Takara Fansubs Translation: Shippothekit
Takara Fansubs Encoding: Bader
Look up at the stars
An infinite number of scattered lights
Floating above the ring
Today rainbow-coloured sweat will fly
It's not bright tonight! My life
At this moment is only small
Like a lit firework
Our red faces flare up
I don't understand tonight! Now I'm
Suited for this lonely smell
Hit the waves and break them
Things like kindness have no meaning
Look. That's Joe Yabuki, right?
Yabuki?
He fought against Carlos Rivera a month ago!
Ah, yes! On the last day of the year.
I saw it on TV. It was spectacular!
Episode 14: Where Is... Joe's Youth?
Come in.
President, a visitor from Tange gym.
Mr. Tange has finally come to see me.
No, it's not him.
He was busy, I've come in his place.
Yabuki...
You have to pay me half of the fee for the fight against Carlos.
That's why I came.
First, make yourself comfortable.
Mr. Matsuki, offer him a drink.
No need. As soon as I have the money I'm leaving.
Please bring two coffees.
Yes, ma'am.
And let me know when the telex arrives.
Understood.
It's today... The gong is going to ring soon
for the bantamweight world champion.
Carlos is going to win.
I'm sure of it.
Come on, let's get this over with.
Here you are...
Take your coffee.
Here.
Give me the receipt after.
Ask Mr. Tange.
Alright.
You're not in shape.
No, I'm in great shape.
I just don't seem like it because I'm drained.
I fought with all my strength against Carlos.
I'm still drained.
I don't need anything anymore.
I'm empty like a snake's skin.
I like being like this.
Good. You're much better, then.
Hey, wait a sec.
What's this?
Your entire fee.
Quit joking around, what is this?
It's much more than expected for the second half.
Five or six times more.
I'd like you to accept it.
It would please me very much.
It would please you? What are you talking about?
Carlos and I didn't fight to please you.
That's not what I was suggesting.
So, why are you doing this?
For you to take ownership of the fight between Carlos and I,
that we sacrificed our lives for?
Yabuki!
Redo the cheque with the amount agreed on.
You're only the sponsor for the fight against Carlos.
Give me what I'm owed. No more, no less.
It was a clean match. No tricks.
Two true boxers who went to the end of their strength.
That's it! It was nothing like the one with Rikiishi.
Nothing like the one with Rikiishi.
It's not the same!
So, don't try to mess around with things.
I'm not saying it just for my sake, but for your future too.
The match doesn't concern you.
Carlos and I fought properly.
I deserve to have the memory of a good fight.
I didn't mean to offend you.
I'm sorry.
It's always the same...
Every time we see each other,
the conversation turns bad.
Later.
Excuse me. President, the telex has arrived.
Already? That was awfully fast.
The gong just rang.
After 1 minute and 33 seconds in the first round,
Carlos Rivera...
Carlos Rivera won? By K.O.?
No. The champion, Jose Mendoza, defeated him by K.O.
He lost by K.O.?
Carlos Rivera has lost?
Carlos Rivera lost by K.O., in only 1 minute, 33 seconds?
That's absurd! There must be a mistake.
President!
Here's the interview with his manager, Robert.
"Carlos Rivera wasn't defeated by champion Jose Mendoza,"
"he was already demolished by an unknown Japanese man, Joe Yabuki."
Carlos was gravely wounded during his match against Yabuki...
His motor nerves aren't functioning anymore.
He was so punch-drunk that
he could not get up or down stairs.
Hey, Mr. Robert...
the champion Jose Mendoza is ready to continue the match against Carlos.
Do you accept as his manager?
No. Carlos' career has ended.
Joe Yabuki has made him an empty shell.
Carlos is half dead.
It's all over for him...
Goodbye... My Carlos Rivera.
His motor nerves aren't functioning anymore.
He was so punch-drunk that
he could not get up or down stairs.
At the airport...
Carlos already was...
Wolf...
I broke Wolf's chin and he stopped boxing.
And Rikiishi...
I killed Rikiishi who was so precious to me.
Now...
Now, Carlos!
See ya.
CARLOS DEFEATED BY K.O.
AN EMPTY SHELL? THE END OF HIS CAREER?
Maichou Journal
There is much talk about you.
They have named you: The Japanese Crownless King...
Your thoughts?
You were his second last opponent...
Carlos wasn't defeated by Jose Mendoza,
but by Joe Yabuki!
Let me through.
Your next match has already been organized, yes?
Things aren't that simple.
Joe is the number 6 world champion, we don't want to make a decision that quickly.
"Don't want to"?
Mr. Tange, don't you mean "can't",
not "want".
The Messenger from Hell
is now named Joe the Deadly. The club leaders avoid its use.
I don't think so.
After Wolf Kanagushi and Toru Rikiishi,
it was Carlos Rivera's turn!
Yabuki is the one for us, the knife to his opponents.
Hey, you! Try to imagine how Joe feels.
See you soon.
In the ring, I hope.
Joe...
I will do everything to organize you another fight.
I think what you need, is to go back into the ring.
"Joe the Deadly"? You say!
Listen. Don't feel guilty.
