Is AKIRA coming true in 2025? BIKER GANGS return to streets of Japan

[@chidsta]

This video is so extremely well researched and put together perfectly. I've been on KZbin for nearly 2 decades and your material is one of the best. (Before this I watched your video about why France loves One Piece and I never thought about it before but you are absolutely right!) I don't know much about Bosozuku themed films but I have read a lot of Furyo manga growing up, it was definitely my favourite genre. Have you read Chameleon by 加瀬 あつし? Its a hilarious story about a chancer who blags his way to the top of a Bosozoku gang. I learnt all the bad phrases in Japanese there much to my horrified mother when I practiced them! Haha!! There have been hobby-bosozoku all along, you can hear them on the long stretches of motorway if you live in the inaka, late at night/early morning.

[@ArchieTalksAnime]

Wow, thank you so much, that really means a lot! I’m glad you enjoyed both videos! And thank you for sharing what you know about bōsōzoku, I’ve learned even more about this fascinating subculture since I made the video, mainly thanks to people like yourself. It’s interesting that it takes place a lot in the inaka, but I guess there are lots of open space for them to ride. I had never heard of Chameleon but I just looked it up and it looks so cool, I love the art style! I’m going to check it out (maybe I’ll learn some bad phrases that I don’t already know haha). Thanks for the recommendation!!

[@AYVYN]

I wasn’t expecting such a great video, with included historical context. Some of the clips do make me miss being a reckless teenager haha

[@ArchieTalksAnime]

Thanks a lot, I’m glad you enjoyed it! Haha I know what you mean, I’ve never had a motorbike myself but I love riding scooters, the feeling of freedom when you’re out on the open road is second to none!

[@chad_dogedoge]

Most of the biker gang and gangs in post ww2 era are former ww2 soldier , they are really tough guy. I don't think gen-z can match the toughness of those people.

[@ArchieTalksAnime]

That’s very interesting, thanks for sharing! So it seems like the older gang members are still legit and not to be messed with? I guess the younger ones are more into the fashion and image rather than the lifestyle.

[@kyacchi3416]

Nice video, you deserve a lot more subs

[@ArchieTalksAnime]

Thank you so much, I’m glad you enjoyed it! I appreciate your support (on my other videos too 🙂).

[@CaptainPetrov]

Another reason to visit Japan!

[@fonzomatic2]

Awesome video! I had no idea that one of the bands I listen to (Godspeed You! Black Emperor) got the name from a biker gang

[@ArchieTalksAnime]

Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it! Yeah I almost mentioned the band in the video but I couldn’t find a good way to segue into it 😅 great band though, one of a kind

[@djsight]

Those kids met the final boss of Double Dragon.

[@thehive7571]

Visited Japan about two months ago was in the middle of Tokyo where the giant crossing is like 100 bikes came through like sports bikes and some of them were arguing with each other and they split up in a different ways so made me think biker gang then after that to Tokyo police went after each group

[@ArchieTalksAnime]

That’s interesting, it seems like the scene is very much alive in Tokyo, even if they’re not as violent as they used to be!

[@RobDeMann]

Thank you for speaking about this! I visited Japan about half a year ago and it’s cool to learn more about the history of these events

[@JS-oi5jt]

Kamikaze Girls was an interesting bosozoku movie

[@ArchieTalksAnime]

From 2004 right? I came across this when I was researching the video but I haven’t gotten around to watching it yet, I hope it’s still on Prime! Is it funny? It ticks a lot of boxes for me. Bad ass Japanese bikers + French fashion = a good time!

[@themagickalmagickman]

Great Teacher Onizuka is similar in many ways, amazing series

[@pagesegovia2026]

Lol the difference in "crime" of first world Asia as compared to the rest of it is kinda funny

[@47aRealN]

"with bats" lol bless their souls

[@bluelimbo-5432]

Quel régal une telle vidéo aussi complète sur le furyo. C'est une influence pop-culture aussi important que les yakuza, pourtant resté "underground" par le grand public. Merci d'y apporter plus de lumière. Merci d'avoir parlé de Burst City. Une bombe ce film. Les concerts punk de l'époque comme ceux de Stalin mérite d'être vu également avec leur ambiance akira si caractéristique.

[@ArchieTalksAnime]

Avec plaisir, je trouve cette sous-culture fascinante donc j'ai vraiment aimé faire des recherches pour cette vidéo. Je suis très heureux que vous l'ayez appréciée, merci beaucoup de l'avoir regardée ! Burst City est l’un des films les plus fous que j’ai vu, je suis content qu’on me l’ai recommandé.

[@lejsnarus]

keep it up man, really nice video

[@ArchieTalksAnime]

Cheers mate, glad you enjoyed it!

[@anthonydeluca6640]

Great vid. Some youth culture recommendations: The Lonely Hearts Club Band in September (1982) Shuffle (1981) Burst City (1982) Empire of Kids (1981) Majoran (1984) V Madonna War (1985) The Heartbreak Yakuza (1987) Blow the Night (1983) Failed Youth (1974) The Young Animals (1978)

[@ArchieTalksAnime]

Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it, and cheers for all the recommendations! I’ve only seen a few of these so I’m excited to check the rest out. Burst City sounds wild - I can honestly say I’ve never seen a dystopian punk rock action musical!

[@hicthcock100]

I'll definitelly look for it, thanks!

