Recaps

Yo Aoki earned a place on Shirota Mika's Fire Phoenix team, improved his grades enough to enter Takezato High School, and began high school with Shirota. After deciding to join the basketball club, he was summoned behind the school storeroom by unfriendly students.

• Shirota Mika announced that Yo Aoki was challenging Fire Phoenix, and Yo beat Yamada three baskets to none, earning a place on the team.
• Yo trained and studied as the national middle school exam approached, while Coach Hisaishi took credit for his progress and Mamoru Aoki insisted Yo should earn his own way into high school.
• Yo and Shirota both passed the exam and promised to pursue basketball together at Takezato High School.
• Yo and Shirota entered Takezato, where Yo was assigned to class 8 and Shirota to class 1.
• After Yo filled out an application for the basketball club, a classmate warned him that unfriendly students were waiting behind the school storeroom, and Yo went to meet them.

Yo Aoki defeated Matsumoto and impressed Takezato’s basketball team with his strength and skill during the newcomers’ evaluations. Coach Akai learned Aoki’s name and potential, then joined the team as its training began.

• Yo Aoki beat Matsumoto and three other boys who had come after him over Matsumoto’s brother.
• Yo Aoki introduced himself as an all-position player, then began training with Takezato’s newcomers under captain Masanobu Mizuki.
• Yo Aoki earned A grades in shooting, dribbling, stamina, and speed, while Naoto Shirota recorded the newcomers’ test results.
• Masanobu Mizuki showed Coach Akai Yo Aoki’s perfect test scores, changing Coach Akai’s opinion of the newcomer from Eda Middle School.
• Coach Akai found Yo Aoki training alone, praised his effort, and recognized his name before Mizuki gathered the players for practice.

Mizuki announced Takezato’s first-year roster, then Aoki stunned the team during a scrimmage against the second-years with his scoring, defense, and powerful dunk. Coach Akai and the upperclassmen began to see Aoki as the ace who could help Takezato reach the national tournament.

• Mizuki announced Naoto Shirota, Yo Aoki, Heisaburo Nakako, Masakazu Yoshida, Masato Matsumoto, and Yuichi Nakamura as the official first-year roster.
• Aoki tipped the opening jump ball to Nakako and scored a three-pointer after finding his teammates too nervous to move.
• Aoki stole the ball from Shunya Hojo under backcourt pressure and scored a layup, giving the first-years a 5:0 lead.
• Aoki blocked Tomoya Imamura’s shot after holding his ground against the center’s attempts to back him down.
• Aoki powered past Koji Takeuchi and Shigeru Akiyama and dunked, leaving the gym stunned.
• Yasunori Sanada learned from Shirota that Aoki had resumed practicing basketball only in his third year of middle school, and he and Tatsu Shindo saw new hope for reaching the national tournament.

Yo Aoki led Takezato’s first-years to a narrow scrimmage victory, exposing the team’s stamina and teamwork problems. After practice, he agreed to help Imamura find a way to challenge Ryonan’s Uozumi, starting with improving Imamura’s shooting.

• Yo Aoki rallied the first-years, who took an early 9-0 lead as he drove past Imamura and set up Yoshida for a basket.
• Yo Aoki shifted to organizing the offense, and Takezato’s first-years beat the second-years 15-14 despite missed chances and exhaustion.
• Coach Akai ordered stamina-focused training after the scrimmage revealed how quickly the players tired.
• Imamura asked Yo Aoki for advice on facing Uozumi, and Aoki explained that Uozumi’s height and strength came with weaknesses.
• Yo Aoki and Imamura stayed late to practice drawing a tall center away from the paint, and Imamura agreed to work on his shooting.

Yo Aoki trained with Imamura, caught a knife-wielding robber, and considered how to strengthen Takezato’s basketball team. After Shirota reported his scouting results, Aoki suspected that rival schools had deliberately misled him.

• Yo Aoki encouraged Imamura to develop a three-point shot, and the two promised to help Takezato reach the national tournament.
• Yo Aoki caught the robber known as the Wolf of the Moonlit Night after rescuing a schoolgirl in an alley, then went to the police station to give a statement.
• Yo Aoki assessed Takezato’s players during math class and was made to stand after the teacher mistook his laugh for mockery.
• Shirota told Yo Aoki about his scouting of Kainan, Shoyo, Ryonan, and Shohoku, including the players he had observed.
• Yo Aoki told Shirota that rival schools might have deliberately shown him misleading information, but Shirota insisted he had gone unnoticed except at Shohoku.

