Concrete Revolutio Episode 9 Notes

November 29th, 2015.

Not So Different:

Post-Episode Write-up:

In terms of theme, this episode was not only rather simple, but actually clearly announced its main theme – that the Bureau sets out to protect superhumans, but also to protect the world from them, that it tries to understand them and their powers, as a form of control, and that the tendency to try and destroy that which we do not understand is what all these forms of control are truly about – such as when Grosse Augen was sent back to space. This also seems to correspond to the Americans’ role in the show, and the old X-Men cartoons, and the arc explored throughout its films, of trying to first control and then destroy those “others”, who are powerful, and not entirely human.

But if that’s supposedly what only the Americans do, Jirou is reminding us that this is also the Japanese situation. First of all with the scheme of turning superhumans back to humans, or at least render them powerless via the chocolate scheme (episode 6), but yeah, the Bureau as a whole. If we look at the future, then Jirou rebuked the Bureau for enlisting Superhumans so they could be used as weapons here, but in year 46 we see him and his fellow superhumans, who were enlisted to help him in his fight. Even if it’s in order to protect them, they’re still recruited as weapons, especially Earth-chan.

More interesting is actually what happened, or what was said, or not said, on a plot level. This is the 2nd time, in terms of chronology, where we see “renegade Jirou” meet up with the Bureau members, and note how they offer him his place back, and while they’re all somewhat angry with one another, there’s no real hatred or rage here, no animosity or fighting. Not yet. Also note how the non-human Chief Akita’s absence is mentioned as ominous, that it was a big deal, and caused a breakdown in communication with the Americans, which considering he’s a non-human who’s manipulating humanity, is not too surprising.

Also note Hyouma, “Mr. Jaguar”, whom we now know why is named like that, isn’t merely a time-controller, but a time-traveler, and even as he appears to be a loyal member of the Bureau, is hiding important information from them himself, because he doesn’t fully trust them either. By the preview, seems next episode will do more with time-travelers.

Back to the theme, note the immortal family’s belief that they’d be fine. And even if not, going forth to meet their fate. They’re not fighting against what is, unlike everyone else, and their acceptance is part of what puts them beyond everyone else in the show.

Return to the Concrete Revolutio Episodic Notes page.

Updated Timeline:

Note: Shinka Calendar seems to correspond to the Showa Calendar. Year 19 = 1944, or World War 2, etc.

