Gang

Odaiba, on the Tokyo Bay waterfront. The Odaiba Boys—a gang based here, comprising Sancon, Shu, Zaza, Jiji, Muzzle and the rest—were hanging out as usual. One day, a woman named Rei appeared before them, claiming she was searching for their leader, Nao, who had gone missing two years earlier. Around the same time, a masked man calling himself Nao appeared before rival gangs—the Kawasaki Security Squad and the Tsurumi Cruise CATS—and ran riot. Was this really Nao’s doing? Behind the scenes, a grand scheme was unfolding, orchestrated by a Member of the House of Representatives seeking to line his pockets and the Kōryū-kai, the yakuza organisation that controls Odaiba.

Directed by Ataru Oikawa, Gang leans on a strong ensemble — Masashi Taniguchi, Takatoshi Kaneko, Eri Ishikawa — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 2001.