The Champion ( 1957 )

Overview

Eikichi Yamashiro, who is a former contender for the boxing title, works as a manager at a Club Champion owned by his fiancé Natsuko’s father. He lost a title match five years ago as he was besotted by Natsuko, but Eikichi actually cannot give up the dream of the championship. One day, he meets Shuntaro Fuma, who is a punk kid but a promising boxer, and realizes the dream that he himself could never fulfill. Then, they together start to train with the aim of the title. Mari Shiraki is an up-and-coming ballerina under the patronage of Eikichi as well. Eikichi forbids Shuntaro and Mari to be romantically involved with someone during their training, however, they start to go on a date. (source: Nikkatsu International)

Top Cast

Tatsuya Mihashi

Eikichi Yamashiro

Yūjirō Ishihara

Shuntaro Fuma

Yōko Minamida

Natsuko Miyagawa

Mie Kitahara

Mari Shiraki

Taiji Tonoyama

Pote-chan

Masao Shimizu

Keisuke Miyagawa

Tōru Abe

Shinzo Takaoka

Mamoru Yokoyama

Champion Teshima

Joe Shishido

Boxer Ishiyama

Hyōe Enoki

Boxer Akagi

Zenji Yamada

Coach Yamamoto

Kazuo Kinugasa

Coach Yoshida

Ogino Hiroshi

Johnny Minami

Hisae Urashima

Rose Minami

Noriko Katsura

Yottan

Keiko Tama

Op-chan

Seijiro Takano

Club Manager

Akira Kobayashi

Cameo