Ikebukuro West Gate Park
He's a small-time thug with erectile dysfunction. She's the murdered girlfriend who inspires him to a bigger life of crime. Together, stalkers and rival gangs and sinister ballet!
Based on a violent, bizarre manga, I believe IWGP was Kudo Kankuro's first drama, and you can tell he was just flinging everything at the wall to see what stuck. Serial killers? Check! Sex changes? Sure! Bronzed middle-aged Japanese women beating police with their leather accessories? Why not!
Makoto is an honorable thug who helps the needy around his neighborhood.
Like pimps, rival gangs, murdered yakuza... you know, the real innocents.
When his girlfriend is found dead, Makoto becomes a sort of freelance investigator to find her killer -- when the local cops aren't trying to pump him for information -- or make deals -- or when the turf wars aren't causing trouble for his friends -- all of whom are shady enough to merit suspicion themselves -- where were they the night she died?
Life aint easy for a brooding woobie.
One of his interrogation techniques is to use the suspect's face for bowling practice:
He refuses to join any gangs, though, because that would be wrong.
And because he has kids who look up to his stellar example. If you've ever thought "hey, I've always wanted to see Yamapi the fifteen year old otaku who amuses himself by drawing pictures of dead women," then you're in luck!
Sakaguchi Kenji as the pierced drug-peddling doberman. Yes.
TEAM MEDICAL DRAGON'S SHADY GANGSTER PAST. Makoto's best friend is the local gang leader, a skinny little bleached weirdo who can fuck your shit up.
He really wants Makoto in his gang, a desire he conveys wet and half-naked:
Literally?
Yeah, probably literally.
Too bad Makoto has a... delicate problem.
Try as he might --
And he does try --
A lot --
Nature continues to defy him.
At least until his girlfriend throws him down, climbs on top, grips his hair and insults his masculinity. Turns out his equipment isn't broken, it's just that no one was seducing him right!
Sorry, Takashi. He likes it rough.
Now you're learning!
Remember, he has to be on bottom or he can't get it up. Bwahaha.
Bondage!
Feathery death!
Tasteful art!
Streaking!
The interpretative dance of doom!
Transgender ex-classmates with stalked camgirl love interests!
Nagase Tomoya's face!
And so, so much violence. (You can gauge the seriousness by the multiple exclamation points.)
Resistance is futile.