The U.S. Department of Justice’s massive release of millions of pages of “Jeffrey Epstein-related documents” has confirmed for the public some of the secretive inner workings of wealthy and powerful circles, while exposing a variety of horrifying and sordid activities. Over the years, there have been many stories that documented or reflected various “rumors” surrounding such worlds, and the 1990s saw several mainstream works dealing with similar themes. In film, there were Eyes Wide Shut (1999) and 8mm (1999); in manga, there was Yu Yu Hakusho (serialized from 1990 to 1994).

"How is it possible that salaries are high while prices are low? Experts tells us when everyone has more money, prices should rise, right?"

In the 1970s and 1980s, Japan was in an era of almost complete creative freedom. At that time, “political correctness” was still a niche idea confined to American universities and had not yet spread via the internet, so it posed no threat to Japanese creators. Their hands could not reach Japan. Looking back at the works of that period, the boundaries were far more open than they are today.

Game producer Tomonobu Itagaki passed away on 2025 October 16 at the age of 58. In the restless, invention-driven 1990s and early 2000s, this man — mockingly dubbed the “Rotten-Face Guy” or “Sulfuric-Acid Face” by the industry — was a guaranteed magazine-cover presence the moment a new project of his was announced.