Eden of the East - Episode 3 Discussion / Poll

[DidCart]

Great episode. The story is starting to make sense and I`m enjoying it.
I like stories abou conspiracy, secret agencies, that type of stuff.

I don`t now if you guys talked about it in the general discussion threat of the series but I`ll say it anyway.

Juiz is a word in portuguese that means Judge.
Seleção is also a word in portugese that means Selection or more precisely in the common use, The Selected (like a group of people that are selected for something).

Just some Random info.

[Freya]

Originally Posted by DidCart

Great episode. The story is starting to make sense and I`m enjoying it.
I like stories abou conspiracy, secret agencies, that type of stuff.

I don`t now if you guys talked about it in the general discussion threat of the series but I`ll say it anyway.

Juiz is a word in portuguese that means Judge.
Seleção is also a word in portugese that means Selection or more precisely in the common use, The Selected (like a group of people that are selected for something).

Just some Random info.

Ah. Thanks. makes sense now. So anyone know what they're selected to do?

[Jan-Poo]

Uhm is there any evidence that Akira is the one behind the missile attacks? I don't think we can easily come to this conclusion, we know that there are other selecao in japan so it might be anyone of them, or who knows what else.

As for Kabuki-cho isn't that the same place where most of 20th century boys takes place? I guess that maybe it is a yakuza's haven even in the real world. We see there are a few people lying on the ground that's probably why noone is surprised to see a man sitting on a corner.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far. Remember episode two? Number IV calls Juiz and asks her to kill "these two". Later he tells her to kill the witness too. Isn't he rightfully assuming that Juiz can see anything that he sees? Then why Juiz doesn't seem to know about the stolen telephone? Or supposing that she does, why is number IV hiding that?

Also i agree that Saki not noticing Akira was still in the projector room is quite strange. It is possible that at first she looked through the window and not seeing him she looked for him elsewhere, but after that i think it would be only natural to double check the last place she saw him. Just mind this guys: if you are going to have a heart attack while you go to the toilet just don't count on Saki to save you, she'll just suppose you ditched her.

[achirist]

The idea of some nouveau riche billionaire deciding to murder masses of unemployed young people is very offensive, whether it was IX or some 'supporter,' it is clear to me that the NEET's are not the problem here. Otherwise, it wasn't a bad episode; I hope that we see more of Saki's cute friends.

[hamstar]

Originally Posted by achirist

The idea of some nouveau riche billionaire deciding to murder masses of unemployed young people is very offensive, whether it was IX or some 'supporter,' it is clear to me that the NEET's are not the problem here. Otherwise, it wasn't a bad episode; I hope that we see more of Saki's cute friends.

it's funny how the most offensive thing to you is what makes this show so great for me. I think killing off NEETS is something I can picture happening in a messed up version of futuristic Japan. NEETS have been blamed a lot for Japan's economical woes. From what I researched NEETS are like cockroaches of Japanese society they are not just looked down upon but hated on. I've heard of terms like "freeta and parasite single".

[~BC~]

This is definately my favorite of the 3 episodes so far. Glad to see Saki finally getting her head out of the clouds for a bit. It's about time she get back to her own life. I'd also like to see more of her friends and get an idea of how the club will play a part in things to come.

[Raiga]

Originally Posted by achirist

The idea of some nouveau riche billionaire deciding to murder masses of unemployed young people is very offensive, whether it was IX or some 'supporter,' it is clear to me that the NEET's are not the problem here. Otherwise, it wasn't a bad episode; I hope that we see more of Saki's cute friends.

Well it's not like they're condoning it or anything. In fiction, characters frequently do bad things. But unless it goes unpunished or without censure of any sort, as long as it serves its purpose in the narrative, well, it's just something that happened. Er, sort of. My brain isn't in gear for metafictional rambling at the moment.

[hamstar]

i have a feeling akira already did what he was supposed to do. He spent like 18mil ....that's a ridiculous sum of money and probably enough to make 20000 NEETS disappear for the supposed benefit of Japan's economy. It's possible based on this assumption that he payed for a brain wash to forget his crime and live a happy new life with 82million dollars. I just dont understand why he is naked and doesnt seem so happy about having this insane amount of cash at his disposal. I also dont get how the cop spent 100million dollars on women and gambling. How is it possible to waste that amount of money?