Aoki helped Shirota plan to scout Shohoku, rejected an attempt by Iwasaki to pay him for keeping quiet about rescuing Oriyuki, and taught Imamura the pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop. The chapter ended as Aoki and Imamura tested their new tactic in a practice scrimmage.

• Aoki persuaded Shirota that schools were hiding their abilities and proposed scouting them during a warm-up game before the regional qualifiers.
• Aoki refused a meeting with Iwasaki’s suited associate, then agreed in the principal’s office not to discuss rescuing Iwasaki’s daughter, Oriyuki, and rejected an envelope of money.
• Aoki explained the pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop to Imamura, building on Imamura’s long-range shooting practice.
• Aoki and Imamura practiced the tactics for a week, then joined Coach Akai’s white team for a half-court scrimmage against the yellow team.
• As the white team attacked, Hojo passed to Aoki, who began a pick-and-roll with Imamura against Yasunori Sanada and Shigeru Akiyama.

Yo Aoki and Imamura used a pick-and-roll to lead the white team to a decisive scrimmage victory, and Coach Akai asked Aoki to teach the play to the team. Later, Aoki took his younger brother Ryo to a gym, where Ryo nearly injured himself trying to bench-press a weight that was too heavy.

• Yo Aoki and Imamura repeatedly used the pick-and-roll to score three-pointers, helping the white team beat the yellow team by 21 points.
• Imamura explained that Aoki had devised the play to counter teams with strong interior defenders, and Aoki showed the team how to defend against it.
• Coach Akai praised the tactic and told Aoki to lead the team's pick-and-roll practice the next day.
• Yo Aoki took Ryo to Tōei Fitness Center, where he signed up for a membership and warned Ryo not to overtrain.
• Ryo tried to bench-press 50 kilograms, but the barbell fell toward him until Yo rushed over and caught it above his head.

Yo helped Takezato practice the pick-and-roll and urged Mizuki to prepare the team for the qualifiers, then traveled with Shirota to scout Ryonan’s practice game against Shohoku. The chapter ended with Hanamichi Sakuragi confronting Yo after he laughed at him.

• Yo showed Ryo an exhausting workout at the fitness center and jokingly described a training routine that would make him the strongest in the world.
• Yo defended Hojo after Takezato’s pick-and-roll practice went poorly, then encouraged the team to keep working on the tactic.
• Yo and Mizuki discussed extra conditioning, Takezato’s chances against Kainan and Ryonan, and the need for teamwork and fighting spirit.
• Yo and Shirota traveled to Ryonan High School to watch the practice game, with Shirota disguised in a Ryonan uniform.
• Yo saw Yohei Mito and his friends enter the gym, then watched Shohoku’s players arrive, including Hanamichi Sakuragi, Takenori Akagi, and Kaede Rukawa.
• Sakuragi challenged Sendoh and charged toward Ryonan, then confronted Yo after hearing him laugh and declared himself the secret weapon.

Aoki and Shirota watched Shohoku lose to Ryonan by one point, then reported their findings to Coach Akai so Takezato could prepare for the tournament. Aoki went to a basketball shoe store hoping to run into Sakuragi, where the mustached manager asked what high school he attended and revealed he had played basketball in high school.

• Takezato's Aoki and Shirota watched Ryonan defeat Shohoku by one point after Akagi sprained his ankle and Sakuragi helped Shohoku take the lead before Sendoh's late layup.
• Aoki and Shirota gave Coach Akai their analysis of Shohoku and Ryonan, and Aoki received permission to investigate Shohoku further.
• Aoki went to the mustached manager's shoe store, hoping to encounter Sakuragi while shopping for basketball shoes.
• The manager asked Aoki what high school he attended, and Aoki answered that he went to Takezato High School.
• The manager praised his store and told Aoki that he had played on his high school basketball team.

Yo Aoki befriended Hanamichi Sakuragi by challenging him to one-on-one and teaching him how to shoot. Sakuragi eagerly agreed to keep training with Yo Aoki, who went home wondering when to call him.

• Yo Aoki bought an Air Jordan 3 and watched Hanamichi Sakuragi arrive at the shop and demand the manager's Air Jordan 6s.
• Yo Aoki introduced himself to Sakuragi and praised his basketball ability, then persuaded him to play one-on-one.
• Yo Aoki exposed Sakuragi's weak shooting by letting him collect rebounds and miss repeated shots.
• Yo Aoki taught Sakuragi how to aim bank shots and improve his shooting form, motivating him by mentioning Haruko Akagi and Kaede Rukawa.
• Yo Aoki told Sakuragi they were both impact players, and Sakuragi agreed to keep working with him after they exchanged contact information.
• Yo Aoki went home and wondered whether he should call Sakuragi.