Don't think about it.
Well, I'm going to the Nakano club.
Our president has always had strange ideas.
First Rikiishi,
now Carlos Rivera...
Every boxer in her care has ended up in a wreck.
She's just looking for boxers to sacrifice to Joe the Deadly.
- Hey, you! - Mr. Matsuki!
What did you say about the President?
Nothing.
Don't say anything to the boxers.
Yes, excuse us.
We're sorry.
Bantamweight champion: Jose Mendoza
- Yabuki! - Hey!
Where are you going?
To play pachinko, probably. You?
To the gym. This is for you.
- Gramps left, there's no one there. - Oh?
You know, it hasn't rained in a while.
That's true. Silly me.
Look, there's sun.
No need for this then.
Noriko...
Want to go to the park?
Yes!
I'm glad.
I've never gone for a walk with you.
Yabuki, you like this park, right?
When I was a schoolgirl, I saw you here often.
You were always in this park...
You dreamt, sitting on this swing.
I don't particularly like this park.
You seem really tired, Yabuki.
I'm not tired.
Yabuki, you want some?
I made some sandwiches.
The ones on the right are tomato.
I know you like them.
They're good.
Yabuki... Are you going to quit boxing?
Can I have an egg one?
Of course.
Hey, Yabuki...
Your egg sandwiches are good too.
Are you listening to me? I said: "Are you going to quit boxing?"
Why?
Because the condition you're in worries me.
If you keep boxing, I know...
that sooner or later...
you'll suffer.
So...
I want you to...
Boxing is...
Boxing is a world where you must eliminate the weak to survive.
Otherwise, it'll be you that's eliminated.
So, you have to keep on eliminating them, by sacrificing your life!
Though... It's also true
that if you see your opponent bleed or even die,
it's traumatizing.
Despite that, it's impossible to stop.
It's a strange comparison... Like a criminal condemned to death,
a boxer who's shed blood
is condemned to be a boxer for the rest of his life...
That's what I believe.
I do not have the right to complain or quit.
For Rikiishi who I killed, for Wolf who I broke his jaw
and for Carlos Rivera who I destroyed, I must continue.
You torment yourself too much!
Yabuki!
I assure you!
After his draw match against the world title,
Joe has received many requests, and they're still coming!
- So... Nakano Boxing Club
...would it interest you to have one of your boxers as Joe's opponent?
I might as well open the door to all candidates.
I will choose the best opponent for Joe, that's my project!
Since there are so many candidates,
you shouldn't bother to look in my gym.
Uhh but...
Stop lying.
I know that the other gyms avoid Yabuki.
In any case, I refuse.
I can't destroy my boxers.
Not that one or that one.
Is there any great gym left in Tokyo?
Let's see... The next one has just opened,
there wouldn't be a bantamweight at his level...
even if there was, Joe would refuse to fight them.
He already has a lot of history with that gym.
But I could try it anyways...
Here she is.
That's the whole story. I'm ashamed,
but if you accept to convince
the leaders of the clubs that avoid Joe,
they could possibly change their minds.
If I intervened, I'd only make things worse.
I'm like Yabuki.
He and I are rejected by the community.
Right?
Don't worry.
We're rejected in Japan,
but this isn't the only country that boxes.
Mr. Tange,
you should aim higher. Look overseas.
But... I can't negotiate with foreigners.
And I don't have the money.
- Yabuki should... - Yes?
Yabuki should aim to fight against Jose Mendoza.
That is my opinion.
Carlos Rivera is probably... no, definitely waiting impatiently
for the day when Joe Yabuki will fight against Jose Mendoza.
In any case, I have the intention of helping you obtain Yabuki's next match.
Don't worry.
I'll make sure Yabuki doesn't find out.
Yabuki, don't you feel alone?
People your age run about the city and the country...
They take advantage of their youth.
But you waste all your time
dark in a gym that smells like vaseline
and pine resin.
You jump rope, lift weights
or punch the bag.
When you come into the light,
you go into a cage called a ring, beneath a blinding light.
There, you fight like a dog and leave covered in blood.
And you can't even eat or drink what you want,
so your body is perfectly fit.
What a miserable life, it's tragic!
It's too grim a life for someone so young.
Noriko, I misspoke earlier.
I don't box out of obligation or guilt,
it's because I love it.
Noriko, I'm speaking sincerely.
I'm being honest.
Of course... I believe you.
Still...
Taking advantage of my youth doesn't mean the same thing for me.
This is how I see it: I take on fire like a torch
in the ring, covered in blood.
It has nothing to do
with small pleasures that have no life, no flame.
In a flash,
I see glowing sparks.
But in the end...
nothing remains but white ash.
There's not a bit of ember left,
only ashes, all white.
Rikiishi...
Carlos too, definitely felt that!
I don't and will never understand you.
Noriko...
Yes... There's not a bit of ember left,
only ashes, all white.
Sad memories are hidden by your shoulders
You are walking alone in life
Now sweet comfort
Shouldn't hurt your back
Bitter tears overflow
Just pretend you don't notice
Bitter tears overflow
Just pretend you don't notice