[achirist]

Originally Posted by hamstar

it's funny how the most offensive thing to you is what makes this show so great for me. I think killing off NEETS is something I can picture happening in a messed up version of futuristic Japan. NEETS have been blamed a lot for Japan's economical woes. From what I researched NEETS are like cockroaches of Japanese society they are not just looked down upon but hated on. I've heard of terms like "freeta and parasite single".

Yes, NEET's are a sort of scapegoat for Japanese society, but from reading about the subject myself, I am definitely on their side. I think the financial crisis is likely to make many people unemployed and so hopefully alleviate blaming the NEETs and change the corporate culture in Japan.

It is an interesting story element, though; and we will just have to see where it goes.

[Jan-Poo]

Imho you are falling for the trap, it's all set as to bring any evidence against Akira, but do you really think that's enough in this kind of anime? I wouldn't bet 1 cent on it.

[Kaoru Chujo]

It is looking as if some Selecao or group of them is connected with the missiles. "Akira" is a Selecao, so he's a suspect. But certainly no proof. And I doubt he has really done anything bad.

All we know is that he bought a shopping mall and many films. And that he arranged for x thousand NEETs to be fed for a period of time. Those things were on his cellphone. But we don't know what might have been on his cellphone before that.

The attitude of Japanese toward NEETs is why I sometimes think "slackers" is a reasonable translation, as used in the movie of the same name. It is highly conceivable that some right-wing Japanese guy would want to off them all. "For the good of the nation."

[hamstar]

There are NEETs all over the world. In Western societies we call them basement dwellers and make fun of people living with their parents after a certain age. In Japan though it's a really derogatory term like 'scum' or something. From what ive researched the number of NEETs are growing all over the world..

[drobertbaker]

Originally Posted by Jan-Poo

Uhm is there any evidence that Akira is the one behind the missile attacks?

The detective seemed to think so, at least until the end. And if he thought so, there's a good chance that the other Selecao think so too.

if you are going to have a heart attack while you go to the toilet just don't count on Saki to save you, she'll just suppose you ditched her.

Ha-ha!

[Starry Dust]

Originally Posted by hamstar

I also dont get how the cop spent 100million dollars on women and gambling. How is it possible to waste that amount of money?

Right before the moment he died, he mentioned that he actually did things for justice in the beginning of this "game". He probably spent a good amount trying to help Japan but ended up wiping out the task & wasted the rest with nothing but greed of women and gambling.

And about the whole 20,000 NEET/Akira scenario, I feel like so far it's a 50/50 chance of him doing it. We have no clue what Akira's pre-personality was ( was it more serious? joking? demented? we dunno ) Until further proof, he's in the spotlight of speculation at the moment.

[hamstar]

Originally Posted by BunnyCupCakes

And about the whole 20,000 NEET/Akira scenario, I feel like so far it's a 50/50 chance of him doing it. We have no clue what Akira's pre-personality was ( was it more serious? joking? demented? we dunno ) Until further proof, he's in the spotlight of speculation at the moment.

If you watch episode 2 closely you'll see on #4's cellphone that akira made the following purchases:

2010/12/11 saturday 6am

movie film 80000 dollars

2010/12/10 friday 10:30pm

1.36million dollars for 2weeks worth of food delivered to 20000 people

2010/12/10 friday 9:24am

bought shopping mall for 9.1million dollars

[Somnus]

Another great episode, I swear if this had shown all 11 eps at once (and somehow fansubs were all released at once too) I wouldn't hesitate to marathon it all. As far as further commenting towards this ep goes...that'll come later.

[Jan-Poo]

Originally Posted by drobertbaker

The detective seemed to think so, at least until the end. And if he thought so, there's a good chance that the other Selecao think so too.Ha-ha!

