YAWARA! a fashionable judo girl! · Episode 58
The letter from Canada
1991-02-1125 min
Jody is getting married and has invited Yawara to her wedding. Jigoro insists that she continues training in Canada, Yawara apparently not having told him about her decision to quit. Hanazono warns Fujiko that starting a judo club is tough going and will likely involve much physical work and injuries, and when Fujiko says she will press ahead no matter the hardship, Hanazono vows to help her. During Yawara's absence to Canada, Fujiko makes preparations (posters, judo research, uniforms, etc.) for the club. At the judo recruitment, only 1 sickly woman with "very little presence" shows up…
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1Aim For Barcelona! The Young Girl Will Be The Winner Of The National Achievement Award!!1989-10-1625 minMatsuda the sports reporter, who has been relegated to writing about scandals, encounters an mystery girl who takes down a thief with a judo move in public and tries to track her (Yawara) down. Kamoda, the photographer partner of Matsuda, was only able to take a photograph of a faceless girl in white panties throwing the thief. After Jigoro (Yawara's grandfather) finds out that Yawara has a crush on the school idol, Nishikimori, he spreads rumors about Nishikimori to a gang of school ruffians, leading them to track him down for a beat-down. Nishikimori runs away and meets Matsuda, and the…
2I’ve Found Yawara’s Rival! She’s The Ultimate Young Lady!!1989-10-2325 minJigoro finds Yawara's dedication to judo lacking, and he blames it on her lack of a worthy rival. One day they are almost run over by a Bentley carrying Sayaka Honami, a rich spoiled sports superstar who has mastered and is bored with multiple sports (e.g., tennis (including a defeat of Martina Navratilova in an exhibition), riding, skiing, gymnastic, swimming, fencing, figure skating, etc.). They are invited to Sayaka's mansion for dinner, and Sayaka decides to take up judo as her next sports quest when she sees Jigoro throw her hulking body guard Kamata, a 5th kun judo practitioner, with…
3Enter Kazamatsuri. What A Shame That She Is Infatuated With Love1989-10-3025 minYawara receives a fortune from her fellow classmate that she will meet a "gorgeous man" in the next 24 hours. Later, on the bus home, she is accosted by Mastuda, who reveals that he knows her identity as a judo genius, which Yawara denies. Mastuda is then thrown off the bus by a good looking young man (Shinnosuke), who mistakes him for a molester. Shinnosuke then takes Yawara to a cafe and charms her with flattery. Shinnosuke is later shown to be admiring himself in the mirror in his underwear and listening to various voicemails from women beseeching his attention. In her debut Sayaka wins a…
4This Is My Strategy To Make Yawara Take Part In A Real Match!1989-11-0625 minShinnosuke is intent on confirming Yawara as the "strong girl" and goes on a date with her. Seeing elbow scrapes on Yawara that could be caused by judo exercise arouses Shinnosuke's suspicion even more. However, Yawara shows no interest in judo and instead talks about bargain sales and beef stroganoff; even when he puts judo moves on her, Yawara shows no reaction (which she intentionally represses). Later, Yawara has a chance encounter with a member of her high school's judo club, and kindly offers to wash their soiled judo uniforms; the judo club is run by Hanazono, a big senior student who…
5Finally the Real Fight! Judo is Not Built in a Day, Jya!1989-11-1325 minDuring the practice tournament, all of the Musashiyama members are defeated quickly, and even Hanazono is able to defeat only one opponent. Yawara is forced to enter the tournament for real, and the Ganryuji judo members are all excited by the prospects of wrestling a girl. While she has decided to "lose quickly," Yawara nevertheless easily defeated the Ganryuji judo members using different judo moves, all the while distracted by thoughts of missing the bargain sale with her friends and also by wrestling without a t-shirt underneath her judo uniform. She even defeats Ganryuji's captain…
6Finally Pictured! The Big Scoop Of The Century That Will Bring On A Storm, Jya!!1989-11-2025 minAfter defeating the Ganryuji team, Yawara is carried home by Jigoro because she had injured her foot during the match; Jigoro discloses that Yawara has been trained by him with the goal of capturing the National Achievement Award and the 1992 Olympic gold medal, but ask the tournament members to keep it secret for the time being. Later, Yawara and Shinnosuke go on a date at a park, which is constantly disrupted by his spotting Sayaka and other other love interests at the park. Shinnosuke later simply runs off when he spots Sayaka again at a cafe. Jigoro goes to a TV station with a grandiose…
7Hohohoh! The Yawara Boom That Shakes Japan, Jya!1989-11-2725 minThe media exposure invades every aspect of Yawara's daily life, though her friends and Hanazono try to protect her. Meanwhile, Matsuda is having second thoughts about the trouble he has caused her and rescues her from the media hounds on a motorcycle. Shinnosuke tells Sayaka that she cannot beat Yawara for the time being; Yawara seems equally upset by this as by Shinnosuke's possibly romantic interest with her rival. Sayaka manipulates her dad to invite Jigoro for dinner and to hire him as her judo coach; however, Jigoro is only interested in scoring a free meal at an expensive French…
8Enough Of Judo! I’m Going To Be In A Match1989-12-0425 minYawara spends the night at Matsuda's apartment, and Matsuda is awakened in the morning (having slept outside his apartment) by Yawara's daily morning judo exercise. On the news, it is falsely announced that Sayaka is hiring Jigoro as a coach, which surprises and saddens Yawara. In fact, Jigoro has refused the Honami offer with his usual excuse that he does not teach "weaklings." The refusal shocks the Honamis but does not faze Shinnosuke, who finally secures Jigoro's autograph on both his book and jacket. Meanwhile, seeing that Yawara is upset by the false news concerning Jigoro, Matsuda…
9Yawara’s Debut Match! An Ippon Victory Before You Even Know It Happened, Jya!1989-12-1125 minAs the media buildup over Yawara's debut continues, Matsuda is instead trying to find out more about Yawara's mysterious father, Kojiro, who won the 1974 Japan Judo Championship but then inexplicably disappeared afterwards. Yawara works extra her in her "final" practice with Jigoro, throwing him several times, with the guilty knowledge that she will lose the match and also quit judo afterwards. Yawara tells Matsuda that her mother has been looking for her father after he disappeared, and only returns home a few times a year. Despite the losing scheme, Matsuda is still having dreams of fans…
10An Ippon-Zeoi With My Mom! The 90`s Is Yawara’s Era, jya!1989-12-1825 minAs the match continues, Yawara discovers that Yuki Tohdoh is actually very weak despite her heft, and she has trouble faking the loss. Meanwhile, the ignorant reporters present at the match vacillate between thinking that Yawara is faking a loss or covering up her own weakness, despite "expert" opinions from Hanazono, Shinnosuke, and Gohzoh Yuutenji, the Saikai College judo coach, that Yawara for some reason is not showing her true strength. As Yawara continues to fake her way through the match, Jigoro becomes suspicious and finally realizes that Yawara is trying to lose; Matsuda for his part…
11A Big Uproar At High School With The Yawara Fame!1990-01-0825 minMusashiyama High School is excited about the publicity over Yawara's debut, and the principal asks Yawara to start a girls' judo club and is surprised by Yawara's outright refusal; Yawara announces that she wants to go to a home economics college instead. The pathetic judo team members are shown playing video judo games rather than practicing, and they panic when they see an overflow of students wishing to join the judo club. Sudoh, a red-haired freshman, comes to challenge the judo club and look for Yawara. After school Yawara's three friends reveal that Shinnosuke had sweet-talked each one…
12Coach Yawara’s Extracurricular Lesson!1990-01-1525 minYawara intends to secretly train the weak judo team members so they can stand up to Sudoh, as well to avenge Hanazono (who has been hospitalized after Sudoh's attack) and herself (she does not intend to personally grapple with Sudoh). Sakai College tries to recruit Yawara, but she needs a track record of official matches to be admitted. To that end, Jigoro demands that Coach Yuutenji set up a big televised tournament match for Yawara. Sayaka trains in Paris, while Shinnosuke habitually romances the women there. Yawara sends a letter of challenge to Sudoh, who mistakes it for a love letter…
13Yawara’s Heart Shook in Hayama!1990-01-2225 minOn her return to Japan from France, Sayaka complains about the commercial airlines' first class food (it had "caviar that even my dog Charles wouldn't eat"), after their private jet broke down. She disarms and throws a would-be hijacker with a gun, which impresses even Shinnosuke. Sayaka also uses the ensuing media attention to publicly challenge Yawara again. In an attempt to motivate Yawara, Matsuda takes her shopping for feminine clothes and then to Hayami, where they see Sayaka training hard with Shinnosuke (including running with steel sandals while carrying a tire on a rope), and…
14Yawara’s date has so much surveillance!1990-01-2925 minYawara is compensating for her depression over being "dumped" by Shinnosuke by overeating, which her friends notice (however, one of her friends, Kyoko, is interested in Shinnosuke herself). Shinnosuke approaches Yawara one day, not knowing they are being observed secretly by Jigoro, Sayaka, and Matsuda. Shinnosuke casually badmouths Sayaka to flatter Yawara, which Sayaka overheard. The three take over a bus to chase after Shinnosuke and Yawara, who end up talking near the ocean. Shinnosuke tells Yawara that "You shine most brilliantly when you do judo," and tries to kiss her, but Yawara…
15A Challenge to Yawara Over Love!1990-02-0525 minDozens of would-be new members join the judo club because of their attraction for Yawara, but they all soon quit because they cannot take her rigorous training. Sayaka visits Musashiyama High School to tell Yawara to keep her hands off of "her" Shinnosuke, and is offended by how shabby and dirty it is. Sayaka insults Hanazono as an "Eastern Island Stone Face man," and Sudoh as a "street gangster." When Sayaka boasts that she is Number One in judo in Japan, Sudoh rushes her but is thrown in an instant. Sayaka accuses Yawara of delaying her decision over the tournament to "entice Shinnosuke,"…
16Yawara’s National Martial Arts Hall Debut!1990-02-1225 minThe national tournament is about to begin and Sayaka insults Yuki Tohdoh in the waiting room by calling her a "she-gorilla" and "todo" (sea cow). Yawara is almost late because she is giving last-minute coaching tips to the judo club members, and Sudoh ferries her by bicycle to the tournament hall; he also promises Yawara that he would not use judo in fights anymore. On his way back, Sudoh is waylaid by some hoodlum acquaintances, who beat him up on accusations that he had hit on their girlfriends (he was handicapped by his promise to Yawara). As Sudoh is unable to participate in the…
17Yawara’s Love Message1990-02-1925 minSayaka and Yuki struggle in their semifinal match (Yawara having already won her match with another quick ippon), as Sayaka is distracted by seeing Shinnosuke standing next to Yawara and holding her shoulder. Each wants to fight Yawara in the finals, Yuki having gained 10kg for the match, and the match drags on, much to Yawara's impatience as she wants to go help her judo club and is imagining the worst. Sayaka is pinned by Yuki, but drags the two of them out of bounds to escape. Motivated by her jealousy over Shinnosuke and an perceived insult from Yawara, Sayaka flips the giant Yuki and is…
18The Decisive Battle! Yawara vs. Sayaka1990-02-2625 minBefore the finals match, Jigoro sees a man that might be his son Kojiro at the arena. Matsuda arrives just in time to witness Yawara's 1-second ippon takedown of Sayaka, a complete anticlimax that stuns the whole arena to silence. Before leaving hurriedly to the high school tournament and abandoning the award ceremony in the process, Yawara returns Sayaka's fallen false tooth to the fallen Sayaka. Sayaka consoles herself by claiming that Yawara took her down before the "begin" signal, which was disproved by the timer and video playback. Sayaka abandons the award ceremony in disgust. Meanwhile…
19Jigoro, His Love, and Youth’s Raging Storms1990-03-0525 minOn his wife Kaneko's 15th year death anniversary, Jigoro reminisces about their lives together. In 1934, Jigoro arrives from the countryside, having beaten 230 kumas (bears) in matches; after befriending an aspiring novelist, he arrives at the Kyuudou-kan Dojo, only to find the resident Ushio-sensei deceased and the dojo being run badly by the sensei's daughter Kaneko, with whom Jigoro falls instantly in love, because of unpaid debts from usury. Simonji, the rich creditor, has proposed marriage to Kaneko but is repeatedly rejected. Jigoro tries to run the dojo but runs off the remaining 2…
20The Big Guest for Yawara1990-03-1225 minHanazono's leg injury finally heals after receiving Jigoro's bonesetting treatment. On being shown multiple colleges' interest in Yawara, Hanazono confesses a desire to join Yawara at Sakai College, assuming she will go there. However, Yawara's first choice is a women's college, Mitsuba, which lacks a judo program, the implication being that Yawara is giving up on judo for the time being as she concentrates on passing the college exam. Accompanied by Sayaka is being trained in Europe by Pornalef, a judo expert who also happens to idolize Jigoro. Pornalef reveals that there are 4 strong…
