ROAD59 -Shin Jidai Ninkyō Tokku-

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ROAD59 -Shin Jidai Ninkyō Tokku- (ROAD59 -新時代任侠特区-, ROAD59 -The Special Ward for a New Era of Chivalry-) is a Japanese multimedia franchise launched on September 25, 2020 by Bushiroad.

The project is themed around the supernatural and yakuza. The franchise's tagline is 'A path from which you cannot return.'

## Synopsis

In the near future, a few decades after the start of Japan's current Reiwa era, the story is set in a new manmade island and "special ward" in Tokyo known as the Tenkai Ward. Here, four yakuza organizations bearing powers known as "Jingi" vie for prestige and influence. Each of the organizations seek the "Yamata no Orochi no Kubi" (The Head of Orochi) whose blood when consumed grants Jingi a divine power that the Jingi once had, as well as a girl who bears the blood of the Jingi and can break the seal on the ancient artifact.

## Organizations

: The Shinonome-gumi is a free-spirited group that is not bound by the times. The members normally lack coordination, but once a problem arises, they come together to take advantage of their respective area of expertise. Its known members are: Yanagi Bakuto, Yutsuma Kaya, Yutsuma Kiyonobu, Naruyama Seigo, Ooimachi Takahisa, Kirimiya Yuuto and Toudou Shigure.

: The Hakurou-gumi is a Kansai group that values ​​tradition and formality. Its troubled young leader and the members who support him are tied together like a family. Its known members are: Himuro Sho, Himuro Shizuka, Himuro Suzuka and Hyuuga Shion.

: The Kurojou-gumi is the largest force in Tenkai Ward that has risen with money and prestige. While their influence over Tenkai Ward is strong, its ruthless dictatorship has sparked some discontent among civilians, and rumors of rebellion are spreading like wildfire. Its known members are: Sumeragi Kensei, Hiiragi Renge, Hiiragi Sara, Kurogane Kazuomi.

: PHOENIX is an alliance of a global mafia groups. They aim for the Tenkai Ward as a key point of "business" where consequential leaders connect overseas to pursue their own objectives. Its known members are: Benedict Lorenzo Vasari, Anthony Cello, Irina Spessivtseva and Maria Bernard.

: The Tenkai Ward, a city that never sleeps, which is the stage of the Jingi's conflict. There is a disparity between the cluttered old city block, which retains the scent of the old days, and the sophisticated new city block. Known residents are Okino Inaba.

## Media

### Stage Plays

* *Main Article: Stage ROAD59*
	+ The franchise's first stage play and media product. It was held from December 24-27, 2020.
* *Main Article: Stage ROAD59: YOZAKURA Skyscraper Conflict*
	+ The franchise's second stage play. It was held from April 15-18, 2021.
* *Tentative Title: Stage ROAD59: MONOCHROME Skyscraper Conflict*
	+ The franchise's third stage play. It was originally planned to be held in December 2022, but was postponed on October 5, 2022 due to changes in the project's development schedule.

### Live Events

* *Main Article: ROAD to Party*
* *ROAD59: 1st Anniversary Support Screening & Cast Talk Event*
	+ An screening of the first stage play commemorating its 1st anniversary. A special Christmas cast talk was hosted by Maeda Seiji and Shiramata Atsushi after the screening.
* *ROAD59 Fan Meeting ～A Young Lady's Hinamatsuri～*
	+ A live event celebrating Hinamatsuri, hosted by Kawauchi Misato, Minami Wakana and Kato Rihona. It was held at Mixalive TOKYO with the collaboration cafe *Live Cafe Mixa* on March 5, 2022.
* *Tenkai Ward's Citizen Election, Recital Dramas & Talk Event*
	+ A series of four live events consisting of recital performances and cast talks. It was performed at Hikosen Theater between September 3 to September 4, 2022 and held with the collaboration cafe *Live Cafe Mixa*. Both days each featured a performance in the daytime and nighttime and were also broadcast online on Niconico via paid viewing. Day 1 featured Kawauchi Misato, Aiba Aina, Minami Wakana, Kudo Haruka, Okada Mei and Kato Rihona. Day 2 featured Maeda Seiji, Shiramata Atsushi, Yamamoto Kohei, Inoue Masahiro, Sueno Takuma, Aoi Shouta (daytime performance only) and Watanabe Kazuki.

## Online Programs

### Radio

Two radio programs were scheduled to start during March-April 2021 on Bushiroad's Hibiki Radio Station. They conveyed the charm of the franchise, had guest appearances from other cast members, and gave out latest information. Their final episodes were broadcast in February 2022.

* **ROAD59 -Shin Jidai Ninkyō Radio Tokku-** (*-The Special Ward's Radio for a New Era of Chivalry-*) was hosted by Kimisawa Yuki and Sunagawa Shuya.
* **ROAD59 -Shin Jidai Ninkyō Tokku- Ojou no Yori Michi Radio** (*The Path of a Young Lady*) was hosted by Kawauchi Misato and Minami Wakana.

Starting March 5, 2022, a new radio program began in place of the two previous radio programs, titled "**Tenkai Ward's Broadcasting Station**". Every two episodes would have different cast members as personalities, with Kawauchi Misato, Minami Wakana and Kato Rihona hosting the first two episodes. Spanning 38 episodes, the radio ended its run on November 18 of the same year.

On June 9, 2023, ROAD59 relaunched its radio series with **22ji Kara no Hisohisobanashi♡** (*22:00's Whispered Convos♡*) featuring Kawauchi Misato, Minami Wakana and Kato Rihona as hosts again. Broadcasting is planned to begin every Sunday at 10:00 p.m. on OBC Radio Osaka and OPEN REC starting on July 2, 2023. The program also has its own Twitter account separate from the official ROAD59 project account.

All episodes of the radio programs can be watched on the official YouTube channel, while Hisohiso's can be watched on its OPEN REC channel.

## Staff

* Original: Bushiroad
* Executive Producer: Takaaki Kidani, Kazushi Miyakoda (Music)
* General Producer: Masahiro Nakayama
* Story Draft/Screenplay: Nobuhiro Mouri
* Composition/Direction/Video: Yoriko Jun
* Theme Song: GACKT「Exterminate」
* Character Design: Gidora (ぎどら)
* Production: Bushiroad Music, Ace Crew Entertainment

## Trivia

* The title 'ROAD59' is a play on the Japanese word 'gokudo', which is a poetic term referring to the yakuza way of life. **Road** in Japanese is translated as "Michi" (道), which is archaically read as "do", while the characters of **59** in Japanese is individually read as "goku" (ごく), which is homophonous to "極". Inverting the terms gives you gokudo (極道).
	+ Another interpretation is that if you take "go" (五) and "ku" (九) from **59** as well as the do "ド" from **ROAD / ロード**, you get "五九ド", which is also read as "gokudo".

## References

* Official Website

1. ↑ Bushiroad Reveals New Road59 Mixed Media Project About Yakuza
2. ↑ Official Website Notice
3. ↑ Event 202209 Collab Cafe
4. ↑ Event 202209 Online Viewing
5. ↑ Radio Announcement Information
6. ↑ Tenkai Ward's Broadcasting Station Announcement