“Hajime no Ippo” – Of Bullies And Buddies

You do not have to be fond of boxing to enjoy Hajime no Ippo. In all honesty, I was never really interested in this sport, but Ippo, the lovable main character of the story, and his friends and foes captivated me. An abundance of nail-biting action will get your heart racing with excitement. In between the thrilling fights, you are given just enough time to steady your breathing and loosen up your clenched fists by following the boxers’ daily lives, filled with hard training, goofing around, and hunting for Mrs. Right. So yes, the anime is exciting and fun to watch, and it even has some love stories in store for those of you who enjoy a heartwarming romance. That said, boxing is a violent sport, where brawny men batter each other with full force, leading to swollen eyes, bleeding cuts, and broken bones. Blood and guts aside, the main story revolves around Makunouchi Ippo, his love for boxing, and his quest to find out what it means to be strong.