History Manga / Yawara

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/yawara.jpg
[[caption-width:306:Yawara and her manipulative grandfather]]

Yawara Inokuma is an OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent. Well, she'd [[IJustWantToBeNormal like to be]]. Unfortunately, she's got a judo-obsessed [[OldMaster grandfather]] and [[HeirToTheDojo natural talent]] for the sport. Her grandfather, Jigoro, is determined that she'll win gold at the Olympics, and has been [[TrainingFromHell training her]] all her life for just that. He's not above using any method to manipulate, trick, or force Yawara into competing.

When a chance encounter (that is, almost being run over by) with [[LonelyRichKid bored rich girl]] and sports fanatic [[{{Ojou}} Sayaka Hon'nami]], Jigoro jumps at the chance to set up a proper [[TheRival Rival]] to get Yawara excited.

With over three years left to go before the Olympics, will Jigoro succeed in sparking Yawara's [[MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours competitive spirit]], or will his forceful methods raise her stubborn streak? It doesn't help to have a [[IntrepidReporter sports reporter]] sniffing around for a scoop, either.

From [[NaokiUrasawa the creator]] of ''MasterKeaton'', ''{{Anime/Monster}}'', and ''TwentiethCenturyBoys''.

[[GenreAdultery Yes, really]].

----
!!Provides Examples Of:

