Captain Tsubasa Season 1 - Episode 1 [better]
Wakabayashi is the goalkeeper of the Shutetsu Elementary team, a local powerhouse. He is depicted not just as a player, but as a fortress. In this first episode, Wakabayashi serves as the bar against which Tsubasa must measure himself. The narrative tension is palpable: Tsubasa, the wandering genius, versus Wakabayashi, the immovable object.
The episode ends on a downbeat note. Nankatsu loses 5-0. Wakabayashi walks off the field without a word. Tsubasa, for the first time, looks defeated. However, as the other players hang their heads, Tsubasa begins to laugh. He approaches Wakabayashi and says, “You’re amazing. I want to play you again. I want to get stronger.”
Enter Season 1 (2018). Episode 1 needed to accomplish three things: Introduce Tsubasa Ozora, showcase his obsession with football (soccer), and convince old fans that this remake could capture the original’s soul. The result? A high-octane, emotional, and visually crisp 24 minutes that begins in the fictional Japanese city of Nankatsu. Captain Tsubasa Season 1 - Episode 1
*The Great Dream of Becoming No. 1 in the World! (Sekai de Ichiban wo Mezase!) Air Date: April 3, 2018
This catches the eye of two people: Roberto Hongo, a mysterious Brazilian-Japanese former pro who now lives next door to Tsubasa, and the episode’s central antagonist: . Wakabayashi is the goalkeeper of the Shutetsu Elementary
is the ultimate titan of sports anime. After years of waiting, the 2018 reboot brought us back to where it all began: Nankatsu City . Episode 1, titled "Take Flight,"
The Ball is My Friend: Recapping the Legendary Debut of Captain Tsubasa Whether you grew up calling him Oliver Atom or Tsubasa Ozora , there is no denying that Captain Tsubasa The narrative tension is palpable: Tsubasa, the wandering
| Aspect | 1983 Episode 1 | 2018 Episode 1 | |--------|----------------|----------------| | Roberto’s intro | Flashier, more dramatic | More grounded, injured shown realistically | | Tsubasa’s mother | Minor role | Slightly more screen time (work as nurse) | | Ball control scenes | Over-the-top (ball wraps around body) | Athletic but believable for anime | | Hyuga tease | No | Yes (post-credits) |
We then transition to the present day as Tsubasa and his mother move to Nankatsu, a town famous for its competitive school football programs. Tsubasa is immediately drawn to the local field, where he witnesses a heated confrontation between the Nankatsu Elementary team and the elite Shutetsu Elementary squad. This conflict introduces us to the first major rival of the series: the "Genius Goalkeeper" Genzo Wakabayashi.
The episode opens with a flashback to a pivotal moment in Tsubasa’s childhood. While wandering into the street, he is struck by a speeding truck. Miraculously, the football he was holding acted as a cushion, absorbing the impact and leaving him completely uninjured. Since that day, Tsubasa has viewed the ball not just as a toy, but as his best friend. This deep bond is the emotional core of the series.
Tsubasa, eager to prove himself, challenges the Shutetsu Elementary team (with Wakabayashi in goal) to a match. The Nankatsu team, initially skeptical of Tsubasa, reluctantly lets him play.