October 14 – Jiro’s father meets GaGon in the Pacific Isles, loses “Maria”, a native shapeshifter? A month after World War 2 broke out. Episode 4.
December 16 – Mironu of the Japanese Immortal Family is captured by the American forces on Hawaii after his submarine is sunk. He joined the Japanese army in order for his family to avoid the family census. He’s been experimented on and tortured for decades. Episode 9.
August 17 – GaGon faces off against American Superhumans in the Pacific Ocean. 9 months after Pearl Harbor.
Year 19 – A war of some sort (World War 2’s equivalent). Referenced in episode 3.
November 29 – Invisible Kaiju appears, Emi chooses to appear as an adult, Jiro’s father finds him naked and unconscious. Episode 4.
January 34 – Flashback sequence. Giganto Gon breaks Jiro out of the laboratory where he’s held. Jiro wants Giganto Gon to destroy everything. Episode 5.Robot-GiGantor defeated by Rainbow Knight who saves Jirou (Episode 8), baby GaGon meets his adoptive brother. Episode 4.
March 38 – Rainbow Knight kidnaps Daitetsu Maki and other superhuman kids, to protect them and/or gain money for their release. Dies for it. Episode 8.
July 40th – Judas is part of the criminal organization The Diamond Eaters, confronts Earth-chan and vows to become good. Episode 7.
January 41 – 6 months before Kikko joins. Grosse Augen first appears as a Kaiju vanquisher. Call for “more magic” instead of science within the Bureau is made. Episode 4.
June 30th 41 – The Beatles play in Japan, their powers bring forth more superhumans, or at least open the potential for some. Mountain Horse group becomes superhumans. Episode 6.
July 41 – Kikko joins the organization, Jirou goes against orders and saves Grosse Augen. Episode 1.
Between July and August 41 – A month after Kikko joins, just before Fuurota joins. More Kaijus appear, various superhumans fight them off. We meet Earth-Chan and Kaiju-using robbers. Grosse-Augen “replacement” takes up the burden. Episode 4.
August 41 – Fuurota joins the organization, kills the bug species. Kikko with the organization for one month.Episode 2.
November 41 – 3 months after Fuurota joins, humans confirmed as creating Kaijus. Mini-GaGon and Kaiju-lovers introduced as Fuurota’s friends. Episode 4.
February 42 – Bombing incident with android detective. Episode 3.
June/July 42 – Master Ultima returns from Mars, Bureau leaders revealed non-humans, expose their own Kaiju-creating ring. Jiro unleashes his arm. Episode 4.
July 42 – USA throw away a Space Kaiju’s remains near Okinawa. Kaiju-sympathizers grab remains and begin agitating against the establishment and the Superhuman Bureau. Episode 5.
August 42 – Protests by students begin, Jiro forced to become a Kaiju, faces off against Mega GaGon. Mega GaGon killed. Episode 5.
September 42 – The Immortal Family cause an explosion, which they emerge fine from, and escape, apparently to alert Mironu who has been missing. The Superhuman Bureau find out the Americans are aware of immortal Japanese, and they know they’re missing a member. Episode 9.
October 42 – Mountain Horse group tries their luck as superhumans and quits it. Fuurota infiltrates the Sugimoto media group. Episode 6.Same time – The superhuman Bureau recruits Judas after his release from prison. Face off against Earth-chan and try to get her aid in changing public opinion to sway protests against Japan joining the Earth Defence Force (against evil space-men). Earth-chan is given the ability to dream. Ullr (Kikko’s familiar) plots with Emi. Episode 7 (References October 8th 1967 Haneda protests).
November 42 – Mountain Horse band brings down Sugimoto Media Group’s plot to block superhumans’ powers. Dee of Mountain Horse band dies. The Bureau now knows of the Sugimoto group as their enemy clearly.Episode 6.
January 43 – Daitetsu Maki, now Otonashi Yumihiko and the other kidnapped kids (presumably) are an unregistered superhuman group, BL Club, who stage thefts by “The Eye of Lucifer”, Rainbow Knight’s old nemesis. Yumihiko and Jirou speak of morality. Superhuman Bureau is asked to stop opposing the FDE. Episode 8.
~Year 44 – Kaiju wave of attacks dies down. Episode 5 reference. Likely a reference to the 990 days of the protests following the Haneda Protest ending. Episode 7.
September 44 – Mironu of the Immortal Family is released by the Americans who follow him to try and eliminate the family. The Superhuman Bureau and Jirou try to defend them but are defeated by the American robot, the family survive on their own. Jirou clashes ideologically with the Bureau members. Chief Akita’s absence is noted upon. Episode 9.
October 44 – Jiro tries to recruit Mountain Horse and they decline. Jiro’s quest is revealed as gathering superhumans to take on the Superhuman Bureau. Superhumans appear to be illegal. Fuurota goes and meets him. Episode 6.
~Year 45-46 – Osaka Earth Expo, relevance unknown. Episode 6 reference.
April 46 – Jiro is an enemy, ex-Grosse Augen helps him, Kikko declares love. Episode 1.
February 47 – Male android returns. Android detective now fugitive. Episode 3.
April 47 – Judas, Jirou, and Megasshin (fused android) more break into a lab to retrieve Earth-chan’s stasis/broken down form, vowing to return her to her former glory. Episode 7.
October 47 – Jirou fights Yoshimura (time-controller, “Jaguar”), Restored Earth-chan intervenes, and then so does Daitetsu. Episode 8.
August 48 – Bug lady comes back for Fuurota, he learns what he’s done, gets saved and comforted by Jirou. Episode 2.