* AccidentalMisnaming: In Episode 90, Jigoro keeps calling Davis "Debeso".
* ADayInTheLimelight: Jigoro.
* AlmostKiss: Yawara and Kazamatsuri in their first date, but they're interrupted by Jigoro, Sayaka and Matsuda.
** [[spoiler: Even worse between Yawara and Matsuda. At the last episode, Matsuda almost kisses Yawara, but he was pushed by drunken Jigoro and their friends.]]
* AnimeAccentAbsence: Subverted in Jody Rockwell. Yawara has to correct her Japanese frequently, although it does improve over time. Some of the other world-class athletes have to use translators, and some try to use English. At least one picks up enough Japanese to trash-talk.
* ArrangedMarriage: [[spoiler: Sayaka and Kazamatsuri.]]
* ArtEvolution
* AssKickingPose: Subverted, in that they all use a real judo stance.
* AttentionWhore: Jigoro.
* BabiesEverAfter: [[spoiler:Fukuko, Fujiko and Hanazono's baby daughter]].
* BadassNormal: Several of the world-class Judo athletes qualify.
* BeachEpisode: Subverted, in that the trip to the beach is for the traditional [[TrainingFromHell pulling-a-tire-while-wearing-iron-geta-and-running-in-sand training]]
* BetaCouple: [[spoiler:Fujiko and Hanazono.]]
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Yawara is polite to everyone, including her opponents. This infuriates Sayaka.
* BigEater: Jigoro, although it seems to run in the family as Kojiro is the same way. Yawara even shows signs of this, much to her own disgust when a friend points it out. Toudoh does this as well. Subverted in Coach Yutenji, a huge man who can't keep up with Jigoro's appetite, but is too polite to refuse offers of just one more
* BlandNameProduct: There's a GameBoy lookalike called "Tennento Game Bozz".
* BoundAndGagged: Jigoro pulls this on a member of a high school judo club to trick Yawara in to doing a match.
* BurgerFool: Subverted. Yawara and Fujiko both take fast-food jobs, but it doesn't last very long thanks to [[RichBitch Sayaka]]'s attempt to start a BarBrawl.
* CallingYourAttacks: Of the "That's the legendary such-and-such-and-something-or-other technique!" variety, where themselves never actually call their attacks, but the announcers do. Justified in that modern judo moves do indeed have names.
* CantStayNormal: Yawara repeatedly [[IJustWantToBeNormal quits judo]], but over 15 years of habit can't be broken that easily, so she keeps her practice routine going until she gets drawn back in.
* TheCasanova: Kazamatsuri, although he walks a fine line between this and HandsomeLech. Played for comedy in the anime, but he comes across as more dangerous in the manga.
* CaughtInTheRain: Yawara and Matsuda take cover in the telephone booth. Matsuda accidentally holds Yawara's hand.
* TheChessmaster: [[spoiler: Kojiro]]
* ChristmasEpisode: Episode 117.
* ClingyJealousGirl: Sayaka and, minus the cuteness, Kuniko
* ClubPresident: Hanazano and later [[spoiler:Fujiko]]
* CombatCommentator: Justified in that these are modern professional sports matches.
* TheConfidant: Kazamatsuri and Matsuda to Yawara.
* CoolBike: Matsuda has this but it was accidentally fell on the river once.
* DaddyHadAGoodReasonForAbandoningYou: Kojiro abandoned her daughter and his wife since [[spoiler: he discovered her daughter's natural talent in judo. Matsuda then convinces Yawara that his father still cares for her and continues to watch her in tournaments.]]
* DanceBattler: Subverted in [[spoiler:Fujiko. Her flexibility from her past experience in ballet makes her extremely hard to pin, and she uses ballet music to time her moves, but her judo isn't particularly dance-like at all]]. Inverted when Jigoro uses judo and karate moves at a disco.
* DatePeepers: Yawara and Kazamatsuri out together attract Matsuda, Sayaka and Jigoro.
* DefeatMeansFriendship
* {{Delinquents}}: Several show up at various times, Sudoh in particular.
* {{Determinator}}: Matsuda.
* DisappearedDad: Yawara's father Kojiro has been off on a training journey since she was 5. Frequently turns into ParentalAbandonment as her mom is usually gone looking for him, but they have a normal relationship when she's home.
* DivingSave: Yawara does this to catch a kid who trips. And his ''ice cream cone''.
* DoesNotLikeMen: At least sometimes. Nanda joins the judo club in order to beat up the guys who keep dumping her.
* DoubleKnockout: [[spoiler: Sayaka and Kim]] both collapse from exhaustion after their practice match is over.
* DressesTheSame: Yawara and Sayaka meet near the changing room while trying on the same dress. Given Sayaka's normal buying habits, this is more than odd.
* DrowningMySorrows: Yawara does this once during what's supposed to be a celebratory dinner party. With rather expensive wine.
* EarlyBirdCameo: That girl in the boat in episode #6? She'll be back MUCH later (somewhere around the mid 50s.
* EngagementChallenge: Subverted. Jigoro uses this on several of Yawara's suitors, but never intends to follow through.
* EvasiveFightThreadEpisode: Yawara's first match with [[spoiler:Jody Rockwell, although it does eventually get resolved]]
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The taxi driver from Zegrab.
* EyeCatch: Courtesy of Jigoro with this sentence.
-->"Lovely and cute Mr. JIGORO INOKUMA is a fantastic judo boy!"
* {{Fangirl}}: Yawara in particular gets some of these.
