Ikebukuro West Gate Park

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Ikebukuro West Gate Park
池袋ウエストゲートパーク
Novel series
Written by
Bungeishunju
Original runSeptember 1998 – present
Volumes19
Manga
Written by
Digital Manga Publishing
MagazineYoung Champion
DemographicSeinen
Original runJuly 2001November 25, 2004
Volumes4
Manga
IWGP: Denshi no Hoshi
Written byMasashi Asaki
Published byKodansha
MagazineWeekly Shōnen Magazine
DemographicShōnen
PublishedNovember 28, 2003
Volumes1
Manga
Ikebukuro West Gate Park R
Written byIra Ishida
Illustrated bySena Aritō
Published byAkita Shoten
MagazineYoung Champion
DemographicSeinen
PublishedOctober 20, 2008
Volumes1
Anime television series
Directed byTomoaki Koshida
Written byFumihiko Shimo
Music by
  • Daijirō Nakagawa
  • Ryūichi Takada
StudioDoga Kobo
Licensed byFunimation
Original networkAT-X, Tokyo MX, Sun TV, KBS, BS11
Original run October 6, 2020 December 22, 2020
Episodes12 (List of episodes)
Television drama

Ikebukuro West Gate Park (池袋ウエストゲートパーク), usually referred to by its initials IWGP, is a series of urban mystery novels by Ira Ishida. It was adapted into a drama television series directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi. The television drama then got a manga adaptation. An anime television series adaptation of the original novel by Doga Kobo aired from October to December 2020.

Plot

The series revolves around 20-year-old Makoto, who frequently gets involved in highly dangerous situations, usually against his own judgment.

Characters

Makoto Majima (真島誠, Majima Makoto)
Voiced by: Kentarō Kumagai[1] (Japanese); Griffin Puatu[2] (English)
A 20 year old punk, Makoto loves to cut loose and pick up chicks. He is very charismatic, and is frequently approached by people who need help in desperate situations. Makoto has a vengeful side, which is seen after his girlfriend, Rika, was brutally murdered by an unknown assailant. Makoto also has school ties with the leader of the local gang, G Boys, and can call on him for help if he truly needs it. Raised in a single parent household, Makoto's mother runs a local fruit shop, and frequently uses and abuses him to watch the store.
TV Version: In the TV version Makoto is very similar to his manga counterpart. He is more fleshed out in the TV version. He frequently cons people into losing bets at one of the local bowling alleys, and also becomes an unofficial member of the G Boys. Makoto also falls for a girl that his mother hires for part-time help, a character that only appears in the TV series.
Rika Nakamura (中村リカ, Nakamura Rika)
Rika is Makoto's girlfriend and is a typical teenage ganguro. They first met at the fountain at IWGP, although there are some slight differences between the manga and the TV versions. Rika would sell herself for money, and was found strangled in a motel after a botched meeting.
TV Version: In the TV version Rika is more demanding, and is described by Hikaru as a person who will use other people in order to get what they want.
Hikaru Shibusawa (渋沢光, Shibusawa Hikaru)
Rika's best friend, Hikaru, is the more innocent seeming of the two, although she hides a horribly tragic past and a terrifying secret. In the TV series, she is much more forward in her attraction towards Makoto, whereas she is less so in the manga. Hikaru's real name is Hikariko (光子), although she has a deep loathing of the name.
TV Version: In the TV version Hikaru is less innocent than her manga counterpart, and is also incredibly jealous of any female attention Makoto receives, even when it is obvious that it is not romantically inclined. Hikaru's actions are also more erratic in the series, and at times her actions will push Makoto farther away than she'd like. When Yamai starts following her, Takashi posts guards around her.

