r/AshitaNoJoe

These days, when people talk about the “Hedgehog’s Dilemma,” they immediately associate it with Evangelion. That makes most people overlook earlier examples. But Ashita no Joe portrayed it narratively long before, without needing long monologues to explain it. In Ashita no Joe, the Hedgehog’s Dilemma is shown visually through the barbed wire in the prison. Joe is constantly surrounded by barbed wire, which serves as a clear metaphor. The characters want to get close to each other, but their “thorns” (their personalities and emotional defenses) end up hurting both themselves and others. When Joe tries to connect with Rikishi in prison, the only way he knows how is by fighting or acting rude. He can’t simply say “I respect you” or “you matter to me.” That inability is the Hedgehog’s Dilemma in its purest form. The thorns aren’t just physical. They’re in Joe’s mind. His emotional armor is like barbed wire. It keeps people away so he doesn’t feel the cold, but it also prevents him from receiving any warmth.This is one of the most mature and profound aspects of Ashita no Joe, and it’s precisely why many people miss it on their first read. It’s integrated naturally into the story instead of being forced as an obvious symbol.Joe and Noriko perfectly embody this dilemma, 25 years before Evangelion popularized it in 1995. Joe cares about Noriko (in his own twisted way), but he constantly pushes her away because he knows his path is self-destructive, he doesn’t want her to suffer because of him, and he’s terrified of becoming vulnerable.Noriko, for her part, keeps trying to get closer, but she always ends up hurt by Joe’s thorns (his selfishness, his obsession with boxing, and his rejection of a normal life).That’s why almost no one notices or mentions it in videos. It’s subtle. There’s no character explaining the concept like in Evangelion (where Ritsuko literally names the “Hedgehog’s Dilemma”). In Ashita no Joe, it’s shown naturally through visuals and behavior, without any expository dialogue.

Is there like fate or god's in play just following around Joe, like perhaps God of War, or Death

Cause its becomes a running trend? Idk if thats the word.. Where every one of joe's opponents has a horrible fate or misfortune, even dating back to his younger self, where he hospitalizes boxers for even up to 6 months

I was thinking "oh finally, a boxer who didnt meet a gruesome or tragic end" Damn, I spoke too soon

So Wolf has his jaw broken.

Rikiishi died because of weight loss and brain trauma, fueled by Joe's perseverance.

Carlos gets CTE or punch drunk syndrome, gone missing.

Kim gets trauma back and cant fight any further.

And now this, somehow, he always gets the joker, even when he removed the joker on his second trick, which causes him to get anxiety? Scared? And some motorcycle causes his accident

Its all too, reoccuring and frequent, no wonder he's titled the Grim Reaper, it's like the God of Death is actually following him, causing both him, and his opponents a gruesome result.

The death of Leon Smiley, the guy with the cards, is a warning from the boxing world. It’s a direct critique of anyone who lives only for the ring, like Joe. It’s like the universe telling him, “This is how it ends when you live for nothing but this.” But Joe chooses to ignore the warning. Instead of learning from it, he twists it to reinforce his own tragic mindset: “I’m gonna burn too, but I’ll do it with way more style.”This chapter really drives home the central theme of the story: self-destruction dressed up as glory, all coming from Joe’s broken mind.Smiley was a cheerful boxer who lived completely for the sport. He represented pure fire without any deep trauma (unlike Joe). His death is ridiculous. He crashes his car into a pole and burns alive. It shows that even someone who seems happy living for boxing can still get destroyed by it. No glory, no meaning, just a pathetic, lonely end.Smiley dying burned inside his car is a dark foreshadowing of the “White Ashes” Joe keeps romanticizing. Joe wants to go out shining in the ring, but Smiley’s death quietly shows him that burning isn’t glorious. Sometimes it’s just stupid and lonely.Joe’s indifference is the really telling part. The fact that he doesn’t seem very affected is completely intentional. It shows how emotionally numb he’s already become. At this point, he’s so wrapped up in his own obsession and guilt over Rikishi that another boxer’s death barely touches him. He’s already anesthetized to everyone else’s tragedy because his own is eating him alive.After Smiley dies, Joe makes a pretty cold comment, something like:
“I don’t fight to be the king… I just wanna fight the king.” Even a charismatic, strong guy like Smiley doesn’t get real respect or mourning from him. Joe just sees him as another opponent who was in the way. He doesn’t care about becoming the best. He only cares about facing the best and burning up in the process. By brushing off Smiley’s achievements (“I don’t care about being king”), Joe is doubling down on his White Ashes philosophy. He’d rather have a brilliant, tragic death against the strongest than stack up titles and live with a normal legacy.This moment feels pretty uncomfortable because it really looks like Joe doesn’t give a shit about Smiley’s memory. And honestly, he doesn’t. That’s exactly what makes Joe so raw and realistic. He’s not some noble tragic hero. Sometimes he’s just selfish and cold.

What if Danpei ACTUALLY gave up on Joe? What do you think would've happened to Joe?

Didn't danpei tear Joes jacket? How did Joe get it back? Did he get a new one or just sewed it back together?

I didn’t like her that much in the beginning but realised later on that she’s one of the finest written character. considering the attitude of everyone towards her, she never let herself go weak.

So after doing a bit of the first volume of kyojin no hoshi, i realised something. if i just keep on doing the story from start to finish ill just burn out before i reach the interesting bits!

THEREFORE i decided to switch it up a little! from now on ill start to translate the most interesting and iconic bits of kyojin no hoshi and ill share spoiler free excerpts from these so hopefully this underrated series garners so much needed attention over online!

ONCE IM DONE with these moments ill start delegating myself to finish the filler and finally create a COMPLETE KYOJIN NO HOSHI/STAR OF THE GIANTS TRANSLATION once and for all!!!

EXPECT REGULAR MANGA SNEAK PEAKS IN THE FUTURE!

Im watching ippo with no spoilers and the first moment i saw Sendo it gave me joe's personality vibes

Also the girl looks so much like Sachi

If ANJ ever gets a remake, people are gonna go crazy over Rikiishi. He feels larger than life kinda character.

hi guys i js wanted to share my edit with you

Does she want that food, or Joe 😭

Me encanto el tatto