* FightingSeries: Unusually, actual judo moves are involved here. This means Yawara isn't really learning new moves, but later on fights opponents that require [[MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours more than a quick Ippon Seoinage]]
* FirstKiss: Subverted. Yawara is expecting one of these, but Kazamatsuri is really just trying to figure out how skilled she is at judo.
** [[spoiler:Three years later, it happens.]]
* FiveManBand: A tournament judo squad has five members. When Fujiko goes recruiting to form a judo club at the college, she forms a classic set (plus Yawara).
* FlexibleTourneyRules: Averted in that standard judo tournament rules are used.
** Though there are two different types of team duels, and Hanazano once asks for a switch from the agreed on one to the other to try to protect Yawara.
* FunbagAirbag: [[spoiler: Matsuda bumps into Yawara this way when he rushes out in his room]].
* GameBreakingInjury: [[spoiler: Teleshikova and Jody's first match.]]
* GenerationXerox: Several characters in Jigoro's stories look similar to the present day counterpart.
** Kaneko, Yawara's grandmother and is able to do judo. Much stronger than Jigoro.
** Although not related by blood, Matsudaira looks like Matsuda and is the ''exact same'' sports reporter...only he's a friend of Jigoro and Kaneko.
** There's Saimonji, a rich man who wants to marry Kaneko. [[spoiler:He was beaten by Jigoro just in time to stop the wedding.[[ForeShadowing In the present day, the tale is hinted that Yawara will never marry Kazamatsuri.]]]]
* GirlPosse: Sayaka seems to attract these.
* {{Gonk}}: Toudou, although it is on purpose. She wants to weigh as much as possible since she practices power judo.
** Sayaka always calls her Todo (no long vowels) = sea lion/sea cow.
* HairDecorations: Yawara wears bands or ribbons frequently especially in tournament.
* HeirToTheDojo
* HugeSchoolgirl: Played in an [[MissedTheCall unusual way]] with Fujiko.
* IJustWantToBeNormal: Yawara, most of the time.
* InstantFanClub: Lots of people try to join the judo team at Yawara's high school, until she [[TrainingFromHell scares them off]]. Sayaka gets a huge cheering section of her own as well.
* IntrepidReporter
* ItsACostumePartyISwear: Sayaka invites Yawara to a party, specifying casual attire while everyone else is in formal wear.
* ItsAllMyFault: Yawara blames herself for [[spoiler: throwing her father when she was five years old, leading to have [[BigScrewedUpFamily family problems]]. This is one of the main reasons why she wants to quit judo]].
* LateForSchool: Sayaka finds out that Yawara is a judo master when she tries to delay Yawara when Yawara is in a [[ApologeticAttacker hurry to get to school]].
* LingerieScene: Happens a few times to Yawara. This is a {{Seinen}} series, after all.
* LonelyRichKid: Sayaka, whose interest in sports seems to be largely sheer boredom. Somewhat unusually, she's far more interested in becoming TheRival than she is in becoming TrueCompanions.
* LookWhatICanDoNow: Subverted. [[spoiler:Sayaka tries this, and does become stronger during her training. Just not strong enough.]]
* LoveConfession: [[spoiler: Yawara and Matsuda in the GrandFinale.]]
* LoveLetterLunacy: Parodied. Yawara writes a challenge letter to Sudoh, but has never written one before. The rather polite message makes Sudoh think it's a love letter.
* LoveTriangle: A few overlapping ones.
* MadLove: Kuniko towards Matsuda.
* MagicSkirt: Averted.
* MakeWayForThePrincess: Sayaka expects this when she visits Yawara's school, planning to challenge Yawara. However, she gets hit on and has to [[BadassNormal show her stuff]].
* ManlyTears: Hanazono.
* MartialArtsUniform: Yawara and most other judo practioners in her series wear judogi when practicing or participating in tournaments.
* MeaningfulName: Yawara's name is the first character of 'judo'. Yes, it was on purpose. No, she doesn't like it.
** Also, the founder of Judo was Jigoro Kano.
* MiniatureSeniorCitizens: Jigoro
* MiracleRally: Played straight, subverted, averted, lampshade and justified, all more than once. This series likes to play with this one.
* MomentKiller: More than once, to more than one pairing.
* MusclesAreMeaningless: Justified in that this is the whole point of Jigoro's [[MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours style of judo]], that skill beats pure strength. Lampshaded in most of the open weight class fights, since Yawara is in the extra lightweight class, but most of her opponents are heavyweights, so people comment on this frequently.
* NervousWreck: Fujiko.
* NoblewomansLaugh: Sayaka.
* NoGuyWantsAnAmazon: One of the main reasons Yawara doesn't want to continue judo is her worry about this.
* NotWhatItLooksLike: Kuniko sets up a lot of these [[spoiler: to discourage Yawara]].
* OfficeLady: What Yawara becomes after she graduates from college.
* OfficialCouple: [[spoiler: Yawara/Matsuda and Sayaka/Kazamatsuri in the series finale.]]
* OhCrap: Kazamatsuri, especially when [[spoiler:he deals about marriage with Sayaka]].
* {{Ojou}}: Sayaka.
* OldMaster
* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou Any number of Yawara's opponents.
* OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent
* {{Paparazzi}}: Matsuda and Kumoda get stuck doing this when nothing more interesting is going on, and hate it.
