Megazone 23
Megazone 23 Liner Notes
Note: All of this information and much more can be found on the Megazone 23 Omega Edition Wiki.
Preface by Gilles Poitras
Most of the entries in these liner notes are from Parts I (1985) and II (1986) as the setting is a recreation of mid-1980s Tokyo, and these entries focus on the Tokyo of that time period. The specific locations mentioned put the story in a physical context, as these are the places where the characters interacted. The social context of their lives reflects the culture of the time, the products they consumed, and illustrates several social trends of the past. Part three provided its own interesting details to write about as the context shifts from 1980s Tokyo to a city of the future.
Six viewings were used to gather and expand these notes. It is likely many Easter Eggs and Imported References were missed, especially those in the form of characters in the background from shows unfamiliar to me, those which were too vague to clearly identify, and also some business names. Many of these items flash by so fast that they are only recognizable when the films are paused.
Some items had to be omitted for reasons of space: I have not included most of the cases where the name of a staff person has been added to the background, and also decided not to list the huge number of cars, motorbikes, and construction equipment that appear throughout the films.
When you see bold text either in the outline or entries that means there is an entry for that topic.
- - Enjoy! G.P.
PS: Special thanks to Victor Olguin for his eagle-eyes.
Megazone 23
Entries in order of appearance. Timecodes are in format [Minute:Second:Frame] with optional hour.
[00:39:17] Shōgo enters the Aoyama Tunnel, chased by cop.
[00:48:05] Shōgo passes Shibuya Station.
[01:29:13] JOG scooter.
[01:34:18,02:17:05,02:50:21] Piazza Building in Harajuku.
[01:42:12] Shōgo mentions that the Piazza Building is in front of Kiddy Land.
[02:01:09] Kanji on the second gray truck (丸山運送) reads Maruyama Transport.
[02:10:12] UCC can crushed by Shōgo’s bike.
[02:24:23] Yui tells Shōgo she works at the Hard Rock Cafe in Roppongi.
[02:46:11] RCA Victor dog seen in front of the entrance to the Piazza Building.
[02:48:08] Yui gives Shōgo her work number at the Hard Rock Cafe in Roppongi. It’s the actual number of the restaurant!
[03:00:05] Kiddy Land in Harajuku can be seen.
[03:05:15] Piazza Building directory lists various Victor JVC divisions on the 3rd - 6th floors.
[03:39:08] Aoyama Studio is mentioned in meeting.
[03:44:03,04:04:09] Shōgo meets his friends in front of Studio Alta.
[04:05:10] Shinjuku Tiger rides by on his bike.
[04:45:14] Yoyogi National Gymnasium can be seen as the group heads to Yoyogi Park.
[05:23:23] Café de Rope, Harajuku
[05:56:20] A good view of Omotesandō at night.
[06:13:05] The guys drop the girls off at Harajuku Station.
[08:40:05,57:34:19] Chombo wears a Pro-link t-shirt.
[09:22:15] Shōgo is reported to be in Aobadai in Meguro.
[10:24:07] Stickers on a pay phone booth, with a yellow phone.
[12:23:13] Shōgo calls from a green pay phone, in this case a fictional vision phone.
[14:04:23] Shōgo identified as calling from Aoyama (see: Addresses).
[15:05:07] Park/Plaza in Aoyama.
[16:42:06] This portion of Highway 246 is on Aoyama Dōri.
[20:38:09] Shōgo tells Yui he works at McDonald’s on Aoyama dōri.
[22:01:12] Shōgo has blood type B.
[22:03:22] A “standard matchmaking profile question” refers to Omiai.
[22:32:11] Tokyo Tower is seen at night, and a laundry platform is seen on a roof in the foreground.
[28:02:18] Anna Miller’s waitress uniform.
[27:48:19] Black Cats t-shirt.
[40:16:19] Dagger of Kamui gym bag.
[45:16:23] The cabbie and old guy with winged cap in the cab that Shōgo cuts off are from Dōmu: A Child’s Dream.
[45:18:01] A pedestrian has a 7-Eleven bag; store in background.
[45:31:23] Lupin & Jigen are in a police car chasing Shōgo.
[48:36:14] Victor JVC on truck as Eve calls the 7G operator.
[49:29:12] Backer Shawn Kluek noticed that a Strike Valkyrie and the SDF-1 from Macross take part in the space battle!
[49:48:14] Eve tells Shōgo how much time has passed.
[52:54:07] Shōgo and Yui go to a Love hotel.
[55:01:12] Ship name: Akebono Maru.
[55:47:06] Lupin III appears as a cop during the gunfight.
[01:02:01:11] Shinjuku Tiger runs through the film location in the park across from Studio Alta.
[01:02:45:04] Oodakyu (see: Odakyū) on building.
[01:02:55:14] My City.
[01:04:14:09] Maria connecnow (connection?) on back of jacket, McDonald’s in background.
[01:05:52:13] Penguin Bar Beer Suntory, Pocky, dried squid, grape drink.
[01:16:45:12] Laforet Store & Museum in Shōgo’s memories.
[01:16:48:03] Almond - pink building sign.
[01:18:11:03,01:18:17:00, 01:18:28:14] 109 building sign, Tokyū sign, Shibuya Station on train overpass & its neighborhood including the famous scramble crossing.
Megazone 23 II
[00:17:14] Shungicu (see: Shungicu Uchida) on back of woman’s shirt with a keyboard pattern at the waist.
[00:37:13] Pinball bumpers labeled Chyawan Mushi (chawan mushi) and Osuimono.
[00:45:06] Hard Rock Café Roppongi with King Kong statue and mural.
[01:35:20] Laforet Store & Museum Harajuku with military recruitment banners on it.
[01:39:19] Bōsōzoku group Trash.
[02:26:11] Studio Alta. Aoki shoe store and Nippon Shinpan signs next to Studio Alta.
[02:37:02] Marui Young and Mistukoshi across the street.
[02:44:07] A Henry Africa’s sign is seen in the distance.
[02:44:22] My City appears in distance.
[05:45:13] Conyanko Club 86 on jacket (see: Onyanko Club).
[05:49:11] White House (restaurant) across from the Kichijōji Parco. See also: Chūō Rail Line stations.