He corrects himself soon after that, he says that maybe it was the supporter who did that. The reason he initially thinks it was Akira is well explained by what hamstar reported:

Originally Posted by hamstar

If you watch episode 2 closely you'll see on #4's cellphone that akira made the following purchases:

2010/12/11 saturday 6am

movie film 80000 dollars

2010/12/10 friday 10:30pm

1.36million dollars for 2weeks worth of food delivered to 20000 people

2010/12/10 friday 9:24am

bought shopping mall for 9.1million dollars

So any other selecao knows that Akira did all that and probably some of them believe he killed all the 20.000 NEETs. However it's not prood enough, like Bunnycupcakes said it's 50/50. In the first place why Akira had to use such a redundant way to kill 20.000 NEETs? Why he bought them food for 2weeks rather than killing them? (Even so 5 dollars a day each... it probably wasn't great food °°

And what about the 80.000 dollars movie? °°

[hamstar]

Originally Posted by Jan-Poo

He corrects himself soon after that, he says that maybe it was the supporter who did that. The reason he initially thinks it was Akira is well explained by what hamstar reported:



So any other selecao knows that Akira did all that and probably some of them believe he killed all the 20.000 NEETs. However it's not prood enough, like Bunnycupcakes said it's 50/50. In the first place why Akira had to use such a redundant way to kill 20.000 NEETs? Why he bought them food for 2weeks rather than killing them? (Even so 5 dollars a day each... it probably wasn't great food °°

And what about the 80.000 dollars movie? °°

well i just wanted to show he was involved in it. There is clearly enough evidence to link akira to the 20000 NEETs disappearance. I'm not saying he killed them but he does have something to do with it. Another thing..in ep1 i noticed that the pictures only show male NEETs, where are the female ones?

[Jan-Poo]

It's true they are all males. I guess it would have been a mess if there were naked women too XD.

The things that puzzles me the most is how Akira managed to gather all of them there without causing any suspicion. there's no way he could do that alone, but it looks like those NEETs knew him well. Even supposing that they were tricked into going there, someone had to force them to strip themselves naked, i guess they had to do so to be sure no-one could use a mobile phone to call for help.

Hey wait maybe akira's idea to save Japan wasn't killing them but reeducating them, forcing them to get out of their houses stripping them from their easy lives and then forcing them to watch a movie about what a wonderful thing is working and being useful to society?
Actually this make sense! °° All those NEETs didn't seem afraid of being killed, they didn't ask for mercy or anything, rather than scared they were angry, displeased, uncomfortable. You don't say "i'm going to kill you" if you know you are the one that's going to be killed, their reactions match more with the idea they were forced to do something against their will.

Still there must be some purchases he did that aren't listed. He must have paid someone to help in such endeavor. Also he planned to keep all those NEETs alive for 2 weeks but where they were supposed to sleep, where there enough restrooms for 20.000 persons in that cramped place? @_@

[hamstar]

Originally Posted by Jan-Poo

It's true they are all males. I guess it would have been a mess if there were naked women too XD.

The things that puzzles me the most is how Akira managed to gather all of them there without causing any suspicion. there's no way he could do that alone, but it looks like those NEETs knew him well. Even supposing that they were tricked into going there, someone had to force them to strip themselves naked, i guess they had to do so to be sure no-one could use a mobile phone to call for help.

Hey wait maybe akira's idea to save Japan wasn't killing them but reeducating them, forcing them to get out of their houses stripping them from their easy lives and then forcing them to watch a movie about what a wonderful thing is working and being useful to society?
Actually this make sense! °° All those NEETs didn't seem afraid of being killed, they didn't ask for mercy or anything, rather than scared they were angry, displeased, uncomfortable. You don't say "i'm going to kill you" if you know you are the one that's going to be killed, their reactions match more with the idea they were forced to do something against their will.

Still there must be some purchases he did that aren't listed. He must have paid someone to help in such endeavor. Also he planned to keep all those NEETs alive for 2 weeks but where they were supposed to sleep, where there enough restrooms for 20.000 persons in that cramped place? @_@

yeah i know, when you think of it logically it doesnt make any sense. Take for example that SURELY at least 1/20000 NEETs told their parents or friends where they were going. Surely cops would be tipped off to where the NEETs are after they've been missing for a few days. A person can get away doing this to a few people but a 20000 people? Even if akira promised them a 6 figure income job for being a japanese porn star (that's why they have to take off their clothes) they still would of told a friend or family member where the interview was. So in reality what akira did would never work out even though I admit the idea of it is pretty darn awesome. The only way it might work out is if Akira told Juiz to bribe investigators to look the other way but that would require a huge lump sum since investigators make good coin and wouldnt endanger their careers for nothing. But then again, some of the price tags are pretty retarded. #4 only paid roughly $1430 to kill 3 people, he was left with only $70 on his cell lol.