21Yawara and the Blue-eyed House Guest1990-03-1925 minJody, perhaps knowing more Japanese than she lets on, yells "Tanomou!" ("I challenge you!") at Yawara at the dojo, frightening everybody, especially after Hanazono reveals that Jody is a world champion. At home, Yawara is upset at the news that Jigoro has "decided" to enroll her in Sakai College, and she vows never to go there. Jody arrives at the Inokuma home, and Jigoro is to serve as her first opponent. His powerful fighting aura scares Jody into submission, causing her to cry "Mairimashita!" ("I give up!") before they even begin; she, however, can. Jigoro decides to keep Jody on as a…
22Let’s Fight, Yawara!1990-04-1625 minFighting seriously for the first time in her life, Yawara has a long evenly matched competition with Jody until Jody injures her right arm, which disappoints Jody who wants to continue fighting. Matsuda and Yamoda sneak into the Inokuma compound and are conscripted by Jigoro to be referees; Yawara extracts a promise from Matsuda that he would not print a word about the match. Yawara promises to fight Jody again, and both admit their match was the first time they had "fun" doing judo. At the post-match dinner, Jody mistakenly refers to Matsuda Meanwhile, Sayaka challenges the South Korean…
23See You Again, Yawara1990-04-2325 minJody returns to Toronto, and Jody again refers to Matsuda as Yawara's "boyfriend." Jigoro surprises Jody on the plane before takesoff with a "Certain Victory" banner to cheer Jody on for her next match against the Russians, before being thrown off the airplane. Yawara and Matsuda meet Sayaka and Shinnosuke at the airport as "couples," and Matsuda boasts about Yawara's match with Jody, while Sayaka boasts about her global training and matches. After eavesdropping on the conversation, Jigoro tells Sayaka she can challenge Yawara at any of 10 tournaments in the next 4 months in preparation for…
24Yawara’s Personal Tutor is a Love Expert1990-04-3025 minFinding Yawara's performance in the four previous tournaments to be deteriorating (though she still won all her matches), Jigoro confiscates Yawara's textbooks and forbids her from studying. Yawara meets Shinnosuke at a bookstore and she confesses that her poor performance was due to not sleeping from studying all night; Shinnosuke offers to tutor her at his condo. Matsuda spies on them out of jealousy, and they have a blowup over Yawara; Matsuda threatens to tattle to Sayaka. Matsuda then tries to follow suit by "tutoring" Yawara, but to his humiliation it turns out he knows less about…
25Love, Exam Studies, and Yawara’s Feelings1990-05-0725 minSayaka walks in on Yawara and Shinnosuke as they are finishing their tutoring session, and Sayaka accuses Yawara of being a "dorobo-neko," a "cat thief" trying to steal Shinnosuke from her. Sayaka discloses that Shinnosuke has been offered (and accepted) an executive position with the Honami Group and will take it over in the future, and that Shinnosuke is her "fiance" (which he does not dispute). Matsuda, who has been staking out Shinnosuke's condo, sees Yawara run out crying, and interprets that Shinnosuke has having done "something heinous" to her. Sayaka shows up at a post-victory press…
26A Shocking Invitation For Yawara!1990-05-1425 minJody has suffered a seious injury that will take at least 6 months to recover from and puts her future judo career at risk. Matsuda shows Teleshikova's post-match press conference interview to Yawara, in which Teleshikova says she would not consider herself the best until she defeats Yawara. In response, Yawara seems to withdraw further until Tamao unexpectedly returns home to tell her that she had heard that Kojiro might have come to see her previous match against Sayaka. Shinnosuke sends Yawara flowers to ingratiate himself, and Sayaka for some reason also invites Yawara to her 18th…
27Yawara and the Love Square1990-05-2125 minEven with the news of Shinnosuke's engagement to Sayaka, Matsuda is unable to convince Yawara that Shinnosuke is a no-good playboy. Shinnosuke is seen hooking up with another girlfriend from his regular stable (Hiromi, Mayumi, Mieko, Mariko, et al.) and claiming that he loves the girlfriend at hand and was "forced into" the fiance arrangement. Yawara arrives home to tell Coach Yuutenji, who has been meeting with Jigoro every month to reinforce the Sakai College connection, that she is attending Sakai. Seeing that Yawara is depressed, Matsuda tells Shinnosuke to cheer her up despite his own…
28The Madonna of my Youth, Yawara1990-05-2825 minThis episode is about Hanazono's unrequited secret love for Yawara in contrast to Sudoh's bolder approaches. Hanazono has trouble confessing his feelings to Yawara, whereas Sudoh has trouble keeping himself from pestering Yawara for dates. Jigoro tries to prevent Yawara from going on dates with either of them, but is foiled by his craving for food from keeping watch. Yawara goes on a double date with both Hanazono and Sudoh at an amusement park, and tells them that she is quitting judo. While Hanazono is so disappointed by her decision to quit that he runs off, Sudoh believes that she should…
29The Other One-Sided Love1990-06-0425 minJigoro intentionally tries to burn application materials for Mitsuba Women's College in his continuing opposition to Yawara's decision to attend Sakai. Jody writes a cheerful letter (in Japanese and Kanji, but with some mistakes) to Yawara saying that she will recover and fight again, and warning that Teleshikova is a strong opponent. The lecherous newspaper editor (Matsuda's boss) assigns an "extra" rookie photographer to Matsuda, the excitable, coarse, bespectacled, and buxom Kaga Kuniko who dresses in revealing tights. Matsuda is upset to be saddled with her, but has no choice as Kuniko…
30The Lonely Ippon Zeoi1990-06-1125 minKuniko continues to pay unwanted attention to Matsuda, and when he objects, she cries to coerce him. She gets Matsuda drunk and takes him home, trying to sleep in bed with him (Matsuda ends up sleeping outside). She clings to him whenever he is meeting with Yawara and/or Jigoro, arousing equal measures of jealousy and disgust in Yawara. At the critical Zen-ooki tournament, Yawara was so distracted by the presence of Matsuda + Kuniko and Shinnosuke + Sayaka that she almost loses the first match (the men have no idea how much they are distracting her, whereas the women are there intending to…
31The Present on Entrance Exam Day1990-06-1825 minJigoro puts his special frog balm on Yawara's injured hand, assuring her that it will take away the pain so that she could take the exam (in fact, he purposely gave her wrong medication (for hemorrhoids) so that she would fail her test). Yawara is desperate as she is unable to write, but her injury is discovered by a concerned Matsuda, who sneaks into the testing site to check up on her by skipping out on an important assignment to cover "Mike Bison" (a stand-in for Mike Tyson). Yawara initially distrusts Matsuda and rebuffs him rudely, and it is only after he confesses a "personal interest"…
32A Stormy Time at the Exam Results1990-06-2525 minKuniko shows Matsuda's handkerchief by mistake, and Matsuda presses her about what Yawara had left as a message (by exchanging a dinner date). Hanazono, Sudoh, and Jigoro all show up to see Yawara's test results (but to the wrong site, the one for junior high test results), and Shinnosuke casually appropriates Yawara (who had been hoping to see Matsuda) when he sees her, after finding out that she has passed the test he openly lusts after her upcoming sexual availability as a college girl. Yawara and Mastuda are forced to have dinner and drinks with Shinnosuke and Yuniko, the latter trying…
33Aim for the All-Japan Tournament1990-07-0225 minJigoro refuses to entertain the possibility that Yawara would go to Mitsuba Women's College, and not even Tamao's food inducements can change his attitude. After hearing Jigoro's opposition, Hanazono and Sudoh offer to help Yawara change Jigoro's mind by first plying with food at a restaurant. When that fails, Jigoro makes a judo bet with them such that if they even throws him even once in any way possible, he will allow Yawara to attend Mitsuba. Despite various unorthodox attacks, the two inevitably fail. Yawara's friends buy a red dress as a college present for her, and by chance they find…
34The Stage Contest of the Rivals1990-07-0925 minAt the All Japan Tournament, the rivals of Yawara (e.g., Yuki Tohdoh and Sayaka) meet and talk trash. Yawara is more concerned about Hanazono passing his Saikai exam than the tournament, and as it turns out, he did not pass. Kousaka Megumi appears confident against Yawara as she has studied her moves extensively and believes she has counter for Yawara's trademark one-arm Ippon Zeoi throw. However, when the match begins, Yawara reflexively counters Kousaka's countermove and beats her anyway; Kousaka is not embittered about the loss and instead has greater respect for Yawara and vows to work…
35The Miss` Tenacity1990-06-1625 minRight before their semifinal match, Sayaka and Yuki each brags about how few seconds they will need to defeat the other. Sayaka tries a couple of quick moves on Yuki but each time the latter counters and is able to move out of bounds. Even on the third encounter, when Yuki slips, Sayaka cannot score, and she becomes increasingly anxious. On the fourth encounter, Sayaka injures her leg in the fall, allowing Yuki to score the first points in the ensuing encounter. Yuki then focuses her attack on Sayaka's injured right leg and pins her with her massive upper body (kami-shihoh gatame). Refusing…
36Ah, Hanazono! The Tearful Graduation1990-07-2325 minAs graduation nears, nostalgia and romance are both in the air. Shinnosuke is plotting to offer himself as a "gift" to Yawara as graduation gift, even as he finds himself being more of a fiance play toy to Sayaka, who is recovering from her leg injury, as they head for Hawaii to one of her "extra" mansions. The judo team reflects on their progress under Yawara's coaching and their future with both Yawara and Hanazono graduating. Hanazono made a wish of fighting Yawara just once before he graduates, which Yawara grants, with the inevitable result of Hanazono being thrown for an ippon.
37Jigoro’s Love, a Tumultuous Pure Love Story1990-07-3025 minJigoro takes advantage of a media interview about Yawara to launch into his own memory lane again. Shortly after he took over Kaneko's Kyudodan dojo, he saves a man who is about to hang himself due to a bad romance. One day Kaneko's uncle (father's older brother) Toranosuke, a tea ceremony master rather than a judoka, comes to visit with an offer for Kaneko to marry his best student and carry on as his successor; this is supposed to the will of Kaneko's father, Ushio Umanosuke. However, Jigoro is also thinking of proposing in the future to Kaneko. The uncle and Jigoro do not get along, as…
38The Heartful Excitement of Women’s College Life1990-08-0625 minIt is the first day of school (opening ceremony) for Yawara and Sayaka in their respective colleges. Jigoro accompanies Yawara as a chaperon and also to ask the college president to keep an eye on her. On the bus there, Yawara encounters a super-tall, gloomy female student named Itou Fujiko. Yawara is tempted to join various student clubs which are recruiting new members. Jigoro mistakes Mitsuba cheerleaders for can-can dancers and attempts to teach them "Yawara cheers" for the Barcelona Olympics, and afterwards enjoy a boisterous drinking party and late-night disco dancing outing with them…
39Blue Night Yokohama1990-08-1325 minYawara and her new friend Itou Fujiko try out new clubs and encounter another student, Komiya Yukari, who is a veteran dater aggressive with men. Itou Fujiko mistakenly believes that Yawara is a "1st degree" in flower arrangement or tea ceremony, which an embarrassed Yawara does not correct. Komiya encourages both to join the golf club, where she says it is easiest to hook a rich guy, which is her goal in life. They do so and Shinnosuke shows up bearing flowers for Yawara. However, he is soon swallowed by fawning women who want him to teach them golf, with Komiya being typically the most…
40Fujiko-san’s Secret!1990-08-2025 minYawara and her new college friends join a 2-day golf camp. Yawara shows herself to be a golf natural, whereas Itou Fujiko has no knack, on top of which the men make fun of her height. Yawara has a chance encounter with Hanazono, who is training with the Ebitendou judo club nearby. Hanazono and the other judo members crash the coed mixer party that Yawara is attending, asking her whether she has quit judo to take up golf. Yawara spends time with Itou Fujiko, who tells her about her history as a junior ballet dancer thwarted by her inherited height. At training, Jigoro tells Yawara he has…
41The Part-time Job For a Day1990-08-2725 minYawara and Itou decide to get a part-time job, after seeing the stylish outfits of Komiya, which they cannot afford. However, the only jobs that Komiya appear to be for call-girls which pay 20,000 yen per hour. Later, they are hired at a fast food restaurant. Things are going well until Matsuda, and then Shinnosuke show up. Sayaka spots them and then challenges Yawara to a fight right there at the restaurant, but a bunch of ruffians intervene, and Sayaka fights them instead, creating complete chaos. Jigoro ends the farce by showing up to buy hamburgers, discovering that Yawara has a secret…
42Ippon Zeoi at the Disco!1990-09-0325 minYawara and Itou decide to try their next job at the disco, using the excuse that they are study. ALthough Itou is afraid that her ballet training might be useless there, her dancing (to the music of Swan Lake) turns out to be a hit. However, the "Cheek Time" (close embrace dancing) discomfits Yawara, and when her patron tries to cup a feel, she instinctively throws him for an ippon. Itou begins to suspect that she has seen Yawara before, perhaps as a judoka. Yawara realizes that she really is not "normal," or at least does not react like a normal girl.