[06:02:16] Parco awning briefly visible in the background.
[06:18:13] Kichijōji Higashi Dori (“East street”) mentioned in Yui’s phone call.
[06:37:06] Shōgo uses an Airsoft pistol to intimidate a policeman.
[07:06:18,07:09:24] Parco sign in the distance.
[07:12:03] The sign at the entrance to the Sunroad shopping arcade is clearly visible.
[07:15:14] Parco entrance.
[07:51:04] Iczer One (with a change of hair color) can be seen fighting on the sidewalk.
[08:17:07] A biker is wearing nikkapokka.
[08:34:00] “Kumi for Life” (see: Miyasato Kumi) on one biker’s jacket.
[09:13:04] Ladies beat cop with a bamboo sword and a barbed-wire bat.
[09:16:20] “Kamikaze Squad Leader” on Gut’s cape.
[16:13:07,16:38:06] NextOne - yellow can with blue letters.
[16:38:06] Caster cigarettes.
[25:02:17] Brown Eiyō drink bottle on the floor.
[37:07:10] After the Proto- Garland is recovered, a station sign on the platform reads Nakano/Higasi Nakano/Cōenji, all Chūō Line stations.
[38:50:02] Ōtemachi mentioned by military staff member as the location of the decoy transmitter.
[38:56:05] A former embassy in Roppongi is used by the gang as their hideout.
[40:41:18] Briareos from Appleseed is briefly visible in the background as Trash gets ready to head out for their big fight with the police.
[41:38:14] Gut’s self intro as the “Kamikaze Squad Leader”
[44:02:14] Suntory, large sign on roof
[44:05:23] Ginza. An aerial view of Harumi Dori; on the right is the Wako Department Store, and on the left, featuring a Mitsubishi Electric sign, is the San’ai Dream Center.
[44:07:20] Key coffee billboard on building.
[48:38:02] Shinjuku skyscrapers can be seen in the distance.
[46:52:21] The group with the Proto-Garland is reported traveling near Aoyama Dori.
[59:07:06] Tokyo tower.
[00:55:04:16] Onyanko on Yui’s dark jacket as she and Shōgo go to meet Eve.
[01:06:11:04] Marui store can be seen during the evacuation.
[01:12:39:00] Omotesandō, Laforet, Harajuku Station seen in destruction sequence.
[01:13:18:22] Kaminarimon destroyed.
[01:13:21:01] Shinkansen destroyed.
[01:13:44:19] The triple arch Umaya Bridge.
Megazone 23 III
[06:25:19,06:38:06] Ginza Wako & Mitsukoshi Ginza department stores appear in the music video.
[06:28:04,08:10:17] Ginza Plaza 58 is seen across the street from the restaurant Eve is sitting in.
[15:49:19] Orin Malt Beer (see: Orion Beer).
EASTER EGGS
Hidden throughout Megazone 23 is text that refers to Japanese and foreign goods. These can be on clothing, on electronics, and on walls. Here are a few interesting ones.
Part I
[47:54:11] The code on the screen is from the ROM Monitor program of a Sharp MZ-80 computer.
[51:38:13] A mix of meaningless text and computer terminology scroll on a screen. Among them are Tanaka File, which is too vague to nail down, Godzilla, and Cream Lemon.
Part II
[27:06:03] In the miscellaneous text on an instrument panel in the military computer center we see references to:
Comic strips: Hagar the Horrible.
Animation: Rankin Bass Pro.
Literature: Frank Baum, Dolothy.
American comic books: Frank Miller, Blue Devil, ‘nuff said, Avenger Assemble.
Movies: Go ahead punk, make my day, don’t shoot, once upon a time in a galaxy far away
Also seen are items labeled: suffocate, cough, cloak, dagger, humiliation, John Leialona, and Gavann.
[28:24:15] On the left side of the instrument panel of the radio monitoring station, we see the names of two famous US comic book artists, Kirby & Ditko.
Part III
The walls of the Psycho Land Club tease us with possible meanings:
[11:09:14] 68008 96 MHz: the 68008 was a microprocessor made by Motorola; the actual chip runs at 8 or 10 MHz.
[11:17:03] VIC VIPER, a reference to the ship that players control in the 1985 game Konami game Gradius.
[16:52:01] The list of those who’ve cycled out includes Elton John, Budweiser Ken (a reference to Kenny Bernstein, a drag racer sponsored by Budweiser for 30 years starting in 1979) and Kitakita.
Of Some Import
The characters in Megazone 23 seem to consume a large amount of non-Japanese products and culture.
Part I
[02:08:11] Budweiser billboard.
[03:00:05,05:23:23] Lark cigarette billboards.
[05:50:05] Shōgo and his friends watch Streets of Fire.
[06:28:21] A vending machine is stocked with Hi-C, Sprite, Fanta Grape, Coca Cola & Fanta Orange.
[16:00:19] David Bowie on a sign.
[30:35:14] Yui wears an ELLE Paris shirt from the French fashion magazine.
[39:03:15] ERIG CLAPTON and the Korean band OXEN 80 can be seen on the spines of albums.
Part II
[00:17:14] Primo Beer.
[00:17:14,00:39:17,00:48:04] SilverHawks in the form of SilverHo…, …veiHowks, and ShveiHawks are seen on a pinball machine.
[00:17:14,27:34:09] Dunhill Menthols in their red & yellow box.
[05:44:03] Camel Filters.
[08:17:07] Spider-Man mask worn by a member of Trash.
[10:10:06] Lucky Strikes.
[15:52:11,16:55:20] Budweiser.
[17:41:00,24:05:20] Heineken.
[18:27:14] Garam gets his name from his Gudang Garam Indonesian cigarettes.
[18:50:11,26:51:17] Rakko wears a W.A.S.P. t-shirt from the LA heavy metal band.
[24:26:14] ThunderCats also shows up on a pinball machine.
[24:45:16] Coors, which somehow becomes Budweiser by [24:50:15].
[37:38:13] Seen on a jacket worn by Shōgo, Sex Wax is a brand of surfboard wax made in California.
Part III
[03:50:11] CNN shows up in Part 3 Episode 1 disguised as Eden Network News, the E in their logo looks very much like a C.
