You seem to have recovered well.
I'm glad to see that.
I have.
Physically, yes.
Physically?
Mr. Tamon,
have you ever given any thought to what a martial artist fears above all else?
He fears himself.
He fears his body's inevitable aging.
However hard you've trained, old age will come for you one day.
It'll turn even the greatest master into an ordinary man.
Can you understand what I'm saying?
Yes.
I shouldn't say this, since you're with the police,
but as you know,
martial arts are about learning skills used to kill.
And if you've acquired such skills,
what on earth is the use of them in this day and age?
Well, that's…
A picture, a piece of music, a poem…
These things will remain when we're gone.
But the skills of martial arts masters leave no trace.
They'll disappear with our bodies without being used.
I wanted to use the skills I've acquired.
So I've always taken the opportunity to fight those who challenged me.
But even in duels like that,
I wasn't using my skills the way I truly wanted to.
You're saying that Fujimaki used his skills?
Throwing the opponent down onto a stone,
and breaking the opponent's joint with a lock…
That's the way of the Takemiya style.
Maybe you already know this.
His parents were killed by a home invader when he was a child.
Even if that's so,
that doesn't excuse him of killing someone.
True.
Even under those circumstances,
it is an unforgivable act.
He shouldn't have used the Takemiya style to kill unnecessarily.
By the way, Master Izumi.
The one who defeated you,
Bunshichi Tanba…
Hmm?
Don't underestimate the police.
We know about that.
I want to find him. It's why I'm here today.
Now, I don't mean we're going to arrest him.
No one has pressed any charges.
I just received a tip that said he's been seen in Nara again.
Do you know anything about that?
Well, he does visit me on occasion.
He comes here?
To do what?
To study the Takemiya style.
You're teaching him?
I was the one who invited him.
I want to pass on the Takemiya style.
And now Bunshichi Tanba has a trace of it in him.
Does he now?
He came here at the right moment, with regards to our earlier topic.
He is strong.
I was challenged by a strong opponent, and I was defeated.
He came here at the right time,
before all of my skills were eroded by age.
I see.
If this news reaches Fujimaki,
or when it does,
what will he do?
Honestly…
I have no idea what he'll do.
Nobody does.
Something's different.
What?
Did something happen when you went back to Tokyo?
Can you tell?
I feel it.
That's uncanny.
You saw Fujimaki, didn't you?
Yes.
I saw him fight.
What'd you think?
He is…
formidably strong.
Who do you think is stronger, him or you?
Hmm.
Hmm?
Fujimaki!
Where have you been all this time?
Master…
Is it true that you fought Bunshichi Tanba and he defeated you?
That is true.
What does that mean for the Takemiya style?
It's been handed to one son each generation,
but now this is the end.
The end?
The Takemiya style already belongs to the past.
I've thought so for a while.
That defeat helped me to understand that I was correct.
I respectfully disagree.
The Takemiya style is much more practical than any other martial art out there.
And yet, it was defeated.
You're wrong.
That defeat was yours, and yours alone.
It wasn't the end of the Takemiya style.
So you still believe in it?
You're fighting for it?
I think it would be a shame if the Takemiya style were to disappear.
Would you consider making me the heir to it?
It won't disappear.
The Takemiya style has already been inherited,
by not only you, but everyone else who came here to learn its techniques.
And who are the others?
For one, Shozan Matsuo.
And a young man named Himekawa from Hokushinkan.
He's got as much natural talent as you.
Himekawa…
And the latest one is Bunshichi Tanba.
I see.
I'll go and test them then to see how strong they are.
Test them?
Are you going to duel with each of them?
If that's what it takes.
I suppose I can't stop you.
No.
You have the eyes of a beast.
I have one more request.
What is it?
It's regarding Miss Saeko.
If I can defeat all these challengers, then I…
I'd like to ask her how she feels about me.
Fujimaki.
This school and my daughter are two separate matters.
I'm well aware.
I just want the chance to make it clear that--
Mr. Fujimaki.
Saeko!
And Himekawa?
You're here.
Why did you come back?
You just… left me there.
I'm sorry.
The way you looked at me, I didn't know what it meant.
I thought you hated what I'd done.
I ran because I didn't understand.
I've been thinking about your eyes ever since,
what they were telling me.
And now…
And now?
I came back so that I…
could be sure.
Well, I'm seeing this man now.
His name is Himekawa.
Then I guess I have a reason to fight.
Can you win?
I can, and I will.
It was called KODOKU, right?
I enjoyed watching the fight.
Thank you for that.
It was for old times' sake, you know.
By the way, that Himekawa who came with you to the fight,
how strong is he really?
Rumor has it that man's never been defeated in a fight before.
That fella…
He originally came to me wanting to defeat me.
Oh.
To defeat Shozan Matsuo?
Let me guess, you beat him and then took him on as a trainee?
Hell no.
Our fight never ended.
I did break his arm,
but he never actually conceded the fight.
So I decided I wanted to make him so strong that he could defeat me.
What on earth for?
It's obvious, isn't it?
I wanna fight someone worthy who might take me down.
With an appropriate audience, I assume?
Good to see you're as eccentric as ever.
Anyway, you can't steal Himekawa.
He's with me.
You know, Matsuo, I can set the stage for you when the time arrives.
Hmm!
Whatever I, Shozan Matsuo, do,
has to be done on my own stage,
surrounded by all of our people and with all of them watching.
And there you're going to what, let the beasts have at it?
That's exactly it.
The next Hokushinkan Tournament is not a karate tournament.
It'll be mixed martial arts where anything goes.
Ah, you're an interesting bunch of gentlemen.
What do you mean?