* PantyShot: Yawara delivers a number of these, since something like wearing a skirt doesn't stop her from using judo. Her first real publicity involves one , as Kumoda gets a shot of her subduing a purse snatcher from... an angle that ''doesn't'' show her face. Oddly enough, Yawara never seems bothered about the picture making the front page of one of the sports papers.
* ParentalAbandonment Not complete, but Yawara's father has been [[DisappearedDad out on a training journey]] since she was five, and her mother is frequently out chasing rumors trying to find him.
* PornStash: Subverted in that when she discovers it, Yawara keeps cleaning like it isn't anything unusual. Matsuda is the one who panics.
* PresentDay
* ThePromise: Yawara promises [[spoiler:to fight Jody Rockwell again in a tournament somewhere, the first time she actively agrees to a real tournament]].
* RecapEpisode
* RichBitch: Sayaka, of course.
* TheRival: Played straight and subverted in Sayaka, who sees herself as one and is seriously frustrated when Yawara doesn't really think that way. Jigoro sets her up as a rival for Yawara in an attempt to [[GenreSavvy encourage Yawara's fighting spirit]]. [[spoiler:She does eventually become one, along with a number of world-class judo athletes from other countries]].
* {{Salaryman}}
* SaveOurTeam: Hanazano to both Jigoro and Yawara.
* ScrewPolitenessImASenior
* {{Seinen}}
* ShipperOnDeck: Jody and Fujiko are supportive of Yawara/Matsuda.
** Seems that Sayaka ships the pairing as well. She once asked Matsuda if he's tired of following Yawara.
** Let's not forget the taxi driver from Episode 90, who encouraged Matsuda to get close in the stage.
* ShotgunWedding: [[spoiler: Fujiko and Hanazono]].
* ShowSomeLeg: Subverted in that Yawara isn't doing it intentionally, and in fact the only reason she wins the matches is because the guys she's fighting are so obviously attempting to sneak a peak that she gets creeped out and forgets her intention to lose quickly. Played straight with Miririn, who even gets disqualified from a match for it.
* ShrinkingViolet: Kyon-kyon, who joins the college judo club because she thinks it'll help her stand out more.
* SignedUpForTheDental: [[spoiler: Yawara takes a job at a travel agency for the travel discount, to help find her travelling father]].
* SpeedStripes: Some of Yawara's throws generate these.
* SpringtimeForHitler: Yawara tries to throw her first big public match to defuse the media attention she's getting. It doesn't work.
* SquashMatch: Yawara is ''really'' good, bordering on InvincibleHero. If she isn't distracted or facing one of the top 5 in the world, the other judoka is going to be looking at the ceiling quick. Her first tournament fight with [[spoiler:Sayaka...2 seconds.]]
* SurvivalMantra Fujiko chants this mantra whenever she wants to concentrate on her movements or to calm herself[[spoiler:. She even says this when she's giving birth to her baby]].
-->'''Fujiko:''' "Une, deux, trois...Une, deux, trois...UNE, DEUX, TROIS!"
* TearsOfJoy
* ThemeTuneCameo: In Episode 57, Jigoro sings the opening theme while he's in the bath.
* ThinkingOutLoud: Kazamatsuri.
* ThrowingDownTheGauntlet: Sayaka does this to Yawara... on ''national television''.
* TinyGuyHugeGirl: Jigoro and his wife Kaneko.
* TookALevelinBadass: Sayaka. Come on, a pampered rich girl becomes more than a match for a judo princess, granddaughter and daughter of legendary judokas and trained since birth, just after some months/years of (admittedly hard, and administered by some of the best masters in the world) training?
* ToplessnessFromTheBack: Subverted, in that Kazamatsuri is the one involved.
* TournamentArc: Lots of them, justified by the fact that the series largely involves modern professional judo, which is in a tournament format.
* TrainingFromHell: Justified. Olympic-class athletes train in a manner that qualifies as Training From Hell for the non-obsessed. Those in the series never quite reach CharlesAtlasSuperpower levels.
* TranslationConvention: We hear Kim's withering list of insults to Sayaka in Japanese. She's actually speaking Korean and the translator declines to repeat anything she says.
* TrashOfTheTitans: Matsuda's apartment.
* TreeCover: Matsuda and Kamoda do this around few times to get the latest scoop from Yawara.
* TrustMeImAnX: Jigoro, who works as a bone-setting doctor.
* TruthInTelevision: Ryoko Tamura is a extra lightweight judo athlete with seven world championship gold medals and two Olympic gold medals. She won a silver medal in her first Olympic appearance; the same 1992 Barcelona Olympics that is Yawara's goal in the manga. She was even nicknamed "Yawara-chan" by the Japanese media.
** That's more of a LifeImitatesArt situation, no?
* UnnecessaryRoughness: Subverted, in that Yawara's about the only one who thinks so. Even the main target of this argues that it's all part of the sport.
* VSign: Sayaka frequently shows this pose before the match. Jigoro, (like in the picture above) does this too whenever he wants to get attention.
* WhoNeedsOvertime: Averted. Several matches run out of time, and go to decision.
* WrongGuyFirst: Yawara falls in love with Kazamatsuri for years [[spoiler:before she realizes that she truly loves Matsuda after reading his old articles.]]
* YouFightLikeACow: Sayaka and Tohdoh both get in trouble for this during a match.
----