[23:14:22] Thunder Cross (partially obscured) is a 1988 Konami video game. System 64, seen at the same time as Thunder Cross is likely a reference to 64 bit computer systems.
[01:15:03:23] Monitor text: Nissan Fairlady description followed by “Victor, AIC, Artmic”.
[01:28:54:04] Monitor text: Southern A(ll) Stars, Suika-1-4, 616-Usagi, Kenichi Yatagai, Takeshi Aoki.
Detailed Entries
109
Opened in 1979 by the Tokyū company, 109 is a vertical mall famous for its clothes shops. Most of the shops catered to women in their 20s, but they also became popular with teen girls, so the stock of many shops changed to reflect that. The name of the building is a pun: 10-9 sounds like To-kyū, but the store is also referred to as ichi-maru-kyū. The store consists of 8 floors, one dedicated to restaurants, in an easy-to-spot structure with a cylindrical front.
7-Eleven
The Japanese supermarket chain Itō-Yōkadō sent two young staff members to the US to study how stores operated there. The two discovered the 7-Eleven chain and brought the idea of convenience stores back to Japan. In 1973 Itō-Yōkadō obtained a license, and in May 1974 opened the first Japanese 7-Eleven in Tokyo’s Kōtō Ward. By 1990, when there were 4,000 stores in Japan, the US chain went bankrupt. Itō-Yōkadō bought 70% of the business, installed their own managers, and made the company profitable in three years. Today there are over 20,000 stores in Japan.
Addresses
Addresses in Tokyo are unusual. Streets, except for major boulevards, do not have names, and buildings do not have numbers. Instead, a modular system is used. If you are addressing a letter the format would be:
• The Chōme (numbered section of a neighborhood)
• The lot number. These numbers are assigned as the lots are developed, so 2 may not be next to 1 or 3.
• The apartment, floor number, etc.
• The Machi or Chō (neighborhood).
• The Ku (ward).
• Finally the city name, in this case Tokyo.
Airsoft Pistol
Any of a variety of plastic or resin pellet guns that have low muzzle energy ratings. The guns do not have the power of conventional air guns and therefore are not used for hunting. Often they are designed to be realistic replicas of real firearms. They were originally designed for target shooting but quickly became popular in competitive team combat games. The anime Otaku no Video has an interview with a player in such a game. The pellets have enough force to hurt when hit without breaking the skin. The US Coast Guard and some police forces use airsoft guns in training for close-quarter combat.
Akebono Maru
Japan has a longstanding tradition of adding -maru to the end of the names of fondly regarded items or people. Examples include using the term honmaru for a castle’s main compound, and childhood names as in the case of Ashikaga Yoshikatsu whose childhood name was Chiyachamaru. These days it is most commonly seen in the name of ships. The most famous example is the Daigo Fukuryū Maru, or “Lucky Dragon 5,” the ill-fated fishing boat that was contaminated by radioactive fallout from the hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll on March 1, 1954.
The Akebono Maru is not named after the sumō wrestler Akebono, as he started his professional career in 1988, two years after Part I was released.
Almond
Located at the southwest corner of Roppongi Crossing and close to subway exits, this coffee shop with its pink-and-white-striped awning is a major landmark. The sidewalk in front has long been a popular meeting place, so much so that at times the sidewalk is impassible. Almond originally opened in 1964, the same year as the nearby subway station, and its long hours (9 am to 5 am) helped make it a fixture of the neighborhood. In 2009 the shop temporarily relocated nearby so that the original building could be be demolished and replaced. Two years later the cafe reopened in the same spot, but now lacks the larger striped awning that was such a visible landmark.
Anna Miller’s
When this American diner chain opened up its first restaurant in Tokyo in the late 1970s it became quite popular with families, and later, otaku. The bust-accentuating maid-style uniforms of the waitresses date back to when the chain was founded in Northern California, and became popular cosplay items in Japan. The uniforms consist of a white blouse and miniskirt apron combination that comes in several colors (pink, red, orange being the most common), with a heart-shaped name tag. The uniform style shows up in games such as Variable Geo, Love Plus and the Welcome to Pia Carrot visual novel. Today there is only one Anna Miller’s left in Japan in the Shinagawa neighborhood of Tokyo, which opened in 1983.
Shōgo and Tomomi likely meet at the Anna Miller’s that used to be in Aoyama, as it is near the McDonald’s where Shōgo works.
Aoki
Founded in 1958 to provide professional clothing for businessmen, over the years the company has since diversified widely. Presently they sell a variety of garments for both men and women at stores throughout Japan. They use a vertical business model, doing everything from designing the clothes to providing in-store stylists to assist customers. In addition to business attire, they also produce lines of casual wear such as the ORIHICA brand. And since you need places to wear their clothes, they also have a chain of gyms, FiT14, the Bali-themed KAIKATSU CLUB manga/karaoke/internet cafes, and COTE D’AZUR, where you can reserve a room for festive events or business meetings. An especially interesting non-clothing division is ANNIVERSAIRE, a national network of wedding halls in major cities. The one in Omotesandō even has a French-style cafe with a shop for anniversary and baby gifts.
Aoyama
In the Edo period the highlands of this area contained samurai residences of the Aoyama clan, as well as Buddhist temples and Shintō shrines. The principal road, Aoyama Dōri, is part of Highway 246. Aoyama Dōri was originally part of the Atsugi kaidō, a major road heading south. This portion of the road ran along a ridge and was a samurai residential area. Later the area became an exclusive residential suburb for the middle class and an upscale shopping area. The section of Aoyama Dōri near the intersection with Omotesandō also became a fashionable hangout for young people, lined with shops and restaurants.
Appleseed
Appleseed is an early manga series by Shirō Masamune which ran in the mid-to-late 1980s. It is set after a major, but non-nuclear, world war. The main characters are Deunan, a human, and Briareos, a cyborg. They are contacted by Hitomi, a representative of AEGIS, the Central Management Bureau which has organized the world as a federation of states, who brings them back to the capital Olympus. Since the only skills they have are martial in nature, they find work with the ESWAT unit of the police. The series was never completed as Shirō started work on Ghost in the Shell and his career took him in a different direction. Appleseed is set in the same world as Ghost in the Shell, but much later in the timeline.
