ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on what happens when cities or places are broken asunder (whether materially or spiritually) and how they may be joined together again. The films looked at are all situated in Tokyo and include anime Akira, Patlabor 1; Mobile Police and Patlabor 2: The Movie, and live-action Ikiru. Tokyo crumbles to be rebuilt anew in Akira, there are more explosions in Patlabor, then the Yokohama Bay Bridge blows up in Patlabor 2. The opening sequence of Ikiru is dense with informational elements that set out the ensuing course of action. It also establishes an initial directionality, not outwards, speeding off to the horizon, but inwards, towards interiority of the spirit. The chapter concludes as the film does, with a bridge, symbol of unity or disunity, leading from past to future, looking optimistically down at the present below, both domestic and part of the city. This chronological inversion reflects the change from post-war optimism to postmodern destruction.
