One Step Further is Round 75 of the Hajime no Ippo anime, which is the adaptation of Jōji Morikawa's Hajime no Ippo series.
Details[]
- Characters Introduced: Wanpo
Summary[]
As the close range exchange continues, Sendō lands a clean left on Ippo's face, sending him back. As Sendō begins to throw a followup punch, he has flashbacks of how he became the man he is today in order to protect his loved ones, however, he never understood what it means to be strong. Ippo returns with a left and remembers how he got into boxing after meeting Takamura, trained everyday, and managed to gain confidence in himself, however, he never understood what it means to be strong. Both boxers tell themselves that they have to win to find their answer, and the sixth round comes to an end. The audience is shocked as neither boxer takes a seat at their corners. Umezawa wonders if Ippo is so tired that he won't stand up again if he sits down. Nekota believes that it could be part of the reason why, but it mostly is because they don't want to relax their willpower by resting. Both boxers think that the next round is the end as they don't have much energy left and plans to use their speciality: Sendō with his Smash and Ippo with his Dempsey Roll.
As the gong sounds to start the seventh round, Ippo and Sendō leave their corners. Kamogawa tells Yagi how he couldn't say anything to Ippo since he wore the face of someone who is prepared to end it in this round, believing that he will win and come back to him. The audience is shocked as Sendō instantly puts up a Cross-Arm Block, protecting his body. As Aoki and Kimura shouts out to Ippo to not back away as Sendō won't throw anything, Takamura explains to them that Sendō is storing up even the strength to throw a jab to score one strike in Ippo's windpipe to end the match. Ippo backs away, knowing that he is aiming for something as Sendō slowly approaches waiting for Ippo to come to him with his finishing blow. Ippo begins the movement leading into the Dempsey Roll, but Sendō stops it by pushing into him, making Kamogawa regret that he never found a way to make Sendō retreat for an effective Dempsey Roll. With Ippo's finishing blow ending in a failed attempt, Sendō goes for his own. His Smash lands on Ippo's face, but the damage is minimal, given the fact that Ippo lands a liver blow at the same time, further damaging Sendō's ribs. Ippo is the first to recover and delivers a right. He knows that it is his last chance, and attempts to finish it. As he rushes towards Sendō, he notices that his eyes still look alive.
Sendō begins to throw a Deadly Smash at the approaching Ippo. Ippo dodges the technique, and lands a liver blow that leaves Sendō in pain due to the already damaged ribs becoming further damaged. Ippo then uses Sakki when he faints a straight, causing Sendō's guard to leave an opening to deliver the Gazelle Punch. With Sendō now defenceless, Ippo begins his weaving in his final attempt, and initiates his Dempsey Roll. Sendō remembers his childhood and recalls the reasons why he was supposed to become stronger as the Dempsey Roll continuously lands on his face until Ippo sends him down to the canvas. After receiving Ippo's three most powerful attacks in a combination, Sendō seems unable to get up from the down. The audience is divided with some begging him to get up and other telling him to stay down. Ippo goes to a neutral corner as the count continues and reaches five, with no signs of Sendō moving. As Ippo asks himself once more "what it means to be strong", he remembers how he needs to win to get his answer. Ippo is shocked when Sendō stands up. As he struggles to remain awake, Sendō begins taking his fighting stance. Sendō tries to take his pose, but even Yanaoka recognises he has lost the fight and says he should close his eyes and rest. Sendō refuses to lose consciousness, and looks at Ippo until the end in order to not forget, before falling on the referee and losing the fight when the count reaches ten. TV Announcer then announces that the match is over and that a new champion is born.
The Kōrakuen Hall is shaking with the fans acclaiming the performances of both fighters and intensely cheering for their new champion. Ippo, who still can not believe he is the new champion, is congratulated by Sendō himself, who tells him to stand proud and promises to meet in the ring again. The former champion then leaves while the audience applauds him. Ippo is then presented with the JBC featherweight division champion belt, which he wears before raising both fists in the air in joy. He is asked to take a picture, so he takes his fighting pose, but Hachi jumps in and makes it in time to appear on the ring in Ippo's picture by his side. Now as the new champion, reporters try to interview Ippo in his waiting room in the venue, but Kamogawa kicks them out since Ippo is tired. Before sending Ippo off with Takamura, Aoki, and Kimura, Kamogawa tells him he did a good job. Outside the Kōrakuen Hall, Mari mentions to Fujii how she isn't sure how to fully describe the match in words. Fujii suggests for her to write it as she saw it and asks if she is worried about Sendō since he lost twice to the same opponent. which may massively wound his pride and natural charisma, and even make him retire. While on his way home, Sendō tries to avoid his fans in the train, but when Yanaoka stands in front of an automatic door, it opens revealing Sendō to the people. As he tries to apologise, they do not even allow him to finish when they tell him that it was his best performance and he has nothing to feel bad about. When Sendō arrives home, he goes straight to bed, but not before admitting to his grandmother that he is still weak. This causes her to address at a picture of his late parents and say that he came back just became a little stronger. Meanwhile at the Makunouchi Fishing Boat, Ippo sleeps in his room next to his new JBC champion belt.
Three days later, Ippo walks outside with Kamogawa on his way to his celebration party. Kamogawa informs him that two of Sendō's ribs were broken due to his liver blows, and asks if he found the answer to the question he asked after the fifth round. Ippo replies that he found nothing, so he will be needing more assistance on his way to an answer. As Ippo leaves, Kamogawa thinks that what Ippo is seeking is not something tangible, as if he is trying to grasp a cloud. He thinks that Ippo has chosen a path more difficult than obtaining any belt, hoping to help him find what he seeks while he is still alive. for is not a goal or an object, and that he may be on a road more difficult than claiming any title. Ippo enters the Sugar Ray, where Takamura, Aoki, Kimura, Kumi, Nekota, Yagi, and Shinoda are already partying. During the party, Ippo gives Kumi his first signature as the champion like he promised. After Ippo wears his new champion belt in front of everyone, Nekota gives Ippo a puppy that Hachi recently had as a present. While holding it, the puppy defecated on the champion belt. Takamura, Aoki, and Kimura laugh as Ippo cleans it off. Ippo sings karaoke until Takamura, Aoki, Kimura, and Nekota throws objects at him to make him stop.
Trivia[]
- The episode title is a pun on Ippo Makunouchi's given name, as "Ippo" (一歩) means "one step".
Anime-Manga Differences[]
See also: Anime-Manga Differences
- While Sendō was stepping out of the ring, in the manga, the audience cheered with a "Sendō" chant. In the anime, they only clapped their hands.
- After the match, in the manga, Kamogawa talks to Ippo about Sendō's condition and if he found the answer he was looking for after the celebration party. In the anime, Kamogawa asks Ippo before the celebration party.
- Yagi was present in the conversation in the manga, while absent in the anime.
- The celebration is shortened and without dialogue in the anime.
Credits[]
Characters are named as they appear in the credits.
Episode Credits[]
| Role | English Name | Japanese | Rōmaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screenplay | Kazuyuki Fudeyasu | 筆安 一幸 | Fudeyasu Kazuyuki |
| Storyboard | Ken'ichi Kawamura Satoshi Nishimura |
川村 賢一 西村 聡 |
Kawamura Ken'ichi Nishimura Satoshi |
| Director | Kentarō Nakamura | 中村 賢太郎 | Nakamura Kentarō |
| Animation Director | Daisuke Yoshida Hiroshi Kōjina |
吉田 大輔 神志那 弘志 |
Yoshida Daisuke Kōjina Hiroshi |
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