Tange, Danpei

丹下段平

Danpei is Joe's serious, cautious, and responsible mentor who initiates his boxing career. He enjoys sake, becoming excessively cheerful when intoxicated, which contrasts with his strict daily demeanor. He is also very polite toward people of higher rank, a trait that annoys Joe, who disregards such matters.
Before meeting Joe, it is stated that Danpei was formerly a boxer himself.
However, after losing one of his eyes, we learn he was forced to abandon his own boxing career, aiming instead to become a coach. But due to his violent, strict, passionate, and even desperate training methods (which his boxers could not endure, causing them to leave for better gyms), he became jobless and eventually a homeless alcoholic.
After meeting Joe and claiming that he possesses massive potential for the sport, he gives up drinking due to Joe's aversion to alcoholism (consuming alcohol only on special occasions) and vows to train him to become Japan's or even the world's best boxer, hoping for a better tomorrow for both of them.