about Miyata's chances in his title match, Miyata's father explains that the OPBF champion Arnie "Crocodile" Gregory is known for his powerful left and right hooks that can shatter bones. He adds that Gregory earned his nickname because his hooks strike with the strength of a crocodile's jaw. As Kimura gets more worried, Miyata apologises for worrying him so much. Miyata elaborates on his father's claim that he was at his "full featherweight power" in his spar, noting that while he was serious, it was still just sparring. He adds that weight control is like sharpening a pencil to him, focusing his mind by chipping away at his body and that sharpens his concentration that lets him see through every punch to a finer point. Miyata's father thinks about how much Miyata risks with each punch, it is like wagering on one's own soul, wondering how long he is going to fight like that.
At the Yamada gym, Gregory has a public sparring session. Gregory downs his sparring partner with a left and right hook combination as his manager stops the spar. Reporters at the gym such as Fujii and Mari are shocked by him knocking another sparring partner down. Fujii notes how Gregory is the type of boxer that pins down opponents using brute strength and his left and right hooks have impressive destructive power. Gregory's manager tells the reporters that he is looking for more brave challengers. Fujii mentions that Gregory's title defence against Miyata isn't over yet. The manager claims that he came to Japan because he thought it would be good for business, noting that there are strong boxers like Ippo and Date. Fujii and Mari become irritated by the manager's mocking of Japanese boxers. Mari tells the manager that Miyata is genuinely strong, warning that he will run circles around Gregory, who is proud of his brute force. The manager states that Japanese reporters must be blind, as Gregory has something special for Miyata, and while he can't show everyone now, they will see it in the match, calling it "Bloody Cross.' Fujii goes to the Kamogawa gym and reveals to the boxers about what the manager said, believing it to be a dangerous technique. Aoki believes that the "Cross" means the counter, as the Cross Counter gets it name from when the arms cross over, theorising that it must be a Cross Counter that is so intense it rains blood. Fujii points out that it Gregory doesn't seem like the type who uses counters, nor would he be able to compete with Miyata when it comes to counters. As Ippo is worried, and Kimura believes the manager is underestimating Miyata, Takamura comments that if Miyata loses, Ippo should go after Gregory. Ippo glares at Takamura, claiming that there will be no need for that since Miyata won't lose and tells Takamura to not say things that may jinx it. When Kimura asks Fujii what he thinks Miyata's chances are, Fujii claims that while they didn't see the full extent of Gregory's power, his power is on par with Ippo, however, he adds that Miyata has the advantage in speed and boxing sense, predicting Miyata winning by 7-3.
While doing roadwork for a while, Miyata notices that he hasn't sweat at all and his skin feels strange. He sees water nearby and wants to drink it since he is thirsty, but stops himself to continue his roadwork. When the day of the weigh-in arrives at the Kōrakuen Hall, after Gregory passes, Miyata passes as well at the full featherweight limit. Gregory's manager mentions to Miyata that he seems relieved to have passed his weigh-in. Miyata warns the manager that instead of worrying about Gregory's next opponent, he should worry about his next job, since Gregory won't have his belt anymore after the match. The manager thinks Miyata is rude and mentions to Gregory that he needs to be taught a lesson. The manager advises Gregory to be careful of Miyata's counters and believes Miyata won't last long because of his weight control. Gregory claims that if Miyata goes for a counter, the match will be over. The manager believes Gregory must mean the Bloody Cross, telling him that there will be no need to drag out the match. The next day, the OPBF featherweight title match arrives at the Kōrakuen Hall. In his waiting room, Miyata thinks about how he has fought in Thailand, South Korea, and the Philippines in order to catch up with Ippo to make sure that the next time they fight, he would be sure to win. He remembers learning how to throw the Jolt Counter, a counter with his entire body weight behind it, however, Ippo kept getting further ahead. He believes that getting the OPBF title will put him in a comparable position, which is what the OPBF title match means to him. As his father informs him that it is time for him to go to the ring, Miyata thinks that it is time for him to fill the gap between Ippo and him.
Anime-Manga Differences[]
See also: Anime-Manga Differences
- The anime adds a scene of Ippo helping at the Makunouchi Fishing Boat.
- The anime adds a scene of Ippo, Takamura, Aoki, and Kimura training at the Kamogawa gym as Yagi watches.
- The anime adds a scene of Kamogawa, Shinoda, and Yagi talking about Ippo, Takamura, Aoki, and Kimura at the Kamogawa gym's office.
- The anime adds a scene of Ippo, Takamura, and Aoki in the shower.
- The anime adds a scene of Ippo going to the tree where he caught ten leaves and remembers his memories with Miyata.
- In the manga, Ippo found out from Aoki that Kimura left the gym to spar with Miyata. In the anime, Kimura was at the gym and told the gym members that he is leaving to spar with Miyata.
- In the manga, Kimura left the Kawahara gym after Miyata told him to not worry about him and to keep what happen in their spar a secret from Ippo. In the anime, Kimura stays in the gym throughout Miyata's conversation with his father.
- In the manga, Gregory went to the Kawahara gym for his public spar. In the anime, he went to the Yamada gym.
- Miyata Senior's comments about Gregory's spar and Mr. Sakaguchi are removed in the anime due to Gregory sparring at the Yamada gym in the anime.
- The scene with Miyata talking to his father before the spar against Kimura was removed.
- The scene where Kimura arrives at the Kamogawa gym and gets mad at Ippo was removed.
- The scene with Miyata and his father eating at the Restaurant Monza Italia after the weigh-in was removed.
Credits[]
Characters are named as they appear in the credits.
Episode Credits[]
| Role | English Name | Japanese | Rōmaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screenplay | Kazuyuki Fudeyasu | ふでやす かずゆき | Fudeyasu Kazuyuki |
| Storyboard | Jun Shishido | 宍戸 淳 | Shishido Jun |
| Director | Tomoya Takahashi | 高橋 知也 | Takahashi Tomoya |
| Animation Director | Noriyuki Fukuda | ふくだ のりゆき | Fukuda Noriyuki |
[]
| Bloody Cross Arc | |||||||||||||||||||
| Manga Volumes | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 36 | 37 | |||||||||||||||||
| Manga Rounds | |||||||||||||||||||
| 315 | 316 | 317 | 318 | 319 | 320 | 321 | 322 | 323 | 324 | ||||||||||
| 325 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Anime Rounds | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||