The BEST episodes directed by Akira Mano

#1 - Victory or Defeat

Hajime no Ippo - Season 1 - Episode 28

Ippo defeats Mashiba for Rookie King of Eastren Japan.

#2 - Decision

Ace of Diamond - Season 1 - Episode 56

Inashiro continues to get hits off of Tanba and put Seido in tight spots. Most of the spectators think the game is all but decided. In the bottom of the seventh Tanba's leg begins to cramp. Feeling there is no other possibility if they are to have a chance to win, Coach Kataoka puts Sawamura out on the mound to face off with Narumiya!

#3 - Parents

TONIKAWA: Over the Moon for You - Season 1 - Episode 8

Nasa and Tsukasa arrive in Nara and head to the Yuzaki family's house. Despite demanding to meet Tsukasa, Nasa's parents, Enishi and Kanoka, are both clearly nervous. And not long after introductions, Enishi ends up making a deal with Tsukasa.

#4 - Today and Tomorrow, I'll Walk

Anonymous Noise - Season 1 - Episode 6

#5 - Sharing a Dream

Hajime no Ippo - Season 1 - Episode 42

Ippo's mother collapses from overworking so Ippo has to look after the family business. Ippo thinks about quitting boxing so that his mother doesn't overwork herself again.

#6 - Only After You've Won

Ace of Diamond - Season 3 - Episode 16

It's the spring tournament semifinal game against Ichidai. After saving his team with his perfect relief pitching, Sawamura is now the lead-off batter in the top of the sixth. Can Sawamura get on base and lead his team in a counterattack? Ichidai Third High's Amahisa's impeccable pitching hasn't allowed Seido a run since the second inning. Will the Seido batters support Sawamura and mount a comeback? Which team will advance to the final?

#7 - Victory or Defeat

Ace of Diamond - Season 1 - Episode 62

A hit batter shakes Eijun's confidence, and he begins to walk Inashiro's hitters. Coach Katoka and Miyuki realize Eijun is in no condition to continue, and Kawakami is sent to the mound. Kawakami gets down to the final out. Which team will triumph, and which team will face defeat?

#8 - Powerful Arms! Hooks vs. Uppercut!

Hajime no Ippo - Season 1 - Episode 14

Start of Ippo vs Jason match, both men exchange powerful punches but neither goes down.

#9 - 20 People

Ace of Diamond - Season 3 - Episode 42

On the way back from the Tokyo selection match, Miyuki confesses that he is in Narumiya, where he was with him by train. Miyuki and Narumiya swear a hot battle at Natsudai and break up. On the other hand, the fierce battle with Saiho is over at the Seido Ground. Seido Nine reaffirms the challenges for the summer, including the loss to Yamamori Gakuin. Meanwhile, 20 players who were allowed to enter the bench at Natsudai were about to be decided.

#10 - The Face Of Determination

Hajime no Ippo - Season 3 - Episode 10

As the fight with Sawamura draws near, Ippo has pinned all his hopes on the newly-evolved Dempsey Roll, to the point where practicing it has left him worn out and overtrained. Left with a dire warning from his massage therapist about the toll his new move is taking, will Ippo be able to perfect his technique in time for the fight?!

#11 - Self-Assertive

Ace of Diamond - Season 3 - Episode 20

A red and white battle between first graders and senior teams. Asada and Okumura's batteries, which appeared in the third inning, confront the senior team. Asada is encouraged by the aggressive attitude that Okumura and Seto showed, and she is enthusiastic that she wants to meet Okumura's expectations and throw the best ball into the mitt. Does Asada's pitching work for senior students? Kawashima, a senior student team who continues to pitch with a sense of spirit, aiming for a return bloom on the bench. Does the batting of Okumura and Seto work for senior students who are approaching devilishness?

#12 - Competition

Ace of Diamond - Season 3 - Episode 34

Miyuki will leave the team to participate in the Tokyo selection team, and it will be announced that Okumura's army will join with Seto. On the other hand, Miyuki entrusts the team to Maezono, Kuramochi and others and heads to the Inagi Business Ground, which was the practice venue for Tokyo selection. Attention players from each school also gather on the ground one after another, and meet here as a Tokyo selection.

#13 - Promise to Meet Again

Hajime no Ippo - Season 1 - Episode 8

Ippo trains with Takamura and discovers the hardship of pro boxing.

#14 - The Way to Capture a Prodigy

Hajime no Ippo - Season 1 - Episode 21

Start of Ippo vs Hayami fight, Hayami takes the advantage during the early rounds.

#15 - The Continuing Journey

Hajime no Ippo - Season 1 - Episode 35

Ippo graduates and takes photos with people from his school. New people join the gym and are put to the test by running with Takemura, Ippo, Aoki, and Kimura.

#16 - Potential

Ace of Diamond - Season 1 - Episode 35

Furuya comes up to bat in the 7-spot and hits a solo homerun to make it 4-1 in the top of the 3rd. In the bottom of the third inning Coach Katoka decides to make his move and bring in Sawamura while Furuya moves out to left field. At first Sawamura pitches the ball straight down the middle, but a throwback from Miyuki makes Sawamura remember it is a team game and not a one-on-one contest. Sawamura is able to trick Raichi and get him behind with some outside pitches into a 1-2 count. Finally Sawamura unleashes his 4-seam fastball to the inside and gets Raichi to pop out. As Seido comes to bat in the top of the fourth a double from the captain gives them a 5-1 lead. Seeing that they can't fall behind any more, Raizou calls for a pitches change and brings in Sanada.

#17 - The Distance Between Me and Glory

Hajime no Ippo - Season 3 - Episode 6

Imae, cowed by Aoki’s fearsome new move, suddenly realizes what it is Aoki has that he lacks. Summoning up all the energy he has left, he faces his challenger once again. As the fight drags on, will Imae retain his championship, or will Aoki finally reach the belt?

