Hanakaku: The Last Girl Standing - Recommendations

• OVA (3 eps)
• 1992 - 1993

Nozomi Egawa and Ryoutaro Shiba are the new high school students in town. As a matter of fact, they've just moved into houses next door to each other. In a chance encounter, Nozomi realizes that Ryoutaro has genius reflexes and vision, so urges him to join the boxing club to realize her dream of seeing her brother representing Japan in the Barcelona Olympics. This is the story of Ryoutaro's journey to make that dream a reality.

• OVA (1 ep)
• 1988

19 year old Hatanaka Kosaku is a would-be boxer who can't seem to keep his hands off of food. Though his career seemed a given from the get go, Kosaku's lust for food has propelled him into higher weight classes -- and larger pants. Enter Sister Angela, a young nun from a local convent who manages to excite Kosaku in more ways than one, keeping his motivation alive for what will be the most important match of his lifetime. Against a powerful appetite, Kosaku must train with all his might to defeat the ultimate opponent: an Olympic medalist turned pro who's out for revenge!

• DVD Special (3 eps)
• 2018

• Movie (1 ep)
• 1981

Six months ago, Joe Yabuki struck a blow to Rikiishi's temple that tragically killed him. After a long absence Joe has finally returned to pick up his gloves once more, but his confidence is shattered and he's unable psychologically to hit his opponent in the face. However, after fighting the talented boxer Carlos, Joe is revitalized. With hopes set high, Joe must now fight his hardest to rise to the top and defeat the world champion himself.

• TV (47 eps)
• 1980 - 1981

Six months have passed since Joe Yabuki accidentally killed his rival, Rikiishi, in the ring. With no contact since then, the members of the Shiraki gym have been worried; that is, until Joe returns - but he's not the same. Haunted by memories of his past, Joe finds himself unable to hit his opponent's face - a weakness that costs him many losses. With lost confidence, it will take one special opponent to pull Joe out of his funk and get him back on his way to becoming a champion!

• TV (13 eps)
• 2018

A desolate land stretches out from the city of poverty. A motorcycle speeds recklessly, blowing clouds of sand and dust. The rider is the protagonist of this story – he has neither a name nor a past. All he has is his ring name, “Junk Dog” and a technique for rigging MEGALOBOX matches with his pal Gansaku Nanbu, which they use to support their hand-to-mouth lives. JD is bored, resigned, and unfulfilled. Yuri has been the reigning champion of MEGALOBOX for the past few years. He has the skills and presence of a true champion. This is a story of JD and his rival, Yuri.

• OVA (6 eps)
• 2003

 Joe Yuuki, one of the coolest DJs in Shibuya, has a secret identity as the leader of gangs. Because of his traumatic childhood, he fiercely hates "weaklings" and sees winning as his only option in life. One night, an old man is being taunted by the kid known as "the human punching bag." The old man reminds Joe of his parents and childhood, and he uncontrollably challenges the kid to a fight. A fight in which he's defeated, and his pride is utterly shattered into pieces.

• Movie (1 ep)
• 1990

Legendary boxer Keijiro Akagi's second son, Eiji, is a high school dropout and the world's worst rock guitarist. Though his father and elder brother are both boxers, he hates the sport but suddenly takes an interest in it when he meets the local champion's little sister.

• Movie (1 ep)
• 1975

A boxing ring turns into a stage for abstract animation where the punches thrown in the match and the halftone dots in reprographics gradually become indistinguishable. Tanaami shot a boxing match on a Motordrive camera, made two thousand offset prints, and rephotographed each of them. He explains his inspiration for the work being the experience of watching a boxing match on television but finding the newspaper print the next morning better capturing the exhilaration of the sport.

• Web (2 eps)
• 2012