* MyNameIsNotDurwood: In Episode 90, Jigoro keeps calling Davis "Debeso".

* ScrewPolitenessIAmASenior

* WhiteHairedPrettyGirl: Anna Teleshikova.

* CallingYourAttacks: Subverted in that the characters themselves never actually call their attacks, but the announcers do. Justified in that modern judo moves do indeed have names.

* {{Casanova}}: Kazamatsuri, although he walks a fine line between this and HandsomeLech. Played for comedy in the anime, but he comes across as more dangerous in the manga.

Yes, really.

* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The taxi driver from Yugoslavia.

* FunbagAirbag [[spoiler: Matsuda bumps into Yawara this way when he rushes out in his room]].

* FirstKiss (Subverted. Yawara is expecting one of these, but Kazamatsuri is really just trying to figure out how skilled she is at judo.

* OfficialCouple [[spoiler:(Yawara/Matsuda and Sayaka/Kazamatsuri in the series finale.]]

** Seems that Sayaka ships the pairing as well. She once asked Matsuda if he's tired following Yawara.

* SquashMatch: Yawara is ''really'' good, bordering on InvincibleHero if she isn't distracted or facing one of the top 5 in the world, the other judoka is going to be looking at the ceiling quick. Her first tournament fight with [[spoiler:Sayaka...2 seconds.]]

* SquashMatch: Yawara is REALLY good, bordering on BoringInvincibleHero (ine) if she isn't distracted or facing one of the top 5 in the world, the other judoka is going to be looking at the ceiling quick. Her first tournament fight with [[spoiler:Sayaka...2 seconds.]]

* ADayInTheLimelight (Jigoro)
* AlmostKiss (Yawara and Kazamatsuri in their first date, but they're interrupted by Jigoro, Sayaka and Matsuda.)
** [[spoiler: (Even worse between Yawara and Matsuda. At the last episode, Matsuda almost kisses Yawara, but he was pushed by drunken Jigoro and their friends.)]]
* AnimeAccentAbsence (Subverted in Jody Rockwell. Yawara has to correct her Japanese frequently, although it does improve over time. Some of the other world-class athletes have to use translators, and some try to use English. At least one picks up enough Japanese to trash-talk)
* ArrangedMarriage [[spoiler: (Sayaka and Kazamatsuri.)]]