Bamboo Sword
The bamboo sword (shinai) is used in kendō practice. Shinai consist of four strips of bamboo tied together with a handle of the same style as a Japanese sword. Shinai originated as a safer alternative to heavier wooden swords, which themselves originated as a safer alternative to practicing with real swords. They also make for a handy weapon in a street fight as they can still do serious damage.
Black Cats
The Black Cats rockabilly band got their start under the patronage of Yamazaki Masayuki, owner of the Pink Dragon building and creator of the highly successful fifties-style fashion brand Cream Soda. Pink Dragon had a second basement that was the rehearsal space for the group. The group toured internationally, and starting in 1981 they put out a series of albums. In Japan, the American-inspired greaser hair and clothing styles of the group were associated with delinquent culture at the time, but that did not stop Coca Cola from featuring them in a commercial in 1985.
Blood Type
The pseudo-scientific idea that blood type (ketsuekigata) determines one’s character entered Japan in the 1920s but then faded away, only to return in the 1970s when it was popularized in a series of books. In time the Japanese took it one step further, coming up with theories that combined blood type and Western zodiac signs.
Bōsōzoku
Japan’s juvenile motorcycle gangs, who specialize in making noise, riding customized bikes, wearing interesting outfits, getting into fights, and having a strong group loyalty. The quintessential bōsōzoku activity is the en masse group run, proclaiming their existence in the most annoying way possible.
Their numbers have greatly declined since the early 1980s under pressure from the police. These days they are more of a small town and rural phenomenon.
Café de Rope
In 1972 the JUN Company, which had previously focused on clothes, opened the first Café de Rope in Harajuku next to Kiddy Land. This was one of the first Paris-style outdoor cafes in Japan and quickly became a celebrity hangout. Café de Rope is said to have introduced the café au lait and Perrier to Japan.
Caster Cigarettes
A line of vanilla-flavored cigarettes released by Japan Tobacco starting in 1982. Other flavors followed, including menthol and chocolate.
Chawan Mushi
A custard usually made from egg and dashi, the common soup stock of Japan. Some techniques use a type of yam or turnip instead of egg. Chawan mushi is often made with ginkgo nuts, chicken, bamboo shoots, prawns or other ingredients which vary with the season. All of this is cooked by steaming it in lidded ceramic cups.
Chūō Line Stations
While the Chūō Main Line and Chūō Sōbu Line are not directly named in the show, several stations and neighborhoods on them are worthy of note:
Just north of Nakano station is Nakano Sun Plaza, at the far end of which is Nakano Broadway where the Mandarake chain was founded in 1980. Nakano Ward is also where the main offices of the anime studio Madhouse are located.
The Kōenji neighborhood of Suginami has several anime studios, and Suginami itself is home to about 70 large and small studios as well as the Suginami Animation Museum. Between Kōenji station and the next one over, Asagaya station, there is an interesting shopping area, Asagaya Anime Street, a long street of shops devoted to anime and manga running under the tracks.
Then there is Kichijōji Station. The Kichijōji area has so much in it that it has earned a separate entry in these liner notes.
Cream Lemon
This famous early erotic anime OVA series was released starting in 1984 and continued for several years. The mostly unconnected stories ranged from almost literary to tongue-in-cheek humor. Hirano Toshihiro, who worked on Megazone 23 Part I doing story boards, character design, and as a chief animation director, would later work on Cream Lemon as director of episodes 7 and 12, the two Ikenai Mako-chan MAKO Sexy Symphony episodes.
Dagger Of Kamui
A series of novels by Yano Tetsu published in 1984-85 by Kadokawa Shoten and adapted into an anime film in 1985. Set near the end of the Tokugawa Shōgunate, it’s the tale of a young half-Ainu ninja and his quest to find a fabled treasure and avenge the murder of his parents. Available from AnimEigo on DVD!
Dōmu: A Child’s Dream
A manga by Ōtomo Katsuhiro that was serialized from 1980-83. In 1983 it was the first manga to win the Nihon SF Taishō Award, which is similar to the Nebula Award in the US.
In Part I, Shōgo cuts off a cab containing characters from Dōmu, the passenger is Old Man Cho and the driver is likely Inspector Yamagawa or Inspector Okamura (they are both old men with glasses though Okamura has light colored frames in the manga).
Dried Squid
Dried squid (Surume) is a popular drinking snack. Much of what is sold in Japan is cheaply made in factories with imported squid from Korea and Taiwan. Japanese companies making a premium product still exist.
ELF Honda
In the 1970s, the French oil company Elf Aquitaine, which was already sponsoring Renault in auto racing, decided to expand into motorcycle racing. For a decade from ~1978-88 they partnered with Honda to develop a series of unique bikes for Grand Prix racing with radical new frame designs. Eventually some of these ideas would be used in street bikes such as the Honda Pro-Arm.
Eiyō Drinks
Energy drinks, or eiyō (lit. “nutritional drinks”) are common in Japan. Most are sold in small brown glass bottles. The oldest, Lipovitan, whose main ingredient is taurine, is made by Taishō Pharmaceutical and dates back to 1962; it can be found in some US stores that sell Asian products. Until fairly recently eiyō drinks were classed as medicine and only sold in pharmacies. These days they are more widely available, including in vending machines.
Ginza
The Ginza has remained Tokyo’s most famous upscale shopping, restaurant and bar district since the late 19th century. Almost all of the buildings date from after World War II as the area was leveled in the fire bombings of 1945. In the 1980s, real estate in the area was some of the most expensive in the world. In contrast to Harajuku and Omotesandō, which are popular with younger upscale shoppers, the clients of the Ginza tend to be older. The main shopping street, Chūō Dōri, becomes pedestrian-only on Sundays and holidays at noon.
Notable Ginza locations that appear in the films include the Wakō and Mitsubishi Ginza Department Stores, the San’ai Dream Center, and the restaurant across the street from the Ginza Plaza 58 building, which is now a Starbucks.
Harajuku
The Harajuku neighborhood of Shibuya Ward generally refers to the areas of Jingūmae 1-chōme to 4-chōme. In the mid-1980s, Harajuku, which is close to Yoyogi Park, Omotesandō, and Harajuku Station, was (and still is) a popular hangout for young people. From 1977 to the late 1990s, several of the local roads would be closed to traffic on Sundays creating a pedestrian mall. This was partly done to discourage the bōsōzoku who would drive up and down the roads in large groups on weekends. The result was that some just got off their bikes and hung around. Shops specializing in designer goods and American clothing for middle-class kids with money were common in the mid-1980s. These days, the area has an international reputation for trendy cute street fashion, centered on Takeshita dōri.