Yo Aoki prepared for Takezato's warm-up game against Shoyo, where he was named a starter and learned the team's plan to exploit Shoyo's weaknesses. The chapter leaves Takezato ready to begin the game against Kenji Fujima and Shoyo's towering lineup.

• Yo Aoki advised Coach Akai that Shohoku needed better teamwork, while Hanamichi Sakuragi returned to practice and revealed he had learned to make a bank shot during a five-on-five game.
• Takezato Coach Akai announced a Sunday warm-up game against Shoyo, and Shirota explained Kenji Fujima's role and Shoyo's height-based strategy.
• Yo Aoki struggled to sleep before the game, then traveled with Takezato to Shoyo High School, where the teams met and Kenji Fujima greeted Coach Akai.
• Coach Akai named Mizuki, Shindo, Imamura, Hojo, and Aoki as Takezato's starters, assigning Aoki jersey number ten.
• Coach Akai instructed Takezato to use movement and open three-point shots to exploit Shoyo's limited agility and dribbling.

Takezato fell behind Shoyo early, but Yo Aoki sparked a comeback with a three-point play, a steal, and a clever assist that tied the score. Takezato’s pick-and-roll put the team ahead, and Aoki grabbed the rebound after Shoyo missed a rushed three-pointer.

• Shoyo took an early 6-0 lead through Hanagata’s inside scoring and Ito’s layup while its zone defense stifled Takezato.
• Yo Aoki drove past Ito and scored through Hanagata’s foul, then made the free throw to cut Shoyo’s lead to 6-3.
• Aoki stole Hanagata’s pass and later drew a double-team before passing between Hasegawa’s legs to Imamura, who made a three-pointer to tie the score at 6-6.
• Mizuki intercepted Ito’s pass, and Aoki used Imamura’s screen to drive in and dunk, giving Takezato an 8-6 lead.
• Shoyo failed to break Takezato’s intensified defense, and Aoki grabbed the rebound after Ito’s forced three-pointer missed.

Takezato lost its lead after Fujima entered the game and exposed the team's lack of confidence and cohesion. After Coach Akai helped Aoki understand that his teammates needed a leader they could rely on, Aoki returned to the court to take charge against Shoyo.

• Takezato built an early lead through Aoki and Imamura's pick-and-roll, and Shoyo trailed by nine points at halftime.
• Fujima entered in the second half, scored and created baskets for Hanagata and Takano, while Shoyo steadily widened its lead.
• Takezato's offense faltered, and Coach Akai substituted Aoki out as the team struggled to keep up.
• Coach Akai told Aoki that Takezato needed belief and urged him to observe how Shoyo played around Fujima.
• Aoki realized he needed to lead by using his skills to give his teammates confidence, then asked Coach Akai to put him back in.
• Aoki returned as Takezato's ball handler, facing Hasegawa's close defense.

Yo Aoki led Takezato's comeback with explosive drives, a step-back jumper, and a fast-break three-pointer against Shoyo. His final shot cut Shoyo's lead to seven points.

• Yo Aoki burst past Hasegawa and dunked over Hanagata, cutting Shoyo's lead to ten points.
• Yo Aoki guarded Fujima, who dribbled past him and scored a layup despite Aoki's late block attempt, keeping the lead at twelve.
• Yo Aoki beat Hasegawa with a step-back jumper to make it a ten-point game.
• Hanagata missed a shot after Imamura contested it, and Yo Aoki grabbed the rebound and launched a fast break.
• Yo Aoki stopped abruptly between Fujima and Hasegawa and made a three-pointer, cutting Shoyo's lead to seven points.

Aoki led Takezato back from a large deficit against Shoyo, but his last-second shot counted for two and the practice game ended in a tie. After reviewing the team’s weaknesses, he heard about a girl seeking to become Takezato’s manager and awkwardly met her on the roof.

• Aoki scored repeatedly in the final minutes as Takezato cut Shoyo’s lead to two, while Hojo stole the ball and passed to him for the last attack.
• Aoki’s buzzer-beater went in, but the referee ruled it a two-point shot, tying the game; Fujima praised him and promised to meet again at the prefectural tournament.
• Aoki reviewed his 24-point, 8-rebound, 11-assist performance and listed Takezato’s weaknesses and his own lack of strength in a notebook.
• Shirota told Aoki that a girl had asked to become the team manager, but Coach Akai had chased her out.
• The girl overheard Aoki and Shirota discussing her, then called Aoki a jerk and ran off after he asked why she wanted to join the team.

After Takezato set its sights on the national tournament, Yo Aoki helped Hojo plan his training before being attacked by Mitsui’s gang and slashed with a dagger. He beat down Ryu and was taken to the hospital, where Mamoru Aoki and Ryoko Aoki arrived at his bedside.

