Tomorrow's Joe: Tomorrow's Joe 2
Yabuki Joe is left downhearted and hopeless after a certain tragic event. In attempt to put the past behind him, Joe leaves the gym behind and begins wandering. On his travels he comes across the likes of Wolf Kanagushi and Goromaki Gondo, men who unintentionally fan the dying embers inside him, leading him to putting his wanderings to an end. His return home puts Joe back on the path to boxing, but unknown to himsel
Season 2 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Tomorrow's Joe Season 1.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Season overview
Yabuki Joe is left downhearted and hopeless after a certain tragic event. In attempt to put the past behind him, Joe leaves the gym behind and begins wandering. On his travels he comes across the likes of Wolf Kanagushi and Goromaki Gondo, men who unintentionally fan the dying embers inside him, leading him to putting his wanderings to an end. His return home puts Joe back on the path to boxing, but unknown to himself and his trainer, he now suffers deep-set issues holding him back from fighting. In attempt to quell those issues, Carlos Rivera, a world renowned boxer is invited from Venezuela to help Joe recover.
Episode Guide
Season 2 Progress Shield
And Then, He Returned...
Oct 13, 1980 · 25 min
After inadvertently killing Toru Rikiishi in the ring, Joe Yabuki finds himself aimlessly wandering the city at night, when he comes across a fight between Wolf Kanagushi, his form
One Man, One Flower... Venture into the Ring
Oct 20, 1980 · 25 min
After a long absence, Joe returns to Tange Gym where he is welcomed with open arms. He pays his respect at Rikiishi's grave and swears to return to the ring. Even after being away
Messenger From Hell... Joe Yabuki
Oct 27, 1980 · 25 min
Joe proves his comeback K.O. victory is no fluke. With his powerful punches, Joe sends his opponents to the hospital one after another. The rival boxing club owners see Joe as a se
Back Then, The Ten-Point Bell Ringed
Nov 3, 1980 · 25 min
Joe, a fledgling boxer, is unfairly matched up against Tiger Ozaki, the National Bantamweight Champion. Despite the odds, Joe sees it as an opportunity to instantly climb to the to
The Phantom... Strike the Temple!
Nov 10, 1980 · 25 min
After a humiliating defeat against Tiger Ozaki, Joe agrees to another bout despite Danpei's protests. Under Tiger Ozaki's guidance, Ryu Harajima, Joe's opponent takes advantage of
Howl... Dogs Will Bite
Nov 17, 1980 · 25 min
Despite learning his inability to strike his opponent in the temple is psychological, Joe is undeterred and trains for his upcoming fight against Koji Nango. Joe climbs into the ri
Wandering... Like a Wild Beast
Nov 24, 1980 · 25 min
Without a club willing to organize a bout against him, Joe's career seems over for certain. Even Danpei says, "Joe Yabuki, the boxer is dead" and urges him to retire. Unable to acc
That Guy... Burning Man Carlos
Dec 1, 1980 · 25 min
Danpei closes the gym and disappears to make Joe realize that his career is over. However, Joe refuses to give up boxing and continues to train. He catches Carlos Rivera's second m
And then... The Beast Revived
Dec 8, 1980 · 25 min
Joe is slowly released from the ghost of Toru Rikiishi during his heated spar against Carlos. After realizing Joe can punch his opponent's temple again, Danpei reopens the gym and
The Christmas Eve Gift
Dec 15, 1980 · 25 min
It's Christmas and the mood is merry in the slums. Snow begins to fall, as Carlos and Joe's fire burn quietly inside of them. In the snow-covered park, Joe challenges Carlos to a f
Beginning of the Struggle... Carlos VS Joe
Dec 22, 1980 · 25 min
As the New Year's Eve bell counts down the passing year, Joe and Carlos' bout kick off with the sound of the boxing bell. Joe and Carlos put on a heated and breathtaking fight. How
Night of the Snow Storm... The Endless Fight
Dec 29, 1980 · 25 min
Joe loses consciousness after being hit with Carlos' powerful uppercut. However, he refuses to go down without spending every last ounce of his strength. Carlos' "invincible punch"
The Tange Gym... Is Indestructable
Jan 5, 1981 · 25 min
With Joe's bout against Carlos now over, Joe, Danpei and the people from the neighborhood are busy organizing Nishi's retirement party. However, unbeknownst to everyone, Nishi was
Where is... Joe's Youth?