43Free Weight Class is the only way for Yawara!1990-09-1725 minJigoro crashes the airport reception for IOC President Tamaranch, a close friends of the Honami family to demand that the Judo World Cup have an open weight division. Itou Fujiko finds out that Yawara is the famous judoka genius, and urges her to compete in the World Cup, telling her that it inspires her. However, Yawara is unmoved. Jigoro cooks up a scheme/stunt to make the World Cup open-weight in exchange for approval for Shinnosuke to date his granddaughter, in which Jigoro takes on the huge 120 kg Arakawa (5th-dan judo), a Honami's security agent, the reception for President Tamaranch…
44Selected Athletes Announced Tonight!1990-10-1525 minIt is publicly announced that four weight classes (with Sayaka representing Japan in the under 48 kg division; Yamada Kaori in the under 52 kg division; Tanabe Yoko in the under-72 kg division; and Toudoh Yuki in the over-72 kg division) will be at the Judo World Cup, with also a new open-weight class to be represented by Yawara, to Sayaka's consternation. However, Yawara announces that she will not participate. Instead she wants to concentrate on her home economics classes such as cooking and being a normal girl. Itou shows Yawara her blood-soaked ballerina shoes, which she had used to dance…
45After the World cup ends...1990-10-2225 minItou Fujiko organizes a Yawara Cheer Club at the college, but the girls are not particularly enthusiastic. Jody shows up to proclaim that she and Yawara are "shummai" (dumpling) rivals, rather than "shukumei" (destined) rivals, amongst other mistakes in Japanese. She also again refers to Tamao tells Yawara that her father might have been spotted in Seoul, the site of the World Cup, giving some 1-ippon lessons to Korean judokas. Belkins the Belgium Judo Queen gives an press conference, and Matsuda tries to fan flames of competition between her and Teleshikova and Yawara. Yawara arrives at the…
46Raising the Curtain! World Cup1990-10-2925 minTamao tailors Kojiro's old judo uniform for Yawara to use in Seoul, as Yawara tries to learn some Korean. Jigoro supposedly is doing pre-tournament meditation, but it turns out he was just thinking about which restaurants to hit in Seoul. Itou Fujiko has spent several weeks organizing other women at the college to sew a giant Yawara cheer banner, with which she wants to surprise Yawara; she stays up all night putting the finishing touches (though still unable to fix all mistakes) but arrives too late to see Yawara off. However, she is able to unfurl the 20 m (66-ft) banner on the tarmac so…
47Uncertain! Japan’s Female Judo!!1990-11-0525 minThe Cup begins, and Sayaka as the 48kg division favorite, easily wins her semifinal match to reach the final against Kim Yonsky. Jody Rockwell shows up with her equally huge fiance, a weightlifter who likes to lift people as well. The media focuses its attention on the sidelines as Teleshikova, Jody, and Belkins surround Yawara to trash talk, and this distracts Sayaka in her finals match with Kim. Kim builds a big lead against Sayaka, but Yawara gives tips to Sayaka, which she uses but does not appreciate or acknowledge publicly. The last second move that could have led to a victory by…
48The Open-weight Campions1990-11-1925 minAs the Free Weight division begins its contests, Yawara's friends at home are having trouble tuning in to the televised tournament--Hanazono has to wash a mountain of judo uniforms, and Itou Fujiko has TV reception problems. Belkins easily defeats her first round opponent. Yawara is pitted against a giant, Tao of China, who is 198 cm (6 ft 6 in) tall and weighs 125 kg (275 lb), but Yawara throws her for an instant ippon anyway, stunning the arena into silence. An overwhelmed (and crying, of course) Hanazono declares to his new sempais that Yawara is his first love. When they hear that he had…
49Yawara vs Queen Belkens1990-11-2625 minIn their match, Belkens quickly discovers she has no opening against Yawara, and that any move she makes places her in danger. Belkens is therefore on defense most of the time and receives two warnings for repeatedly going of bounds to escape. Finally she attacks, but is almost thrown for an ippon before hooking Yawara's leg for a narrow escape. However, Yawara is able to counter this move and in the next sequence, pulls Belkens for an ippon. Belkens is gracious in defeat, telling Yawara that She may be the new queen. Matsuda meanwhile chases the an he believes to be Kojiro all over the arena…
50In order to fight Yawara...1990-12-0325 minKojiro relates to Matsuda that after his loss to Yamashita, he became ashamed of his former conceitedness, and then after being thrown by Yawara at 5 year old, he realizes that he lacks the natural talent of a genius. To compensate for his weakness, he has been traveling and training all over the country to become stronger. Kojiro tells Matsuda that his letter contains important tips for Yawara in her final match. Kojiro runs away, and Matsuda is detained by the arena police to file a police report as they believe he is a victim of an assault by Kojiro. In their hard fought match, Jody is…
51The letter from Kojirou1990-12-1025 minAfter Jody's defeat, she is unable to bow and falls down from her injury and exhaustion. Yawara is angry that Teleshikova targeted Jody's injury, thinking it unsportsman-like and unfair and "mean." Jigoro states that Teleshikova was hiding her finishing move (throw) from Yawara. Jody tells her fiance that their wedding will need to be postponed until her leg is healed. Matsuda limps back into the arena, trying to retrieve Kojiro's letter from Kuniko to give to Yawara. Kuniko tries to give the "fan letter" to Yawara, but she ignores her as she is in a mental zone. Yawara enters the match…
52Death Hold! Tereshkova’s Battle1990-12-1725 minTeleshikova's uranage against Yawara was ruled a waza ari (half point), not an ippon (outright victory), because it landed partially out of bounds, and Yawara narrowly averts a defeat. However, she is also not getting up from the mat and may be knocked unconscious briefly. In her semiconsciousness, Yawara remembers her throwing Kojiro at 5 and apologizes to him, and finally she wakes up on hearing Matsuda yelling for her to get up (which she mistakes for Kojiro's voice). As the match continues, Teleshikova engages her relentless leg sweeps, and Jigoro is angry that Yawara is still fighting…
53Matsuda’s Interview Monopoly1991-01-0725 minYawara tries a kata guruma (shoulder wheel), lifting Teleshikova on her shoulders, but she is able to escape by walking on her hands to go out of bounds. Jigoro continues to criticize Yawara as a "fighting dog" unworthy of a judoka, and states that his judo does not win by judges' decisions or points, but on outright ippons. Teleshikova vows not to lose despite not having the fan support and world class training. After multiple moves and countermoves, Yawara finally executes an impossible ippon with 3 seconds left in the match for a victory. Right afterwards, Jigoro angrily pulls off Yawara…
54Highlights 1: Everything started from that moment1991-01-1425 minA summarization by Matsuda of what has happened so far.
55Highlights 2: Came, Watched, Won ! The World’s Number 1 Judo Girl!!1991-01-2125 minA summarization by Matsuda of what has happened so far. It ends with Kojiro being brought to Sayaka, potentially as a coach.56I... Am Quiting Judo!1991-01-2825 minMedia frenzy at the airport as the Japan judo team returns from the World Cup. Yawara escapes from the media leaving Jigoro to deal with them. All the Musashiyama judo members and Fujiko and company are there also to greet her. Hanazono mistakenly holds hands with Fujiko, and they appear to have some chemistry (the two are matched in height and enthusiasm for Yawara's judo). Yawara tells Tamao that she could not find her father in Seoul. Jigoro parades around with Yawara's gold medal for his friends to admire. Meanwhile, as Kojiro wolfs down food, Sayaka tells him she is willing to pay him…
57Fujiko-san’s decision1991-02-0425 minMatsuda tells Kojiro in the presence of the Honamis that Yawara is quitting judo because she thinks it is the reason why her father left the family. Sayaka does not believe him, and Kojiro, who is staying at the Honami compound, continues to insist that he cannot see Yawara right now. Shinnosuke, Matsuda, and Fujiko have dinner with Yawara to discuss her decision to quit judo. Yawara believes "only bad things have come from judo" in her life. Fujiko comes to Hanazono for help to convince Yawara not to quit judo, and as Hanazono relates the story of how Yawara helped train the high school judo…
58The letter from Canada1991-02-1125 minJody is getting married and has invited Yawara to her wedding. Jigoro insists that she continues training in Canada, Yawara apparently not having told him about her decision to quit. Hanazono warns Fujiko that starting a judo club is tough going and will likely involve much physical work and injuries, and when Fujiko says she will press ahead no matter the hardship, Hanazono vows to help her. During Yawara's absence to Canada, Fujiko makes preparations (posters, judo research, uniforms, etc.) for the club. At the judo recruitment, only 1 sickly woman with "very little presence" shows up…59The Last Ippon Seoinage!?1991-02-1825 minJody organizes a parade in Canada for Yawara the world judo champion, and Jody's judo students show up. Jody also arranges a practice match at her wedding. Yawara's opponent in the wedding practice match is "Canada's New Hope," Kristin Adams, who had pulled out of the 72kg division competition at the World Cup due to an injury. Yawara has a hard time with Adams before flipping her for a "final ippon." However, Yawara's heart is not in the match at all. Fujiko passes by the jazz dancing club and is accidentally pinned by an enormous woman, who she hopes to be the 5th recruit. Meanwhile…
60Japan’s Weakest Judo Club1991-02-2525 minThe new obese dieting judo club member is Yoshinagawa Sayuri, and Fujiko treats her to all you can eat meal to entice her to join, though her main judo goal is actually to lose weight. Matsuda is initially glad to hear that Yawara participated in a practice match in Canada, thinking it is a good sign, but when Jody calls him to ask for help regarding Yawara's intention to quit (she still believes that Matsuda is Yawara's "steady" (boyfriend), he is at a loss. Mitsuba judo club's first "practice" was a disaster, as no one actually knows how to do judo. Fujiko comes to Hanazono for help, and he…
61The Extreme Training Program!1991-03-0425 minMatsuda helps out the judo team by pretending there's "media interest." Yawara is beginning to wonder about Jigoro's "weird" behavior, as he does not seem to be pushing her as hard in training and has been out for mysterious reasons. She sees several students reading Jigoro's autobiography and suspicious scrapes on Fujiko's arms that look like tatami injuries. Jigoro decided the best way to train is through a match, which is arranged between Mitsuba and Tsukushi University's women judo team, the best in the nation. Tsukushi team has multiple members in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd dan; its coach…
62Dangerous Debut Battle1991-03-1125 minThe Mitsuba team continues its practice, with Fujiko showing the most progress due to her ballet training (counting "un, deux, trois!" with her ballet steps)and physical advantages; Jigoro praises her by saying that she could have been a good judoka had she taken up the sport earlier. Minamida (Nanda) Yoko, the serial dumpee, has various "technique execution shouts" based on the names of the boyfriends who dumped her (e.g., "Haruki you jerk!" "Makoto you jerk!" "Keisuke you jerk!", etc.). The team has purposely not asking Yawara for help because of her "contrarian" personality, thinking that…
63Secret Technique! The Swan Lake1991-03-1825 minScreaming "That hurts! Let me go!" and crying profusively, Sayuri somehow gets out of the first hold only to get into another jam, and Jigoro has to give up the match for her; he also motivates her by telling she has lost weight in the match. The Tsukushi coach is impressed by how Jigoro is able to motivate his students to fight so hard. Oda Mari is qualified because she is not in proper judo attire (earrings and makeup). Fujiko bravely and shakingly goes to her match, to protect the weakling Kyon-kyon, who would surely die if she fights. The Tsukushi team is somewhat intimidated by her…
64Maybe I should try doing it1991-04-1525 minFujiko holds on to beat Uzaki but is completely drained. Katori, the under 66kg champion is next for Tsukushi, and Fujiko sallies forth again, telling her teammates that her ballerina body "may bend but won't break." Fujiko finally loses, and Yawara arrives. However, Kyon-kyon (as the "captain") is inspired by Fujiko's efforts and wants to compete herself as well. Kyon-kyon actually has no move at all, but intimidates her opponent by counting 1,2,3 because she looks like a ghost. However, she remembers a move by observation and bravely tries it, but at least survives. Yawara challenges…
65Fujiko, Love, and Judo1991-04-2225 minFujiko and Hanazono's relationship develop, though Hanazono is too much of a gentleman to make any forward advances, but he finds himself daydreaming about Fujiko and vice versa. Their "crying date" at a lovers' park bother the other couples. The next day, although most members are late, they all show up to practice, proving that Fujiko's faith in them is not misplaced. Paddy-field has been dumped by boyfriend #14, while Sayuri claims to have lost 3-5kg from the match. Sayaka decides to join the Ajisai tournament even though her school judo club has no other members in order to challenge…
66Everyone wants to defeat Yawara!1991-04-2925 minMitsuba team members practice hard under Jigoro. Sayaka assembles a fake judo team from her rich heiress Seishin School classmates, the idea being that she will take care of all the matches. Fujiko in particular is training really hard, and Kojiro shows up secretly to give her tips, saying she is not bad with only 3 months of training. Yawara suspects it might be Kojiro because a persimmon seed wafer, a favorite snack of his, was left behind. Matsuda joins Yawara for a run to tell her that Sayaka will be challenging her at Ajisai, and also suggests that she could build the Mitsuba members'…
67The large wall that is in the way1991-05-0625 minAs the Tournament begins, Fujiko is having a crisis of confidence in the limelight. Yawara encourages her, but realizes that everyone else is giving her the death stares. Like Kojiro, Jigoro predicts that Sayaka will have a tough time against a "huge obstacle" before meeting Yawara. Sayaka's heiress teammates include "5th degree calligraphers," no judo practitioners, but Sayaka has trouble finishing off 5 opponents by herself in the beginning. Mitsuba College is pitted against Wagadzuma College, and Fujiko is very nervous, though she had "eaten 300 people" for good luck. Wagadzuma's coach…
68The Swan vs The Heavy Tank1991-05-1325 minBefore their quarterfinal match agaisnt Kuroyuri Sports College, Fujiko is intimidated by the hulking Tohdoh. Kuroyuri was last year's runner up and features an uniform lineup of huge scary-looking judokas. Paddy-field is no good against her opponent, and Marilyn is out in an instant as well. Sayuri gives up quickly as well. Fujiko's parents come to watch her match, with her likewise giraffe mom manhandling her husband as she cries that she should not have let Fujiko play such a violent sport. They stand next to Hanazono, whom they quickly realize is the man who got their daughter involved in…
69Do your best! rah rah1991-05-2725 minYawara takes down Tohdoh not with her trademark Ippon zeoi, but with an ouchi gari, Fujiko's move. Tohdoh had been preparing for the ippon zeoi attack, but cannot counter the new move. In the semifinal, it is Sayaka's school against Mitsuba College. Fujiko's parents visit the Mitsuba locker room and demand to take her out of the tournament immediately. In the melee, they discover that Marilyn is missing (she is spending too much time applying makeup in the restroom) and cannot find him; Kyon-Kyon bravely offers herself as replacement, despite shaking uncontrollably. In the first match…
