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Ikebukuro West Gate Park (TV Series)
was a popular Japanese television drama by screenwriter Kankuro Kudo. Based on a novel by Ira Ishida, it initially aired on the Tokyo Broadcasting System during the summer of 2000, and was directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi. The success of the television series would launch a '' manga'' adaptation the following year. In a break from traditional Japanese programming, the series used edgy graphics and scene breaks to highlight a story involving themes drawn from the underbelly of modern Japanese society: hip-hop youth gang warfare, juvenile delinquency, prostitution, drug abuse, the Yakuza, rape and murder. Notable among the cast are Tokio lead singer Tomoya Nagase, film star Ken Watanabe, and future stars Koyuki, Satoshi Tsumabuki, and Tomohisa Yamashita of Johnny's Jimusho idol group NEWS. The series is also credited for raising the profile of actor Yōsuke Kubozuka. Summary Twenty-one-year-old Makoto, the former #1 ''waru'' of Ikebukuro in his high school years, hangs out ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kankurō Kudō
is a Japanese screenwriter, dramatist, director, actor and member of the theater company ''Otona Keikaku''. He won the 'Best Screenplay' award at the 2002 Japanese Academy Awards for '' Go'', which explores problems faced by people of Korean-heritage living in Japan. He acted in ''Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World'', and is also guitarist in the Japanese Comedy Rock Band Group Tamashii. Selected filmography Director *''Mayonaka no Yaji-san Kita-san'' (2005) *'' Shonen Merikensack'' (2008) Writer (Movie Screenplays) *'' Go'' (2001) *''Ping Pong'' (2002) *''Drugstore Girl'' (2003) *'' Iden & Tity'' (2003) *'' Kisarazu Cat's Eye: Japan Series'' (2003) *'' 69'' (2004) *''Zebraman'' (2004) *''Mayonaka no Yaji-san Kita-san'' (2005) *'' Kisarazu Cat's Eye: World Series'' (2006) *''Maiko Haaaan!!!'' (2007) *'' Shonen Merikensack'' (2008) *'' Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City'' (2010) *'' Too Young To Die! (2016) Writer (Television) * ''Ikebukuro West Gate Park'' (2000) * '' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yakuza
, also known as , are members of transnational organized crime syndicates originating in Japan. The Japanese police and media, by request of the police, call them , while the ''yakuza'' call themselves . The English equivalent for the term ''yakuza'' is gangster, meaning an individual involved in a Mafia-like criminal organization. The ''yakuza'' are known for their strict codes of conduct, their organized fiefdom nature and several unconventional ritual practices such as ''yubitsume'' or amputation of the left little finger. Members are often portrayed as males, wearing "sharp suits" with heavily tattooed bodies and slicked hair. This group is still regarded as being among "the most sophisticated and wealthiest criminal organizations". At their height, the ''yakuza'' maintained a large presence in the Japanese media and operated internationally. At their peak in the early 1960s, police estimated that the ''yakuza'' had a membership of more than 200,000."Police of Japan 2 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hostess Club
A hostess club is a type of night club found primarily in Japan. They employ primarily female staff and cater to men seeking drinks and attentive conversation. The modern host club is a similar type of establishment where primarily male staff attend to women. Host and hostess clubs are considered part of ''mizu shōbai'' (literally "water trade"), the night-time entertainment business in Japan. Hostess clubs Japan In Japan, two types of bars are hostess clubs: , a portmanteau of ; and . Kyabakura hostesses are known as (''cabaret girl''), and many use professional names, called . They light cigarettes, provide beverages for men, offer flirtatious conversation, and sing karaoke to entertain customers. They can be seen as the modern counterpart of geishas, providing entertainment to groups of salarymen after work. The clubs also often employ a female bartender usually well-trained in mixology, and who may also be the manager or ''mamasan''. Hostess clubs are distinguished from st ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
