Tokyo-to

Tokyo-to (東京都, Tōkyō-to^?, lit. Tokyo Metropolis) is the city where Jet Set Radio takes place. The city is usually just referred to as Tokyo. It is based on the real city of Tokyo, located in Japan. Tokyo-to holds home to many things, including: street punks known as "Rudies", an underground pirate radio station, a brutal police force, and a huge corporation known as the Rokkaku Group.

Official description[]

Jet Set Radio Official Website[]

JP: アジアのどこか。東京に良く似た街、トーキョート。ここトーキョーのストリートでは、ルーディーズと呼ばれる若者達が、ネオブレードギアという、インラインスケートを特殊に改造したスケートシューズを履いて街中を駆け巡り、壁などにグラフィティを描く行為を行なってる。また、彼らの必聴ラジオ放送、ジェットセットラジオは、謎のＤＪ、プロフェッサーK による、アンダーグラウンド海賊放送だ。警察のような組織、ケーサツも、ストリートでの彼らの行為を厳しく取り締る。トーキョーストリートは、南のシブヤチョウ、西のコガネチョウ、東のベンテンチョウ、の３つに大きく分かれ、それぞれナワバリを主張するチームが存在する。、勝手きままなやつらが、勝手きままに集まったシブヤチョウのGG コガネチョウ変態怪物マスクチームポイズンジャムベンテンチョウハイテクオタク、ノイズタンク一触即発状態のトーキョーストリートシブヤチョウに謎のグラフィティが出現したのを期に、短い沈黙が破られる、、^[1]

EN: Somewhere in Asia, in a city that looks a lot like Tokyo, on the streets young people called "Rudies" run around the city wearing specially modified inline skates called "Neo Blade Gear" and paint graffiti on the walls and other surfaces. Their must-listen to radio station, Jet Set Radio, is an underground pirate radio broadcast by the mysterious DJ, Professor K. A police-like organization, the "Keisatsu", also strictly enforces their activities on the streets. The Tokyo streets are divided by three major districts: Shibuya-cho in the South, Kogane-cho in the east, and Benten-cho in the west, each with its own team claiming its own territory. The GG's of Shibuya-cho, where selfish people gather at their own whim. The Kogane-cho perverted monster-mask team, Poison Jam, and the Benten-cho high-tech geeks, the Noise Tanks. A brief silence is broken when mysterious graffiti appears in Shibuya-cho.^{[note 1]}

Overview[]

Tokyo-to is very reminiscent of a 1990s version of the real Tokyo. In the intro cutscene, DJ Professor K says it is located "somewhere in Asia" and that it "cannot be found on any map". He also mentions that everyone just calls the city Tokyo. The city is split up into three districts: Shibuya-cho, Benten-cho, and Kogane-cho, each of which corresponds to a different time of day. Shibuya-cho is always seen by day, whilst Benten-cho is set at night, and Kogane-cho is at sunset. These districts are home to various gangs of Rudies, each with their own territory. Those gangs include: the GG's, the Love Shockers, Poison Jam, and the Noise Tanks. The city also holds home to the radio station, "Jet Set Radio".

Story[]

During the events of Jet Set Radio, the Rokkaku Group, a financial conglomerate led by wealthy businessman Goji Rokkaku, is involved in the Tokyo-to politics to the point of almost running it. It combined its efforts with the Metropolitan Government to find the "21st Century Project", which is supposed to increase productivity by outlawing various forms of expression. As a result, the Tokyo-to police force is incredibly severe in pursuing and punishing the graffiti-spraying, skating youths known as Rudies. Eventually the GG's put a stop to Goji Rokkaku's plans, saving the city.

Other appearances[]

Sega Superstars Tennis[]

In Sega Superstars Tennis, Tokyo-to is represented in the game via the Jet Set Radio tennis court.

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed[]

In Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, Tokyo-to appears in the game via the Graffiti City racetrack, as according to the Japanese website of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, the track is set in Shibuya-cho.^[2]

Hi-sCoool! SeHa Girls[]

In Hi-sCoool! SeHa Girls, Tokyo-to is represented by Shibuya-cho as it makes multiple appearances in the show. It is heavily featured in the tenth episode, "Broken Jet Set Radio", appears in the OVA special for the series, and is briefly featured in the opening for the anime.

Grind City comic[]

In the unreleased Grind City comic, Tokyo-to makes an appearance in the last page for the draft. The comic spells the city's name as "Tokyoto" instead of "Tokyo-to".

Roller Champions[]

A Tokyo-to Skatepark, which is based in Shibuya-cho, was added to Roller Champions on June 27, 2023 for the Jet Set Radio crossover for a limited time of two weeks, along with Beat and Gum.