* AssKickingPose (Subverted, in that they all use a real judo stance)
* AttentionWhore (Jigoro)
* BabiesEverAfter ([[spoiler:Fukuko, Fujiko and Hanazono's baby daughter]])
* BadassNormal (Several of the world-class Judo athletes qualify)
* BeachEpisode (Subverted, in that the trip to the beach is for the traditional [[TrainingFromHell pulling-a-tire-while-wearing-iron-geta-and-running-in-sand training]])
* BetaCouple [[spoiler:(Fujiko and Hanazono)]]
* BigEater (Jigoro, although it seems to run in the family as Kojiro is the same way. Yawara even shows signs of this, much to her own disgust when a friend points it out. Toudoh does this as well. Subverted in Coach Yutenji, a huge man who can't keep up with Jigoro's appetite, but is too polite to refuse offers of just one more)
* BlandNameProduct (There's a GameBoy lookalike called "Tennento Game Bozz".)
* BoundAndGagged (Jigoro pulls this on a member of a high school judo club to trick Yawara in to doing a match)
* BurgerFool (Subverted. Yawara and Fujiko both take fast-food jobs, but it doesn't last very long thanks to [[RichBitch Sayaka]]'s attempt to start a BarBrawl)
* CallingYourAttacks (Subverted in that the characters themselves never actually call their attacks, but the announcers do. Justified in that modern judo moves do indeed have names)
* CantStayNormal (Yawara repeatedly [[IJustWantToBeNormal quits judo]], but over 15 years of habit can't be broken that easily, so she keeps her practice routine going until she gets drawn back in)
* {{Casanova}} (Kazamatsuri, although he walks a fine line between this and HandsomeLech. Played for comedy in the anime, but he comes across as more dangerous in the manga)
* CaughtInTheRain (Yawara and Matsuda take cover in the telephone booth. Matsuda accidentally holds Yawara's hand.)
* TheChessmaster [[spoiler: (Kojiro)]]
* ChristmasEpisode (Episode 117)
* ClingyJealousGirl (Sayaka and, minus the cuteness, Kuniko)
* ClubPresident (Hanazano and later [[spoiler:Fujiko]])
* CombatCommentator (Justified in that these are modern professional sports matches)
* TheConfidant (Kazamatsuri and Matsuda to Yawara)
* CoolBike (Matsuda has this but it was accidentally fell on the river once.)
* DanceBattler (Subverted in [[spoiler:Fujiko. Her flexibility from her past experience in ballet makes her extremely hard to pin, and she uses ballet music to time her moves, but her judo isn't particularly dance-like at all]]. Inverted when Jigoro uses judo and karate moves at a disco)
* DatePeepers (Yawara and Kazamatsuri out together attract Matsuda, Sayaka and Jigoro)

* {{Delinquents}} (Several show up at various times, Sudoh in particular)
* DisappearedDad (Yawara's father Kojiro has been off on a training journey since she was 5. Frequently turns into ParentalAbandonment as her mom is usually gone looking for him, but they have a normal relationship when she's home)
* DivingSave (Yawara does this to catch a kid who trips. And his ''ice cream cone'')
* DoesNotLikeMen (At least sometimes. Nanda joins the judo club in order to beat up the guys who keep dumping her)
* DoubleKnockout ([[spoiler: Sayaka and Kim]] both collapse from exhaustion after their practice match is over)
* DressesTheSame (Yawara and Sayaka meet near the changing room while trying on the same dress. Given Sayaka's normal buying habits, this is more than odd)
* DrowningMySorrows (Yawara does this once during what's supposed to be a celebratory dinner party. With rather expensive wine.)
* EarlyBirdCameo: That girl in the boat in episode #6? She'll be back MUCH later (somewhere around the mid 50s).
* EngagementChallenge (Subverted. Jigoro uses this on several of Yawara's suitors, but never intends to follow through)
* EvasiveFightThreadEpisode (Yawara's first match with [[spoiler:Jody Rockwell, although it does eventually get resolved]])
* EyeCatch (Courtesy of Jigoro with this sentence)

* {{Fangirl}} (Yawara in particular gets some of these)
* FightingSeries (Unusually, actual judo moves are involved here. This means Yawara isn't really learning new moves, but later on fights opponents that require [[MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours more than a quick Ippon Seoinage]])
* FirstKiss (Subverted. Yawara is expecting one of these, but Kazamatsuri is really just trying to figure out how skilled she is at judo)
* FiveManBand (A tournament judo squad has five members. When Fujiko goes recruiting to form a judo club at the college, she forms a classic set (plus Yawara))
* FlexibleTourneyRules (Averted in that standard judo tournament rules are used)

* FunbagAirbag ([[spoiler: Matsuda bumps into Yawara this way when he rushes out in his room]])
* GenerationXerox (Several characters in Jigoro's stories look similar to the present day counterpart)

* GirlPosse (Sayaka seems to attract these)
* {{Gonk}} (Toudou, although it is on purpose. She wants to weigh as much as possible since she practices power judo)

* HairDecorations (Yawara wears bands or ribbons frequently especially in tournament)