Harajuku Station
Built in 1924 on the JR Yamanote Line, the station survived the firebombing of the neighborhood in World War II. Until recently it was the oldest wooden train station in Tokyo. However, the building was not designed for the approximately 70,000 people a day who presently pass through it, so a new station was constructed adjacent to it and opened in 2020. The old station was then demolished and replaced with a new structure that preserves the look of the original while complying with modern fire codes.
Hard Rock Cafe
On July 4, 1983, the first Hard Rock Cafe in Tokyo opened in Roppongi. It was soon joined by many other American restaurants such as McDonald’s and Tony Roma’s. What could be more of a symbol of the international nature of Roppongi than a British-owned American-themed restaurant in Japan?
Henry Africa’s
A chain of fern bars/restaurants that hails from San Francisco, the most famous in Japan was the one in Roppongi. The term “fern bar” actually dates back to the opening of the original location in 1969, when a friend of the owner was commenting on the decor.
Iczer-One
Fight Iczer-One and Iczer Reborn are science fiction OVA series dealing with an invasion of Earth by the Cthulhu. In the first series they are opposed by Iczer One, who needs to bond with a partner to co-pilot the super weapon Iczer-Robo. That partner is the school-girl Nagisa, whose family has been killed by the Bedams, who have been parasitically infecting humans. The second series, sometimes called Iczer 3, focuses on Iczer One’s younger sister and another Nagisa who is the granddaughter of the first. They are locked in combat against Neos Gold, whose mother was defeated in the first series. There is a third series, Iczelion, which is an alternative story not directly related to the other two. AIC worked on the production of all three series, which were directed by Hirano Toshiki, who also did the screenplays and character designs.
JOG Scooter
A line of motor scooters made by Yamaha starting in 1983. They were very successful and are still sold worldwide.
Kamikaze Squad Leader
The Japanese word tokkōtai- chō, also translated at times as “suicide squad leader,” refers to the kamikaze units of WWII; the chō part means leader. In larger bōsōzoku groups this is the head of a special attack squad used in battles with other groups.
Kaminarimon
The “Gate of Thunder” which marks the start of the approach to Sensōji Temple in Asakusa. The most visible feature of the gate is a giant red paper lantern, weighing 700 kilograms (1,540 pounds). Every decade a new lantern is installed to replace the old one. The gate is a major Tokyo landmark, and the temple complex attracts some 30 to 40 million tourists each year. The front of the gate has statues of Fūjin and Raijin, also known as Kaminari, on either side.
Key Coffee
A Tokyo based coffee roasting and beverage company founded in 1920, they make a variety of products for home and office.
Their products are sold in various stores as well as shops and cafes owned by the company.
Kichijōji
A neighborhood in the Musashino area of Tokyo served by Kichijōji Station on the Chūō Main Line, Chūō Sōbu Line and Keiō Inokashira Line. In the 1980s Kichijōji was the location of Artmic. Studio Ghibli was also based here in its early days before relocating not far away to Koganei. Kichijōji and adjacent towns are home to many anime studios as well as the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka.
Kiddy Land
The first in the now large and famous Japanese toy store chain, the multi-story Omotesandō store was opened in 1950 and has been a landmark in the neighborhood ever since. The proximity to US military family housing in nearby Washington Heights ensured that plenty of customers with money to spend lived nearby. The building was remodeled in 2012; each of the five floors has specialties and toys for everyone from toddlers to adults.
Ladies
Female bōsōzoku, at times members of mainly male groups, but especially when organized into independent gangs. The independent gang phenomenon started in the 1970s and declined in the 1990s. The ladies sported their own styles based partly on the sukeban tough girl movement, rode their own bikes, and got into fights. They were such a big thing that there was even a magazine devoted to them, Teen’s Road, which began publication in 1989 and ceased in the 1990s.
Laforet
A large shopping complex filled with over 150 boutiques on the corner of Omotesandō and Meiji Dōri. When it opened in 1978, it was one of the largest buildings in Tokyo. Built by Mori Building, the name is a French-Japanese multilingual pun on Mori (“forest”). In addition to stores, it also contains a museum. The complex quickly became a Mecca for fashion conscious youth.
Laundry Platform
With the modernization of Japanese construction methods in the late 19th and early 20th century, the use of roof space to dry laundry increased. This used a laundry platform that would protrude from the roof, or if the roof was flat, drying racks on the roof itself. Today this kind of facility for drying clothes is not as common, however many people still dry their laundry on balconies or flat roofs.
Love Hotel
Hotels specializing in renting rooms to couples, they can usually be found near train stations and entertainment districts. Rooms are usually rented for one to three-hour blocks (“rest”), or overnight (“stay”). Stay is typically available starting late at night. Often the buildings have unusual architecture and rooms with interesting, even outrageous, interior designs and a private bath. Privacy is a major part of the service: credit cards are not accepted, usually the staff cannot see the faces of the customers, and rooms are often chosen from a push button menu. Some buildings have separate entrances and exits to help patrons avoid running into acquaintances, or with underground parking for added privacy.
Lupin III
Lupin is the super-thief character created by Katō Kazuhiko, under the pseudonym Monkey Punch. The manga began publication in 1967, and the first TV anime adaptation appeared in 1971. To date there have been several Lupin III TV programs, called Parts; the 5th came out in 2018. The Woman Called Fujiko Mine is not counted in the “Parts” as Lupin is a secondary character. There are also numerous TV specials, anime theatrical features, and two live-action movies. Lupin is usually accompanied by the bearded Jigen, swordsman Goemon, and Fujiko, who usually causes trouble for the gang. Jigen is said to have been based on Lee Marvin, and Kobayashi Kiyoshi, the voice of Jigen, also did the Japanese re-dubs for Lee Marvin’s live-action movies.
