Review of Ikebukuro West Gate Park

This is one of those shows I gave a try on a whim, just to give something a try. I wasn't sure what I'd make of it. Turns out, the answer to that is quite a lot. Conceptually, this is pretty simple. It's a show about gangs in Ikebukuro, a guy working as a troubleshooter doing his best to keep the peace, and solving the various problems that get pointed at him on a regular basis. There's plenty of fun to be had with this premise. Think 'Durarara!!' without any of the fantastical aspects. And those parts are well done. Ikebukuro feels like a well-fleshed outsetting, with the titular park being a great central location, and the other recurring settings feeling lived-in and distinct. The two main gangs we see both feel like they have some substance to them, we get to know a handful of members of each, and generally find everyone interesting and likeable. The two leaders, Takashi and Kyoichi, feel unique and distinct, and both the mutual frustration and respect they have for each other is really compelling.
And, of course, there's our protagonist Makoto, the man who stands in the middle of all of it and makes sure it doesn't blow up in everyone's faces. He's perhaps not the most unique protagonist in the world, but he still fits the bill perfectly; charming, caring, a little awkward, but incredibly smart in the ways he needs to be, always coming to the best solution to any problem. It doesn't always quite go to plan, but he makes the best out of bad situations and always comes out on top.

With all of that, there's a clear and simple show that comes out of it, which is, in a lot of ways, more or less what you'd expect. But, as I watched it, I found something sitting under the surface, and I find it absolutely fascinating.
Because this show, about the grimy world of crime, about gangs and con-artists and hitmen, manages to be one of the most wonderfully kind-hearted shows I've seen in a very long time.

I know that sounds ridiculous, but, honestly, what this show is about, more than anything else, is empathy. That's probably the key thing that I tactically ignored that makes Makoto the protagonist he is; a deep sense of wanting to understand people, and an acceptance of who they are. Through that, the show engages with a variety of social issues; immigrant workers' rights, the difficulties of single parenting, far-right nationalism, as well as taking a nuanced look at themes of justice and crime and forgiveness; hell, it even takes time at one point to specifically state the validity of sex work as a form of legitimate labour. It's a small thing, but I don't think I've ever seen that in an anime before. Maybe not a TV show

And what all of this gives us is a show that is deeply invested in some really important ideas; be curious about people, do what you can to learn about them, and there are no misunderstandings that can't be cleared up. This show about small-time gangs is about empathy, and about the importance of seeing things from someone else's perspective, about learning to accept others for what they are and learning to live in community together. To make a show about criminals, about people at the fringes of society who don't always behave in ways we can entirely approve of, and to make it about the reality that humans are so much more than 'good' or 'evil', that even hardened street thugs can be people you can understand and accept... It's the sort of story you don't see often. It's certainly not the story I was expecting.

Honestly, I think that this messy show about messy people living messy lives is, in its own way, kind of radical. And it's the sort of show I want to see more often.