* HugeSchoolgirl (Played in an [[MissedTheCall unusual way]] with Fujiko)
* IJustWantToBeNormal (Yawara, most of the time)
* InstantFanClub (Lots of people try to join the judo team at Yawara's high school, until she [[TrainingFromHell scares them off]]. Sayaka gets a huge cheering section of her own as well)

* ItsACostumePartyISwear (Sayaka invites Yawara to a party, specifying casual attire while everyone else is in formal wear)
* ItsAllMyFault (Yawara blames herself for [[spoiler: throwing her father when she was five years old, leading to have [[BigScrewedUpFamily family problems]]. This is one of the main reasons why she wants to quit judo]])
* LateForSchool (Sayaka finds out that Yawara is a judo master when she tries to delay Yawara when Yawara is in a [[ApologeticAttacker hurry to get to school]])
* LingerieScene (Happens a few times to Yawara. This is a {{Seinen}} series, after all)
* LonelyRichKid (Sayaka, whose interest in sports seems to be largely sheer boredom. Somewhat unusually, she's far more interested in becoming TheRival than she is in becoming TrueCompanions.
* LookWhatICanDoNow (Subverted. [[spoiler:Sayaka tries this, and does become stronger during her training. Just not strong enough.]])
* LoveLetterLunacy (Parodied. Yawara writes a challenge letter to Sudoh, but has never written one before. The rather polite message makes Sudoh think it's a love letter)
* LoveTriangle (A few overlapping ones)
* MadLove (Kuniko towards Matsuda)
* MagicSkirt (Averted)
* MakeWayForThePrincess (Sayaka expects this when she visits Yawara's school, planning to challenge Yawara. However, she gets hit on and has to [[BadassNormal show her stuff]])
* ManlyTears (Hanazono)
* MartialArtsUniform (Yawara and most other judo practioners in her series wear judogi when practicing or participating in tournaments.)
* MeaningfulName (Yawara's name is the first character of 'judo'. Yes, it was on purpose. No, she doesn't like it.

* MiniatureSeniorCitizens (Jigoro)
* MiracleRally (Played straight, subverted, averted, lampshade and justified, all more than once. This series likes to play with this one)
* MomentKiller (More than once, to more than one pairing)
* MusclesAreMeaningless (Justified in that this is the whole point of Jigoro's [[MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours style of judo]], that skill beats pure strength. Lampshaded in most of the open weight class fights, since Yawara is in the extra lightweight class, but most of her opponents are heavyweights, so people comment on this frequently.)
* NervousWreck (Fujiko)
* NoblewomansLaugh (Sayaka)
* NoGuyWantsAnAmazon (One of the main reasons Yawara doesn't want to continue judo is her worry about this)
* NotWhatItLooksLike (Kuniko sets up a lot of these [[spoiler: to discourage Yawara]])
* OfficeLady (What Yawara becomes after she graduates from college)
* OfficialCouple [[spoiler:(Yawara/Matsuda and Sayaka/Kazamatsuri in the series finale.)]]
* OhCrap (Kazamatsuri, especially when [[spoiler:he deals about marriage with Sayaka]])
* {{Ojou}} (Sayaka)

* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou (Any number of Yawara's opponents)

* {{Paparazzi}} (Matsuda and Kumoda get stuck doing this when nothing more interesting is going on, and hate it)
* PantyShot (Yawara delivers a number of these, since something like wearing a skirt doesn't stop her from using judo. Her first real publicity involves one , as Kumoda gets a shot of her subduing a purse snatcher from... an angle that ''doesn't'' show her face. Oddly enough, Yawara never seems bothered about the picture making the front page of one of the sports papers.)
* ParentalAbandonment (Not complete, but Yawara's father has been [[DisappearedDad out on a training journey]] since she was five, and her mother is frequently out chasing rumors trying to find him)
* PornStash (Subverted in that when she discovers it, Yawara keeps cleaning like it isn't anything unusual. Matsuda is the one who panics)

* ThePromise (Yawara promises [[spoiler:to fight Jody Rockwell again in a tournament somewhere, the first time she actively agrees to a real tournament]])

* RichBitch (Sayaka, of course)
* TheRival (Played straight and subverted in Sayaka, who sees herself as one and is seriously frustrated when Yawara doesn't really think that way. Jigoro sets her up as a rival for Yawara in an attempt to [[GenreSavvy encourage Yawara's fighting spirit]]. [[spoiler:She does eventually become one, along with a number of world-class judo athletes from other countries]]).

