What Is the Watch Order of Hajime no Ippo?

Hajime no Ippo is one of the greatest boxing anime ever made. It tells the story of a shy, bullied boy named Makunouchi Ippo who finds his strength through boxing. The anime has been running for many years and has a large fan base all over the world.

If you are new to this series, you might feel confused about where to start. This guide will walk you through the full watch order of Hajime no Ippo in the simplest way possible.

What Is Hajime no Ippo?

Hajime no Ippo is a manga series written by George Morikawa. It started in 1989 and is still ongoing. The anime adaptation began in 2000 and has released multiple seasons and OVAs over the years.

The story follows Ippo, a high school student who gets saved by a professional boxer named Mamoru Takamura. After that moment, Ippo falls in love with boxing and joins the Kamogawa Boxing Gym. His journey from a complete beginner to a champion is what makes this anime so special.

Key facts about the series:

• Manga started in 1989
• Anime began in 2000
• Multiple seasons and OVA episodes available
• Based on a true boxing spirit story
• One of the longest-running sports manga in history

What Is the Watch Order Record of Hajime no Ippo?

Many fans search for the watch order record of Hajime no Ippo because there are multiple seasons, OVAs, and special episodes. If you watch them in the wrong order, you will miss important story details. Here is the correct and complete watch order so you never get confused.

Follow this order for the best experience:

• Season 1 – Hajime no Ippo (2000–2002)
• OVA – Hajime no Ippo: Mashiba vs. Kimura (2003)
• Season 2 – Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger (2009)
• OVA – Hajime no Ippo: Ryuu no Kobushi (2011)
• Season 3 – Hajime no Ippo: Rising (2013–2014)

Season 1 – Hajime no Ippo (2000–2002)

This is where everything begins. Season 1 has 75 episodes and covers Ippo’s early life as a boxer. You will see him train hard, fight strong opponents, and grow as a person.

This season introduces all the important characters like Takamura, Aoki, Kimura, and Coach Kamogawa. It also shows Ippo’s first big fights and his road to becoming a professional boxer.

What you will see in Season 1:

• Ippo’s first day at the boxing gym
• His training under Coach Kamogawa
• His debut fight as a professional
• His rivalry with Miyata Ichirou
• His journey toward the Japanese Featherweight title

This season is very long but every episode is worth watching. Do not skip anything in Season 1 because the character building is very important for later seasons.

OVA – Hajime no Ippo: Mashiba vs. Kimura (2003)

After you finish Season 1, watch this OVA. It has 2 episodes and focuses on the fight between Mashiba Ryou and Kimura Tatsuya. This fight is not fully shown in Season 1, so the OVA gives you the full picture.

Why this OVA is important:

• It shows a fight that Season 1 skipped
• It gives more depth to Kimura’s character
• It connects well with Season 2’s storyline
• It is only 2 episodes so it is quick to watch

This OVA is easy to skip but boxing fans will enjoy it. It shows how brutal Mashiba fights and how much heart Kimura has.

Season 2 – Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger (2009)

Season 2 has 26 episodes and picks up where Season 1 ended. Ippo is now a champion and he has to defend his title. New fighters appear and the competition gets much harder.

This season also focuses more on other characters like Takamura, Aoki, and Kimura. You will see their fights in detail, which makes the story feel bigger and richer.

Highlights of Season 2:

• Ippo defends his Japanese title
• Takamura fights for a world title
• New rival fighters are introduced
• The team at Kamogawa Gym grows stronger
• Emotional moments that test every fighter’s will

New Challenger is a big step up in terms of fighting quality. The animation is better and the fights feel more intense.

OVA – Hajime no Ippo: Ryuu no Kobushi (2011)

This OVA has 2 episodes and is placed between Season 2 and Season 3. It focuses on a fight involving Takamura and gives more background to his character. It is a fun and exciting watch that adds more to the story.

Reasons to watch this OVA:

• It adds depth to Takamura’s character
• It connects Season 2 and Season 3 smoothly
• Great animation and fight choreography
• Only 2 episodes so it won’t take much of your time

Season 3 – Hajime no Ippo: Rising (2013–2014)

Season 3 has 25 episodes and is considered by many fans to be the most emotional and exciting season. Ippo faces his biggest challenges yet. Old enemies return and new threats appear.

This is also where you see Ippo’s character grow the most. He questions his reason for boxing and has to find his answer through fighting.

What makes Season 3 special:

• The deepest character development for Ippo
• Extremely emotional fights that will move you
• Better animation than previous seasons
• Strong focus on multiple characters, not just Ippo
• Satisfying conclusions to many long-running stories

After Season 3, no new anime season has been released yet. The story continues only in the manga.

Is Hajime no Ippo Finished?

This is one of the most common questions asked by new fans. The short answer is no, Hajime no Ippo is not finished.

The manga by George Morikawa is still ongoing as of 2024. New chapters are released weekly in Weekly Shonen Magazine in Japan. The story has passed over 1400 chapters and is still going strong.

However, the anime is not fully adapted. The last anime season, Rising, ended in 2014. Since then, there has been no new anime season announced. Fans around the world are still waiting for a Season 4.

Summary of the current status:

• The manga is still ongoing and releasing new chapters
• The anime ended at Season 3 in 2014
• No Season 4 has been confirmed yet
• Manga readers are far ahead of anime-only fans
• The story is still active and popular in Japan

If you want to continue after Season 3, you will have to read the manga from where the anime stopped. Many fans have done this because the manga is very good and the story keeps getting better.

Should You Read the Manga After Season 3 ?

Yes, absolutely. The manga is where the full story lives. After Season 3, many important fights and story arcs happen that anime fans have not seen. Reading the manga will give you everything you are missing.

Reasons to read the manga:

• Continue the story right after Season 3
• Over 1400 chapters of content available
• The art style is great and detailed
• New fights, characters, and emotional moments
• You will never have to wait for a Season 4 announcement

Tips for New Watchers

• Always watch in release order, not story order
• Do not skip the OVAs as they add important details
• Give Season 1 time even though it is 75 episodes long
• Pay attention to supporting characters, not just Ippo
• If you love the anime, move to the manga after Season 3

Conclusion

Hajime no Ippo is a must-watch anime for any sports fan. The story of Ippo going from a weak, bullied boy to a powerful champion is inspiring and emotional. The watch order of Hajime no Ippo is simple once you know it. Start with Season 1, watch both OVAs in order, and finish with Season 3.

The series is not finished in terms of the manga, but the anime has been on hold since 2014. Whether a new anime season comes or not, the story you will experience through the three seasons and OVAs is already one of the best in anime history.

Start watching today. You will not regret it.

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