#18 - Science-types Fell in Love, So They Tried Not Trying to Prove It.

Science Fell in Love, So I Tried to Prove It - Season 2 - Episode 6

Yukimura is working hard on his computer, as usual, when Himuro suddenly says, "I am in love with you. Her confession greatly shakes Yukimura. Unlike the last time, Himuro states her feelings matter-of-factly. Yukimura asks, "What theory did you use to determine that you love me?" Himuro replies by taking Yukimura out on a date and begins performing experiments they've done before such as measuring heart rates, using an emotion counter, collecting saliva, and the kiss experiment.

#19 - Encounter with the Unknown

The Seven Deadly Sins - Season 4 - Episode 2

Reunited once again, Ban and Meliodas prepare to face the Demon King, who they suspect holds the key to their escape from purgatory.

#20 - Rise Up Against Despair

The Seven Deadly Sins - Season 4 - Episode 6

Gowther takes on Mael to protect his friends. Diane also joins the battle, but the Archangel's power level continues to rise as he nears his final form.

#21 - The King Sings Alone

The Seven Deadly Sins - Season 4 - Episode 18

Diane destroys the source of the Demon King's magic. Meanwhile, Escanor continues fighting the Demon King at full power, exceeding his limits.

#22 - And So, We Took Off Running for That Summer

Anonymous Noise - Season 1 - Episode 9

#23 - Fantasy

Ace of Diamond - Season 1 - Episode 45

The second semifinal takes place as Inashiro Vocational battles a surprise dark horse in Sakurazawa High. Sakurazawa had 20 consecutive seasons of first round exits until some surprise first years arrived. Inamooto Masaaki, Hitokoro Yoshimi, and Nagao Akira arrived. Akira brought in the same enthusiasm as Sawamura, but while his pitch looked super slow, the erratic pattern confused many payers. Masaaki surprises everyone by getting the top of Inashiro's order out with his knuckle ball, but when Mei takes the mound and strikes out the side Sakurazawa begins to realize how little a chance they have of advancing. This episode covers the second half of chapter 134 through chapter 136.

#24 - Greatest Loser

Record of Ragnarok - Season 1 - Episode 10

Kojiro Sasaki uses his mighty Tsubame Gaeshi move to finish off Poseidon, but the god of the sea won't be sunk so easily.

#25 - The Resolve for Responsibility

Ace of Diamond - Season 2 - Episode 32

Seidou successfully prevents Seiko from scoring on top of the fourth with a double play. Furuya's injury however seem to be hurting which Kudo notices. Kataoka wants to switch him out but Furuya is determined to continue pitching.

#26 - Marriage

TONIKAWA: Over the Moon for You - Season 1 - Episode 1

Yuzaki Nasa was preparing for his high school entrance exams one snowy night when he spots a beautiful girl on the other side of the road. Feeling somewhat drawn to her, he walks towards the girl and is severely injured after getting run over by a truck. Despite hanging on for dear life, Nasa still walks over to the girl and knowing this may indeed be his last chance, confesses his feelings for her. She replies, “I’ll go out with you if you marry me.” Nasa immediately agrees but then loses consciousness. A few years later, he keeps busy at his part-time job, believing they’ll be reunited again someday. One day, someone randomly shows up at his doorstep. It happens to be the girl he shared that fateful encounter with.

#27 - I've Cast Off My Humanity, But That's Fine

High-Rise Invasion - Season 1 - Episode 8

Mayuko and Yuri reunite on top of a skyscraper amidst a grenade attack. Now held hostage, Rika is summoned before a God Candidate.

#28 - Science-types Fell in Love, So They Tried Getting Married.

Science Fell in Love, So I Tried to Prove It - Season 2 - Episode 11

At the Mutsumi Festival, Kosuke and the others debate the relationship between wearing wedding dresses and the age at which a person gets married. Yamamoto, with her thirties closing in on her and also due to pressure from her parents, relentlessly proposes marriage to Kosuke. After outrunning Yamamoto, Kosuke turns to look back and finds Ibarada standing there wearing a wedding dress. When a child asks, "Aren't you getting married?" Ibarada and Kosuke reply by... Meanwhile, Kanade, who had been looking around the Mutsumi Festival with Shikijou, coldly turns away from Yukimura and tells Shikijou that she doesn't know him.

#29 - After Spring Comes

Ace of Diamond - Season 3 - Episode 29

The blue road baseball club is enthusiastic about practicing for summer college. Meanwhile, the female managers looked back on the history from their appearance in Senbatsu while looking at the articles in newspapers and magazines that had been scrapped in their notebooks. The memory of the game revived from the article, the passionate feelings of Sawamura and Furuya that have been accumulated. Aiming to participate in Koshien in a row in the spring and summer, they will move further forward.

#30 - Champion of Midsummer

Ace of Diamond - Season 2 - Episode 3

Monthly Baseball Kingdom finishes their recap of the Summer Tournament by finishing the review on the Seido, Inashiro regional championship game. The recap covers all of Eijun's pitches right up until Inashiro gets the game-winning hit off of Kawakami.

#31 - Sunshine of Midsummer

Ace of Diamond - Season 2 - Episode 2

Monthly Baseball Kingdom continues their recap of the Summer Tournament by reviewing the Seido, Inashiro Tokyo West regional championship game. The recap covers until Eijun heads to the mound.

#32 - Roar of Midsummer

Ace of Diamond - Season 2 - Episode 1

At the Baseball Kingdom magazine office, Mine looks back to the summer tournament. The game between Yakushi and Seido was an exciting watch. Seido played their pitcher relay in order to face Yakushi's powerful batting lineup.