70Dissappear nuisance!1991-06-0325 minFujiko decides to give her out against Sayaka despite being afraid. Her parents also unexpectedly come to see her; her mom is very tall also, but the dad is short. They stand next to Hanazono without knowing who each other is, but they quickly identify Hanazono as the "bad influence" who introduced their daughter to the violent sport of judo. Hanazono instinctively and repeatedly calls them "mother" and "father," to which they object. Jigoro tells the Saikai College coach Yuutenji that he can have both Yawara and Fujiko as a package later when they graduate Mitsuba, which is only a 2-year…
71The Lightning-Fast Ippon Zeoi1991-06-1025 minAll Tsukushi judokas are topranked blackbelts, which frighten Fujiko, but not the confident Paddy-field, who promises to beat 3 on her own. Kyon-kyon took very detailed notes on the rivals, which may come into use; she is revealed to be a smart learner. Oda Mari takes on the first opponent and is defeated in a flash, and so is Sayuri. Kyon-Kyon tells Yawara she wants to win, as she has never felt more alive and excited. Kyon-kyon manages to score a koka by dodging, but is overpowered in the end; she feels mad about losing. Despite her weakness, Kyon-Kyon has made real progress in judo…
72Will it happen?! Five straight miraculous wins1991-06-1725 minTsukushi coach tries to motivate his team, saying they have more powerful, as the 2 of the 3 remaining judokas are giants. Yawara does have a harder time against the next giant, whom she defeats with a frontal pin. After Yawara defeats the 4th, the coach still claims it is going according to plan. Yamada Kaori, the last Tsukushi judoka, promises she will win because they supposedly have developed a special weapon against the ippon zeoi. However, she is defeated almost instantly when Yawara switches move. In the car carrying Sayaka and Kojiro, he appears to agree to take on Sayaka as his…
73Inokuma Kojiro on the move!1991-06-2425 minMarilyn and Paddy-field hog all the media attention from the victory, but the others do not care. Tsukushi coach is crushed to know that Mitsuba college would not be defending the cup because both Yawara and Fujiko will be graduating, thus denying his school the chance for redemption. Kojiro tells Sayaka that they are not geniuses like Jigoro or Yawara, and that the only way to beat them is through "luck." He takes Sayaka to a remote mountain cabin without electricity or bathroom or heat to train. Sayaka has trouble keeping up with the training once it starts. At a post-victory celebration…
74All’s not quiet on Yawara’s job-hunting front!1991-07-0125 minThe judo members are hunting for jobs, and Sayuri the dieter gets one at a department story. Kyon-kyon is thinking of getting a pre-school job, whereas Paddy-field wants to be a policewoman. Marilyn still dreams about being an actress. Yawara for her part has not figured out what she wants to do. Tamao says it was easy for her to decide to be a mother and homemaker at Yawara's age. Yuutenji tries to convince Fujiko to enter Saikai, and estimates her weight at 65 kg (about 143 lb), to which she objects that she is only 64 kg; Yuutenji says she needs to drop another 3kg for the under 61kg judo…
75The selected judo-championship of love1991-07-0825 minMatsuda's father pays him a sudden visit because there has been no progress in his son's romantic life; he brings pictures and details of a prospect, a "nice girl" who works as an elementary school teacher in the next town. He does not believe Matsuda can get Yawara to be his girlfriend, as he is only a "3rd rate reporter at a 3rd rate paper" (a common insult that Shinnosuke, Sayaka, and Jigoro often hurl at him) and she is destined for much greater things. As proof, his father asks if he has "made it" with Yawara, or even kissed her or touched her boobs; Matsuda claims he has an "enviable…
76I’m So Mad!1991-07-1525 minThe All-Japan Selection Tournament begins, and Fujiko has huge jitters despite all the confidence boosting exercises. She overhears Jigoro telling Yuutenji that he has been turning down job offers secretly, greatly angering her; the Tsurukame travel agency to which she had applied sends its president to recruit her and watch the tournament. However, they observe other travel agencies' personnel at the tournament for the same purposes of snatching Yawara. Energized by her anger, Yawara destroys her first 3 opponents and is about to go cheer Fujiko on in her first match, only to be waylaid by 4…
77New Deadly Technique! The Nutcracker!!1991-07-2225 minMatsuda finally finds Yawara, and they arrive to find Fujiko way behind by a yuko and waza ari. Her opponent is the favorite in the division, and has studied Fujiko's "Swan Lake" technique to counter it. With less than 20 seconds left, Fujiko's only chance is her new unperfected "Nutcracker" technique. On hearing Yawara's spur-of-the-moment promise to go to Yugoslavia with her, Fujiko pulls off her Nutcracker with 1 second left for a miraculous comeback. After defeating her 2nd opponent, Fujiko is in cloud nine as she dreams about Yugoslavia and prances in her ballet moves while waiting for…
78A Smiling Ippon!1991-07-2925 minAssisted by her dancer's flexibility, Fujiko is able to invent new pinning moves and hang on for the victory, with only the finals separating her from her Yugoslavia dreams. During match intermission, Matsuda interviews the company representatives and tells Yawara that the companies are just using her (for publicity) and will not allow her to work "normally," which is overheard by Fujiko, who is saddened to learn that she may be forcing her Yugoslavia dreams on her friend. Matsuda also tells her she cannot lead a normal life wherever she goes and can never get away from judo. Tsurukame…
79You Can Do It, Fujiko! First Place Is Right in Front of You!!1991-08-0525 minFujiko struggles mightly against her southpaw rival Obayashi and is losing on points, having suffered a big yuko. The crowd, however, is on her side, cheering for the "Beanpole," unlike her previous fight with Sayaka. Jigoro, though he has given her no training against lefties, believes that she will find a way to win if she wants it. Fujiko's parents relate her long "tragic" history of never coming in first place, no matter how hard she tried, and believe she will fail here too. Fujiko executes an come from behind ippon by finally grasping Obayashi's back collar, but it is ruled out of…
80You’re Going to the World Championships!1991-08-1225 minJigoro opens the door to media hounds asking him about headlines of various companies fighting for Yawara's services, based on Matsuda's "gut sense." Au contraire, Jigoro announces that Yawara would not become a "trifling office lady," but will go to Sakai and the world championships. Yawara, concerned about Fujiko, goes to visit her in the morning but is told that she has left already. Yawara then visits Tsurukame office to accept its job, while Coach Yuutenji calls Jigoro to tell her Saikai has approved Yawara and Fujiko's acceptance pending an entrance exam formality. Yawara encounters…
81Fujiko’s First Training Camp!1991-09-0925 minAlthough she does not expect to compete in Yugoslavia, Fujiko is still training hard, not knowing that Yawara secretly wants to renege on her promise. Hanazono confesses that he fears Fujiko is becoming too good for him as a judoka, just as Yawara has always been. Yawara tries to bribe Jigoro with a Tsurukame sponsored hot spring trip, but Jigoro does not fall for it. Fujiko is excited about traveling overseas for the first time and confesses her sadness after losing the split decision, and Yawara does not have the heart to tell her she would not be going to Yugoslavia. They attend the…
82The Opening Act of the Yugoslavia World Championships!1991-10-1425 minAs the Japanese judo team departs for Yugoslavia, hopeful companies display huge banners at the airport in support of her. Japanese judo officials are having trouble deciding who to represent them in the free weight division, which is being held on the same day as the under 48kg division, meaning that Yawara can't do both. Jigoro subtly plants the seed that Fujiko might be a good alternative. Fujiko sees the cup competitors at the airport and is completely intimidated, especially by Teleshikova, and is glad she is not competing. She dances ballet before training. She and Jody bond over their…
83Jam-Packed with International Contenders!1991-10-2125 minMartinez is pitted against Jody in the heavyweight finals. Jigoro continues mental timing training with Fujiko on the sidelines. Jody struggles against Martinez at first but finally defeats her, with Fujiko trying to figure out when to unleash her un deux trois attack as if she is a contestant. Matsuda visits his father in the hospital, who is awake and goads him about being out of his league. His mother tells him that they do not need help running their family hotel, as he is useless as a housekeeper, and they want him to continue his budding career as a reporter. Khruschev is Russia's under…
84First Time Under Pressure1991-10-2825 minAs Japan's under 52kg contestant Yokomizo is defeated, Japan's women team is without a gold medal at this point, with only the under 48 kg and free weight division left as gold medal opportunities. Jody takes Yawara and Fujiko shopping on the day before her contests to take some pressure off. Jigoro holds a "press conference" in Yawara's place and regales them with his life story, though he mistakes the BBC for some type of vaccine. With the available judokas either injured and broken in spirits, the Japan coach enters Fujiko's name on Jigoro's advice. Fujiko is unable to eat or sleep after…
85Swan Lake on the World Stage1991-11-0425 minBeing mentally unprepared, Yawara is thrown for a waza ari by a supposedly weak French judoka Deneuve. She is listless and has no speed, struggling mightily before eking out a meager point difference victory, her first without an outright ippon. She is unable to support a cracking Fujiko, who wants to forfeit rather than fight. Khrushchev, also known as Teleshikova-lite, scoffs at Yawara's showing. On Fujiko first contact with Martinez, she runs backwards in fear and falls to the bleachers, with the crowd calling her a "turkey." As the match goes on, Fujiko cannot put on a move at all against…
86The Top and Bottom of Their Games1991-11-1125 minTsurukame's Frankfurt branch was sent to report on the world cup, and their news is bad: "Yawara at the bottom of her game." She again was unable to earn an ippon victory against her next 2 opponents, relying on sluggish point victories. Meanwhile, Fujiko improves and easily ippons her 2nd and 3rd opponents. Likewise, Canada's Adams, and Russia's Teleshikova and Khrushchev are as sharp as ever. As they stop to have lunch, Matsuda somehow tells the taxi driver he is going to the judo championship, who then starts to drive at breakneck speed to Belgrade because he is also a Yawara fan and…
87Burn Rubber, Papara Man1991-11-1825 minKuniko reports back to Japan with schadenfreude that Yawara is doing badly and Fujiko well, though both have reached the semifinals. Fujiko faces the fearsome Teleshikova in free weight semifinals. Teleshikova regards Fujiko as a "flea" and "nobody," while Fujiko knows she will lose no matter what, and only wants to avoid being a liability to Yawara. Yawara tells her to strike first against Teleshikova before she could pick up her un deux trois rhythm. Not showing any respect for Fujiko, Teleshikova suffers a waza ari. Yawara is able to finish off her opponent quickly to start giving tips to…
88Giant Clash! Swan Lake vs the Ura Nage!!1991-11-2525 minTeleshikova grows desperate and shows frightful power as well trying for a comeback against Fujiko, earning a waza ari. Jigoro reveals that he is never taught Fujiko evasive maneuvers, saying that is not his judo, so Fujiko is on her own as in the previous contest. Although she tries her best with her Swan Lake move, she is unable to overcome Teleshikova's uranage backflip and loses, and the whole stadium cheers her. She still has a chance in the third-place medal contest, against South Korea's beefy Kim Gyeong Suk, but she loses quickly, dashing her hopes of providing a lift to Yawara before…
89Myth of Invincibility!1991-12-0225 minWhereas Shinnosuke is distracted from watching the Yawara's finals match by a blonde he picked up, Matsuda finally reaches the stadium but has trouble going past the guards to get close to ringside as the match gets under way. Although he tries to rush the ring, he is arrested by security, but Jody rescues him. The taxi driver fan helps him yell cheers loud enough for her to hear, and she defeats Krushcheve with her trademark quick ippon zeoi after she notices Matsuda at the ringside. Matsuda and Yawara look for the taxi driver, but he already left without charging Matsuda taxi fare. However…
90Jigoro’s Love, a Tearful Story of Friendship1991-12-0925 minAs usual, Jigoro does the media parade and friends circuit with Yawara's new gold metal from Belgrade. He launches into another semi-fictional story that starts in 1936, after he won his first Japan Judo Championship. Davis, a blond giant from America with a cheerful laugh and personality, challenges his dojo, and after being defeated, becomes his student at the dojo (Jigoro calls him "Debeso"). They also compete at eating and telling tall tales about beating bears and whales. Davis turns to be famous a heavyweight wrestler (though Jigoro has never heard of him) who tells him about the Berlin…
91Next Up, The Graduation Match!1991-12-1625 minTsurukame Travel Agency's president fails to convince Jigoro to let Yawara join his company. Yawara tells Fujiko the reasons for her choosing to work for Tsurukame rather than transferring to Saikai University. Fujiko attempts to help persuade Jigoro to allow Yawara to work for Tsurukame. The judo members hit on the idea of having a graduation match, which Jigoro schemes to adopt for his own purposes. He proposes that if the Mitsuba College can win its graduation match, then he will allow Yawara to work for Tsurukame. Through Matsuda, Jigoro scouts the Seine University judo team, best in…
92Revealed! The Ultimate Conspiracy1992-01-0625 minPaddy-field comes up with a "strategy" (she uses "jya" at the end of her sentences like Jigoro). Yawara will be the first judoka in order to take out as many opponents as they can, and the 2nd wave would consist of Paddy-field, Kyon-kyon and Sayuri to wear out the remainders, with Fujiko anchoring the team. At the competition they find out that it is not an elimination arrangement, but a points system, having been gamed by Jigoro. All team members will have to fight their own contests, whichever team gets 3 out of 5 matches wins. Shinnosuke accuses Matsuda to have been in on the rigged…
93Kyonkyon Risks Her Life!1992-01-1325 minMatsuda tries to explain his role in the graduation match and offer whatever "data" he has gathered to make up. World #3 Deneuve specializes in uchi mata, but it is clear that Paddy-field has no chance even armed with this intelligence. As expected, Paddy-field loses. Kyon-Kyon is up next, and she relates her history of being isolated from the world due to her weakness and poor health. She tells the team that judo has helped her a lot, and she is determined to risk her life to help Yawara. Kyon-Kyon, who is weak but good at absorbing lessons, scores a yuko with an unexpected deashi barai. To…
94Thank God I’m Fat!1992-01-2025 minDown 1 to 2, Sayuri somehow turns a mistake by her opponent (who was unable to throw her due to her heft) and lands a Osaekomi hold, which she endures despite having suffered severe facial injuries. She wins by an ippon. Fujiko is next and suffering from extreme anxiety as Yawara's future seems to depend on her. Jigoro plays psychological warfare against her by inducing the audience (Mitsuba women and Tsurukame reps) to yell cheers for Fujiko and media to snap pictures of her, adding to her anxiety. Fujiko is as stiff as a robot and in bad shape to start her contest.
95Get That Ippon and Win!1992-01-2725 minFujiko enters the match too stiff and nervous to get her rhythm right and falls behind in points. However, at Shinnosuke's suggestion that he say "something romantic" to relax and encourage his girlfriend, Hanazono is able to muster, "Once this match is over, let's go and have some tea!" Fujiko fights better afterwards, ekes out a lead, but loses it by trying to follow Jigoro's advice "always go for an ippon win, don't win by points or decisions." Jigoro cannot help giving her the right advice because he is touched by her fighting spirit and adherence to his "ippon only!" victory.
