Ikebukuro West Gate Park (2000)
A gritty, stylish Japanese crime drama set in Tokyo's most notorious neighborhood, where one young man keeps the peace by any means necessary.
Ikebukuro West Gate Park - Series Information
- Original Title: 池袋ウエストゲートパーク
- First Air Year: 2000
- Last Air Year: 2000
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, Crime, Comedy, Action, Adventure, Mystery
- Content Rating (US): TV-MA
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 46 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 11
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- First Air Date: April 14, 2000 (United States - TV-MA), April 14, 2000 (United Kingdom - 15), April 14, 2000 (Brazil - 16), April 14, 2000 (South Korea - 19)
- Networks: TBS
- Alternative Titles: Ikebukuro West Gate Park (KR), 池袋ウエストゲートパーク：2000 (JP), Ikebukuro West Gate Park (US), 池袋西口公园 (CN)
- Production Companies: TBS, TBS HOLDINGS, Office Crescendo
- Production Countries: Japan
Ikebukuro West Gate Park - Plot
Living in Ikebukuro — an area infamous for juvenile crime, 21-year-old Makoto Majima becomes associated with a youth gang called the G-Boys. A troubleshooter known for his cool headedness and ability to get things done, Makoto diffuses tense situations around Ikebukuro to keep his friends and others out of harm's way. However, the mysterious death of his girlfriend and an escalating gang turf war threaten to be more than Makoto can handle.
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Ikebukuro West Gate Park - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- Tomoya Nagase
- Ai Kato
- Ken Watanabe
- Yosuke Kubozuka
- Ryuta Sato
- Aiko Morishita
- Kenji Sakaguchi
- Tomohisa Yamashita
- Kitaro
- Satoshi Tsumabuki
Ikebukuro West Gate Park - FAQs
Where can you stream Ikebukuro West Gate Park?
Ikebukuro West Gate Park is available to stream on Netflix. It is one of the platform's curated selections of classic Japanese drama series, making it accessible to international audiences who want to explore early 2000s Japanese television.
Is Ikebukuro West Gate Park based on a true story?
No, Ikebukuro West Gate Park is not based on a true story. It is adapted from a series of young adult novels by Ira Ishida, first published in 1998. The story is fictional, though it draws on the real atmosphere and street culture of Tokyo's Ikebukuro district.
Who plays the lead role in Ikebukuro West Gate Park?
Tomoya Nagase plays Makoto Majima, the cool-headed troubleshooter at the center of the story. The ensemble cast also includes Ken Watanabe, Yosuke Kubozuka, Ai Kato, Ryuta Sato, Satoshi Tsumabuki, and Tomohisa Yamashita in key supporting roles.
What is Ikebukuro West Gate Park about?
The series follows Makoto Majima, a 21-year-old living in Ikebukuro — a Tokyo neighborhood notorious for juvenile crime. Affiliated with the G-Boys gang, Makoto acts as a street-level problem solver, but faces his greatest challenge when his girlfriend dies mysteriously and a brutal gang war erupts.
Did Ikebukuro West Gate Park launch Ken Watanabe's career?
Ken Watanabe was already an established stage and television actor in Japan before Ikebukuro West Gate Park aired in 2000. However, the series raised his profile further. He went on to achieve global recognition with his Oscar-nominated performance in The Last Samurai (2003) just a few years later.
How many episodes does Ikebukuro West Gate Park have?
Ikebukuro West Gate Park consists of 11 episodes across its single season, which aired in 2000. There is also one additional special episode included in Season 0. Each episode runs approximately 46 minutes, making the series a compact but complete viewing experience.
When did Ikebukuro West Gate Park first air?
Ikebukuro West Gate Park first aired on April 14, 2000, on the Japanese network TBS. The series concluded the same year, making it a single-season drama. It has since been made available internationally through streaming platforms including Netflix.
Is Ikebukuro West Gate Park worth watching today?
Ikebukuro West Gate Park is widely regarded as a landmark of Japanese television drama. Critics and fans praise its sharp writing, charismatic performances, and gritty yet stylish portrayal of Tokyo street life. For viewers interested in Japanese crime drama or early 2000s J-drama classics, it remains essential viewing.
More About Ikebukuro West Gate Park
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