[@Josh_Quillan]

@@ArchieTalksAnime It's not Japanese, but _Streets Of Fire_ is another dystopian action musical, which will likely look very familiar if you've seen original _Bubblegum Crisis_

[@Josh_Quillan]

Great video, I learned some interesting stuff. You're absolutely right, it never fully went away, just got turned down a few notches. I used to live in a small mountain city, and they had a small contingent of bosozoku even there - they rode about on little bikes with daft mods, revving like mad the whole time, and occasionally did donuts outside the koban at the station, just to annoy the cops. I always thought of them as basically harmless, though, and I always kind of respected their courage. They are after all young rebels in a culture that doesn't understand the value of youthful rebellion. As far as films, I recommend the Stray Cat Rock series, a cheaply made B-movie anthology series with a consistent cast who play different characters each time, notably including Meiko Kaji, who appeared here before she became famous (and awesome) in the amazing _Female Prisoner Scorpion_ series and in _Lady Snowblood_. They aren't hardcore biker films but there is a little biker culture there; what they are is films about gangs and about being on the fringes of society. The first features a lady biker as a main character set against a gang who have bikes and jeeps, and the fourth features a biker gang as antagonists, prompting Kaji and co to declare "We need Hondas!", and a bike chase ensues. They are VERY 1970s and quite good fun, but none of them is very good. They are worth a watch for the ambience more than for the cinematic spectacle. You can watch them via Arrow Video's streaming service.

[@ArchieTalksAnime]

Thank you, I’m glad you liked it! And thanks for sharing your firsthand experience, I imagine that many people view them in the same way that you do. I appreciate the recs, I’ll be sure to check out the Stray Cat Rock series, sounds great (I watch this kind of stuff for the vibe as much as the story anyway!)

[@Josh_Quillan]

@@Canis.Lupus.Arctos If Japan in general understood the value of youthful rebellion they wouldn't restrict teenagers with the most needlessly strict school rules that exist anywhere I've ever heard of, and cause the more extreme cases to feel the need to ride around on bikes causing trouble. Actions like criminalising owning Tokkofuku show the Japanese police/justice system are not understanding or handling the problem any more delicately than any other, they are just woefully inept at policing. Instead of tackling the causes of the crime and understanding where it comes from, they create shortcuts that let them just summarily arrest people more easily. This is a common problem all over the world but I feel Japanese cops are especially behind the curve. Japan's police try hard and have good intentions, but their reliance on confessions means they are fundamentally unequipped for catching people who are actually comfortable breaking laws.

[@SuperNine]

Super interesting vid! Looks like it's still pretty safe and gangs are not that common? And nice of them to wear special outfits so we can identify them easily 😅

[@Josh_Quillan]

You'll hear them way before you see them, they don't wear tokkofuku commonly since it's a crime nowadays, but you'll hear them half way across town as they ride. bosozoku rev constantly, they even mod their bikes so that they don't damage the engine by constantly revving.

[@return4570]

Isn't it more of Japan's Quadrophenia, than Mad Max? Anyway, love the vid. Akira is a masterpiece. Still get goosebumps thinking about it. Also, it, was quite prophetic in some ways.

[@ArchieTalksAnime]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the vid! Yeah Crazy Thunder Road is more similar to Quadrophenia in terms of the story, I think people just like to compare it to Mad Max for the similar vibe/reputation. And totally agree re Akira, it's as entertaining and relevant now as it ever has been, a real work of art.

[@helio1055]

am I the only one who thought Akira was SUPER overrated? It looks amazing and is good don’t get me wrong, but everyone talks about it likes its the best anime EVER, and when I finally saw it, it was alright

[@ArchieTalksAnime]

Hey, thanks for watching and leaving a comment! I love Akira, but I do agree that it’s maybe not as good as all the hype would suggest. I saw it in a cinema in France a few months ago, I was super excited as I’d never seen it on the big screen before, but it wasn’t quite as awesome as I remembered. I still really enjoyed it (I forgot how incredible the music is) but yeah, I think for a lot of us in the west there’s a nostalgia value. Back before anime got huge in the west Akira was always the film that people who were into anime suggested watching (that and Ghost in the Shell), so it became like a gateway film for so many people. We tend to put it on a pedestal, but it’s for sure an important film - it captured the zeitgeist of Japan in the 80s and it influenced so many other creators, both in Japan and abroad. Plus, that bike slide will never not be cool! Was it the story that you didn’t like or the animation style? Or both?

[@Sajuuk]

​@@ArchieTalksAnimeWhat you said 👍

[@Truthseeker_12638]

Stay away from Tokyo in 2024 things are getting terrible with crime over 273 random acts of violence and crime directed towards foreigners in the month of April alone, this is in just Tokyo as well. Not sure what’s going on but no one seems to be speaking on this. Please be safe everyone

[@return4570]

Really? Source?

[@breakingdragon22]

Not true I live in Japan, I worry for nothing. Stop lying.

[@RetroGhost16]

I mean it's horrible that it's happening but it's kinda deserved. Have you seen what locals have to put up with when foreigners show up thinking Japan is their personal theme park? I mean Gion completely banned all foreign because they kept disrespecting the locals entering homes without permission, and even pulling the hair and touching random people minding their business.

[@return4570]

A lot of hyperbole in this thread

[@Truthseeker_12638]

Okay i made it up I’m a pathological liar I’m getting the help I need please forgive me

[@garywilburn7384]

Psuedo yakuza = WANNABES 😂LOL

[@someonexyz-c7c]

after watching tokyo revenger even i want to join this gangs but im from india🥲