Marui
A department store chain founded in 1931 in Nakano, Tokyo. Today the stores are found in many major shopping areas in Tokyo. Some stores specialize in goods for men, women, or couples. Marui has a long history of innovation, such as being the first to issue credit cards in Japan in 1960. In Japanese, a circle is “maru”, which explains their distinctive OIOI logo, their website (0101.co.jp), and their store phone numbers (which all end in 0101).
Maruyama Transport
Founded in 1962 by Miura Takeo with a single truck using a special business license obtained from the Kyūshū Can Company (which meant they could only handle goods shipped from that company), Maruyama grew by embracing a simple policy: accepting any assignment, no matter how ridiculously unreasonable. In 1985 they obtained a general freight license, and from then on were able to ship for any company. To get a contract with Sony, the company spent three years significantly upgrading their trucks to handle delicate electronics. This contract resulted in major growth and the company now has offices in several Japanese cities as well as Shanghai.
McDonald’s
The first Japanese McDonald’s opened in 1971 in the prestigious Mitsukoshi Department store in the Ginza, marketing itself as high-end foreign cuisine! Today they are found all over Japan with menus that are both similar to, and very different from, those in the US.
Meguro
A ward which gets its name from the Meguro Fudōson temple, Meguro means “black-eyed” and in this case refers to the black-eyed statue of Fudō-Myōō in the temple. This area grew significantly after the 1923 Earthquake that destroyed much of Tokyo.
Mitsubishi Electric
Founded in 1921 as part of the Mitsubishi group, this company quickly became an established leader and innovator in the industry, producing large industrial items like power generators as well as consumer electronics such as fans. Today they remain a major electronics manufacturer, and produce many of Japan’s satellites.
Mitsukoshi Ginza
The Ginza branch of the Mitsukoshi department store on Chūō dōri is so large and impressive that it could easily be mistaken for the main store, located not far to the north in Nihonbashi. Both have lion statues out front modeled on those of Trafalgar Square in London. As the store is quite prestigious, it is not unusual for customers to take the time to dress up before shopping here. Along with the Wakō Department Store across the street it is one of the major landmarks of the Ginza.
Miyasato Kumi
At the age of 16, Miyasato Kumi participated in the Horipro Talent Caravan contest, and was subsequently scouted by the Horipro talent agency. This resulted in her being hired to do both the voice-acting and singing of Eve in parts I and II. She released five albums and some singles for Victor Entertainment before her contract ended and she retired from the industry.
My City
A large shopping and restaurant mall on the east side of Shinjuku Station, this landmark spans 10 floors (including two basement levels). Originally called the Shinjuku Station Building, it was renamed My City in 1978, then in 2006 it became Lumine EST, one of a dozen Lumine stores in the greater Tokyo area and one of three in Shinjuku. Today nearly 300 shops rent space in the building.
NextOne
A light draft beer made by Sapporo and sold in a gold can with the slogan “Light and Tasty.” Like other light beers, it did not sell well and was discontinued.
Nikkapokka
Pants commonly worn by construction workers, particularly those that work on scaffolding. Nikkapokka are baggy but tight at the ankles to prevent getting snagged. On the job, they are often worn with jikatabi, split-toe rubber-soled footwear, that can easily be slipped in or out of sandals for indoor work. They come in a variety of colors and print patterns and have become popular non-work wear for some Japanese and foreign tourists.
Nippon Shinpan
A consumer credit company founded in 1951 offering loans for a variety of needs, Nippon Shinpan quickly became the largest credit company in Japan. They also have their own credit cards which are internationally recognized. They rebranded to Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS in 2007.
Nissan Fairlady 300ZX
A line of roadsters dating back to the 1959 Datsun S211. Outside Japan and Australia the early cars were called the Datsun Sports. A new line, the Nissan Fairlady Z, a.k.a. the Nissan Z-car in other countries, arrived in 1969. The most popular of all the models, the Nissan Fairlady 300ZX was sold from 1983 to 2001, and was known in the US as the 240Z.
Odakyū
The Odakyū Group began as the Odakyū train line, short for Odawara Kyūkō Denki Kidō Kabushiki Kaisha. The Odakyū department store on the west side of Shinjuku Station at the terminus of the Odakyū line is so tall, fourteen stories, that it is easily visible from the east side. It opened in 1962, and was later expanded to its present size. The store and train line are interconnected in the basement.
Omiai
Omiai are arraigned meetings between potential marriage partners, usually chaperoned by a go-between, but sometimes with both sets of parents attending. Traditionally omiai were organized by the parents or family heads, but these days the prospective couple has a great deal more say in choosing a partner. It is not unusual for the go-between to have written profiles and photographs of potential partners to show before a meeting is scheduled.
Omotesandō
Built in the 1920s as part of a major redevelopment of this part of Tokyo as a boulevard leading to the new Meiji Shrine, Omotesandō included shops and housing for Tokyo’s growing middle class. The area was fire-bombed in 1945 in a massive air raid, so the buildings are all of postwar origin. During the occupation, Japanese items were sold to US military personnel who lived in the nearby “Washington Heights,” what is now Yoyogi Park. Shops selling foreign goods to fashion-conscious Japanese also opened up on the street, a mix that continues to this day. Many expensive European and American brands are represented, and few stores have Japanese names. The buildings that were constructed after the war have almost all been replaced by newer structures. This street has one of the highest concentrations of award-winning architecture in the world.
Onyanko Club
Formed in 1985 by the producers of the All Night Fuji show on Fuji TV, this group featured eleven regular-looking teen girls. “Nyan” is the Japanese version of a kitten going “meow”, and at the time “to do nyan nyan” was slang for having sex. This plus teasing lyrics in their first song, “Don’t Make Me Take off my Sailor Suit,” written by Akimoto Yasushi (who later founded AKB48), garnered them quick attention, and they soon had their own after-school variety show Yūyake Nyan Nyan. However the image of the girls, including in the lyrics of many naughty songs, was one of purity. Their outfits were quite respectable, even ordinary, and the unpolished and often amateurish song and dance performances were a contrast to the over-produced idol acts of the time, endearing them to their fan base.