96The Return of the Heiress1992-02-0325 minFujiko persists in her attacks and finally scores an ippon win in the waning seconds. Marilyn, who did not participate in the matches, "helps out" by recruiting potential new members from the female students who attend the contest, so that judo club might carry on to the next generation. Jigoro disappears from the gym. The French looks in vain for him to get his autograph. The Tsurukame president announce publicly that Yawara will join the company, and Matsuda warns them not to exploit here. He admits that he is chasing both Yawara the judoka and Ywara the person. Coach Yuutenji believes it…
97Once We Graduate...1992-02-1025 minShinnosuke believes that Matsuda is out as his love rival for Yawara. The judo clubbers graduate Mitsuba and they all cry at parting. Both Marilyn and Paddy-field with new men (nineteenth for Paddy-field), which is not surprising, but even Sayuri and Kyon-Kyon turn out to have men as well. It is clear that the judo club members do not known each other as well as they think. Other graduating women have men in fancy sports cars waiting for them. Hanazono arrives on a beat-up bike bearing a single rose for Fujiko. Yawara waits more than one hour for Shinnosuke, who had promised to take her out…
98First Kiss!1992-02-1725 minSayaka appears on Sports Spirits program to announce she has been training under the world's best coach (whom she does not name). She makes fun of Tsurukame as a 3rd rate travel company and accuses her of hiding, just like she did at Mitsuba which did not even have a judo team. Yawara does not appear to care and walks away without Matsuda noticing. She hears men talking about the next big "cat fight" between her and Sayaka. Coach Yuutenji enters Fujiko's name in the next open-weight All Japan Judo Championship, which means she could fight anybody, including Sayaka or Yawara. Hanazono runs off…
99A New Employee’s First Assignment1992-02-2425 minTsurukame Agency introduces Yawara to its workforce with great assignment, as they believe they’ll best the Honami Group’s travel business in time instead of just being #3. She is introduced to her new boss, assistant manger Hagoromo, who seems to do no work other reading newspapers in an abandoned corner area of the office. Yawara drags her boss to make enter into a possible big account with Kato Chu company, at the extreme reluctance of Hagoromo. Kato Chu however demands Yawara’s presence at its Hokkaido event, which conflicts with the All Japan Judo Championships. Shinnosuke meets with…
100Hokkaido and the Martial Arts Hall1992-03-0225 minHagoromo is ordered not give Yawara any real work and to let her concentrate on judo. Jigoro and Matsuda spy on Fujiko and Yawara at a cafe. Fujiko is overjoyed that Yawara is entering the All Japan, but she just realizes that her arranged appearance with Kato Chu company conflicts with the All Japan tournament dates. The conflict also involves Hanomi Travel whose biggest account is Kato Chu. Yawara goes to Shinnosuke for help, and he is only trying to work out what’s best for himself under the circumstances, with his bachelorhood versus twenty billion yen at stake. He finally advises her to…
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2I’ve Found Yawara’s Rival! She’s The Ultimate Young Lady!!1989-10-2325 minJigoro finds Yawara's dedication to judo lacking, and he blames it on her lack of a worthy rival. One day they are almost run over by a Bentley carrying Sayaka Honami, a rich spoiled sports superstar who has mastered and is bored with multiple sports (e.g., tennis (including a defeat of Martina Navratilova in an exhibition), riding, skiing, gymnastic, swimming, fencing, figure skating, etc.). They are invited to Sayaka's mansion for dinner, and Sayaka decides to take up judo as her next sports quest when she sees Jigoro throw her hulking body guard Kamata, a 5th kun judo practitioner, with…3Enter Kazamatsuri. What A Shame That She Is Infatuated With Love1989-10-3025 minYawara receives a fortune from her fellow classmate that she will meet a "gorgeous man" in the next 24 hours. Later, on the bus home, she is accosted by Mastuda, who reveals that he knows her identity as a judo genius, which Yawara denies. Mastuda is then thrown off the bus by a good looking young man (Shinnosuke), who mistakes him for a molester. Shinnosuke then takes Yawara to a cafe and charms her with flattery. Shinnosuke is later shown to be admiring himself in the mirror in his underwear and listening to various voicemails from women beseeching his attention. In her debut Sayaka wins a…4This Is My Strategy To Make Yawara Take Part In A Real Match!1989-11-0625 minShinnosuke is intent on confirming Yawara as the "strong girl" and goes on a date with her. Seeing elbow scrapes on Yawara that could be caused by judo exercise arouses Shinnosuke's suspicion even more. However, Yawara shows no interest in judo and instead talks about bargain sales and beef stroganoff; even when he puts judo moves on her, Yawara shows no reaction (which she intentionally represses). Later, Yawara has a chance encounter with a member of her high school's judo club, and kindly offers to wash their soiled judo uniforms; the judo club is run by Hanazono, a big senior student who…5Finally the Real Fight! Judo is Not Built in a Day, Jya!1989-11-1325 minDuring the practice tournament, all of the Musashiyama members are defeated quickly, and even Hanazono is able to defeat only one opponent. Yawara is forced to enter the tournament for real, and the Ganryuji judo members are all excited by the prospects of wrestling a girl. While she has decided to "lose quickly," Yawara nevertheless easily defeated the Ganryuji judo members using different judo moves, all the while distracted by thoughts of missing the bargain sale with her friends and also by wrestling without a t-shirt underneath her judo uniform. She even defeats Ganryuji's captain…6Finally Pictured! The Big Scoop Of The Century That Will Bring On A Storm, Jya!!1989-11-2025 minAfter defeating the Ganryuji team, Yawara is carried home by Jigoro because she had injured her foot during the match; Jigoro discloses that Yawara has been trained by him with the goal of capturing the National Achievement Award and the 1992 Olympic gold medal, but ask the tournament members to keep it secret for the time being. Later, Yawara and Shinnosuke go on a date at a park, which is constantly disrupted by his spotting Sayaka and other other love interests at the park. Shinnosuke later simply runs off when he spots Sayaka again at a cafe. Jigoro goes to a TV station with a grandiose…7Hohohoh! The Yawara Boom That Shakes Japan, Jya!1989-11-2725 minThe media exposure invades every aspect of Yawara's daily life, though her friends and Hanazono try to protect her. Meanwhile, Matsuda is having second thoughts about the trouble he has caused her and rescues her from the media hounds on a motorcycle. Shinnosuke tells Sayaka that she cannot beat Yawara for the time being; Yawara seems equally upset by this as by Shinnosuke's possibly romantic interest with her rival. Sayaka manipulates her dad to invite Jigoro for dinner and to hire him as her judo coach; however, Jigoro is only interested in scoring a free meal at an expensive French…8Enough Of Judo! I’m Going To Be In A Match1989-12-0425 minYawara spends the night at Matsuda's apartment, and Matsuda is awakened in the morning (having slept outside his apartment) by Yawara's daily morning judo exercise. On the news, it is falsely announced that Sayaka is hiring Jigoro as a coach, which surprises and saddens Yawara. In fact, Jigoro has refused the Honami offer with his usual excuse that he does not teach "weaklings." The refusal shocks the Honamis but does not faze Shinnosuke, who finally secures Jigoro's autograph on both his book and jacket. Meanwhile, seeing that Yawara is upset by the false news concerning Jigoro, Matsuda…9Yawara’s Debut Match! An Ippon Victory Before You Even Know It Happened, Jya!1989-12-1125 minAs the media buildup over Yawara's debut continues, Matsuda is instead trying to find out more about Yawara's mysterious father, Kojiro, who won the 1974 Japan Judo Championship but then inexplicably disappeared afterwards. Yawara works extra her in her "final" practice with Jigoro, throwing him several times, with the guilty knowledge that she will lose the match and also quit judo afterwards. Yawara tells Matsuda that her mother has been looking for her father after he disappeared, and only returns home a few times a year. Despite the losing scheme, Matsuda is still having dreams of fans…10An Ippon-Zeoi With My Mom! The 90`s Is Yawara’s Era, jya!1989-12-1825 minAs the match continues, Yawara discovers that Yuki Tohdoh is actually very weak despite her heft, and she has trouble faking the loss. Meanwhile, the ignorant reporters present at the match vacillate between thinking that Yawara is faking a loss or covering up her own weakness, despite "expert" opinions from Hanazono, Shinnosuke, and Gohzoh Yuutenji, the Saikai College judo coach, that Yawara for some reason is not showing her true strength. As Yawara continues to fake her way through the match, Jigoro becomes suspicious and finally realizes that Yawara is trying to lose; Matsuda for his part…11A Big Uproar At High School With The Yawara Fame!1990-01-0825 minMusashiyama High School is excited about the publicity over Yawara's debut, and the principal asks Yawara to start a girls' judo club and is surprised by Yawara's outright refusal; Yawara announces that she wants to go to a home economics college instead. The pathetic judo team members are shown playing video judo games rather than practicing, and they panic when they see an overflow of students wishing to join the judo club. Sudoh, a red-haired freshman, comes to challenge the judo club and look for Yawara. After school Yawara's three friends reveal that Shinnosuke had sweet-talked each one…12Coach Yawara’s Extracurricular Lesson!1990-01-1525 minYawara intends to secretly train the weak judo team members so they can stand up to Sudoh, as well to avenge Hanazono (who has been hospitalized after Sudoh's attack) and herself (she does not intend to personally grapple with Sudoh). Sakai College tries to recruit Yawara, but she needs a track record of official matches to be admitted. To that end, Jigoro demands that Coach Yuutenji set up a big televised tournament match for Yawara. Sayaka trains in Paris, while Shinnosuke habitually romances the women there. Yawara sends a letter of challenge to Sudoh, who mistakes it for a love letter…13Yawara’s Heart Shook in Hayama!1990-01-2225 minOn her return to Japan from France, Sayaka complains about the commercial airlines' first class food (it had "caviar that even my dog Charles wouldn't eat"), after their private jet broke down. She disarms and throws a would-be hijacker with a gun, which impresses even Shinnosuke. Sayaka also uses the ensuing media attention to publicly challenge Yawara again. In an attempt to motivate Yawara, Matsuda takes her shopping for feminine clothes and then to Hayami, where they see Sayaka training hard with Shinnosuke (including running with steel sandals while carrying a tire on a rope), and…14Yawara’s date has so much surveillance!1990-01-2925 minYawara is compensating for her depression over being "dumped" by Shinnosuke by overeating, which her friends notice (however, one of her friends, Kyoko, is interested in Shinnosuke herself). Shinnosuke approaches Yawara one day, not knowing they are being observed secretly by Jigoro, Sayaka, and Matsuda. Shinnosuke casually badmouths Sayaka to flatter Yawara, which Sayaka overheard. The three take over a bus to chase after Shinnosuke and Yawara, who end up talking near the ocean. Shinnosuke tells Yawara that "You shine most brilliantly when you do judo," and tries to kiss her, but Yawara…15A Challenge to Yawara Over Love!1990-02-0525 minDozens of would-be new members join the judo club because of their attraction for Yawara, but they all soon quit because they cannot take her rigorous training. Sayaka visits Musashiyama High School to tell Yawara to keep her hands off of "her" Shinnosuke, and is offended by how shabby and dirty it is. Sayaka insults Hanazono as an "Eastern Island Stone Face man," and Sudoh as a "street gangster." When Sayaka boasts that she is Number One in judo in Japan, Sudoh rushes her but is thrown in an instant. Sayaka accuses Yawara of delaying her decision over the tournament to "entice Shinnosuke,"…16Yawara’s National Martial Arts Hall Debut!1990-02-1225 minThe national tournament is about to begin and Sayaka insults Yuki Tohdoh in the waiting room by calling her a "she-gorilla" and "todo" (sea cow). Yawara is almost late because she is giving last-minute coaching tips to the judo club members, and Sudoh ferries her by bicycle to the tournament hall; he also promises Yawara that he would not use judo in fights anymore. On his way back, Sudoh is waylaid by some hoodlum acquaintances, who beat him up on accusations that he had hit on their girlfriends (he was handicapped by his promise to Yawara). As Sudoh is unable to participate in the…17Yawara’s Love Message1990-02-1925 minSayaka and Yuki struggle in their semifinal match (Yawara having already won her match with another quick ippon), as Sayaka is distracted by seeing Shinnosuke standing next to Yawara and holding her shoulder. Each wants to fight Yawara in the finals, Yuki having gained 10kg for the match, and the match drags on, much to Yawara's impatience as she wants to go help her judo club and is imagining the worst. Sayaka is pinned by Yuki, but drags the two of them out of bounds to escape. Motivated by her jealousy over Shinnosuke and an perceived insult from Yawara, Sayaka flips the giant Yuki and is…18The Decisive Battle! Yawara vs. Sayaka1990-02-2625 minBefore the finals match, Jigoro sees a man that might be his son Kojiro at the arena. Matsuda arrives just in time to witness Yawara's 1-second ippon takedown of Sayaka, a complete anticlimax that stuns the whole arena to silence. Before leaving hurriedly to the high school tournament and abandoning the award ceremony in the process, Yawara returns Sayaka's fallen false tooth to the fallen Sayaka. Sayaka consoles herself by claiming that Yawara took her down before the "begin" signal, which was disproved by the timer and video playback. Sayaka abandons the award ceremony in disgust. Meanwhile…19Jigoro, His Love, and Youth’s Raging Storms1990-03-0525 minOn his wife Kaneko's 15th year death anniversary, Jigoro reminisces about their lives together. In 1934, Jigoro arrives from the countryside, having beaten 230 kumas (bears) in matches; after befriending an aspiring novelist, he arrives at the Kyuudou-kan Dojo, only to find the resident Ushio-sensei deceased and the dojo being run badly by the sensei's daughter Kaneko, with whom Jigoro falls instantly in love, because of unpaid debts from usury. Simonji, the rich creditor, has proposed marriage to Kaneko but is repeatedly rejected. Jigoro tries to run the dojo but runs off the remaining 2…20The Big Guest for Yawara1990-03-1225 minHanazono's leg injury finally heals after receiving Jigoro's bonesetting treatment. On being shown multiple colleges' interest in Yawara, Hanazono confesses a desire to join Yawara at Sakai College, assuming she will go there. However, Yawara's first choice is a women's college, Mitsuba, which lacks a judo program, the implication being that Yawara is giving up on judo for the time being as she concentrates on passing the college exam. Accompanied by Sayaka is being trained in Europe by Pornalef, a judo expert who also happens to idolize Jigoro. Pornalef reveals that there are 4 strong…21Yawara and the Blue-eyed House Guest1990-03-1925 minJody, perhaps knowing more Japanese than she lets on, yells "Tanomou!" ("I challenge you!") at Yawara at the dojo, frightening everybody, especially after Hanazono reveals that Jody is a world champion. At home, Yawara is upset at the news that Jigoro has "decided" to enroll her in Sakai College, and she vows never to go there. Jody arrives at the Inokuma home, and Jigoro is to serve as her first opponent. His powerful fighting aura scares Jody into submission, causing her to cry "Mairimashita!" ("I give up!") before they even begin; she, however, can. Jigoro decides to keep Jody on as a…22Let’s Fight, Yawara!1990-04-1625 minFighting seriously for the first time in her life, Yawara has a long evenly matched competition with Jody