Jan 12, 1981 · 25 min
Joe visits the Shiraki Gym to pick up his prize money. There, he learns the World Champion had defeated Carlos. Joe also learns Carlos had become incapacitated as a boxer and that
For Whose sake...? Deadly Rush
Jan 19, 1981 · 25 min
Without a boxing club willing to organize a bout against Joe, Danpei visits Yoko for help. However, instead of organizing a bout against a Japanese boxer, she chooses Usman Somkit,
Distant Aim... Road to the World
Jan 26, 1981 · 25 min
With a lightening fast victory against Usman Somkit, all eyes are back on Joe. Meanwhile, Joe finally gets the opportunity to watch the gut-wrenching bout between Carlos and Jose M
A Figure Seen... A Great Target
Feb 2, 1981 · 25 min
Joe steps onto the gym scale and makes an unwelcome discovery. Meanwhile, Kanto TV has announced their exclusive broadcasting rights to all of Joe's bouts in Japan. At the announce
Those Knuckles... The Mark's Message
Feb 9, 1981 · 25 min
Joe is eager to take on Yongbi Kim, the OPBF Bantamweight Champion, but according to Danpei, Kim is avoiding Joe because he's afraid of him. When in fact, Kim is eager to take on J
Fighting Machine... Dragon Kim
Feb 16, 1981 · 25 min
With Joe and Kim's Championship match now confirmed, Yoko sends Suga to South Korea to find out Kim's mysterious past, while Kim's manager secretly gathers information about Joe. J
My Bantamweight... Weight Loss Challenge
Feb 23, 1981 · 25 min
Despite the match being three weeks away, Joe is struggling to lose weight. Desperate to lose weight, he turns the gym into a dangerously hot sauna. After almost passing out, Danpe
Rikiishi... I Hear the Song
Mar 2, 1981 · 25 min
With Danpei vehemently against Joe's dangerous weight loss, Joe leaves the Tange Gym. He visits the Shiraki Gym and locks himself up in the very same room where Toru Rikiishi once
And... The Morning's Measurement
Mar 9, 1981 · 25 min
After a grueling weight loss regimen, Joe finally loses enough weight to stay in the bantamweight class. However, during the official weigh-in, Joe discovers he is actually over th
The Burning Beast... And Ice
Mar 16, 1981 · 25 min
With the final weigh-in now over, Danpei brings Joe to a restaurant so he can enjoy a small meal before his match. Kim, who happened to come to the same restaurant, asks Joe if he
The Gong Chimes.. The Ring of the Devil
Mar 23, 1981 · 25 min
Kim's manager confidently predicts Kim's victory during the pre-fight press interview. Danpei and Nishi encourage Joe in the locker room, but Joe is not his usual self. Unsurprisin
In Round 6... A Miracle Occurred
Mar 30, 1981 · 25 min
Joe has fought beyond his limit, yet he refuses to go down. Unable to comprehend how Joe can continue to fight, Kim slowly becomes unhinged and resorts to using his deadly techniqu
A Champion... And a Loser's Glory
Apr 6, 1981 · 25 min
With is victory over Kim, Joe is now the OPBF Champion. His next goal is to defeat Jose Mendoza, the World Bantamweight Champion who crushed Carlos. Then one day, Joe learns about
Boxing... A Requiem
Apr 13, 1981 · 25 min
Joe happens to run into Wolf Kanagushi, a former boxer at a pachinko parlor. He is relieved to learn that Wolf is now working as a trainer at a boxing gym, and is no longer a Yakuz
José... In Hawaii
Apr 20, 1981 · 25 min
As the OPBF Champion, Joe’s first title defense match has been confirmed in Hawaii. Not wanting to go all the way to Hawaii, Joe is reluctant about the fight, but quickly changes h
Yabuki's... New Defense
Apr 27, 1981 · 25 min
Knowing Jose is watching from the ringside, Joe predicts a two round K.O. victory. However, Joe quickly realizes that defeating his Hawaiian challenger will be harder than he origi
Grand Champion... José
May 4, 1981 · 25 min
After successfully defending his title, Joe is eager to challenge Jose more than ever. Then one day, Yoko invites Joe to spend some time with Jose and his family on a horse ranch.
