#retoanime

#90sanime #sportsanime
#judo #anime

9 out of 10.

But it's 90s genre-piece trying hard for the complex romance thing that in no way interest me as a viewer, but I guess it works for other people. Either way, this was a undiscovered gem I'm glad I found.

I could go on about this but that's all the good stuff. The negatives? There's a lack of agency that's problematic. I sincerely wanted Kazamatsuri to get hit by a buss.

but she is so wonderful selfish and big headed you just know she isn't going to learn anything and good on her for not. She's becomes a credible threat and a joy to watch.

And Sayaka is my favourite ever none One Piece antagonist. It hard to do the rival thing in sport's anime because they always want you to see the good in them and support thar message or the tides make all ships rise hard work improves everyone,

Fujiko's arch as a character is top notch from start to finish and a surprise pregnancy that could have been seen as a way to force some drama in any of show works so well here helping with her growth.

And the natural way the adult problems work into the story are something from a much more adult story too.

It's convoluted at times as to how and why she finds her way to giving a shit about judo, but the actual character growth, in terms of watching her mature from highschool girl to collage student to working woman, is some of the most natural stuff I've seen in anime.

The premise arguably never lives up to its full potential as "what if you were best in the world at something you didn't give a shit about" makes for an interesting story, but if Yawara never learns to give a shit about judo then there would be no judo and it wouldn't be a sports anime.

This is sports anime at its finished. Top five in the genre. I'd even say it beats out Slam Dunk to settle at number 2 under Ippo.