Katsuya Jonouchi (Toei)

This article decribes Katsuya Jonouchi as he appeared in Toei Animation's Yu-Gi-Oh! series. The anime was only ever oficially released in Japanaese, so this page uses Japanese version names.

The first series anime is based on volumes 1 to 7 of the manga.

History
Jonouchi and his sister, Shizuka, were separated when their parents divorced. Shizuka was brought by her mother while Joey lived with his father. Jonouchi lived in poverty, due to his father's gambling addictions and alcoholism.

Jonouchi became a street thug and hung out in Hirutani's gang for long periods of time when he is in middle school. He often got into fights and developed great fighting skills. He also hung out with Hiroto Honda, who was not in Hirutani's gang.

Becoming friends with Yugi
Jonouchi used to bully Yugi at school. He went as far as taking a piece of Yugi's Millennium Puzzle and throwing it in a canal. Ushio suspected that Honda and Jonouchi were bullying Yugi and anointed himself as Yugi's bodyguard. He beat-up Jonouchi and Honda, contrary to what Yugi wanted.

Later that day, Jonouchi recovered the piece from the canal, since Yugi stuck up for him earlier. He heard Yugi getting attacked by Ushio. He and Honda dashed over to Yugi. Jonouchi gave Yugi the last piece and he and Honda proceeded to attack Ushio, only to get beaten-up themselves.

Early storylines
Jonouchi noticed how Anzu was acting odd, after avoiding walking home with them a few days. He initially assumes she's dating older men for pay. Miho Nosaka and later Honda investigated by followed Anzu home. Seeing them leave with Anzu the next two days, Jonouchi and Yugi followed the three of them, finding they had all gotten jobs at Burger World. There were two escaped convicts and Jonouchi assisted in identifying the first, by checking the customer's legs for a calf wound after they spilled a basket of toy cards, pretending it was an accident.