Ikebukuro West Gate Park, which became famous as a TV drama series, is based on a short story written by Ishida Ira and won the 36th All Yomimono Mystery Novel Newcomer Award. This work, which has been developed in many ways including novels, TV dramas, comics, and stage plays, deals with various social issues and is characterized by many stories that refer to actual events. It has also been decided that it will be made into an anime in July 2020, and IWGP will once again attract attention. In this article, we will introduce the final episode of the TV drama, "The Warrior's Episode." The screenplay for the TV drama version was written by Kudo Kankuro, and the chief director was Tsutsumi Yukihiko. In this article, we will introduce the special episode "The Soup Episode," which aired about three years after the end of the drama series.
IWGP returns after about three years
"Ikebukuro West Gate Park", which aired from April to June 2000 with a total of eleven episodes, was rebroadcast in a late-night slot due to the fact that many people said they wanted to see it again and that it contained some extreme scenes.
Even after the broadcast, there were many fans, and since the original work was still being serialized, a special episode, "The Soup Episode", was broadcast in March 2003 to meet the expectations of many fans.
The subtitle is "More revolution in the drama! The legendary guys are back in a big incident that shakes up the bookstore! A miraculous reunion tonight! The strongest legend of the bookstore."
This episode is based on the original "Honeoto" and "Higashiguchi Ramen Line." The soup in "Soup Episode" is Special → SPECIAL → SP → Soup, and it seems to be inspired by the ramen soup that appears in the story.
Afterstory for IWGP fans
The story is set three years after the conflict between the G Boys and the Black Angels, and has a stronger gag and comedy element than the main story.
The main story is about solving a homeless attack, but there are also many sub-stories, such as a ramen war between the G Boys and the Black Angels, Masa impersonating Makoto, and Makoto's father appearing. Also, since it's a special show, the guest actors are also very impressive.
The fusion band RISE appears under their real names!
The first thing that surprised me was that the tickets Masa gave me were used to go to a concert, and it was a RISE concert, and the members' names were shown as they were! There was no dialogue in the concert scenes, so you could just enjoy the concert.
Even after this live performance, each member will continue to play an important role in the story and interact with Makoto and the others.
A homeless man?!
Ken Yokoyama of Crazy Band appears as Makoto's father, but he appears as a homeless man.
He wears a white hat, a coat with fur, and sunglasses, and I don't think there's a homeless man like that (lol)
He sings "Iine!" many times in the story. He also sings the chorus of "Tiger & Dragon".
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Kisarazu Cat's Eye is also here! !
While chasing the Black Angels, Masa and his friends encounter members of Kisarazu Cat's Eye dressed in black! !
The master says, "Hey, doesn't that look a lot like me?" and runs away. It's a friendly appearance. This Kudokan collaboration was a great scene for fans.
Reunion with Hikaru
Makoto calls Hikaru every month on the 22nd, the anniversary of the day they started dating. (Hikaru gets mad if he doesn't call her...)
When Makoto and Masa are at a bookstore, he calls Hikaru as soon as he realizes that today is the 22nd. Then, he hears the ringtone "String Serenade" from nearby...
When he looks over, he sees a sign for "Shibusawa Mitsuko Autograph Session"?! It was a surprising development, but during the break, Makoto and Hikaru spend some time together at a coffee shop.
Hikaru started writing as part of his rehabilitation after being encouraged by a counselor, and caught the eye of an editor, and is now a very popular author. The story is mainly about his father, and it seems he has completely overcome his trauma.
As you can tell from the titles of the trilogy of novels "Tiger", "Horse", and "Makoto", it makes me think that he really wants to write about Makoto!
His words as he leaves, "Mako-chan, let's play next time! Like before", could be interpreted as meaning that he is no longer the same as he was before, and also suggesting that Makoto hasn't changed at all.
Kazunori becomes the manager of the internet cafe
Makoto visits Kazunori to get him to look up information on Sly. Kazunori has returned to his super long hair and is now the manager of the internet cafe.
The reclusive Kazunori has become an information broker and is now working well as a manager... It was worth taking Makoto out!
While listening to the information, Makoto tries to listen to an MD, so he puts it in the CD section and then the cassette section. "You did that on purpose, right?" Kazunori can't help but say it.
As expected, it was this guy at the end!!
I thought Takashi wouldn't appear at all this time, but he ended up doing something cool.
The audience told him that the sound of RISE was the sound of human bones being broken, but he wanted them to hurry up. Makoto was so angry that he tried to break his own arm with a hammer, telling them to just put up with the sound of his own bones.
Makoto is cool, but it looks painful. Makoto says he got scared and dodged it, and is determined to break it next time, when suddenly Takashi appears and says, "I'll break it!".
"When it's time to decide, it'll be Bukuro style!" he says, and as soon as the countdown begins, he swings the hammer down, shattering the bone.
The audience falls silent at the sight and the sheer gruesomeness of the sound, and the situation is resolved. At the end of the episode, Makoto reveals that his arm is not broken. Takashi has hidden a pork bone in his arm and smashed it open.
Takashi resolves the situation without breaking the arm, he really is the King of Bukuro!
Summary of the TV drama special "Soup Episode"
What did you think?
This work has a strong fan disc element for IWGP fans, so I recommend watching it after you've finished the main story!
It has a strong comedy element, and I think the main story is more interesting in terms of the scenario.
However, as a fan, I'm very happy that there is an after story.