Representation of Bōsōzoku in Koichi Hatsumi's Anime Tokyo Revengers

This study analyzes the representation of the bōsōzoku subculture in the anime Tokyo Revengers by Koichi Hatsumi, focusing on two main aspects: visual representation and public perception. Using a qualitative approach, the research applies Roland Barthes' semiotics to explore denotative, connotative, and mythological meanings, alongside Ikuya Sato’s theoretical framework on bōsōzoku to understand their socio-cultural dynamics. The findings reveal that the anime depicts bōsōzoku through distinctive visual elements such as tokkōfuku and sentōfuku uniforms, sarashi and tasuki accessories, and customized motorcycles, which serve as symbols of identity, resistance, and group hierarchy. According to Sato’s framework, these portrayals reflect bōsōzoku as a symbolic rebellion and a means of identity exploration. Public perception is shown to be ambivalent: while authorities and adults view them as threats to social order, the group’s values of brotherhood and loyalty gain implicit societal recognition. The anime presents bōsōzoku not merely as deviant youth, but as a community with strong internal ethics and identity. This research contributes to the understanding of subcultural representation in Japanese popular media and invites further inquiry into identity transformation in evolving social contexts.