The Fire of Joe Yabuki

Analyzing the philosophy of Ashita No Joe

I recently came across a scene from the legendary boxing anime Ashita No Joe (Tomorrow’s Joe), which has been on my watchlist for ages. Though my takeaway from this scene might be premature since I have yet to watch the show, I will continue anyway.

Here is an extremely brief synopsis of the anime: Joe Yabuki is an orphan who is homeless and lives on the streets of Tokyo. Once he is incarcerated in a juvenile detention center, he finds a passion for boxing, which sets the story in motion.

Here is the scene that prompted this article to be written.

Joe is joined by Noriko Hayashi, who clearly has some feelings for him. Noriko is concerned about Joe after his rival and friend Rikiishi passes away. Joe feels guilty about his death, which leads Noriko to believe that he is suicidal and aims to bring about the end of his life in the boxing ring.

Noriko worries about Joe spending so much of his youth in the dark boxing gym, only stepping out into the light every so often in the brightly lit ring, which she likens to a cage. Continuing that analogy, she says Joe fights like a dog and gets covered in blood. “That’s your youth.” She mentions that other people their age enjoy their lives, traveling and creating memories to last a lifetime, so how can Joe even begin to say he’s enjoying his “youth?”

This resonated with me. All throughout college, I constantly had people ask me questions like, “Why don’t you drink?” “You really don’t smoke?” “Why didn’t you come to the party?” “Why didn’t you hang out with us?” Yet, despite all those questions, I never once doubted if I was doing the right thing for me.

Joe acutely picks up on her concern and reassures her he doesn’t box because he’s guilty or obligated to. He does it because he loves it. Noriko claims to know that but still presses the issue. Joe cuts her off, stating that it might not fit her definition of enjoying your youth, but boxing has allowed him to feel a fire within flaring up and giving him a sense of accomplishment.

Joe’s feelings here are precisely what I experience when I write the perfect sentence or orchestrate the most elaborate plot. Each word is like a log that further stews the fire within.

“My fire is nothing like those unfulfilled and incomplete combustions you see everywhere. It may be for a moment, but my fire roars so bright and hot, it’s almost blinding. And then, all that remains is pure white ash. There are no embers left…Just pure white ash.”

A few people wondered if I was happy, missing out on all these events and experiences. That said, I truly loved whatever I gave my time to and was content with my decisions. In comparison, the ones who partied every weekend and hung out with all the girls were the same ones who seemed worn out and unhappy with their lives. I genuinely believe it’s because they could not find their fire at that moment. So many follow the beat to the monotonous drum of what’s trendy, obstructing themselves from seeing what makes their fire “combust.”

My words above reminded me of Yukio Mishima’s thoughts on death. I believe Mishima’s philosophy on death can compare to Joe Yabuki’s fire. You can find a link to it below.

The way Joe Yabuki speaks of his fire is similar to the “noble cause” that Mishima mentions in the above interview. The lack of that fire/noble cause in most individuals today is why the world is filled with rampant nihilism.

SPOILERS FOR ASHITA NO JOE AHEAD

As Noriko feared, Joe dies as a result of boxing, passing away in the ring on his stool when the match concludes. But it was not an act of suicide. It was an act of love, for Joe truly loved the sport and was grateful for the world it gave him. Had Mishima been able to view Ashita No Joe, I have no doubt he would describe Joe’s death as glorious, heroic, and honorable. The last words of Joe’s dying breath round out his philosophy: “I burned my fire. Until there was nothing left. All that’s left is pure white ash.”

While Joe’s end could be tragic, I choose not to see it that way. For if I could die with a pen in hand and a piece of paper in front of me, I too would perish with a smile on my face like Joe did.

I challenge you to find that fire, and when you do, burn it all until there’s nothing left, not even lingering embers—only pure white ash.

Genesis 3:19 - “By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread, Until you return to the ground, from which you were taken; For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (NAB)