Great Tatsumi of the Oriental Pro Wrestling Company
is planning to put on a similar event.
A mixed martial arts tournament.
Yes.
We're competing with them to get the fighters to choose us.
They have recruited Bunshichi Tanba, I hear.
And our guy Johei Tsutsumi.
They've got some kind of history.
So, among those who haven't yet decided to participate,
the outstanding one is…
You know damn well who.
Juzo Fujimaki.
This is a good spot, right?
I knew you'd come find me, Juzo Fujimaki.
What gave me away?
Mr. Izumi said you'd be here.
That saves a lot of talking.
I heard you tried learning the Takemiya style.
So let's see how well you did.
Okay, then bring it on.
Are you trembling?
Just trembling with excitement.
Yo, do you see that?
Are they fighting?
So, we done now, Tanba?
Nah, no way man. This just evens out the field.
Now we can start the real fight.
My thoughts exactly.
You used Takemiya on me!
I learned a trick, and I just had to use it right away.
Hey, catch!
It looks like we're done here.
Unfortunately.
That was fun, though.
See ya.
At last, we meet face to face, Fujimaki.
I knew you'd show up as long as I kept an eye on Tanba.
Mr. Tamon.
I knew that you'd been hunting me down.
Juzo Fujimaki,
you're now under arrest.
You'll have to arrest me later on, then.
There's still someone I have to fight.
Me too.
Hmm?
I've been chasing you all this time
to have a rematch.
I'll let you go only when you've defeated me.
That said, don't think it'll be easy.
Let's do this.
Get up.
That's… Tiger King.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
welcome to the Fighting Explosion's Special Match!
Featuring the assassin the Hokushinkan sent
to the Oriental Pro Wrestling Company,
Johei Tsutsumi!
And his opponent, Bunshichi Tanba!
He's been conquering dojos and caught the attention of Great Tatsumi.
So this special match is karate against karate!
Gentlemen, let the match begin!
Good.
So tell me again what this training is for exactly.
This training will help teach me to see a fist.
To see whose fist?
Shozan Matsuo's, of course.
Is it true that a long time ago, you fought Master Matsuo,
and he broke your arm?
Afraid it is.
But that's for later.
My sights are on someone else.
Now, strike directly at my neck.
I know exactly how good I am.
And I… I'm not sure I can control that swing.
On the contrary, I find it to be an asset that you could make a mistake.
Here we go.
Hi-yah!
Oh my… I… I am so sorry! My… My foot slipped.
It's okay.
But I…
There's no way you just dodged that.
Now let's try that again.
The Takemiya style…
KOOU THE TAKEMIYA STYLE
So it looks like Master Izumi taught Tiger King to Tanba too.
And maybe even to Himekawa.
Fujimaki.
Be careful out there.
They might see your Tiger king coming.
-Fujimaki, have you seen this? -Hmm?
This is your technique.
This is what you used to beat Oleg, right?
Yeah.
That means this move won't be your secret weapon anymore.
I don't care.
But thanks for looking out for me, and I'm sorry for the trouble.
Man, stop apologizing.
If I thought you were a nuisance,
I'd have turned you away when you knocked on my door.
THE FIRST EVENT
Finally, it's about time.
Yep. I feel sorry for Great Tatsumi,
but our tournament's definitely gonna put his little
Fighting Explosion show to shame.
In that tournament, Bunshichi Tanba stole the show.
His Tiger King, did you see it?
Yes.
It was a bit different than Fujimaki's, though.
The Takemiya style leaves room for variance.
Tiger King does too.
When you get the opponent's chin between your feet and deliver a blow,
that's Tiger King.
Anyway, Tanba caused quite a stir,
but our tournament is going to blow them out of the water.
Okay, then. Have you got something up your sleeve?
Something up my sleeve?
I'm just gonna improvise it.
Saeko.
If Fujimaki and Himekawa really do end up fighting each other,
who would you want to win?
The stronger one.
HOKUSHINKAN TOURNAMENT
Welcome, everyone, to the Hokushinkan Tournament!
Today's tournament will completely rewrite the history of martial arts.
Firstly, unlike existing Hokushinkan rules,
we allow blows to the head.
And secondly,
throwing, choking, and joint locks are allowed.
Well, Tatsumi may have beaten me to it,
but you'll see with your own eyes which tournament is better.
I've seen too many brilliant martial artists disappear from the scene
without having the opportunity to show off their skills.
I'm going to end that.
Tonight, I prepared a stage worthy of the strongest men in the world.
Ladies and gentlemen,
welcome to the new Hokushinkan Tournament!
All right, let's get started!
HOKUSHINKAN TOURNAMENT
The winner is Nagata!
Oriental Pro Wrestling's Nagata.
He's got balls.
The winner is Himekawa!
The winner is Ikuta!
The winner is Kudo!
It's the semifinal already.
Himekawa and Kudo are the only Hokushinkans still in it.
The next one is Kudo against Nagata the pro wrestler.
-Nagata's gonna win. -No way, dude.
The winner is Nagata!
Let's go!
That was…
Tiger King.
You're fucking amazing, Himekawa!
It's Himekawa against me.
Huh?
Who are you?
All right, it's time for the final!
Your opponent is a wrestler, but he seems to be pretty good at strikes.
Oh, for the love of…
Where the hell is Nagata?
It's time for the final fight!
Who the hell are you?
Hey, stop!
This is it!
There he is.
Wait, that's not Nagata!
Who the hell is he?
Oh, now things just got interesting!
Nagata had something come up.
You don't say.
So what now, then?
Hokushinkan! I challenge you!
I'm Juzo Fujimaki of the Takemiya style!
Tsutomu Himekawa, I challenge you…
…to a mixed martial arts match!