until Jody injures her right arm, which disappoints Jody who wants to continue fighting. Matsuda and Yamoda sneak into the Inokuma compound and are conscripted by Jigoro to be referees; Yawara extracts a promise from Matsuda that he would not print a word about the match. Yawara promises to fight Jody again, and both admit their match was the first time they had "fun" doing judo. At the post-match dinner, Jody mistakenly refers to Matsuda Meanwhile, Sayaka challenges the South Korean…23See You Again, Yawara1990-04-2325 minJody returns to Toronto, and Jody again refers to Matsuda as Yawara's "boyfriend." Jigoro surprises Jody on the plane before takesoff with a "Certain Victory" banner to cheer Jody on for her next match against the Russians, before being thrown off the airplane. Yawara and Matsuda meet Sayaka and Shinnosuke at the airport as "couples," and Matsuda boasts about Yawara's match with Jody, while Sayaka boasts about her global training and matches. After eavesdropping on the conversation, Jigoro tells Sayaka she can challenge Yawara at any of 10 tournaments in the next 4 months in preparation for…24Yawara’s Personal Tutor is a Love Expert1990-04-3025 minFinding Yawara's performance in the four previous tournaments to be deteriorating (though she still won all her matches), Jigoro confiscates Yawara's textbooks and forbids her from studying. Yawara meets Shinnosuke at a bookstore and she confesses that her poor performance was due to not sleeping from studying all night; Shinnosuke offers to tutor her at his condo. Matsuda spies on them out of jealousy, and they have a blowup over Yawara; Matsuda threatens to tattle to Sayaka. Matsuda then tries to follow suit by "tutoring" Yawara, but to his humiliation it turns out he knows less about…25Love, Exam Studies, and Yawara’s Feelings1990-05-0725 minSayaka walks in on Yawara and Shinnosuke as they are finishing their tutoring session, and Sayaka accuses Yawara of being a "dorobo-neko," a "cat thief" trying to steal Shinnosuke from her. Sayaka discloses that Shinnosuke has been offered (and accepted) an executive position with the Honami Group and will take it over in the future, and that Shinnosuke is her "fiance" (which he does not dispute). Matsuda, who has been staking out Shinnosuke's condo, sees Yawara run out crying, and interprets that Shinnosuke has having done "something heinous" to her. Sayaka shows up at a post-victory press…26A Shocking Invitation For Yawara!1990-05-1425 minJody has suffered a seious injury that will take at least 6 months to recover from and puts her future judo career at risk. Matsuda shows Teleshikova's post-match press conference interview to Yawara, in which Teleshikova says she would not consider herself the best until she defeats Yawara. In response, Yawara seems to withdraw further until Tamao unexpectedly returns home to tell her that she had heard that Kojiro might have come to see her previous match against Sayaka. Shinnosuke sends Yawara flowers to ingratiate himself, and Sayaka for some reason also invites Yawara to her 18th…27Yawara and the Love Square1990-05-2125 minEven with the news of Shinnosuke's engagement to Sayaka, Matsuda is unable to convince Yawara that Shinnosuke is a no-good playboy. Shinnosuke is seen hooking up with another girlfriend from his regular stable (Hiromi, Mayumi, Mieko, Mariko, et al.) and claiming that he loves the girlfriend at hand and was "forced into" the fiance arrangement. Yawara arrives home to tell Coach Yuutenji, who has been meeting with Jigoro every month to reinforce the Sakai College connection, that she is attending Sakai. Seeing that Yawara is depressed, Matsuda tells Shinnosuke to cheer her up despite his own…28The Madonna of my Youth, Yawara1990-05-2825 minThis episode is about Hanazono's unrequited secret love for Yawara in contrast to Sudoh's bolder approaches. Hanazono has trouble confessing his feelings to Yawara, whereas Sudoh has trouble keeping himself from pestering Yawara for dates. Jigoro tries to prevent Yawara from going on dates with either of them, but is foiled by his craving for food from keeping watch. Yawara goes on a double date with both Hanazono and Sudoh at an amusement park, and tells them that she is quitting judo. While Hanazono is so disappointed by her decision to quit that he runs off, Sudoh believes that she should…29The Other One-Sided Love1990-06-0425 minJigoro intentionally tries to burn application materials for Mitsuba Women's College in his continuing opposition to Yawara's decision to attend Sakai. Jody writes a cheerful letter (in Japanese and Kanji, but with some mistakes) to Yawara saying that she will recover and fight again, and warning that Teleshikova is a strong opponent. The lecherous newspaper editor (Matsuda's boss) assigns an "extra" rookie photographer to Matsuda, the excitable, coarse, bespectacled, and buxom Kaga Kuniko who dresses in revealing tights. Matsuda is upset to be saddled with her, but has no choice as Kuniko…30The Lonely Ippon Zeoi1990-06-1125 minKuniko continues to pay unwanted attention to Matsuda, and when he objects, she cries to coerce him. She gets Matsuda drunk and takes him home, trying to sleep in bed with him (Matsuda ends up sleeping outside). She clings to him whenever he is meeting with Yawara and/or Jigoro, arousing equal measures of jealousy and disgust in Yawara. At the critical Zen-ooki tournament, Yawara was so distracted by the presence of Matsuda + Kuniko and Shinnosuke + Sayaka that she almost loses the first match (the men have no idea how much they are distracting her, whereas the women are there intending to…31The Present on Entrance Exam Day1990-06-1825 minJigoro puts his special frog balm on Yawara's injured hand, assuring her that it will take away the pain so that she could take the exam (in fact, he purposely gave her wrong medication (for hemorrhoids) so that she would fail her test). Yawara is desperate as she is unable to write, but her injury is discovered by a concerned Matsuda, who sneaks into the testing site to check up on her by skipping out on an important assignment to cover "Mike Bison" (a stand-in for Mike Tyson). Yawara initially distrusts Matsuda and rebuffs him rudely, and it is only after he confesses a "personal interest"…32A Stormy Time at the Exam Results1990-06-2525 minKuniko shows Matsuda's handkerchief by mistake, and Matsuda presses her about what Yawara had left as a message (by exchanging a dinner date). Hanazono, Sudoh, and Jigoro all show up to see Yawara's test results (but to the wrong site, the one for junior high test results), and Shinnosuke casually appropriates Yawara (who had been hoping to see Matsuda) when he sees her, after finding out that she has passed the test he openly lusts after her upcoming sexual availability as a college girl. Yawara and Mastuda are forced to have dinner and drinks with Shinnosuke and Yuniko, the latter trying…33Aim for the All-Japan Tournament1990-07-0225 minJigoro refuses to entertain the possibility that Yawara would go to Mitsuba Women's College, and not even Tamao's food inducements can change his attitude. After hearing Jigoro's opposition, Hanazono and Sudoh offer to help Yawara change Jigoro's mind by first plying with food at a restaurant. When that fails, Jigoro makes a judo bet with them such that if they even throws him even once in any way possible, he will allow Yawara to attend Mitsuba. Despite various unorthodox attacks, the two inevitably fail. Yawara's friends buy a red dress as a college present for her, and by chance they find…34The Stage Contest of the Rivals1990-07-0925 minAt the All Japan Tournament, the rivals of Yawara (e.g., Yuki Tohdoh and Sayaka) meet and talk trash. Yawara is more concerned about Hanazono passing his Saikai exam than the tournament, and as it turns out, he did not pass. Kousaka Megumi appears confident against Yawara as she has studied her moves extensively and believes she has counter for Yawara's trademark one-arm Ippon Zeoi throw. However, when the match begins, Yawara reflexively counters Kousaka's countermove and beats her anyway; Kousaka is not embittered about the loss and instead has greater respect for Yawara and vows to work…35The Miss` Tenacity1990-06-1625 minRight before their semifinal match, Sayaka and Yuki each brags about how few seconds they will need to defeat the other. Sayaka tries a couple of quick moves on Yuki but each time the latter counters and is able to move out of bounds. Even on the third encounter, when Yuki slips, Sayaka cannot score, and she becomes increasingly anxious. On the fourth encounter, Sayaka injures her leg in the fall, allowing Yuki to score the first points in the ensuing encounter. Yuki then focuses her attack on Sayaka's injured right leg and pins her with her massive upper body (kami-shihoh gatame). Refusing…36Ah, Hanazono! The Tearful Graduation1990-07-2325 minAs graduation nears, nostalgia and romance are both in the air. Shinnosuke is plotting to offer himself as a "gift" to Yawara as graduation gift, even as he finds himself being more of a fiance play toy to Sayaka, who is recovering from her leg injury, as they head for Hawaii to one of her "extra" mansions. The judo team reflects on their progress under Yawara's coaching and their future with both Yawara and Hanazono graduating. Hanazono made a wish of fighting Yawara just once before he graduates, which Yawara grants, with the inevitable result of Hanazono being thrown for an ippon.37Jigoro’s Love, a Tumultuous Pure Love Story1990-07-3025 minJigoro takes advantage of a media interview about Yawara to launch into his own memory lane again. Shortly after he took over Kaneko's Kyudodan dojo, he saves a man who is about to hang himself due to a bad romance. One day Kaneko's uncle (father's older brother) Toranosuke, a tea ceremony master rather than a judoka, comes to visit with an offer for Kaneko to marry his best student and carry on as his successor; this is supposed to the will of Kaneko's father, Ushio Umanosuke. However, Jigoro is also thinking of proposing in the future to Kaneko. The uncle and Jigoro do not get along, as…38The Heartful Excitement of Women’s College Life1990-08-0625 minIt is the first day of school (opening ceremony) for Yawara and Sayaka in their respective colleges. Jigoro accompanies Yawara as a chaperon and also to ask the college president to keep an eye on her. On the bus there, Yawara encounters a super-tall, gloomy female student named Itou Fujiko. Yawara is tempted to join various student clubs which are recruiting new members. Jigoro mistakes Mitsuba cheerleaders for can-can dancers and attempts to teach them "Yawara cheers" for the Barcelona Olympics, and afterwards enjoy a boisterous drinking party and late-night disco dancing outing with them…39Blue Night Yokohama1990-08-1325 minYawara and her new friend Itou Fujiko try out new clubs and encounter another student, Komiya Yukari, who is a veteran dater aggressive with men. Itou Fujiko mistakenly believes that Yawara is a "1st degree" in flower arrangement or tea ceremony, which an embarrassed Yawara does not correct. Komiya encourages both to join the golf club, where she says it is easiest to hook a rich guy, which is her goal in life. They do so and Shinnosuke shows up bearing flowers for Yawara. However, he is soon swallowed by fawning women who want him to teach them golf, with Komiya being typically the most…40Fujiko-san’s Secret!1990-08-2025 minYawara and her new college friends join a 2-day golf camp. Yawara shows herself to be a golf natural, whereas Itou Fujiko has no knack, on top of which the men make fun of her height. Yawara has a chance encounter with Hanazono, who is training with the Ebitendou judo club nearby. Hanazono and the other judo members crash the coed mixer party that Yawara is attending, asking her whether she has quit judo to take up golf. Yawara spends time with Itou Fujiko, who tells her about her history as a junior ballet dancer thwarted by her inherited height. At training, Jigoro tells Yawara he has…41The Part-time Job For a Day1990-08-2725 minYawara and Itou decide to get a part-time job, after seeing the stylish outfits of Komiya, which they cannot afford. However, the only jobs that Komiya appear to be for call-girls which pay 20,000 yen per hour. Later, they are hired at a fast food restaurant. Things are going well until Matsuda, and then Shinnosuke show up. Sayaka spots them and then challenges Yawara to a fight right there at the restaurant, but a bunch of ruffians intervene, and Sayaka fights them instead, creating complete chaos. Jigoro ends the farce by showing up to buy hamburgers, discovering that Yawara has a secret…42Ippon Zeoi at the Disco!1990-09-0325 minYawara and Itou decide to try their next job at the disco, using the excuse that they are study. ALthough Itou is afraid that her ballet training might be useless there, her dancing (to the music of Swan Lake) turns out to be a hit. However, the "Cheek Time" (close embrace dancing) discomfits Yawara, and when her patron tries to cup a feel, she instinctively throws him for an ippon. Itou begins to suspect that she has seen Yawara before, perhaps as a judoka. Yawara realizes that she really is not "normal," or at least does not react like a normal girl.43Free Weight Class is the only way for Yawara!1990-09-1725 minJigoro crashes the airport reception for IOC President Tamaranch, a close friends of the Honami family to demand that the Judo World Cup have an open weight division. Itou Fujiko finds out that Yawara is the famous judoka genius, and urges her to compete in the World Cup, telling her that it inspires her. However, Yawara is unmoved. Jigoro cooks up a scheme/stunt to make the World Cup open-weight in exchange for approval for Shinnosuke to date his granddaughter, in which Jigoro takes on the huge 120 kg Arakawa (5th-dan judo), a Honami's security agent, the reception for President Tamaranch…44Selected Athletes Announced Tonight!1990-10-1525 minIt is publicly announced that four weight classes (with Sayaka representing Japan in the under 48 kg division; Yamada Kaori in the under 52 kg division; Tanabe Yoko in the under-72 kg division; and Toudoh Yuki in the over-72 kg division) will be at the Judo World Cup, with also a new open-weight class to be represented by Yawara, to Sayaka's consternation. However, Yawara announces that she will not participate. Instead she wants to concentrate on her home economics classes such as cooking and being a normal girl. Itou shows Yawara her blood-soaked ballerina shoes, which she had used to dance…45After the World cup ends...1990-10-2225 minItou Fujiko organizes a Yawara Cheer Club at the college, but the girls are not particularly enthusiastic. Jody shows up to proclaim that she and Yawara are "shummai" (dumpling) rivals, rather than "shukumei" (destined) rivals, amongst other mistakes in Japanese. She also again refers to Tamao tells Yawara that her father might have been spotted in Seoul, the site of the World Cup, giving some 1-ippon lessons to Korean judokas. Belkins the Belgium Judo Queen gives an press conference, and Matsuda tries to fan flames of competition between her and Teleshikova and Yawara. Yawara arrives at the…46Raising the Curtain! World Cup1990-10-2925 minTamao tailors Kojiro's old judo uniform for Yawara to use in Seoul, as Yawara tries to learn some Korean. Jigoro supposedly is doing pre-tournament meditation, but it turns out he was just thinking about which restaurants to hit in Seoul. Itou Fujiko has spent several weeks organizing other women at the college to sew a giant Yawara cheer banner, with which she wants to surprise Yawara; she stays up all night putting the finishing touches (though still unable to fix all mistakes) but arrives too late to see Yawara off. However, she is able to unfurl the 20 m (66-ft) banner on the tarmac so…47Uncertain! Japan’s Female Judo!!1990-11-0525 minThe Cup begins, and Sayaka as the 48kg division favorite, easily wins her semifinal match to reach the final against Kim Yonsky. Jody Rockwell shows up with her equally huge fiance, a weightlifter who likes to lift people as well. The media focuses its attention on the sidelines as Teleshikova, Jody, and Belkins surround Yawara to trash talk, and this distracts Sayaka in her finals match with Kim. Kim builds a big lead against Sayaka, but Yawara gives tips to Sayaka, which she uses but does not appreciate or acknowledge publicly. The last second move that could have led to a victory by…48The Open-weight Campions1990-11-1925 