Ikebukuro, one of the most lively and dangerous districts in Greater Tokyo, still lives on – fast, harsh, and unhurried. It is a world of bright lights that do not hinder the creation of dark deeds, a realm of equal opportunities where people strike without asking for passports, a world of masks where few are who they appear to be. How else could a rugged provincial have put half a city on its ears, a fragile singer have terrified seasoned maniacs, and a stern Russian tourist suffer at the hands of an adorable Japanese schoolgirl? By local standards, however, all this is mere chatter; the fairy tale will come later! Ikebukuro residents have long been accustomed to hellish monsters roaming the streets, a gang of Dollars holding the district together, and above all, a certain bartender who loves vending machines and streetlights. Yet around them are serious people with questions about monsters, Dollars, and the bartender, while a gloomy genius, Izaya Orihara, watches over the tangled web of fights and intrigues, having finally found a worthy partner. Who is he? Of course, it is that very quiet provincial whose true face has yet to be seen. Japanese schoolchildren – they are like that, better not get involved!
