Joe 🍊
Off the top of your head: notes for characterization? what are the most essential traits of this character to you (personality traits, important connections/dynamics, voice)?
While Joe's main motivator throughout his life has been survival, he still craves some semblance of external validation. He's still a young man, after all. He takes pride in his strength and adaptability, and is willing to take any opportunity to show it off. He starts out as an extremely self-serving, lowkey evil kid, but grows an appreciation for others as he becomes accustomed to a life that isn't so solitary.
He's simultaneously selfish and deeply caring. One of the most prominent ways he develops is in his capacity for empathy and appreciation for others. This is a sign of emotional growth, but proves to be an obstacle in his boxing career. In this way, his former callousness made it easier for him in the ring. Rikiishi's death is what triggers this change, and you can see him start to appreciate his found family much more as time goes by. Not only this, but it gives Joe a newfound respect for his opponents. Still, he's certainly not above trash-talking given the circumstances.
I often think about the history surrounding Joe's character. How he was a symbol of hope for the working class in post-war Japan. This context impacts how I personally characterize him. I see him as a huge advocate for the proletariat, as well as someone who will quickly call out ignorance. He was a celebrated hero in the Tokyo slums, and he threw that love and support right back at them.
adjacently—do you think fandom does the above traits justice? why or why not?
Yes and no. Like @happyocelot was saying, a lot of fans characterize Joe as more selfish and unfeeling than he actually is. But I've also seen very accurate and thoughtful portrayals of Joe, whether it's in fanfiction, articles, or video essays. I'm so curious to get Japanese perspectives on the cultural significance of Ashita no Joe and Joe himself. I'm learning Japanese, but I have a LONG way to go before I have any nuanced conversations, lol.
throw this character at any other character of your choice to bounce off each other as outsider pov to each other— regardless of timeline or logistics (crossovers allowed if you're interesting about it). why this combination? what insights would they have on each other?
I'm gonna throw him at Suga. YES I know he's an anime-only character, but I enjoy him, lol.
Without any prior context, Joe would be thrown off by how much Suga looks like Rikiishi. However, this doesn't send him into a spiral because their vibes are completely different. While Rikiishi is honest and straightforward, Joe can instantly tell Suga is a bit of a snake. He resents how Suga sees him as a cash-grab.
While he's mostly right about Suga, Suga does have some earnest characteristics. He has a genuine interest in Joe's career and wants to see him do well. Both he and Suga share the fact that they have both done underhanded things for their own benefit, so Joe can only judge him but so much.
how do you think you would react to this character in real life and vice versa? would you prefer be a million miles out of range, be amicable classmates, or fall desperately in love? (bonus: arrange a hypothetical date between yourself and this character. getting silly with it is encouraged (fakedate them! escape a dinner date through a bathroom window!))
I think I would find adult Joe attractive, but I'd be thrown off by his rudeness, LMAO. He's definitely more socially acclimated than his kid self, but not quite where I need him to be. Besides, I doubt I'm masc enough for him.
I think we could at least be friends. I know we'd laugh about a lot of the same things and exchange memes/music recommendations (granted he lived in the present day). He'd probably hurt my feelings every now and then by being a bit too blunt, but you know what? Sometimes I need that.
ideal flavor of rotating for this character? crack them open and dissect them— do you want them tormented, pining, or being loved + comforted? do you have any specific scenarios you like to think about?
I'm gonna be so for real. I love the concept of Joe pining and being down stupendously bad for someone. This is seen (in subtext) with his fixations on Rikiishi and Carlos... Sure they're his opponents/rivals/idols but... I dunno. It's all a bit fruity to me. A lone wolf with a general disdain for people falling madly in love is so delicious every time. Joe has such a big heart and so much capacity for love, if you get past the bullshit front he puts up 😭🩷 Which makes his heartbreak and grief even more gut wrenching to witness.
weave a web of dynamics through the cast for this character: which dynamics are you most interested in? both canonically and through extrapolation/speculation— which dynamics are the richest to you, and why?
Aside from his dynamic with Rikiishi (for reasons I've stated many times at this point, I can reiterate but I don't want to be too annoying about it), I really appreciate his dynamic with Danpei and Nishi. For Danpei, their relationship definitely gets off to a rocky start, but Danpei is the closest thing to a father Joe has had. Danpei is relatable in that he was forced to give up his passion, but it's not working out well for him. He drowns his sorrows in alcohol, but when Joe comes around, he feels a renewed sense of hope. You definitely get the sense that Danpei is trying to use Joe as a means to carry the torch for him, but as the story moves forward, that turns into genuine care for Joe as a person.
Nishi has the shared experience of being in juvie with Joe. Joe values him a lot as a companion, and having the ability to train alongside someone is a good motivator for him. It becomes clear Nishi kind of plays second fiddle to Joe, as Joe is Danpei's main "project". Nishi doesn't seem to resent Joe for it, which speaks volumes on his character. When Nishi has to give up boxing, Joe is totally gutted. Even if Danpei wasn't that invested, Joe was invested in Nishi's career. Joe never let Nishi believe that he was inferior to him in any way. Their friendship is so supportive and powerful, UGH I just love good platonic dynamics like this. Male friendship is so beautiful. One thing I'll say about Nishi is that Noriko ought to like him more, he's a great dude.
And of course there's the kids. Joe becomes the big brother of the group, and the kids adore him. He loves them very much, and even during hard times, he shows up for them. And in return, he can count on them to cheer him up. I remember scenes where he would play with them when he was at his lowest. If anything, what made me the most sad about ANJ's ending was how the kids must have felt. I'm a childless adult and am not great with kids (not out of malice, I genuinely just don't know what to do with them) but those kids... Man. They tugged at my heart strings.
do you have particular niche takes on this character? defend those takes. (openly controversial takes are permitted, but also: hyper-specific headcanons which you believe in and no one else has considered enough to disagree with yet. pick a hill to die on.)
I don't feel like this is a niche take but I just know Joe is acquainted with every street vendor in Tokyo. He knows where to get the best yakisoba, taiyaki, yakitori, ramen, etc. He would argue their food is far better than any sit down restaurant he's been to. I want Joe to take me on a food tour