minAs the Free Weight division begins its contests, Yawara's friends at home are having trouble tuning in to the televised tournament--Hanazono has to wash a mountain of judo uniforms, and Itou Fujiko has TV reception problems. Belkins easily defeats her first round opponent. Yawara is pitted against a giant, Tao of China, who is 198 cm (6 ft 6 in) tall and weighs 125 kg (275 lb), but Yawara throws her for an instant ippon anyway, stunning the arena into silence. An overwhelmed (and crying, of course) Hanazono declares to his new sempais that Yawara is his first love. When they hear that he had…49Yawara vs Queen Belkens1990-11-2625 minIn their match, Belkens quickly discovers she has no opening against Yawara, and that any move she makes places her in danger. Belkens is therefore on defense most of the time and receives two warnings for repeatedly going of bounds to escape. Finally she attacks, but is almost thrown for an ippon before hooking Yawara's leg for a narrow escape. However, Yawara is able to counter this move and in the next sequence, pulls Belkens for an ippon. Belkens is gracious in defeat, telling Yawara that She may be the new queen. Matsuda meanwhile chases the an he believes to be Kojiro all over the arena…50In order to fight Yawara...1990-12-0325 minKojiro relates to Matsuda that after his loss to Yamashita, he became ashamed of his former conceitedness, and then after being thrown by Yawara at 5 year old, he realizes that he lacks the natural talent of a genius. To compensate for his weakness, he has been traveling and training all over the country to become stronger. Kojiro tells Matsuda that his letter contains important tips for Yawara in her final match. Kojiro runs away, and Matsuda is detained by the arena police to file a police report as they believe he is a victim of an assault by Kojiro. In their hard fought match, Jody is…51The letter from Kojirou1990-12-1025 minAfter Jody's defeat, she is unable to bow and falls down from her injury and exhaustion. Yawara is angry that Teleshikova targeted Jody's injury, thinking it unsportsman-like and unfair and "mean." Jigoro states that Teleshikova was hiding her finishing move (throw) from Yawara. Jody tells her fiance that their wedding will need to be postponed until her leg is healed. Matsuda limps back into the arena, trying to retrieve Kojiro's letter from Kuniko to give to Yawara. Kuniko tries to give the "fan letter" to Yawara, but she ignores her as she is in a mental zone. Yawara enters the match…52Death Hold! Tereshkova’s Battle1990-12-1725 minTeleshikova's uranage against Yawara was ruled a waza ari (half point), not an ippon (outright victory), because it landed partially out of bounds, and Yawara narrowly averts a defeat. However, she is also not getting up from the mat and may be knocked unconscious briefly. In her semiconsciousness, Yawara remembers her throwing Kojiro at 5 and apologizes to him, and finally she wakes up on hearing Matsuda yelling for her to get up (which she mistakes for Kojiro's voice). As the match continues, Teleshikova engages her relentless leg sweeps, and Jigoro is angry that Yawara is still fighting…53Matsuda’s Interview Monopoly1991-01-0725 minYawara tries a kata guruma (shoulder wheel), lifting Teleshikova on her shoulders, but she is able to escape by walking on her hands to go out of bounds. Jigoro continues to criticize Yawara as a "fighting dog" unworthy of a judoka, and states that his judo does not win by judges' decisions or points, but on outright ippons. Teleshikova vows not to lose despite not having the fan support and world class training. After multiple moves and countermoves, Yawara finally executes an impossible ippon with 3 seconds left in the match for a victory. Right afterwards, Jigoro angrily pulls off Yawara…54Highlights 1: Everything started from that moment1991-01-1425 minA summarization by Matsuda of what has happened so far.55Highlights 2: Came, Watched, Won ! The World’s Number 1 Judo Girl!!1991-01-2125 minA summarization by Matsuda of what has happened so far. It ends with Kojiro being brought to Sayaka, potentially as a coach.56I... Am Quiting Judo!1991-01-2825 minMedia frenzy at the airport as the Japan judo team returns from the World Cup. Yawara escapes from the media leaving Jigoro to deal with them. All the Musashiyama judo members and Fujiko and company are there also to greet her. Hanazono mistakenly holds hands with Fujiko, and they appear to have some chemistry (the two are matched in height and enthusiasm for Yawara's judo). Yawara tells Tamao that she could not find her father in Seoul. Jigoro parades around with Yawara's gold medal for his friends to admire. Meanwhile, as Kojiro wolfs down food, Sayaka tells him she is willing to pay him…57Fujiko-san’s decision1991-02-0425 minMatsuda tells Kojiro in the presence of the Honamis that Yawara is quitting judo because she thinks it is the reason why her father left the family. Sayaka does not believe him, and Kojiro, who is staying at the Honami compound, continues to insist that he cannot see Yawara right now. Shinnosuke, Matsuda, and Fujiko have dinner with Yawara to discuss her decision to quit judo. Yawara believes "only bad things have come from judo" in her life. Fujiko comes to Hanazono for help to convince Yawara not to quit judo, and as Hanazono relates the story of how Yawara helped train the high school judo…58The letter from Canada1991-02-1125 minJody is getting married and has invited Yawara to her wedding. Jigoro insists that she continues training in Canada, Yawara apparently not having told him about her decision to quit. Hanazono warns Fujiko that starting a judo club is tough going and will likely involve much physical work and injuries, and when Fujiko says she will press ahead no matter the hardship, Hanazono vows to help her. During Yawara's absence to Canada, Fujiko makes preparations (posters, judo research, uniforms, etc.) for the club. At the judo recruitment, only 1 sickly woman with "very little presence" shows up…59The Last Ippon Seoinage!?1991-02-1825 minJody organizes a parade in Canada for Yawara the world judo champion, and Jody's judo students show up. Jody also arranges a practice match at her wedding. Yawara's opponent in the wedding practice match is "Canada's New Hope," Kristin Adams, who had pulled out of the 72kg division competition at the World Cup due to an injury. Yawara has a hard time with Adams before flipping her for a "final ippon." However, Yawara's heart is not in the match at all. Fujiko passes by the jazz dancing club and is accidentally pinned by an enormous woman, who she hopes to be the 5th recruit. Meanwhile…60Japan’s Weakest Judo Club1991-02-2525 minThe new obese dieting judo club member is Yoshinagawa Sayuri, and Fujiko treats her to all you can eat meal to entice her to join, though her main judo goal is actually to lose weight. Matsuda is initially glad to hear that Yawara participated in a practice match in Canada, thinking it is a good sign, but when Jody calls him to ask for help regarding Yawara's intention to quit (she still believes that Matsuda is Yawara's "steady" (boyfriend), he is at a loss. Mitsuba judo club's first "practice" was a disaster, as no one actually knows how to do judo. Fujiko comes to Hanazono for help, and he…61The Extreme Training Program!1991-03-0425 minMatsuda helps out the judo team by pretending there's "media interest." Yawara is beginning to wonder about Jigoro's "weird" behavior, as he does not seem to be pushing her as hard in training and has been out for mysterious reasons. She sees several students reading Jigoro's autobiography and suspicious scrapes on Fujiko's arms that look like tatami injuries. Jigoro decided the best way to train is through a match, which is arranged between Mitsuba and Tsukushi University's women judo team, the best in the nation. Tsukushi team has multiple members in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd dan; its coach…62Dangerous Debut Battle1991-03-1125 minThe Mitsuba team continues its practice, with Fujiko showing the most progress due to her ballet training (counting "un, deux, trois!" with her ballet steps)and physical advantages; Jigoro praises her by saying that she could have been a good judoka had she taken up the sport earlier. Minamida (Nanda) Yoko, the serial dumpee, has various "technique execution shouts" based on the names of the boyfriends who dumped her (e.g., "Haruki you jerk!" "Makoto you jerk!" "Keisuke you jerk!", etc.). The team has purposely not asking Yawara for help because of her "contrarian" personality, thinking that…63Secret Technique! The Swan Lake1991-03-1825 minScreaming "That hurts! Let me go!" and crying profusively, Sayuri somehow gets out of the first hold only to get into another jam, and Jigoro has to give up the match for her; he also motivates her by telling she has lost weight in the match. The Tsukushi coach is impressed by how Jigoro is able to motivate his students to fight so hard. Oda Mari is qualified because she is not in proper judo attire (earrings and makeup). Fujiko bravely and shakingly goes to her match, to protect the weakling Kyon-kyon, who would surely die if she fights. The Tsukushi team is somewhat intimidated by her…64Maybe I should try doing it1991-04-1525 minFujiko holds on to beat Uzaki but is completely drained. Katori, the under 66kg champion is next for Tsukushi, and Fujiko sallies forth again, telling her teammates that her ballerina body "may bend but won't break." Fujiko finally loses, and Yawara arrives. However, Kyon-kyon (as the "captain") is inspired by Fujiko's efforts and wants to compete herself as well. Kyon-kyon actually has no move at all, but intimidates her opponent by counting 1,2,3 because she looks like a ghost. However, she remembers a move by observation and bravely tries it, but at least survives. Yawara challenges…65Fujiko, Love, and Judo1991-04-2225 minFujiko and Hanazono's relationship develop, though Hanazono is too much of a gentleman to make any forward advances, but he finds himself daydreaming about Fujiko and vice versa. Their "crying date" at a lovers' park bother the other couples. The next day, although most members are late, they all show up to practice, proving that Fujiko's faith in them is not misplaced. Paddy-field has been dumped by boyfriend #14, while Sayuri claims to have lost 3-5kg from the match. Sayaka decides to join the Ajisai tournament even though her school judo club has no other members in order to challenge…66Everyone wants to defeat Yawara!1991-04-2925 minMitsuba team members practice hard under Jigoro. Sayaka assembles a fake judo team from her rich heiress Seishin School classmates, the idea being that she will take care of all the matches. Fujiko in particular is training really hard, and Kojiro shows up secretly to give her tips, saying she is not bad with only 3 months of training. Yawara suspects it might be Kojiro because a persimmon seed wafer, a favorite snack of his, was left behind. Matsuda joins Yawara for a run to tell her that Sayaka will be challenging her at Ajisai, and also suggests that she could build the Mitsuba members'…67The large wall that is in the way1991-05-0625 minAs the Tournament begins, Fujiko is having a crisis of confidence in the limelight. Yawara encourages her, but realizes that everyone else is giving her the death stares. Like Kojiro, Jigoro predicts that Sayaka will have a tough time against a "huge obstacle" before meeting Yawara. Sayaka's heiress teammates include "5th degree calligraphers," no judo practitioners, but Sayaka has trouble finishing off 5 opponents by herself in the beginning. Mitsuba College is pitted against Wagadzuma College, and Fujiko is very nervous, though she had "eaten 300 people" for good luck. Wagadzuma's coach…68The Swan vs The Heavy Tank1991-05-1325 minBefore their quarterfinal match agaisnt Kuroyuri Sports College, Fujiko is intimidated by the hulking Tohdoh. Kuroyuri was last year's runner up and features an uniform lineup of huge scary-looking judokas. Paddy-field is no good against her opponent, and Marilyn is out in an instant as well. Sayuri gives up quickly as well. Fujiko's parents come to watch her match, with her likewise giraffe mom manhandling her husband as she cries that she should not have let Fujiko play such a violent sport. They stand next to Hanazono, whom they quickly realize is the man who got their daughter involved in…69Do your best! rah rah1991-05-2725 minYawara takes down Tohdoh not with her trademark Ippon zeoi, but with an ouchi gari, Fujiko's move. Tohdoh had been preparing for the ippon zeoi attack, but cannot counter the new move. In the semifinal, it is Sayaka's school against Mitsuba College. Fujiko's parents visit the Mitsuba locker room and demand to take her out of the tournament immediately. In the melee, they discover that Marilyn is missing (she is spending too much time applying makeup in the restroom) and cannot find him; Kyon-Kyon bravely offers herself as replacement, despite shaking uncontrollably. In the first match…70Dissappear nuisance!1991-06-0325 minFujiko decides to give her out against Sayaka despite being afraid. Her parents also unexpectedly come to see her; her mom is very tall also, but the dad is short. They stand next to Hanazono without knowing who each other is, but they quickly identify Hanazono as the "bad influence" who introduced their daughter to the violent sport of judo. Hanazono instinctively and repeatedly calls them "mother" and "father," to which they object. Jigoro tells the Saikai College coach Yuutenji that he can have both Yawara and Fujiko as a package later when they graduate Mitsuba, which is only a 2-year…71The Lightning-Fast Ippon Zeoi1991-06-1025 minAll Tsukushi judokas are topranked blackbelts, which frighten Fujiko, but not the confident Paddy-field, who promises to beat 3 on her own. Kyon-kyon took very detailed notes on the rivals, which may come into use; she is revealed to be a smart learner. Oda Mari takes on the first opponent and is defeated in a flash, and so is Sayuri. Kyon-Kyon tells Yawara she wants to win, as she has never felt more alive and excited. Kyon-kyon manages to score a koka by dodging, but is overpowered in the end; she feels mad about losing. Despite her weakness, Kyon-Kyon has made real progress in judo…72Will it happen?! Five straight miraculous wins1991-06-1725 minTsukushi coach tries to motivate his team, saying they have more powerful, as the 2 of the 3 remaining judokas are giants. Yawara does have a harder time against the next giant, whom she defeats with a frontal pin. After Yawara defeats the 4th, the coach still claims it is going according to plan. Yamada Kaori, the last Tsukushi judoka, promises she will win because they supposedly have developed a special weapon against the ippon zeoi. However, she is defeated almost instantly when Yawara switches move. In the car carrying Sayaka and Kojiro, he appears to agree to take on Sayaka as his…73Inokuma Kojiro on the move!1991-06-2425 minMarilyn and Paddy-field hog all the media attention from the victory, but the others do not care. Tsukushi coach is crushed to know that Mitsuba college would not be defending the cup because both Yawara and Fujiko will be graduating, thus denying his school the chance for redemption. Kojiro tells Sayaka that they are not geniuses like Jigoro or Yawara, and that the only way to beat them is through "luck." He takes Sayaka to a remote mountain cabin without electricity or bathroom or heat to train. Sayaka has trouble keeping up with the training once it starts. At a post-victory celebration…74All’s not quiet on Yawara’s job-hunting front!1991-07-0125 minThe judo members are hunting for jobs, and Sayuri the dieter gets one at a department story. Kyon-kyon is thinking of getting a pre-school job, whereas Paddy-field wants to be a policewoman. Marilyn still dreams about being an actress. Yawara for her part has not figured out what she wants to do. Tamao says it was easy for her to decide to be a mother and homemaker at Yawara's age. Yuutenji tries to convince Fujiko to enter Saikai, and estimates her weight at 65 kg (about 143 lb), to which she objects that she is only 64 kg; Yuutenji says she needs to drop another 3kg for the under 61kg judo…75The selected judo-championship of love1991-07-0825 minMatsuda's father pays him a sudden visit because there has been no progress in his son's romantic life; he brings pictures and details of a prospect, a "nice girl" who works as an elementary school