To-Y [OVA]

Two weeks before a concert at Yaon Hibiya auditorium (1987.8.26), while playing at the club Shinjuku Loft, lead vocalist To-Y (pron: to-o-i) of the band GASP is jumped by a rival, Aikawa Yoji. GASP is a upcoming band known for its violence, struggling to be noticed against the popularity of hotshot Aikawa, who’s #1 on the charts and beloved by his fans. The Yaon Hibiya concert represents GASP’s mainstream debut to break out of the small-time club scene, which is threatened by the schemes of Aikawa’s manager, Ms. Kato of Koyama Productions. Kato wants To-Y to leave that “bunch of hoodlums,” and sing independently for a major label.

Adding to the confusion is an unexplained character who manifests feline traits, named Niya. Niya presents herself as “To-Y’s aijin” (“Niya, To-Y no aijin da yo!”) to the consternation of Koishikawa Hiderou, who has interest in To-Y. Koishikawa, also known as “Sonoko-chan,” is typed as a “okama” by Niya. A running motif is GASP, it’s fans, and associates regarded as unusual by the mainstream public, as exemplified by their musical taste, dress, and Classic Coke-drinking, which only contributes to more difficulty in their struggle to be accepted.

Based on the manga by Kamijou Atsushi

description by Chen Kangshi (www.cjas.org)