• Coach Akai praised Takezato’s draw with Shoyo, urged the players to show more fighting spirit, and Mizuki rallied them to aim for the national tournament.
• Hojo joined Yo Aoki and Imamura for extra practice, declared his ambition to reach the national tournament, and asked Aoki for advice on improving as a point guard.
• Yo Aoki recommended that Hojo practice passing and said he and Imamura should work on pick-and-rolls together.
• Mitsui, Ryu, Matsumoto, and three other delinquents surrounded Yo Aoki in an alley and attacked him.
• Yo Aoki knocked Ryu down, but Ryu cut his forearm with a dagger; Aoki then broke Ryu’s ribs and knocked out several of his teeth before letting Mitsui take him away as police approached.
• After the police notified the Aoki family, Mamoru Aoki and Ryoko Aoki rushed to the hospital and found Yo Aoki in a ward.

After being injured in a street attack, Yo Aoki hid Matsumoto’s involvement, rested and trained carefully while recovering, then returned to full practice as the prefectural qualifiers began on May 19. The chapter left Yo wondering which version of Slam Dunk’s story he had entered as the tournament started.

• Yo Aoki’s parents learned that delinquents had attacked him, and a doctor said his arm wound would keep him from playing basketball for about a month.
• Yo confronted Matsumoto, told him he had not implicated him to the police, and warned him not to mistake restraint for weakness.
• Coach Akai ordered Yo to rest until the qualifiers, allowing only footwork practice under Mizuki’s supervision.
• Yo taught Hojo to use fakes while passing, and Mizuki joined Imamura and Hojo for extra training.
• Yo’s wound healed quickly, and he resumed his strenuous training after having his stitches removed.
• The prefectural qualifiers began on May 19, and Yo wondered whether his world followed the manga or anime version of Slam Dunk.

Yo Aoki watched Shohoku defeat Miuradai and then discovered that Oriyuki Iwasaki, the girl he had rescued, had joined Takezato's team as its manager. After she secretly gave him a low training grade, Sakuragi called Aoki with something he struggled to say.

• Yo Aoki and Shirota watched Shohoku overcome an early deficit against Miuradai, and Aoki laughed when Sakuragi accidentally slammed the ball into the basket over Murasame.
• Coach Akai introduced Oriyuki Iwasaki as Takezato's new manager, and Aoki recognized her as the girl he had rescued.
• Shirota explained the training grades to Iwasaki, who marked Aoki's smooth drill performance as a C to get back at him.
• Coach Akai realized Iwasaki had singled out Aoki, discarded her record sheet, and let Aoki continue his extra practice without punishing him.
• A few days later, Aoki called Sakuragi back, and Sakuragi hesitantly began to explain why he had called.

Yo Aoki taught Sakuragi how to defend without fouling, and Sakuragi used the advice against Tsukubu before fouling out on a charge. Takezato prepared for its quarterfinal against Hinode West, and the team boarded the new bus provided by the Ichibishi Group as its first official game approached.

• Sakuragi asked Yo Aoki how to avoid fouling out, and Aoki taught him to rely on footwork, stay close to his opponent, and avoid reaching for the ball.
• Sakuragi defended Tsukubu without fouling for several plays, but he fouled out with ten minutes left after charging into an opponent.
• Shirota announced that Hinode West had beaten Kamitadai and would face Takezato in the quarterfinals.
• Shirota reported Hinode West's speed and fast-break strength, and Coach Akai assigned Takezato players to stop their transition offense and protect the rebounds.
• Coach Akai increased Takezato's training intensity, and the team prepared to travel on its new bus from the Ichibishi Group.

Takezato dominated Hinode West behind Yo Aoki’s explosive plays and the teamwork of Shunya Hojo and Tomoya Imamura, winning 99–36 to reach the final four. On the ride back, Shirota announced that Shohoku had eliminated Shoyo, completing the final-four lineup as Takezato’s next challenge approached.

• Yo Aoki scored with a shoulder feint, then chased down Tsugawa and blocked his fast-break layup attempt.
• Shunya Hojo and Tomoya Imamura combined for a dunk and a layup as Takezato built a commanding lead over Hinode West.
• Takezato held Hinode West to 11 points in the first half, and Coach Akai sat Aoki for the second half because he had recently recovered from an injury.
• Takezato defeated Hinode West 99–36, with Imamura scoring 31 points and Hojo adding 20 points and 15 assists.
• Shirota announced that Shohoku had beaten Shoyo, setting the final four as Kainan, Ryonan, Takezato, and Shohoku.

