Ashita e Free Kick

Aired: 1992

A soccer-themed sports anime broadcast on Nippon Television, following young Akira Shiba as he chases his dream of becoming a world-class soccer player. The series explores the camaraderie among teammates and the intensity of matches against formidable rivals, sincerely portraying the highs and lows of pursuing a sporting dream and recovering from setbacks. Airing on the cusp of the J.League era, it played a part in stoking interest in soccer among young viewers as Japan prepared for its professional soccer league launch. Voice actor Takeshi Kusao both performs the lead character and sings the show's theme songs, including the energetic opener Get My Goal and the cheerful closer Ashita wa Good Luck, lending the production a strong sense of personality.