Hajime no Ippo New Challenger ep 17

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Summary:

 

After hearing Hawk’s comments of tasting Japanese women and asking for a handshake in a cocky manner; Takamura gets pissed and tries to punch Brian Hawk with Ippo, Kimura, and Aoki holding him back. Even with the three of them holding him back, Takamura is able to still get to Hawk; though Hawk catches Takamura’s fist and treats it like a handshake and leaves laughing. In the aftermath of the incident Takamura is clutching his right arm and pissed at how he’s being underestimated by how Hawk took his fist as handshake, and everyone can sense the tension and feels that everything will be decided at the Title Match. The next day, Takamura’s attempted punch on Hawk makes the front page and Ippo, Kimura, and Aoki are in the gym reading the paper and discussing it. Kimura comments it’ll be paid back at the Title match, and this gets the three of them thinking about the World Title and about the dream of being World Champion; needless to say they get really happy thinking about it. Fuji, who’s at the window, interrupts their little fantasy to discuss about Takamura. Fuji comments that he’d like Takamura to kick Hawk’s ass and remarks that Hawk’s comment about Japanese women has pissed off a lot of people. Ippo says it’ll be alright since Takamura was able to get a ring out so Takamura will definitely win; Fuji hesitantly says he’d like to agree with him, and brings out some videos to show them. 

 

The videos are of some of Hawk’s matches, and Aoki asks Ippo his opinion since he’s sparred with a World Champion before; though Ippo says he can’t compare since it’s like Hawk is a different kind of champion. Fuji agrees with him Ricardo Martinez has a refined style of boxing, but Hawk’s boxing is more animalistic. Fuji continues saying Hawk’s boxing has no weakness and he has a strong KO punch; Aoki asks he has a special move or weapon, and Fuji responds that he has none but comments that if he had to say then Hawk’s body could be considered his weapon. This has Kimura comment that his boxing is almost exactly like Takamura’s; Ippo comments on how Takamura is Japan’s most wild, but Hawk is the world’s most wild. While leaving the gym, Ippo, Kimura, and Aoki are discussing about what they saw and how Hawk and Takamura are similar, and they wonder which of the two is stronger. This turns into an argument between Aoki and Kimura with Aoki claiming Takamura will definitely win, and Kimura who’s unsure since Takamura will have a difficult time with the weight training. Eventually Ippo breaks up the argument saying they should believe in Takamura, and they all recount how it was Takamura that brought them into the world of boxing. The conversation eventually turns to why Takamura started boxing and they decide to pay him a visit and ask; when they arrive at Takamura’s place they’re surprised to find a young woman in there instead. Surprised the three of them immediately run out; the young woman comes out and asks if they’re Mamoru’s friends. This has Kimura questioning what Takamura’s relationship with the woman is; while the three are still in shock, a young boy comes out and asks if “Mamoru-niisan” came home yet. 

 

Ippo, Aoki, and Kimura come in for tea; the young women and small boy introduce themselves as Takamura’s siblings. The young woman is his older sister Kyouka, and the boy is his little brother Wataru. Wataru asks if any of them are Aoki, and Wataru says that his brother warned him about a guy name Aoki who’s a pervert that plays with himself. Kimura says there’s no need to worry and introduces himself as Kimura, but before Ippo can introduce himself Aoki introduces himself as Makunochi; which leaves Ippo to assume Itagaki’s identity. Aoki wonders why Takamura never mentioned his family and Wataru says it’s probably because he felt he never really belonged at home. This surprises everyone since they assumed Takamura is the heir of the family, but Kyouka reveals that Takamura is the 2nd oldest son; the oldest is Suguru. 

 

Meanwhile, Takamura is meeting with his brother Suguru. Suguru start by congratulating Takamura, and then starts saying that he’s caused quite a bit of trouble; Takamura remarks that he never had any intention of inconveniencing the family. Suguru eventually tells Takamura that his very existence is troublesome; apparently Takamura has been alone since middle school as he fought a lot. There was one particular incident that had Takamura leave the family; apparently when he was in middle school he was at his older brother Suguru’s rugby match, and there were some insults slung at his brother. This unseated Takamura, and by the end of it 20 people were injured; leaving Takamura to be abandoned by the family. Back with Takamura, his brother tells him to be thankful their father covered for him; though Takamura tells him he doesn’t recall asking for help, and tells him he’s lived on his own since middle school. Back at Takamura’s place, Wataru asks “the champion” Ippo Aoki why he started boxing; Ippo talks about what Takamura said about the rain of applause and being acknowledged and asks Aoki if that isn’t how they all feel (addressing him as Aoki). This blows Aoki’s cover and Aoki starts beating on Ippo, with Kimura being dragged into it with Kyouka and Wataru looking on and then smiling at each other. Back with Takamura, his brother starts smiling and tells him not to be so serious and tells him that once he wins he can come back to the family. As his brother drives off, he comments that his place isn’t with his family; it’s in the ring, and he’ll be fighting his next match to protect his import place where he belongs.

 

Opinions:

Well they talked more on Takamura’s back story; which I greatly enjoyed and I loved seeing Takamura’s sister being voiced by Kikuko Inoue, she just has that caring older sister/gentle mother  voice down! I found the parts where they realized the similarities between Hawk and Takamura since if what I remember is right, the Taka in Takamura means hawk. They also did a great job with the conversation between Takamura and his brother since it really had this dramatic feel and dare I say noir feel? In any case we’re almost at the fighting (just 2 or so more eps) and I’d love to see more of Takamura’s family as they add more depth to the man.