Orion Beer
An Okinawan beer manufacturer founded under the US occupation in 1957 as the Okinawa Beer Company. The company was fortunate in that it was able to hire an entire team of experienced engineers from Japan who were recently unemployed when their brewing company folded. as well as some former Kirin Brewery staff. Orion was chosen as the beer’s brand name in a public contest. On May 17, 1959 the first batch shipped at the beginning of a major festival marking the beginning of summer. On May 26, the company name was changed to Orion Breweries. The beer was originally modeled on German lager, but later they weakened the flavor to be closer to that of American beer.
Osuimono
Suimono, politely referred to as osuimono, is any of a variety of clear soups made without miso. This is usually restaurant fare rather than home cooking, as making good stock is not easy. Common garnishes are prawns, chicken, or clams, which are cooked separately then combined with a better grade soup stock referred to as ichiban dashi. Often seasonal ingredients are used, so the suimono served in a restaurant in winter would be different than that in the summer. Suimono are usually served in a lidded lacquered bowl so the aroma expands as soon as the lid is removed. This dish is considered a test of the skill of a good cook.
Ōtemachi
A government and business office district in Chiyoda Ward. The name comes from the Ōte Mon gate which connects the district to the Imperial Palace grounds. The head of the rebel Taira no Masakado is buried in Ōtemachi. During the Edo Period this was the location of many daimyō mansions.
Parco
Multistory complexes of boutiques founded by the Seibu Retailing Group, Parco first opened in Ikebukuro in 1969 and then not far from Shibuya Station in 1973 together with a theater. The Shibuya branch would expand to a third building by 1981. The idea of a large building with a variety of small shops appealed to younger shoppers who were not fully satisfied with conventional department stores.
Pay Phone
Even today, Japan still has plenty of pay phones. Japan pay phones are color-coded; the ones seen in Megazone 23 are either yellow, which use ten and one hundred-yen coins for toll and long-distance calls, or green, which accept coins or prepaid phone cards. These days, many pay phones also accept credit cards. Emergency calls for ambulances or to the police are free. In Tokyo many pay phones also double as free Wi-fi hot spots.
Penguin Bar Beer
A line of beer from Suntory that was sold between 1983-89. The cans came in a large variety of penguin themed designs; the penguins on them were named Mike and Jill. There were TV commercials, accessory goods, and even an anime feature Penguin’s Memory - Shiawase Monogatari, released in 1985, about Mike dealing with PTSD from his days in combat.
Piazza Building
A multistory office building located on Omotesandō in Shibuya Ward. On April 9, 1973 Victor Musical Industries, Vic Arts Production, and Victor Music Publishing opened their new offices in the Harajuku Piazza building.
Pocky
The Glico company began selling their biscuit sticks dipped in chocolate under the brand name Pocky in 1966. While the original flavor was chocolate, new flavors soon appeared, such as Strawberry, Almond, and Cookies & Cream. Originally they were hand-dipped, which is why one end has always been bare.
Pro-Link
A Honda mono-shock rear suspension for motorcycles developed in the early 1980s.
Roppongi
From the end of World War II until 1959, this district of Minato Ward housed US troops. This resulted in many businesses catering to US soldiers (some founded by veterans who remained in Japan after they left the military), such as Hamburger Inn and the Italian restaurant Nicola’s. The area is home, or close, to many embassies, (including that of the US) and foreign business offices. The low-rise neighborhood of the postwar period was replaced by high-rise buildings, and by the 1980s, Roppongi had become firmly established as a fashionable and hedonistic district of nightclubs, discos and restaurants with a large foreign clientele. So many foreigners hang out here that it has been described as being a “foreigners’ ghetto.”
San’ai Dream Center
Also called the San’ai Building, this nine-story cylindrical glass structure is located across from the Wakō Department Store and kitty-corner from the Ginza Mitsukoshi department store. First opened in 1963, the building is a popular landmark, but despite its visual impact, the lot it occupies is rather small, so each floor is a single shop, cafe, or gallery. Topping off the building is a large cylindrical billboard, and in 2014 the owners installed a system to power the illumination of the billboard exclusively with solar and wind power.
Shibuya Station
On the day this now-massive train, subway, and commercial complex first opened in 1885 it served 15 passengers; the area was then somewhat rural. By 1903 the station had 15,000 passengers a day, by 1921 it handled 30,000 passengers a day, and today it serves over 2 million a day. Over time other lines and companies connected to Shibuya Station; today its operation is shared by four companies; JR, Tōkyū, Keiō, and Tokyo Metro. The station has been rebuilt, remodeled, and expanded more than once, and starting in 2012 the station and adjacent properties underwent yet another massive, multi-year renovation.
Shinjuku
The parts of Shinjuku that show up in Megazone 23 are found on either side of Shinjuku Station. To the west of the station is the skyscraper district, a landmark that stands out in many anime as it is visible from a distance, not to mention being trashed in one of the Godzilla films. From the Meiji Period (1868-1912) until 1968 this area was a major water reservoir and treatment plant. When the plant closed the area became the site of intensive development. The result was a large cluster of hotels and office skyscrapers owned by major corporations in a spacious setting. At this time buildings this tall were unheard of in Tokyo. Today the district is also the location of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government complex, which was completed in 1990 and demolished in the late 2020’s to make way for the Genom Tower (in Bubblegum Crisis). About 250,000 people presently work in this area. The east side of the station is mainly a shopping and entertainment district.
Shinjuku Tiger
In 1972 at a shrine festival, college dropout Harada Yoshirō saw tiger masks being sold and resolved to wear one for the rest of his life. Thus was a living legend born. Over the years he has befriended many, and those who know him call him Tiger-san. To make a living, Tiger delivers the Asahi Shimbun newspaper in the eastern Shinjuku area. In March 2019 director Satō Yoshinori premiered his first documentary, Shinjuku Tiger at Theater Shinjuku. Tiger says his life has three themes: movies, beauties, and dreams. Tiger is a considered by many a living symbol of Shinjuku’s accepting culture.
Shinkansen
The shinkansen (“new branch line”) trains, often called bullet trains in the English press, began service in October 1964 just before the Tokyo Olympics. The first route was the Tōkaidō line connecting Tokyo and Osaka. The shinkansen system is still growing and connects much of the three major islands in Japan.
In the destruction sequence in Part 2 (01:13:21:01), we see one of the original 0-series trains that remained in service until 2008.
