Takara Fansubs Translation: Shippothekit
Takara Fansubs Encoding: Bader
I dreamed of you
Hearing the memories
It was of my youth
That you sang
Midnight blues
Hey hey hey blues
Just like junkie blues
Your shout will tremble the human heart
He's been hurt, crazy lazy blues
Midnight blues
Let me hear it!
Hey hey hey blues
Still rollin' the blues
Your heat is unforgettable
- Where is the champ? - In the training room.
Okay.
Hey, how you doing champ, José?
You know Joe Yabuki the Japanese fighter
is now the new champion of OPBF?
He also ranks 5th in the world.
I've got a video of his fight against Kim Yongpi.
If you want to see it, I'll set the video.
It's time for a walk.
Episode 26: A Champion... And a Loser's Glory
Go, go!
A hook! A left! A right! Damn, missed!
Alright, double cross-counter!
Banquets in honor of the champion,
an autograph session for charity children...
The banquets are organized
by TV-Kanto, The Sports Journal, a major newspaper...
5 or 6 banquets are planned.
Joe said: "Going there is worse than fasting!"
Nishi, have you come to see Joe?
Yes. Actually, I have a plan for him.
A plan?
Yes. Nothing big but...
Hey, Joe!
Hey!
Wow! A brand new car!
What's it for?
Your grocery store really makes a lot. Thieves!
Idiot! It was rented.
Oh I see...
Just for one day, for Yabuki.
What do you say, Joe, you want to go to Enoshima?
Yes! Good idea.
Yeah!!
It makes me feel: "Ah!"
and makes me feel: "Woo!"
Do you have permission, Noriko?
Yes. Actually,
this is her first outing in a car.
What? She's a beginner?
I think I'd rather get out here.
Like you're the only one who matters?
Calm down!
We're already on our way. It's too late to panic.
Our lives are in the hands of Noriko.
I entrust mine to Joe!
And mine to Noriko!
So, Joe?
- You've missed the sea, right? - Yeah.
Come here!
Hey champ, keep going for one more minute!
Then go into running for 20 seconds.
Alright.
I've learned that José Mendoza
is training in the desert around Las Vegas.
That's why no one answered at his office in Los Angeles.
Champion José will soon have a friendly meeting.
He's training.
In the desert, for an unimportant match?
He is a perfectionist.
Regardless of the opponent, he trains thoroughly.
One day, he said to the journalists:
No matter how strong the champion is
he will eventually become exhausted, and lose a match
and his title.
It's the destiny of every champion.
By putting all of my energy into every match,
I'm fighting against this destiny.
He's resisting the inevitable,
trying to stay champion forever...
That is the nobility of a champion.
That was a speech worthy a philosopher or a priest.
Too pretentious for a boxer!
I prefer a boxer who strikes without asking any questions.
But I must admit that José Mendoza
is the strongest.
In addition, it's undeniable that he trains
with rigor unimaginable for an ordinary boxer.
- Nishi... - Yes?
Are we going?
Yes. If you want to.
I've had enough. I've missed this.
I'm good now.
This was great. Really.
To make it even better, on our way back, I want to make one more stop.
No problem. Where?
I want to go to Rikiishi's grave.
Alright!
Sorry for the other day.
Go away!
There was no reason for me to humiliate you like that in front of everyone.
I'm sorry.
I'll leave you the place, please.
Alright.
TOORU RIKIISHI
Later.
Yabuki?
Why don't we all have dinner in Chinatown?
It's a special occasion after all.
We'll celebrate your champion title together.
That's nice but I want to rest, I've gone to too many parties.
You dare say no to a lady?
Seems they eat well there!
We gotta go! We gotta go!
Yeah! He agrees!
Okay, let's go. You guys are terrible!
Chinatown
To Yabuki's glorious future!
Cheers!
Thanks.
What do we eat first?
Whatever you like!
Here. There you go...
Enjoy.
Thanks.
- Open up. - But Sachi...
What a good meal!
Ravioli soup, with noodles...
Grilled ravioli, sweet and sour pork and sautéed vegetables!
What?
- Is it true? - Yes.
Good. So, I'm...
Wait... Where's Joe?
And Mr. Suga?
You just gonna leave them like that?
It's alright.
They have a driver, Nishi, and a car.
They can go back without me.
But then... Is what you just told me true?
Yes, it's true.
You said that a former opponent of José
lives in this city.
Yes.
He was even a national lightweight champion.
But that was a very long time ago.
Here we are.
Welcome!
Come in.
