In 1988, a singularity destroys Tokyo. By 2019, Tokyo is rebuilt as Neo-Tokyo, which is plagued by corruption, anti-government protests, terrorism, and gang violence. During a violent protest, the hot-headed Shōtarō Kaneda leads his vigilante bōsōzoku gang, the Capsules, against the rival Clown gang. Kaneda's best friend Tetsuo Shima inadvertently crashes his motorcycle into Takashi, an esper who escaped from a government laboratory with the aid of a resistance organization. Assisted by esper Masaru, Japan Self-Defense Forces Colonel Shikishima recaptures Takashi, takes Tetsuo with him, and arrests the Capsules. While being interrogated by the police, Kaneda meets Kei, an activist belonging to the resistance movement, and tricks the authorities into releasing her and his gang.