Wiki Ippo
Wiki Ippo

Tanaka (田中, Tanaka) is the president of the Tanaka Transportation, where he has employed Ryō Mashiba. He helped create the "Hell Society", a fan club for Mashiba that cheers for him in his matches.

Background[]

As the president of Tanaka Transportation, he hired Ryō Mashiba after his fellow probation officer, Mizutani told him about him.[2] He kept Mashiba despite his rough exterior anti-social behaviour that tends to annoy his co-workers. He helped Mashiba and his sister from time to time.

History[]

Part I[]

Rookie King Tournament: Finals Arc[]

Tanaka told Kumi that he planned to hold a party if Mashiba Ryō was able to win the East Japan Rookie King Tournament. A few days later, Tanaka congratulated Mashiba on his hard work, when his sister arrived to drop off his training equipment. Tanaka joked with Mashiba for having a cute sister drop stuff off for him, but Mashiba ignored him as he leaves to sign out, which Tanaka found irritating. Kumi apologised to him for it, and she mentioned that Mashiba actually respected him since he never been able to keep a job for long. After he heard that, Tanaka was embarrassed, but he told Kumi that he doesn't care what happened in the past with Mashiba, but he was glad that Mashiba was working hard now. He continued to praise Mashiba for being a boxer.

Tanaka attended Mashiba match against Makunouchi Ippo in the East Japan Rookie King Tournament final. He arrived late, and noticed Kumi not watching the match after seeing the beating her brother was receiving. Tanaka talked her into returning to the match and cheer for him. Despite their cheers, Mashiba ended up losing the fight.

Execution Arc[]

When Mashiba was scheduled to fight against Kimura Tatsuya as the junior lightweight JBC champion, Tanaka asked Mashiba to send him twenty tickets so that he and other co-workers can cheer for him as having the Japanese champion working at their job is an honour. Tanaka then watched Mashiba's match against Kimura while sitting next to Kumi. Tanaka watched as Mashiba wins the match.

Part II[]

Second Coming of Death Arc[]

Hell Society - 02

Tanaka cheering for Mashiba in his match against Domingo.

During Mashiba's one year ban from boxing after his match against Sawamura Ryūhei, Tanaka formed the Mashiba fan club called "Hell Society". On the day of Mashiba's OPBF lightweight title match against Aaron Domingo, he went to the Kōrakuen Hall with the fan club and cheered for Mashiba. The match ended in Mashiba's victory by knockout in the tenth round, making him the champion.

Battle of the Beasts Arc[]

When Mashiba's first OPBF lightweight title defence match against Romeo arrived, Tanaka went to the Yokohama Arena to cheer for Mashiba while sitting next to Kumi. The match ended in Mashiba's victory by knockout in the fifth round.

Part III[]

Second Step Arc[]

Tanaka, along with the Hell Society, went to the Kōrakuen Hall to cheer for Mashiba during his second OPBF lightweight title defence match against Iga Shinobu, which ended in Mashiba's victory by knockout in the third round.

Grim Reaper to the World Arc[]

Mashiba's encouragement party

Tanaka at Mashiba's encouragement party.

With Mashiba having a world title preliminary match against former WBA lightweight champion Juan García, he had a encouragement party held for him. Tanaka went to the party, and, afterwards had Mashiba take his daughter to her house while he went to the after party. On the day of Mashiba's world title preliminary match against Juan, Tanaka went to the Kōrakuen Hall to watch the match. He watched as the match ended in Mashiba's victory by knockout in the seventh round.

Judgement Day Arc[]

Tanaka and Rie telling Kumi to go to Mashiba

Tanaka telling Kumi to go to Mashiba.

After Mashiba finished his shift, Tanaka informed him that they put up posters for his WBA lightweight world title match against Marcus Rosario, noting that they have high hopes for him and people are already asking to buy tickets. On the night of Mashiba's world title match against Rosario, Tanaka went to the Yokohama Arena. He sat with Rie, Kumi, and Ippo at the audience seats to watch the match. After the second round, Tanaka asked Ippo what he was signalling with the thumbs up towards Mashiba when he was looking at him. Ippo claimed that he just did a thumbs up and Mashiba must have been just looking at Kumi. Tanaka asked Ippo how the match will turn out from a professional's perspective. Ippo believed that it is still too early to tell. Tanaka ordered the Mashiba fans to cheer and give Mashiba their strength. He watched as the match ended in the seventh round by TKO in Mashiba's defeat. As the unconscious Mashiba was carried out of the ring in a stretcher, Tanaka suggested for Kumi to go to him in his waiting room.

Appearance[]

Tanaka is a middle aged man with short dark hair and a thin moustache. At his job, his attire consists of a button up shirt under his light brown jacket. While cheering for Mashiba, he wears a white wrap over his forehead with the kanji for "Hell Society" (地獄会, Jigoku-kai, along with a kimono with a button up shirt under it.

Personality[]

As mentioned by Kumi, Tanaka is a kind person who offered to help the Mashiba siblings when they needed him the most. He is shown to be a very calm and comprehensive man, who sees beyond appearances and notices the good inside Ryō.

Etymology[]

  • The surname Tanaka means "field, rice paddy" (田) (ta) and "middle" (中) (naka), which literally means "dweller in the rice fields" altogether.

Gallery[]