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Wiki Ippo
Takamura creates the line between humans and monsters

Takamura creates the line between humans and non-humans.

The Line of Non-Humans (人外の線, Jingai no Sen),[1] often called simply "The Line," is a line created by Mamoru Takamura as a metaphor of separating humans and non-humans located near a tree on the riverbank in Tokyo Bay.

After Ippo Makunouchi lost to Alfredo González, Takamura, seeing how Ippo has not made an excuse as to why he lost, only that he admits that Alfredo is stronger, says that not making excuses is a sign he is ready to hang it up. He tells Ippo that he did good becoming the Japanese champion, but is not ready for what comes next: the world. Takamura drags his foot on the ground, creating the line between himself and Ippo, declaring that past the line is the world, and to not cross it while treating boxing like a hobby like he did as a Japanese champion and giving Genji Kamogawa false hope. Takamura describes the other side of the line where world champions are as a place where only non-humans can survive.[2]

Takamura's World

Takamura explaining what the line means.

As soon as the line was made, Ippo wanted to follow Takamura, but couldn't bring himself to cross it.[3] While doing roadwork, Ippo always goes around the line to avoid crossing it.[4] In chapter 1151, Ippo stops himself again for almost stepping over it while doing roadwork, remembering how Takamura asked if he can carry the burden and deliver, wondering what Takamura meant before going around the line again. In chapter 1171, Ippo goes to the line and wonders what Takamura meant by non-human, wondering if he means like a beast. but making himself a beast is the last thing that would come to him naturally.

In chapter 1246, Ippo tells Manabu Itagaki how Takamura made the line and how only non-humans can survive. Itagaki thought that was what it meant and wonder if it means something deeper. Ippo claims that he wasn't able to cross the line before and thought that he could overcome any sort of slump, but all he felt was his own limit. In chapter 1250, Ippo and Ichirō Miyata talked to each other about Ippo's status of being Punch Drunk while Miyata stood at the other side of the line. As Miyata left, Ippo tried to chase after him, but couldn't as he couldn't cross the line, something he noticed Miyata has just done. In chapter 1320, while thinking about dreams, Ippo goes to the line and remembers Takamura talking about the ones who will never become world champions are the ones who never challenge for it and those without dreams should stay out of the ring.

Other than Takamura and Miyata, no other person is seen standing at the other side of the line. Itagaki coincidentally stopped Taihei Aoki and Kintarō Kaneda just before they crossed the line when they went after Miyata.[5]

Trivia[]

  • The conversation Takamura had with Ippo about the line is something Jōji Morikawa came up with around volume 30, but had to wait until Ippo gained more experience.[6]
  • For unknown reasons, the line has stayed for multiple years even though grass should have been grown.

References[]

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