Legend of Black Heaven

Season 1

1999 · 13 episodes · 5h 25m in all

Once he was Gabriel Tanaka, lead guitarist for Black Heaven, the hottest band around. His life was filled with passion and excitement, but no longer. Now he's just Ouji Tanaka, saddled with a mundane job, little pay, a shrewish wife, and a young son. The only thing he has left are the memories of his youth until an odd and beautiful woman asks him to pick up his guitar once more, and help save the galaxy with his song.

Episodes

1. 1

   1. Stairway to Heaven

   8 Jul 1999 · 25 min

   Oji Tanaka starts the day by losing his beloved "Flying V" guitar twice because his wife wants to get rid of it. At work his boss harries him. Later, after work, he believes he is being seduced by his new coworker (an alien in disguise).

2. 2

   2. All Night Long

   15 Jul 1999 · 25 min

   The next morning, Tanaka's son Gen accidentally destroys his prized autographed LP record by his idol Michael Schenker, and his wife is shown to be entirely unmoved by his loss. At work, Tanaka believes that his "stairway to heaven" experience from the night before was not a dream.

3. 3

   3. Hot House

   22 Jul 1999 · 25 min

   Spurred by busybody rumormongering neighbors, Yoshiko's suspicion that Oji is cheating on her grows, though she tries to suppress it. It did not help matters that she spots Oji with Layla.

4. 4

   4. Space Child

   29 Jul 1999 · 25 min

   Oji reluctantly babysits his son Gen because Yoshiko is going to her high school reunion, but feels compelled to play his guitar at the model house, leaving Gen behind in his haste.

5. 5

   5. These Are the Days

   5 Aug 1999 · 25 min

   Oji feels re-energized and dresses in his old rock outfits (blond wig, leather jacket, and leather pants, which he can't button anymore because he's gained weight) in an attempt to revive his rocker identity as "Gabriel."

6. 6

   6. Walk Away

   19 Aug 1999 · 25 min

   Oji is in a funk because he's decided to quit music. Alien Chief Scientist Hamill vows to do anything she can to have Oji play again. Meanwhile, Kotoko, Eriko, and Rinko try various futile methods to "inspire" Oji,

7. 7

   7. In Need

   26 Aug 1999 · 25 min

   The aliens are under increasing attacks from their enemies. Hamill tries to persuade Oji to play music, and he seems receptive by playing twice. However, the ultimate weapon mysteriously does not fire properly.

8. 8

   8. All Right Now

   2 Sept 1999 · 25 min

   Oji invites his surviving former bandmates from Black Heaven, Sato/Michael, Yamada/Luke, and Suzuki/Raphael for drinks. They reminisce about the old times and Oji tells him about the alien war and his music weapon.

9. 9

   9. Get Off of My Cloud

   9 Sept 1999 · 25 min

   Oji attempts to recruit members for his new band, the New Black Heaven, and has his son Gen draw the "space attitude" recruitment poster.

10. 10

    10. Ten Years Ago

    16 Sept 1999 · 25 min

    Black Heaven, and by extension the ultimate weapon, is not at full power because it is missing its keyboardist Watanabe/Joseph.

11. 11

    11. Sweet Emotion

    23 Sept 1999 · 25 min

    The rival aliens are perfecting their own final weapon using a clone of Watanabe's corpse.

12. 12

    12. Into the Arena

    30 Sept 1999 · 25 min

    The rival aliens test their ultimate weapon "Biomechanical Android Watanabe", which has 6 arms and can play 3 keyboards simultaneously, and almost destroy the aliens, canceling out Black Heaven.

13. 13

    13. The End

    7 Oct 1999 · 25 min

    1999 The final battle begins, and Black Heaven plays a marathon session in their struggle against the Watanabe clone.