Please, come in!
I'll have a cold saké. And you?
The same.
Please, boss.
Understood.
And shish kebabs?
- Choose for me. - Alright.
It's a bit cold tonight.
Yes. And they say it's spring...
The weather is very fickle right now.
After a long investigation I learned that he owned a restaurant.
Teruaki Murakami, ex-bantamweight national champion.
58 victories and 31 defeats in 89 matches.
He won 21 matches by K.O.
That's ancient history. Stop, you're making me blush.
I haven't boxed for 10 years.
Your shish kebabs...
José!
A hot shish kebab for you.
He's sick of shish kebabs...
José!
Come on, José!
Be polite around my customers.
Your dog's named José?
Yes. He's a mongrel, a good for nothing.
Ah good!
He wants to be next to a boxer.
He likes the smell of pine resin and vaseline.
I saw your match. Congratulations, new champion!
Let's get to the point.
Actually, Mr. Murakami,
I'd like you to talk to the Eastern champion
José Mendoza.
Since you're the only Japanese boxer to have confronted Jose.
You've dug up ancient history!
José! Leave that mutt alone!
Ah, what can you do?
He wants to fight, though he's usually quiet.
Thirteen years ago, before getting the national title,
you went Mexico to train for boxing.
It was during this trip that you confronted José Mendoza.
I met your ex-manager, by chance, who told me.
It wasn't an official match.
José was only 16 years old and still an amateur.
An amateur against a pro?
Like he said, it wasn't an official match.
It was a secret match.
We fought in a basement or garage...
And the audience bet on us.
We called it a street fight.
I was told that we attracted some real brutes in that environment.
I was glad since it allowed me to train a lot.
I told myself: "He's just a 16 year old amateur."
"I'll make short work of him."
But that wasn't what happened at all!
He's the one that pulverized me.
There are superhuman people in this world!
His growth was not yet complete.
His weight should be below flyweight.
But his punches were as powerful as a bantamweight.
I was on the top of my career as a professional boxer
and my punches barely grazed him.
It was hard...
I couldn't even hold out for a single round.
During the match, we were wondering who the amateur was.
It's party tonight, I'll take a drink.
It's on me, boss.
Oh, really? That's very kind.
After the match...
that boxer made me very afraid.
I had the chance to become national champion
and defended the title twice.
But that match never stopped haunting me.
I had nightmares...
It took away my desire to box, so I stopped.
When I stopped boxing I felt like I had died.
So...
If José had not become World Champion
I would have become a wreck.
José became the world champion 4 or 5 years after I retired.
It's strange but...
I was happy.
So happy that I drank all night.
So strange...
Then, I found a little morale.
And I opened a shish kebab restaurant...
- Give me another. - Right.
Are we going?
When we're in the neighbourhood, we'll return.
Thanks a lot!
I'm going to train a bit before heading back.
Okay, see you later...
Damn!
José! Hey, José, where are you?
Hey, what's wrong?
Hup!
You're called José, right?
Dirty mutt!
Take that!
Stop, José!
He's yours?
Yeah, you could say that.
Oh good...
You have good timing...
You want some cash?
Alright, I see...
You're the thugs around here?
How much?
What? Only 50 yen? Talk about cheap!
Bastard!
Woah there!
Wait!
Wait a second!
If you insist, then I'll fight.
Absolutely not!
You're the champion!
You're the defending champion!
José, stay away!
I am...
the ex-national lightweight champion...
Teruaki Murakami!
I don't want to hurt you!
Forget this!
I'm the ex-national lightweight champion...
Bastards!
Shish Kebabs - Ow!
That stings!
Hey, did you see their faces when I said I was the national champion?
No.
They were so scared, I could see it on their faces!
So even if they could have beaten me,
they chose to get out fast, instead of attacking you!
Yes...
See ya.
Yabuki...
I told you I was happy when José Mendoza
became world champion.
I wasn't looking to justify my defeat.
I was truly happy.
The person I fought is the world champion!
It's an inexplicable pleasure!
As if it was my own glory.
Take care of yourself.
Thanks.
Bridge of Tears
What!?
Dragon Kim Quits Boxing
Joe!
- Did you read the newspaper? - No.
Kim quit boxing!
His defeat against you left him unable to box.
Maybe he's just being lazy...
I'm going to run again.
Tange Boxing Club
Tomorrow is tomorrow, the sun will rise
Your yesterdays can't be returned to again
The river's path is unknown
There will be calms and waterfalls
But until you see the ocean
The current will keep on going