teacher in the next town. He does not believe Matsuda can get Yawara to be his girlfriend, as he is only a "3rd rate reporter at a 3rd rate paper" (a common insult that Shinnosuke, Sayaka, and Jigoro often hurl at him) and she is destined for much greater things. As proof, his father asks if he has "made it" with Yawara, or even kissed her or touched her boobs; Matsuda claims he has an "enviable…76I’m So Mad!1991-07-1525 minThe All-Japan Selection Tournament begins, and Fujiko has huge jitters despite all the confidence boosting exercises. She overhears Jigoro telling Yuutenji that he has been turning down job offers secretly, greatly angering her; the Tsurukame travel agency to which she had applied sends its president to recruit her and watch the tournament. However, they observe other travel agencies' personnel at the tournament for the same purposes of snatching Yawara. Energized by her anger, Yawara destroys her first 3 opponents and is about to go cheer Fujiko on in her first match, only to be waylaid by 4…77New Deadly Technique! The Nutcracker!!1991-07-2225 minMatsuda finally finds Yawara, and they arrive to find Fujiko way behind by a yuko and waza ari. Her opponent is the favorite in the division, and has studied Fujiko's "Swan Lake" technique to counter it. With less than 20 seconds left, Fujiko's only chance is her new unperfected "Nutcracker" technique. On hearing Yawara's spur-of-the-moment promise to go to Yugoslavia with her, Fujiko pulls off her Nutcracker with 1 second left for a miraculous comeback. After defeating her 2nd opponent, Fujiko is in cloud nine as she dreams about Yugoslavia and prances in her ballet moves while waiting for…78A Smiling Ippon!1991-07-2925 minAssisted by her dancer's flexibility, Fujiko is able to invent new pinning moves and hang on for the victory, with only the finals separating her from her Yugoslavia dreams. During match intermission, Matsuda interviews the company representatives and tells Yawara that the companies are just using her (for publicity) and will not allow her to work "normally," which is overheard by Fujiko, who is saddened to learn that she may be forcing her Yugoslavia dreams on her friend. Matsuda also tells her she cannot lead a normal life wherever she goes and can never get away from judo. Tsurukame…79You Can Do It, Fujiko! First Place Is Right in Front of You!!1991-08-0525 minFujiko struggles mightly against her southpaw rival Obayashi and is losing on points, having suffered a big yuko. The crowd, however, is on her side, cheering for the "Beanpole," unlike her previous fight with Sayaka. Jigoro, though he has given her no training against lefties, believes that she will find a way to win if she wants it. Fujiko's parents relate her long "tragic" history of never coming in first place, no matter how hard she tried, and believe she will fail here too. Fujiko executes an come from behind ippon by finally grasping Obayashi's back collar, but it is ruled out of…80You’re Going to the World Championships!1991-08-1225 minJigoro opens the door to media hounds asking him about headlines of various companies fighting for Yawara's services, based on Matsuda's "gut sense." Au contraire, Jigoro announces that Yawara would not become a "trifling office lady," but will go to Sakai and the world championships. Yawara, concerned about Fujiko, goes to visit her in the morning but is told that she has left already. Yawara then visits Tsurukame office to accept its job, while Coach Yuutenji calls Jigoro to tell her Saikai has approved Yawara and Fujiko's acceptance pending an entrance exam formality. Yawara encounters…81Fujiko’s First Training Camp!1991-09-0925 minAlthough she does not expect to compete in Yugoslavia, Fujiko is still training hard, not knowing that Yawara secretly wants to renege on her promise. Hanazono confesses that he fears Fujiko is becoming too good for him as a judoka, just as Yawara has always been. Yawara tries to bribe Jigoro with a Tsurukame sponsored hot spring trip, but Jigoro does not fall for it. Fujiko is excited about traveling overseas for the first time and confesses her sadness after losing the split decision, and Yawara does not have the heart to tell her she would not be going to Yugoslavia. They attend the…82The Opening Act of the Yugoslavia World Championships!1991-10-1425 minAs the Japanese judo team departs for Yugoslavia, hopeful companies display huge banners at the airport in support of her. Japanese judo officials are having trouble deciding who to represent them in the free weight division, which is being held on the same day as the under 48kg division, meaning that Yawara can't do both. Jigoro subtly plants the seed that Fujiko might be a good alternative. Fujiko sees the cup competitors at the airport and is completely intimidated, especially by Teleshikova, and is glad she is not competing. She dances ballet before training. She and Jody bond over their…83Jam-Packed with International Contenders!1991-10-2125 minMartinez is pitted against Jody in the heavyweight finals. Jigoro continues mental timing training with Fujiko on the sidelines. Jody struggles against Martinez at first but finally defeats her, with Fujiko trying to figure out when to unleash her un deux trois attack as if she is a contestant. Matsuda visits his father in the hospital, who is awake and goads him about being out of his league. His mother tells him that they do not need help running their family hotel, as he is useless as a housekeeper, and they want him to continue his budding career as a reporter. Khruschev is Russia's under…84First Time Under Pressure1991-10-2825 minAs Japan's under 52kg contestant Yokomizo is defeated, Japan's women team is without a gold medal at this point, with only the under 48 kg and free weight division left as gold medal opportunities. Jody takes Yawara and Fujiko shopping on the day before her contests to take some pressure off. Jigoro holds a "press conference" in Yawara's place and regales them with his life story, though he mistakes the BBC for some type of vaccine. With the available judokas either injured and broken in spirits, the Japan coach enters Fujiko's name on Jigoro's advice. Fujiko is unable to eat or sleep after…85Swan Lake on the World Stage1991-11-0425 minBeing mentally unprepared, Yawara is thrown for a waza ari by a supposedly weak French judoka Deneuve. She is listless and has no speed, struggling mightily before eking out a meager point difference victory, her first without an outright ippon. She is unable to support a cracking Fujiko, who wants to forfeit rather than fight. Khrushchev, also known as Teleshikova-lite, scoffs at Yawara's showing. On Fujiko first contact with Martinez, she runs backwards in fear and falls to the bleachers, with the crowd calling her a "turkey." As the match goes on, Fujiko cannot put on a move at all against…86The Top and Bottom of Their Games1991-11-1125 minTsurukame's Frankfurt branch was sent to report on the world cup, and their news is bad: "Yawara at the bottom of her game." She again was unable to earn an ippon victory against her next 2 opponents, relying on sluggish point victories. Meanwhile, Fujiko improves and easily ippons her 2nd and 3rd opponents. Likewise, Canada's Adams, and Russia's Teleshikova and Khrushchev are as sharp as ever. As they stop to have lunch, Matsuda somehow tells the taxi driver he is going to the judo championship, who then starts to drive at breakneck speed to Belgrade because he is also a Yawara fan and…87Burn Rubber, Papara Man1991-11-1825 minKuniko reports back to Japan with schadenfreude that Yawara is doing badly and Fujiko well, though both have reached the semifinals. Fujiko faces the fearsome Teleshikova in free weight semifinals. Teleshikova regards Fujiko as a "flea" and "nobody," while Fujiko knows she will lose no matter what, and only wants to avoid being a liability to Yawara. Yawara tells her to strike first against Teleshikova before she could pick up her un deux trois rhythm. Not showing any respect for Fujiko, Teleshikova suffers a waza ari. Yawara is able to finish off her opponent quickly to start giving tips to…88Giant Clash! Swan Lake vs the Ura Nage!!1991-11-2525 minTeleshikova grows desperate and shows frightful power as well trying for a comeback against Fujiko, earning a waza ari. Jigoro reveals that he is never taught Fujiko evasive maneuvers, saying that is not his judo, so Fujiko is on her own as in the previous contest. Although she tries her best with her Swan Lake move, she is unable to overcome Teleshikova's uranage backflip and loses, and the whole stadium cheers her. She still has a chance in the third-place medal contest, against South Korea's beefy Kim Gyeong Suk, but she loses quickly, dashing her hopes of providing a lift to Yawara before…89Myth of Invincibility!1991-12-0225 minWhereas Shinnosuke is distracted from watching the Yawara's finals match by a blonde he picked up, Matsuda finally reaches the stadium but has trouble going past the guards to get close to ringside as the match gets under way. Although he tries to rush the ring, he is arrested by security, but Jody rescues him. The taxi driver fan helps him yell cheers loud enough for her to hear, and she defeats Krushcheve with her trademark quick ippon zeoi after she notices Matsuda at the ringside. Matsuda and Yawara look for the taxi driver, but he already left without charging Matsuda taxi fare. However…90Jigoro’s Love, a Tearful Story of Friendship1991-12-0925 minAs usual, Jigoro does the media parade and friends circuit with Yawara's new gold metal from Belgrade. He launches into another semi-fictional story that starts in 1936, after he won his first Japan Judo Championship. Davis, a blond giant from America with a cheerful laugh and personality, challenges his dojo, and after being defeated, becomes his student at the dojo (Jigoro calls him "Debeso"). They also compete at eating and telling tall tales about beating bears and whales. Davis turns to be famous a heavyweight wrestler (though Jigoro has never heard of him) who tells him about the Berlin…91Next Up, The Graduation Match!1991-12-1625 minTsurukame Travel Agency's president fails to convince Jigoro to let Yawara join his company. Yawara tells Fujiko the reasons for her choosing to work for Tsurukame rather than transferring to Saikai University. Fujiko attempts to help persuade Jigoro to allow Yawara to work for Tsurukame. The judo members hit on the idea of having a graduation match, which Jigoro schemes to adopt for his own purposes. He proposes that if the Mitsuba College can win its graduation match, then he will allow Yawara to work for Tsurukame. Through Matsuda, Jigoro scouts the Seine University judo team, best in…92Revealed! The Ultimate Conspiracy1992-01-0625 minPaddy-field comes up with a "strategy" (she uses "jya" at the end of her sentences like Jigoro). Yawara will be the first judoka in order to take out as many opponents as they can, and the 2nd wave would consist of Paddy-field, Kyon-kyon and Sayuri to wear out the remainders, with Fujiko anchoring the team. At the competition they find out that it is not an elimination arrangement, but a points system, having been gamed by Jigoro. All team members will have to fight their own contests, whichever team gets 3 out of 5 matches wins. Shinnosuke accuses Matsuda to have been in on the rigged…93Kyonkyon Risks Her Life!1992-01-1325 minMatsuda tries to explain his role in the graduation match and offer whatever "data" he has gathered to make up. World #3 Deneuve specializes in uchi mata, but it is clear that Paddy-field has no chance even armed with this intelligence. As expected, Paddy-field loses. Kyon-Kyon is up next, and she relates her history of being isolated from the world due to her weakness and poor health. She tells the team that judo has helped her a lot, and she is determined to risk her life to help Yawara. Kyon-Kyon, who is weak but good at absorbing lessons, scores a yuko with an unexpected deashi barai. To…94Thank God I’m Fat!1992-01-2025 minDown 1 to 2, Sayuri somehow turns a mistake by her opponent (who was unable to throw her due to her heft) and lands a Osaekomi hold, which she endures despite having suffered severe facial injuries. She wins by an ippon. Fujiko is next and suffering from extreme anxiety as Yawara's future seems to depend on her. Jigoro plays psychological warfare against her by inducing the audience (Mitsuba women and Tsurukame reps) to yell cheers for Fujiko and media to snap pictures of her, adding to her anxiety. Fujiko is as stiff as a robot and in bad shape to start her contest.95Get That Ippon and Win!1992-01-2725 minFujiko enters the match too stiff and nervous to get her rhythm right and falls behind in points. However, at Shinnosuke's suggestion that he say "something romantic" to relax and encourage his girlfriend, Hanazono is able to muster, "Once this match is over, let's go and have some tea!" Fujiko fights better afterwards, ekes out a lead, but loses it by trying to follow Jigoro's advice "always go for an ippon win, don't win by points or decisions." Jigoro cannot help giving her the right advice because he is touched by her fighting spirit and adherence to his "ippon only!" victory.96The Return of the Heiress1992-02-0325 minFujiko persists in her attacks and finally scores an ippon win in the waning seconds. Marilyn, who did not participate in the matches, "helps out" by recruiting potential new members from the female students who attend the contest, so that judo club might carry on to the next generation. Jigoro disappears from the gym. The French looks in vain for him to get his autograph. The Tsurukame president announce publicly that Yawara will join the company, and Matsuda warns them not to exploit here. He admits that he is chasing both Yawara the judoka and Ywara the person. Coach Yuutenji believes it…97Once We Graduate...1992-02-1025 minShinnosuke believes that Matsuda is out as his love rival for Yawara. The judo clubbers graduate Mitsuba and they all cry at parting. Both Marilyn and Paddy-field with new men (nineteenth for Paddy-field), which is not surprising, but even Sayuri and Kyon-Kyon turn out to have men as well. It is clear that the judo club members do not known each other as well as they think. Other graduating women have men in fancy sports cars waiting for them. Hanazono arrives on a beat-up bike bearing a single rose for Fujiko. Yawara waits more than one hour for Shinnosuke, who had promised to take her out…98First Kiss!1992-02-1725 minSayaka appears on Sports Spirits program to announce she has been training under the world's best coach (whom she does not name). She makes fun of Tsurukame as a 3rd rate travel company and accuses her of hiding, just like she did at Mitsuba which did not even have a judo team. Yawara does not appear to care and walks away without Matsuda noticing. She hears men talking about the next big "cat fight" between her and Sayaka. Coach Yuutenji enters Fujiko's name in the next open-weight All Japan Judo Championship, which means she could fight anybody, including Sayaka or Yawara. Hanazono runs off…99A New Employee’s First Assignment1992-02-2425 minTsurukame Agency introduces Yawara to its workforce with great assignment, as they believe they’ll best the Honami Group’s travel business in time instead of just being #3. She is introduced to her new boss, assistant manger Hagoromo, who seems to do no work other reading newspapers in an abandoned corner area of the office. Yawara drags her boss to make enter into a possible big account with Kato Chu company, at the extreme reluctance of Hagoromo. Kato Chu however demands Yawara’s presence at its Hokkaido event, which conflicts with the All Japan Judo Championships. Shinnosuke meets with…100Hokkaido and the Martial Arts Hall1992-03-0225 minHagoromo is ordered not give Yawara any real work and to let her concentrate on judo. Jigoro and Matsuda spy on Fujiko and Yawara at a cafe. Fujiko is overjoyed that Yawara is entering the All Japan, but she just realizes that her arranged appearance with Kato Chu company conflicts with the All Japan tournament dates. The conflict also involves Hanomi Travel whose biggest account is Kato Chu. Yawara goes to Shinnosuke for help, and he is only trying to work out what’s best for himself under the circumstances, with his bachelorhood versus twenty billion yen at stake. He finally advises her to…101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124
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