WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Episode 9 of Ikebukuro West Gate Park, "Hatred on Parade," now streaming on Funimation.
The episodic nature of Ikebukuro West Gate Park's storytelling was a little puzzling at first; seemingly disparate storylines felt more slice-of-life than anything else. It's often felt like the only thing really connecting the episodes is the setting, Ikebukuro -- hence the anime's name. As the weeks have gone by, however, the series has proved it can have a cohesive and substantial story with a beginning, middle and end. Episode 9 is the best example yet -- tying the plot together by bringing back past characters, one of which goes all the way back to Episode 1.
Foreign Shopkeepers Are Unwelcome in Japan
In protest of the large number of foreigners coming to Japan to work, a group called Citizens for Removing All Foreigners from Our Native Japan (CRF) organizes a demonstration, demanding that Asian immigrants be deported back to their own countries. Makoto and the G-Boys are hired by another group called Our Association Against Hate Speech and Ethnic Discrimination (AHE) to be bodyguards, worrying that things may get out of hand with some AHE members thinking that violence is the answer.
Guo, Makoto's adopted sister, and recent Japanese citizen, introduces Makoto to a local Chinese restaurant owner of Ikebukuro Paradise building who recently endured harassment despite living in Japan for years. As Guo and Makoto walk home, Guo is understandably shaken but reassures him that everyone at her workplace is nice. However, she's sad that although she is now a Japanese citizen, she can never change the fact that she's Chinese, meaning that she'll always be subject to harassment and will not always be welcome.
Makoto meets a former café owner whose establishment caught on fire a while ago. When Makoto tries to probe him, the café owner instantly gets tense and asks him to leave. Needing some help, Makoto meets up with Lin who tells him that a Beijing fund company is behind the redevelopment of Ikebukuro Paradise and a Japanese realty company called Empire Realty is getting support in its plans to tear down Ikebukuro Paradise and rebuild a new one.
Ikebukuro Paradise Burns
Suddenly, Ikebukuro Paradise catches on fire. Everything seems to be pointing at arson and the CRF. Makoto, Takashi and another member of the AHE confront the CRF's representative who strongly denies it. None of it seems to connect.
The café owner returns to see Makoto and filled with guilt, he decides to confess. Years ago, he was harassed so badly by a company called Tokutomi Industries that he was forced out. Makoto catches sight of a familiar name on the memorandum: Tsukamoto, the sponsor of the CRF. It turns out the CRF demonstration was only a cover for land sharking.
How North Gate Smoke Tower
The CRF holds the parade with the AHE marching on the other side. Tsukamoto and a few thugs come bursting out to attack in a last-ditch effort but, thanks to Makoto, Shadow materializes out of nowhere and immediately incapacitates everyone.
Lin tells Makoto, Takashi and Guo that the Beijing firm was exposed for corruption and Tsukamoto felt he cornered enough to attack. Although he's arrested, there's something even more worrisome going behind the scenes: Empire Realty was being supported by a Kansai organization, who is also abetting Donglong. The Kansai organization prizes helping those in tight spots and wants to expand its influence in Ikebukuro. Makoto suddenly remembers that there was someone from the North Gate Smoke Tower, in Episode 1, who had a Kansai accent. Ikebukuro might has been under watchful eyes far longer than they imagined.
Takashi mentions that one of the appealing things in Ikebukuro is that although it has changed a lot, the one constant is that there's a prevalent sense of community. With this new Kansai organization eyeing Ikebukuro, that atmosphere of peace and safety are being threatened. It looks like we'll have to see what Makoto and Takashi are willing do to protect everything that Ikebukuro stands for.