Takezato prepared to face Ryonan in the first game of the final stage, with Yo Aoki rallying the team despite Coach Akai’s nervous tactics. The chapter ended as the starting players were about to be introduced, while spectators and rival teams debated who would win.

• Shirota briefed Takezato on Ryonan’s lineup and warned that Akira Sendoh was a dangerous all-around ace, while Aoki volunteered to guard him.
• Imamura trained to defend Uozumi, Hojo received encouragement from his parents, and Mizuki resolved to make his final season count before leaving the team.
• Aoki and Shirota discussed their upcoming matchup, and Aoki said the team would give everything and leave the result to heaven.
• On June 20, Coach Akai assigned Takezato’s matchups against Ryonan, and Aoki rallied his teammates before they took the court.
• Shoyo’s Takano reacted angrily to spectators dismissing his team, while Fujima restrained him and said the game would prove them wrong.
• Aida, Nakamura, and Kainan’s players assessed the matchup as Ryonan and Takezato entered the arena, and the announcer began introducing the starters.

Yo Aoki made a spectacular debut for Takezato against Ryonan, overpowering Jun Uozumi with a dunk that bent the hoop. After converting the free throw, he kept Sendoh closely guarded, while Takezato's defense forced a turnover and Hojo began a half-court attack.

• Ryonan won the opening tip, and Jun Uozumi scored over Imamura to put his team ahead 2-0.
• Yo Aoki drove past Sendoh and dunked over Uozumi, sending him to the floor and bending the hoop; the referee called a blocking foul on Uozumi.
• Yo Aoki made the free throw for a three-point play, giving Takezato a 3-2 lead as the crowd began cheering for them.
• Yo Aoki stayed close to Sendoh after play resumed, while Shindo stopped Koshino's drive and Imamura intercepted Koshino's pass.
• Hojo caught the stolen ball, then used Shindo's screen to get free from Koshino as Uekusa and Koshino closed in to trap him.

Takezato and Ryonan traded baskets as Yo Aoki disrupted Sendoh before Sendoh helped Uozumi regain his confidence. Ryonan sent Fukuda into the game, but Aoki switched to guarding him instead of Sendoh, leaving the reason for his strategy unclear.

• Hojo fooled Ryonan with a no-look pass to Shindo, whose missed shot led Yo Aoki to grab the rebound and dunk over Uozumi.
• Sendoh beat Aoki with a jump shot, and Aoki answered with a difficult fadeaway to put Takezato ahead 7-4.
• Sendoh shook free with Ikegami's screen and passed behind his back to Uozumi, who dunked to bring Ryonan within one point.
• Aoki scored again against Sendoh, prompting Taoka to send Fukuda into the game to relieve Sendoh.
• Aoki took Fukuda as his defensive assignment, leaving Sendoh open and confusing Ryonan's bench, the coaches, and spectators.

Takezato’s Aoki shut down Fukuda and helped his team build a lead with a dunk and free throw, while Imamura and Hojo’s pick-and-roll offense exposed Ryonan’s defensive weaknesses. Sendoh kept Ryonan in the game, but Fukuda remained frustrated and unable to get past Aoki.

• Aoki blocked Fukuda’s shot, stole the ball from him, then scored a tomahawk dunk while drawing a foul, pushing Takezato ahead 6-12 after the free throw.
• Sendoh drove past Mizuki and dunked over Imamura, drawing a foul and making the score 9-12 after his free throw.
• Imamura set a screen for Hojo and then hit an open three-pointer after Hojo passed him the ball, extending Takezato’s lead to 9-15.
• Sendoh answered with a three-pointer, but Hojo and Imamura ran another pick-and-roll that let Hojo score a mid-range jumper and make it 12-17.
• Sendoh steadied Ryonan and urged his teammates to score, while Aoki kept Fukuda away from the basket.

Ryonan rallied after halftime as Coach Taoka restored his players’ confidence and Sendoh led the comeback against Takezato. Aoki answered with a fake that shook Fukuda and dunked to put Takezato back up by three.

• Fukuda fouled Aoki, and Coach Taoka used a timeout to send Ikegami in for Uekusa while keeping Fukuda on the court.
• Takezato led Ryonan 40–35 at halftime, and Aoki advised Coach Akai to slow the pace and conserve energy.
• Coach Taoka identified Takezato’s weak defense, encouraged Fukuda and Uozumi, and told Sendoh to take on Aoki.
• Sendoh scored off a lob to Uozumi, then stole the ball from Imamura and dunked to cut Takezato’s lead to one.
• Aoki faked out Fukuda, drove left, and dunked to restore Takezato’s three-point lead.