According to the excellent visual essay by Tom Mes, which is included in this new Blu-ray release of The Boxer, Toei was a studio that was very much in trouble in 1977. The once mighty Japanese film company had fallen on hard times. They’d spent most of the 1970s making exploitation flicks and even dabbling in soft porno. Sometimes they’d turn to America and make a Japanese version of some blockbuster. They had quite a bit of success with The Japanese Godfather, and so in 1977 they set their sights on Rocky, which had made lots of money in Japan the year before.
Buy The BoxerIt is the tale of an underdog getting his shot at the title fight, but unlike the Sylvester Stallone film, this is not an uplifting movie, but a rather downbeat one. Hayato (Bunta Sugawara) is a former champion who literally quit in the middle of a fight even though he was winning. He gave no explanation, just walked away from the sport. He’s been living rough ever since. He sleeps in a rundown apartment, mostly drinking himself to death. Tetsuo (Kentaro Shimizu) is a young man who dreams of being a champion, of being on TV and famous. But he keeps losing. He’s not very good at fighting. He’s also got a bum foot, which keeps him from dancing like a butterfly in the ring.
Tetsuo works at an auto junkyard. One day, while working a crane carrying a car, he accidentally releases it, killing Hayato’s son. Naturally, Hayato is completely distraught over this and will later come into the gym screaming at Tetsuo, trying to kill him. Upset over this incident, Tetsuo will visit Hayato’s home, begging for forgiveness. Then, inexplicably, he’ll ask the former champion to train him in the sweet science of boxing. Hayato refuses, but Tetsuo keeps coming back. Every day, he comes and knocks on his door, or visits him at a health spa. Eventually, he gives in, and they start training.
There are some nice moments in these training montages. Director Shūji Terayama and cinematographer Tatsuo Suzuki create some lovely images full of warmth and beauty. The men jog across the city, balance on logs floating in the river, and spar over and over again. Both men are filled with anger, shame, and guilt, but by training together, they form a bond. When Tetsuo is ready, Hayato gets him a fight. He wins and then wins again, eventually landing a chance at being named Rookie of the Year. It more or less follows the Rocky path, or the path of pretty much every other boxing picture.
There are oddities, little moments that make this film very much its own thing. Hayato has an ex-wife who keeps hanging around. She tells him that she’s remarried, yet she keeps begging him for sex. We’ll later learn she has no other man and has turned to sex work to make a living. There is a group of people who all hang out at a local restaurant. One lady says she’s an actress and regales the crowd with stories of how famous she was back in the day. Everyone knows she’s lying, but they listen anyway. They all become huge fans of Tetsuo and watch his fights religiously.
There is an early scene that really gets to the heart of the tone of this film. We are at that restaurant. People are eating, talking, and laughing. Then a chicken escapes from the kitchen. Pandemonium ensues. People are chasing the chicken; others are shouting; one lady jumps on a table. Just as things are about to turn into a farce, Hayato walks in. He completely changes the mood of things. His face is dour, his tone serious. He’s looking for Tetsuo. He has no time for frivolity. Neither does the film, apparently. Every now and again, in the back of things, there will be moments of humor. But mostly, this is a very downbeat film. But a good one.
It did not save Toei. It failed at the box office. It has mostly been forgotten. Until now. This Radiance release of The Boxer will garner it a cult following. Consider me a fan.
Extras include the following:
- High definition digital transfer
- Original uncompressed mono audio
- Interview with composer J.A. Seaver (2026)
- New visual essay on Toei studio in the year 1977 by Tom Mes (2026)
- New and improved English subtitle translation
- Reversible sleeve featuring artwork based on original posters
- Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by Roberta Novielli
