Crouching Tiger is Round 1509 of Jōji Morikawa's Hajime no Ippo manga series.

Details

• Title Page Character(s): Ippo Makunouchi

Summary

At Ricardo's corner, Bill tells Ricardo how Sendō's big swings gives him chills even though they miss their mark. He asks his boxer of his plan moving forward: safely take it to a decision or dangerously end it early. Ricardo believes a longer fight may be more dangerous. Bill decides to leave the plan up to Ricardo. He mentions to Ricardo how it is said that a lord named Kiyomasa once captured tigers alive and offer them to the lord of his respected Osaka Castle as a token of appreciation and even ate them, increasing his own authority as tigers were a symbol of strength. Bill asks Ricardo if he believes the tale and if he would devour Sendō. Ricardo answers that he is interested, but taking him alive is impossible. Ricardo knows that while his right arm has recovered, he is worried about Sendō's punches potentially breaking it. However, since he doubts he can dodge them, he believes that he could slide the punches off if he is forced to block. Ricardo ultimately feels like he is forced into a corner.

At Sendō's corner, Hoshi is worried about Sendō, wanting Yanaoka to do something. Yanaoka gives Sendō the advice of if he thinks he will win or lose, he will win or lose based on what he thinks will happen. He adds that Osaka-jō Hall is in the territory of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the first to unify Japan and the one who said the words he gave to Sendō as advice. Sendō gets fired up, thinking that he will win as he has not lost against Ricardo yet. Sendō tells Yanaoka to watch as his knuckles unify the country. As the fourth round begins, a fired up Sendō approaches Ricardo with his arms spread out to his sides within Ricardo's punching range.

Trivia

• Katō Kiyomasa, who was mentioned in the chapter, was a Japanese daimyō of the Azuchi–Momoyama and Edo periods who, within fictional mediums, Kiyomasa is often associated with a tiger.
• Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was mentioned in the chapter, was a Japanese samurai and daimyō of the late Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods and regarded as the second "Great Unifier" of Japan.
• The tiger relief on the Osaka Castle shown in the chapter, was made by Japanese painter Takeuchi Seihō, who created the preliminary sketch, and Toshirō Ōkuni (大國 壽郎), who produced the pattern. The tiger relief was based on Kanō Sanraku's Crouching Tiger (伏虎図, Fukuko-zu).
• The "KING VS TIGER" shirts worn by Sendō's seconds were erroneously depicted multiple times.
  • On page 3, the back of Yanaoka's shirt has "KING OR TIGER".
  • On page 6, the front of Yanaoka's shirt has "KING TIGER"
  • On page 9, the front of Yanaoka's shirt has "KIN(G) Ol TIC(ER)" and the back of Hoshi's shirt has "KIN(G) O (TIGER)"

Arc Navigation

Bold Retirement
King vs. Tiger
Manga Volumes
144	145	146

Manga Rounds
1484	1485	1486	1487	1488	1489	1490	1491	1492	1493
1494	1495	1496	1497	1498	1499	1500	1501	1502	1503
1504	1505	1506	1507	1508	1509	1510	1511	1512	1513
1514	1515