In the new neighborhoods that sprung up in the countryside on the outskirts of Tokyo is Shinsei High School. Among the students is the young and restless Shingo Tamai, a first year student. At the beginning of the school year he presents the new coach of the soccer team, Tenpei Matsuki, whom was also a former goalkeeper of the Japanese national football and bronze medal winner at the Olympic Games in Mexico. Matsuki intends to build a team that can compete at the highest levels. His intense workouts originally seems too much for many members of the team, including Shingo. He decides to boycott the team's "official" Matsuki team and creates his own. After a first victory, he is always defeated by that of Matsuki, which begins to be seen by Shingo as an invincible enemy. Subsequently, the two will be able to clarify their conflicting relationship and Shingo will eventually become the captain of the only school team coached by Matsuki. (Source: Wikipedia)

This installment of Chikuma Bunko's "contemporary manga" series is curated by Natsume Fusanosuke and contains excerpts and stand alone short works that represents the greatest action and sports manga of the 1960's-70's 1. **Zashiki Warashi** (ざしきわらし) \[Sanpei Shirato\] 2. **Tachimochi Umanosuke** (太刀持右馬之介) \[Hiroshi Hirata\] 3. **Kyojin no Hoshi** (巨人の星) \[Ikki Kajiwara & Noboru Kawasaki\] 4. **Ashita no Joe** (あしたのジョー) \[Asao Takamori & Tetsuya Chiba\] 5. **Karate Baka Ichidai** (空手バカ一代) \[Ikki Kajiwara & Jirou Tsunoda\] 6. **Otokogumi** (男組) \[Tetsu Kariya & Ryoichi Ikegami\] 7. **Juukyoden** (柔俠伝) \[Baron Yoshimoto\] 8. **Nikudan Jidai** (肉弾時代) \[Kazuhiko Miyaya\] 9. **Tomo yo Isoge** (友よ急げ) \[Akihiro Takadera\]

Musou Daisuke is a tough young man who goes to Tokyo with great ambition. After both success and failure, he eventually becomes the Japanese version of "Godfather."

Chuuji Akagi has just transferred to a new school and soon discovers it's overrun by a youth gang. Akagi has a strong sense of justice and fights the gang leader through various sports in order to protect the school. As he wins, he slowly begins to reform the school.

A milestone in Japanese manga, "Ashita no Joe" celebrates the 55th anniversary of its serialization. Hina's father, enraged by Hina's indifferent attitude toward her post-high school career decision, disappears, leaving behind all the volumes of "Ashita no Joe" for some reason. When Hina picked up the book, which had a retro Showa-era feel to it, she was immediately moved to tears. On the advice of her father's friend Kenkichi, she determined that the key to his disappearance lay in a place associated with the original work. Hina decides to visit the "sacred places" of the original work...

One day, at the Giants' Tamagawa ground, Egawa was throwing a simulated game in front of Manager Nagashima, when suddenly a stranger stepped into the box and mowed down Egawa's pitches. His name is Hono Mizuki. He was a player who had to move from one school to another due to his short temper getting into fights, so he never caught the eye of any scouts despite his outstanding ability. Osamu Sawada, a freelance talent scout, was asked by Manager Nagashima to investigate. He tested Mizuki first against Hyuma Hoshi, and then Mitsuru Hanagata and Hosaku Samon both had trouble hitting Mizuki's pitches, showing that he had pro-level stuff. Mizuki's competitive spirit is reignited. Mizuki and his best friend set their sights on joining the ranks of pro baseball together. (Source: Amazon.jp, translated) *Note: Release date information are based on the tankoubon volumes.*

Daitoh Tai, who won national titles in several sports, was fascinated by pro-wrestling and joined Japan Pro Wrestling, an organization ran by Rikidozan. He overcame the disadvantage of his small size with his training as he battled against powerful opponents such as Chief Reaper, Mr. 50 Megaton, The Coconuts, and Dr. Schmidt. Tai grew into a strong wrestler under the encouragement of a young girl named Ruriko who ran an orphanage, his classmate and best friend Goro, and the strict guidance of his mentor Rikidozan.

(from amazon.jp): It's Time To Create a new and invincible Judo! The Shinsengumi, a group of jujutsu practitioners who plan to revive the old style of judo, stands in the way of Ryu Kazamaki, who trains in scientific judo! Will it work? Harris Style Screw OTOSHI! The year is 1961. When Japanese judo faced an unprecedented crisis in the face of foreign judoka who used their physique as a weapon, a boy appeared who tried to create a new type of judo. His name is Harris-ryu Mudan--Kazemaki Ryu! Ryu tries to protect the honor of Japanese Judo by studying "scientific Judo" together with Dr. Harris of Blaine. However, Kenosuke Yami, who uses the murderous Jigoku-nage (hell throw) technique, and the Jujutsu Shinsengumi, who plan to destroy judo and reestablish jujutsu, stand in his way. The first secret technique of the Harris School, the Screw Otoshi, is the best way to counteract them!

Rikidouzan retired from the world of sumo even though he was a Yokozuna at the time. As he searched for a second career, the way of life of Musashi Miyamoto inspired him to become a professional wrestler. First, in Hawaii, he defeated opponents one after another with the "karate chop," a special move inspired by Musashi's two-fisted style. Eventually, Rikidozan went to mainland U.S. to experience the full world of professional wrestling. And even in a foreign country where anti-Japanese sentiment still lingered, he gradually won the hearts of the people with his strength and personality.