Shungicu Uchida
A self-taught manga artist, singer, and actress who published her first manga in 1984. Much of her work had been published in a variety of publications aimed at mature readers like Garo, women’s magazines, men’s erotic magazines, news weeklies, and other publications. Eventually she would also write articles, essays, novels, see her many of works adapted to movies, and become an actress herself with over 50 credits to her name.
Stickers On Glass Of Phone Booth
These erotic ads are called pinku bira (“pink leaflets”) as “pink” has an erotic connotation in Japan. They are usually advertisements for adult businesses such as date clubs, soaplands, hook-up phone services, etc. Often they are illustrated with photos of attractive young women or artwork. These days they seem to have largely disappeared - probably one more victim of the smartphone.
Studio Alta
This building on Shinjuku dōri on the east side of Shinjuku Station houses a TV studio. The most prominent features of the building are a large video screen, the name in large letters, and for much of its history, a large clock, now conspicuous by its absence. The sidewalk in front of Studio Alta and the park across the street, Shinjuku East Exit Station Front Square, are common places for people to meet up.
Sunroad
A famous shōtengai (neighborhood covered shopping street), in Kichijōji that starts near Kichijōji Station and runs north for 300 meters (984 feet). Sunroad is so popular it is actually listed in tourism guides and web sites. The shops serve the local community, and as there are many colleges in the area, there is plenty of variety to be found here.
Suntory
One of Japan’s major beverage makers, it was founded in 1899 and originally produced wine, adding whisky in 1913. Today they produce beverages of all types, having added beer in 1963, and afterwards nonalcoholic drinks such as C.C. Lemon, Boss Coffee, Yasashii Mugicha, as well as acting as a distributor and bottler for foreign brands such as Pepsi.
Southern All Stars
A highly successful band formed in 1974 by members of a music club at Aoyama Gakuin University. From their first album in 1978 to the most recent they have had a strong series of hits, playing in a variety of styles. While their shows draw huge crowds, the band has a reputation of being casual and very approachable rather than acting like stars.
Time has passed
For a computer program, Eve has problems with simple mathematics. In the original Japanese version, she says that 500 years is 432,126 hours – except that is actually only about 50 years!
In the English dub, this goof has been corrected.
Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower in Minato Ward was completed in 1958 after a year and a half of construction, instantly becoming a major landmark for the city and the tallest structure in Japan. Until the completion of the much taller Tokyo Sky Tree in 2012, Tokyo Tower was the major broadcast tower in the Kantō region. The tower was designed by Naitō Tachū to withstand the earthquakes and the high winds that occasionally visit Tokyo. The tower is 333 meters (1,093 feet) tall and has two observation decks.
Tokyū
Tōkyū is the modern name of Musashi Electric Railway, a railway company founded in 1908. The company owns a great deal of real estate near its stations, especially in Shibuya. In 1958 their real estate division acquired a department store called Shirokiya, and changed the name to Tokyū. Later they built two stores, Tokyū Hands and 109, not far from Shibuya Station on the slope leading to Yoyogi Park. Tōkyū Hands focuses on selling supplies for do-it-yourself projects, home improvement, and household goods as well as some other items.
UCC Coffee
UCC is the Ueshima Coffee Company, a major coffee importer which also makes brewing equipment. In 1969 they introduced one of the first canned coffees in the world. It is still sold in tall, slender cans of the original design. In Japan you can buy it in stores or from vending machines. In the US many markets that sell Asian foods also stock UCC coffee.
Umaya bridge
This bridge spans the Sumida river between Taitō Ward and Sumida Ward. Umaya means horse stable, a reference to a government stable which was once located at one end of the bridge. The first bridge was built in 1875; prior to this, a ferry operated just upstream of its location. The original bridge was wooden, but a stronger steel bridge was built in 1895 that could handle trains. That one was in turn replaced with the current bridge after the Great Kantō Earthquake of 1923. The three arches make this bridge an easily identifiable landmark.
Victor JVC
Founded in 1927, Victor Company of Japan was at first a subsidiary of the US Victor Talking Machine Company. In 1929 the Victor Company was sold to RCA, and at that point JVC started using the famous logo of the dog listening to “His master’s voice.” Victor Entertainment was on the production committee for the Megazone 23 series and handled music production.
Wakō
This building, with its iconic clock tower, is the major landmark for the Ginza, making it a common visual location cue in anime, manga, TV dramas, and movies. Originally it was called the Hattori Building after owner Hattori Kintarō, who made watches under the brand name of Seiko. Fittingly, the entrance opens into a section devoted to watches. Constructed in 1932, the building survived the firebombing that leveled the neighborhood. After the war it was used as a PX for the occupying forces until 1952. The name was changed to Wakō in 1947.
Yoyogi Park
One of Tokyo’s largest public parks, it opened in 1967 in Shibuya Ward. The park has long been a popular weekend destination for young people to congregate, listen to music, and dance, especially since a major entrance is at the end of Omotesandō in Harajuku. A former Imperial Army training ground, during the Allied occupation the area was used to house US troops, gaining the the nickname Washington Heights. After being returned to Japanese control in 1963, it was the site of the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympic Village and the Yoyogi National Gymnasium, which was designed by Tange Kenzō for the event’s swimming and diving competitions. Today it is used for a variety of sporting and entertainment events.
Do You Want To Know More?
The following books were used to help create these liner notes. We thank the authors for their diligent scholarship.
Ashcraft, Brian and Ueda Shoko, Japanese Schoolgirl Confidential: How Teenage Girls Made a Nation Cool revised Edition, Tuttle Publishing, 2014
Cybriwsky, Roman, Tokyo: The Shogun’s City at the Twenty-First Century, John Wiley & Sons, 1998
Galbraith, Patrick, The Otaku Encyclopedia: An Insider’s Guide to the Subculture of Cool Japan, Kodansha International, 2009
Macias, Patrick and Izumi Evers, Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno, Chronicle Books, 2007
Marx, W. David, Ametora: How Japan Saved American Style, Basic Books, 2015
Poitras, Gilles, Tokyo Stroll: A Guide To City Sidetracks And Easy Explorations, Stone Bridge Press, 2021
Seidensticker, Edward, A History of Tokyo 1867-1989 From EDO to SHOWA: The Emergence of the World’s Greatest City, Tuttle Publishing, 2019