Takashi Ando (安藤崇, Ando Takashi) (G Boys King)

Voiced by:
Kōki Uchiyama[1] (Japanese); Howard Wang[2]
(English)
An old school-mate of Makoto's, Takashi is the leader of the G Boys, a local gang. He frequently comes off as goofy or playful, but that hides his true personality as a ruthless leader who will do anything to meet his own needs. He frequently comes to Makoto's aid whenever it is needed, but will not hesitate to ask for favors in return.
TV Version: In the TV version Takashi has an older girlfriend named Jessie, who is almost always at his side. Takashi is more ruthless in the TV series, and has more of a role than in the manga. Surprisingly, he is very anti-drug and refuses to allow any of his gang members to purchase or use drugs, (although he did allow one member to purchase drugs in order to flush out a drug pusher.)
Shun Mizuno (水野シュン, Mizuno Shun)
A young artist, Shun first meets Makoto and Masa while he is shoplifting in a local bookstore. Shy and quiet, Shun craves the approval of Makoto and his friends, and breaks laws just to fit in.
TV Version: In the TV version Shun is quieter and has less of a role. Since Hikaru is present at the time of the Chiaki incident, she is the one who purchases the drugs instead of Shun. Also, Makoto and Masa first meet Shun as he is shoplifting at a bookstore, and he actually steals a local landmark later in order to impress them.
Masa Mori (森マサ, Mori Masa)
Makoto's best friend and a would-be ladies man. He often tries (with not much success) to hit on girls, but most often spends his time with Makoto.
TV Version: In the TV version Masa has a part-time job at one of the local bowling alleys, where he and Makoto often scam people out of their money.
Yamai (山井武士)
Yamai was formerly an old schoolmate of Makoto and Takashi, and had even challenged Takashi to a fight. He is best known for killing a blood thirsty
doberman
at the request of a group of schoolmates. Yamai kidnaps Hikaru, with his only explanation being that she "is just like him".
TV Version: In the TV version Yamai temporarily joins the G Boys, and tries to sell drugs in order to incriminate Takashi. When Takashi discovers this, he cuts off Yamai's finger and throws him out of the G Boys.
Kyōichi (キョウイチ)
Voiced by: Reiō Tsuchida[1] (Japanese); Billy Kametz[2] (English)
Masaru Taniguchi (谷口マサル, Taniguchi Masaru)
Voiced by: Chiaki Kobayashi[3]
Mitsuki Fujimoto (藤本ミツキ, Fujimoto Mitsuki)
Voiced by: Ayumu Murase[3] (Japanese); Justin Briner[2] (English)
Minoru Tamotsu (ミノル・タモツ, Tamotsu Minoru)
Voiced by: Tarusuke Shingaki[3]
Kurō (クロウ)
Voiced by: Kensho Ono[3]
Saru (サル)
Voiced by: Ryōhei Kimura[3]
Zero-One (ゼロワン, Zero Wan)
Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe[3] (Japanese); Anthony Bowling[2] (English)
Shadow (シャドウ, Shadō)
Voiced by: Kenjiro Tsuda[3]
Reiichirō Yokoyama (横山礼一郎, Yokoyama Reiichirō)
Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai[3] (Japanese); Daman Mills[2] (English)
Yoshioka (吉岡, Yoshioka)
Voiced by: Nobuyuki Hiyama[3] (Japanese); Brook Chalmers[2] (English)
Makoto's mother (マコトの母, Makoto no Haha)
Voiced by: Yūko Kaida[3]

Media

Novel

Drama series

Manga

Anime

On September 2, 2019, it was announced that the novel series would receive an

AnimeLab in Australia and New Zealand.[6] The series ran for 12 episodes.[7]

On September 12, 2021, Funimation announced the series would receive an English dub, which premiered the following day.[2]

