OTAKU-LENS

  Hajime no Ippo features over 50 story arcs, each chronicling Ippo’s growth from a bullied teen to a fierce featherweight contender. The arcs are grouped into three major parts, each with its own tone, rivalries, and boxing milestones. 🥊 PART I: The Road to Glory (Volumes 1–46 | Chapters 1–414) This phase covers Ippo ’s introduction to boxing and his rise through the Japanese featherweight ranks . Key Arcs: Prologue / Road to Glory : Ippo meets Takamura and begins training under Coach Kamogawa . His first steps into boxing. Rookie King Tournament : Ippo enters his first major tournament, facing off against strong rookies like Ryo Mashiba . Class A Tournament : Ippo battles to become the top contender for the Japanese featherweight title . Japanese Featherweight Title Match : Ippo challenges Eiji Date , the reigning champion. A pivotal loss that fuels his growth. Comeback & Redemption : Ippo rebuilds himself and eventually wins the Japanese title. Themes : Self-di...

Hajime no Ippo  (はじめの一歩) 🥊 Introduction & Story Baseline Hajime no Ippo (はじめの一歩), meaning “The First Step,” is a long-running boxing manga and anime created by George Morikawa. It began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Magazine in 1989 and has since become one of the most enduring sports series in manga history, with over 140 volumes and 1400+ chapters. The story follows Ippo Makunouchi , a shy and kind-hearted high school student who is frequently bullied. One day, he’s rescued by professional boxer Mamoru Takamura , who introduces him to the world of boxing. Inspired by the discipline, power, and respect the sport commands, Ippo begins training at the Kamogawa Boxing Gym under the guidance of Genji Kamogawa , a grizzled old coach with a storied past. Ippo’s journey is not just about winning titles—it’s about discovering his own strength, overcoming self-doubt, and learning what it means to fight for something. The narrative is structured around his rise through the boxi...