Ep 3. Tears Of Joy

It is the third episode of the first season of Hajime no Ippo, and it is titled "Tears of Joy." The episode starts with Ippo and his co-worker Umezawa visiting the local boxing gym. The gym is run by the grumpy but skilled coach Kamogawa, who initially scoffs at Ippo's naivete but is intrigued when he sees Ippo's natural strength. Kamogawa decides to train Ippo, seeing something special in him.

In this episode, Kamogawa starts Ippo's training by having him punch a sandbag. Ippo has never punched a bag before, and his punches are weak and poorly aimed. Kamogawa is initially disappointed but soon realizes that Ippo has never been taught proper form. He starts by teaching Ippo the importance of balance and footwork. Kamogawa has Ippo perform exercises that look like they came straight out of a Kung-Fu movie. Ippo's improvement is immediate and evident as his punches become more powerful.

Later on, Ippo returns to his family's fishing boat exhausted and bruised. His mother is concerned and urges him to quit boxing, but Ippo is determined to continue his training. The following day, Ippo returns to the gym for further training. Here, Kamogawa sees Ippo's dedication and starts to open up to him. Kamogawa tells Ippo about his own boxing career and the legendary boxing champion, Nekota Ginpachi. He also reveals that he sees some of Nekota in Ippo.

As Ippo trains, he overhears the other boxers talking about him, referring to him as "that beginner." The taunts of the other boxers cause Ippo to lose focus, and his form suffers. Kamogawa tells Ippo not to listen to the other boxers and that criticism is a normal part of the boxing world. Kamogawa also shares a story about how he used to cry after losing a match, which helps Ippo cope with his own feelings of inadequacy.

As the episode progresses, Ippo is scheduled to spar with a boxer named Miyata Ichirou, a prodigy who had won several amateur boxing tournaments. Miyata is the son of a famous boxer, and his father wants him to follow in his footsteps. Miyata looks down on Ippo, considering him to be an unworthy opponent. At first, Ippo struggles to land a hit on Miyata, but as they fight, Ippo begins to adapt to Miyata's fighting style. In the end, the sparring match ends without a clear winner, but Ippo is exhilarated by the experience.

As the episode ends, Ippo stumbles upon a notebook filled with boxing techniques and matchups. The book belongs to Miyata and is filled with his father's famous techniques. The episode ends with Ippo staring at the book, realizing that he has found a potential path towards becoming a boxing champion.

Overall, this episode focuses on Ippo's growth as a boxer and his interactions with Kamogawa and Miyata. It showcases Ippo's determination to succeed despite the challenges he faces and introduces the central theme of the series - the struggles and hardships that come with the path towards becoming a champion. "Tears of Joy" is a well-written and engaging episode that sets the stage for Ippo's development as a boxer.