No.Title [8][a]Directed by [8]Written by [8]Original air date
1"North Gate Smoke Tower"
Transliteration: "Kitaguchi Sumōku Tawā" (Japanese: 北口スモークタワー)
Tomoaki KoshidaFumihiko ShimoOctober 6, 2020 (2020-10-06)
2"Nishi Ichibangai Shady Job"
Transliteration: "Nishī Ichibangai Burakku Baito" (Japanese: 西一番街ブラックバイト)
Hiroshi HaraguchiFumihiko ShimoOctober 13, 2020 (2020-10-13)
3"ZettaMovier @ Metropolitan Theater"
Transliteration: "Zetamūbā @ Geijutsu Gekijō" (Japanese: ゼタムーバー@芸術劇場)
Kim Sung-minFumihiko ShimoOctober 20, 2020 (2020-10-20)
4"Waltz for Baby"
Transliteration: "Warutsu Fō Bebī" (Japanese: ワルツ・フォー・ベビー)
Akira TobaTomoaki KoshidaOctober 27, 2020 (2020-10-27)
5"Dragon Tears"
Transliteration: "Doragon Tiāzu" (Japanese: ドラゴン・ティアーズ)
Hodaka KuramotoMasashi SogoNovember 3, 2020 (2020-11-03)
6"G-Boys Winter War, Part 1"
Transliteration: "G-Bōizu Fuyu Sensō Zenpen" (Japanese: Gボーイズ冬戦争・前編)
Midori YuiMasashi SogoNovember 10, 2020 (2020-11-10)
7"G-Boys Winter War, Part 2"
Transliteration: "G-Bōizu Fuyu Sensō Kōhen" (Japanese: Gボーイズ冬戦争・後編)
Hiroshi HaraguchiMasashi SogoNovember 17, 2020 (2020-11-17)
8"Senkawa Fall Out Mother"
Transliteration: "Senkawa Fōru Auto Mazā" (Japanese: 千川フォールアウト・マザー)
Kim Sung-minMasashi SogoNovember 24, 2020 (2020-11-24)
9"Hatred on Parade"
Transliteration: "Zōo no Parēdo" (Japanese: 憎悪のパレード)
Kazuki KawagoeFumihiko ShimoDecember 1, 2020 (2020-12-01)
10"Beastly Reunion"
Transliteration: "Yajū to Riyunion" (Japanese: 野獣とリユニオン)
  • Midori Yui
  • Tomoaki Koshida
Masashi SogoDecember 8, 2020 (2020-12-08)
11"Sunshine Street Civil War, Part 1"
Transliteration: "Sanshain-dōri Shibiru Wō Zenpen" (Japanese: サンシャイン通り内戦(シビルウォー)・前編)
Akira TobaFumihiko ShimoDecember 15, 2020 (2020-12-15)
12"Sunshine Street Civil War, Part 2"
Transliteration: "Sanshain-dōri Shiviru Wō Kōhen" (Japanese: サンシャイン通り内戦(シヴィルウォー)・後編)
Tomoaki KoshidaFumihiko ShimoDecember 22, 2020 (2020-12-22)

Notes

  1. ^ All English titles are taken from Funimation.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Ikebukuro West Gate Park Anime Reveals Cast, Staff". Anime News Network. March 24, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Friedman, Nicholas (September 12, 2021). "Ikebukuro West Gate Park English Dub Announced, Cast & Crew Revealed". Funimation. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Ikebukuro West Gate Park Anime's 2nd Subtitled Video Reveals More Cast & Staff, Song Info, October 6 Debut". Anime News Network. September 4, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  4. ^ "Ikebukuro West Gate Park Mystery Novels Get 2020 TV Anime". Anime News Network. September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  5. ^ "Ikebukuro West Gate Park TV Anime Delayed to October Due to COVID-19". Anime News Network. June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  6. ^ Friedman, Nicholas (July 3, 2020). "Meet the G-Boys In Ikebukuro West Gate Park, Coming to Funimation This Fall". Funimation. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  7. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (October 8, 2020). "6 More Fall Season Anime Reveal Episode Counts". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "Story". iwgp-anime.com (in Japanese). Retrieved October 6, 2020.

External links