I was genuinely surprised to see you mention Ashita no Joe. It’s quietly one of my favorites.
Growing up in the U.S., I never really got into manga or anime. Part of that was probably me trying to assimilate, to avoid leaning into the typical “Japanese kid” stereotype. And honestly, we didn’t have the money for that kind of thing anyway.
Years later, in a very different phase of life, I found myself in jail in Japan. That’s where I came across Ashita no Joe. For whatever reason, it completely pulled me in. I couldn’t read fast enough. Every moment I had, I was working through the series. To this day, it’s the only manga I’ve read from start to finish.
Jail, at least in theory, is a place where you’re forced to reflect. How you got there. What needs to change. That story hit me at exactly the right time. It gave me a sense of perspective and, more importantly, a sense of direction.
I’ve never been into boxing, but I respect a real “rise from nothing” story. Joe starting from the bottom, navigating postwar hardship, leading a group of misfits and overlooked kids, it stuck with me.
I finished the series before my 21 days were up, and I walked out with a very different mindset. I beat the case and never looked back.
Appreciate you bringing that back into my head. Strange memories, but important ones.
I loved reading this and feel lucky you shared it. You're not the only one who's genuinely surprised!
From your experience, it sounds like the manga was waiting to catch you at the right time. This one has been a kick in the pants for me, too. I felt like I was sleepwalking, and reading it gave me more perspective on the life I actually want.
I’m very grateful to hear what you went through. I miss you, bro!
I was genuinely surprised to see you mention Ashita no Joe. It’s quietly one of my favorites.
Growing up in the U.S., I never really got into manga or anime. Part of that was probably me trying to assimilate, to avoid leaning into the typical “Japanese kid” stereotype. And honestly, we didn’t have the money for that kind of thing anyway.
Years later, in a very different phase of life, I found myself in jail in Japan. That’s where I came across Ashita no Joe. For whatever reason, it completely pulled me in. I couldn’t read fast enough. Every moment I had, I was working through the series. To this day, it’s the only manga I’ve read from start to finish.
Jail, at least in theory, is a place where you’re forced to reflect. How you got there. What needs to change. That story hit me at exactly the right time. It gave me a sense of perspective and, more importantly, a sense of direction.
I’ve never been into boxing, but I respect a real “rise from nothing” story. Joe starting from the bottom, navigating postwar hardship, leading a group of misfits and overlooked kids, it stuck with me.
I finished the series before my 21 days were up, and I walked out with a very different mindset. I beat the case and never looked back.
Appreciate you bringing that back into my head. Strange memories, but important ones.
I loved reading this and feel lucky you shared it. You're not the only one who's genuinely surprised!
From your experience, it sounds like the manga was waiting to catch you at the right time. This one has been a kick in the pants for me, too. I felt like I was sleepwalking, and reading it gave me more perspective on the life I actually want.
I’m very grateful to hear what you went through. I miss you, bro!