* SaveOurTeam (Hanazano to both Jigoro and Yawara)

* ShipperOnDeck (Jody and Fujiko are supportive of Yawara/Matsuda)

* ShotgunWedding ([[spoiler: Fujiko and Hanazono]])
* ShowSomeLeg (Subverted in that Yawara isn't doing it intentionally, and in fact the only reason she wins the matches is because the guys she's fighting are so obviously attempting to sneak a peak that she gets creeped out and forgets her intention to lose quickly. Played straight with Miririn, who even gets disqualified from a match for it)
* ShrinkingViolet (Kyon-kyon, who joins the college judo club because she thinks it'll help her stand out more)
* SignedUpForTheDental ([[spoiler: Yawara takes a job at a travel agency for the travel discount, to help find her travelling father]])
* SpeedStripes (Some of Yawara's throws generate these)
* SpringtimeForHitler (Yawara tries to throw her first big public match to defuse the media attention she's getting. It doesn't work.)
* SquashMatch (Yawara is REALLY good, bordering on BoringInvincibleHero (ine) if she isn't distracted or facing one of the top 5 in the world, the other judoka is going to be looking at the ceiling quick. Her first tournament fight with [[spoiler:Sayaka...2 seconds.]])
* SurvivalMantra (Fujiko chants this mantra whenever she wants to concentrate on her movements or to calm herself[[spoiler:. She even says this when she's giving birth to her baby]])

* ThemeTuneCameo (In Episode 57, Jigoro sings the opening theme while he's in the bath)
* ThinkingOutLoud (Kazamatsuri)
* ThrowingDownTheGauntlet (Sayaka does this to Yawara... on ''national television'')
* TinyGuyHugeGirl (Jigoro and his wife Kaneko)
* ToplessnessFromTheBack (Subverted, in that Kazamatsuri is the one involved)
* TournamentArc (Lots of them, justified by the fact that the series largely involves modern professional judo, which is in a tournament format)
* TrainingFromHell (Justified. Olympic-class athletes train in a manner that qualifies as Training From Hell for the non-obsessed. Those in the series never quite reach CharlesAtlasSuperpower levels)
* TranslationConvention (We hear Kim's withering list of insults to Sayaka in Japanese. She's actually speaking Korean and the translator declines to repeat anything she says.)
* TrashOfTheTitans (Matsuda's apartment)
* TreeCover (Matsuda and Kamoda do this around few times to get the latest scoop from Yawara)
* TrustMeImAnX (Jigoro, who works as a bone-setting doctor)
* TruthInTelevision (Ryoko Tamura is a extra lightweight judo athlete with seven world championship gold medals and two Olympic gold medals. She won a silver medal in her first Olympic appearance; the same 1992 Barcelona Olympics that is Yawara's goal in the manga. She was even nicknamed "Yawara-chan" by the Japanese media)

* UnnecessaryRoughness (Subverted, in that Yawara's about the only one who thinks so. Even the main target of this argues that it's all part of the sport)
* VSign (Sayaka frequently shows this pose before the match. Jigoro, (like in the picture above) does this too whenever he wants to get attention)
* WhiteHairedPrettyGirl (Anna Teleshikova)
* WhoNeedsOvertime (Averted. Several matches run out of time, and go to decision)
* YouFightLikeACow (Sayaka and Tohdoh both get in trouble for this during a match)

'''Contains examples of the following tropes:'''

* SexyBack (Subverted, in that Kazamatsuri is the one involved)

* TrainingFromHell (Somewhat subverted and justified. Olympic-class athletes train in a manner that qualifies as Training From Hell for the non-obsessed. Those in the series never quite reach CharlesAtlasSuperpower levels)

* GenerationXerox (In Episode 90 and ''Jigoro!'' manga, several characters in Jigoro's flashback look similar to the present day counterpart)

* TreeCover (Matsuda and Kamodo do this around few times to get the latest scoop from Yawara)