Meaning... of the V Sign
May 11, 1981 · 25 min
As the OPBF Champion and world champion hopeful, it seems everyone wants a piece of Joe now. Meanwhile, the new Tange Gym that’s been under construction is finally complete and Dan
Farewell... Dear Old Things
May 18, 1981 · 25 min
Jose, the WBC World Champion must fight Harold Gomez, the WBA World Champion in a unification bout to determine the true World Bantamweight Champion. Meanwhile, Joe, the OPBF Champ
The 13th King Comes From America!?
May 25, 1981 · 25 min
Leon dominates the fight and Joe is on defense. However, Leon’s underhanded tactics light a fire inside Joe and the fight quickly becomes a fierce and tightly contested battle. Wit
He... Fell with the Card
Jun 1, 1981 · 25 min
Jose, the WBC World Champion and Gomez, the WBA World Champion will fight head to head to determine the true World Bantamweight Champion. Joe, who has won his right to challenge th
The Champion ...Alone
Jun 8, 1981 · 25 min
Yoko, who feels Joe has lost his wildness within, offers to give up her exclusive rights to Jose’s fights in Japan, under the condition that Joe fights one last bout before his tit
Yoko's... New Attempt
Jun 15, 1981 · 25 min
Harimau, a wild beast-like man who grew up deep in the Malaysian jungle has been confirmed as Joe’s challenger. Yoko brings Harimau to the Tange Club to introduce him to Joe, but J
The Wild Child… Harimao
Jun 22, 1981 · 25 min
Joe is humiliatingly caught off guard by Harimau, not once, but twice. Admitting he’s lost his street fighting instincts, Joe asks Goromaki Gondo, a Yakuza henchman for his help. I
Unexpected Visitor... Gondo Goromaki
Jun 29, 1981 · 25 min
The bout between Joe, the Brawler and Harimau, the Wild Beast begins. At first, Joe struggles to keep up with Harimau’s agility and speed. However, Harimau proves to be no match ag
Two Beasts... in the Jungle
Jul 6, 1981 · 25 min
Yoko arranges Carlos to be admitted into a hospice to recuperate. However, Dr. Kinninski, the world’s leading authority on punch-drunk syndrome delivers the devastating diagnoses t
Joe Fired Up… The Target is Near
Jul 13, 1981 · 25 min
Noriko and Nishi are engaged. Joe is happy from the bottom of his heart to see his long-time pal marry his dream girl. Meanwhile, Jose arrives in Japan just two days after their bo
José arrives in Japan… The Match Date Approaches!
Jul 20, 1981 · 25 min
Noriko and Nishi are engaged. Joe is happy from the bottom of his heart to see his long-time pal marry his dream girl. Meanwhile, Jose arrives in Japan just two days after their bo
A Shock… Yoko's Premonition
Jul 27, 1981 · 25 min
After noticing Joe might also be suffering from punch-drunk syndrome, Yoko asks Dr. Kinninski for his professional opinion. Dr. Kinninski is reluctant to give a concrete diagnosis
Joe and Danpei... Two Everyday People
Aug 3, 1981 · 25 min
In order to avoid Danpei finding out about his health, Joe decides to train with Nishi and Danpei at a mountain lodge, far away from Yoko. Desperate to tell Joe about his health, Y
Yoko... Her Love
Aug 10, 1981 · 25 min
On the day of the title match, Yoko finally tracks down Joe in his locker room and urges him to cancel the fight before he ends up like Carlos. She learns Joe is well aware of what
Joe VS. José... The Gong of the Match Rings
Aug 17, 1981 · 25 min
Joe and Jose finally face off in the ring. With his impenetrable defense, Jose dodges Joe’s attacks while hitting him with his own punches. After receiving countless blows and unab
The Violent... Endless Fight to the Death
Aug 24, 1981 · 25 min
Jose is rattled by Joe’s sudden comeback, but quickly realizes Joe is no longer able to see out of his right eye, due to the effects of punch-drunk syndrome. Jose moves to Joe’s bl
The Great End
Aug 31, 1981 · 25 min
No one doubts Jose’s victory, but something begins to change. While, Jose is unable to knockout Joe completely, Joe masters Jose’s corkscrew punch and continues to fight with a bla