Shibuya 15

This is a 12 episode half season series of 20-ish minute episodes. The story sets you off with a bit of background info; a bunch of 15 year old kids in Shibuya, but not in Shibuya and the only thing that is real is pain. This is repeated at the start of every episode (which is annoying when you're half way through and you get it already).

Anyhow, the series revolves around one boy, who wakes up in an alleyway and coughs up a piece of paper; on it written "Escape Shibuya. Revu.". He doesn't know who he is but he knows he is in Shibuya.

Eventually you find out Shibuya has 3 gangs who are fighting for more territory...however for any kids who are deemed "broken" (i.e. they try and murder someone), they will be marked and Peace will appear and kill them.

I enjoyed watching this live action series, it has a cyber-punk feel and the biggest let down was the very last bit of the ending...I feel the writers/director/whoever should have left it as it was; a relatively happy ending but overcome with despair/sadness because of naivity.

If you can get hold of a copy (and a translated script if you aren't fluent in Japanese) I can recommend this to most people. It was really quite good, quite intriguing and a relatively simple affair plot wise.