Episodes

Mikado Ryūgamine leaves his country home to attend high school in Ikebukuro, Tokyo with his childhood friend Masaomi Kida. Three people chat online about current events in Ikebukuro. As Mikado and Kida wander around the district, Mikado meets four of Kida's friends: Walker Yumasaki, Erika Karisawa, Saburo Togusa, and Kyohei Kadota. Elsewhere, a trio of men confirm that their target is a teenage girl. In the chatroom, they discuss the recent mass suicides. A man approaches the girl and leads her to the van, and she is kidnapped. Mikado and Kida encounter Simon Brezhnev, and Kida advises Mikado not to make enemies with Simon. Mikado sees a vending machine fly through the air. Kida explains that Shizuo Heiwajima caused it and warns Mikado to be careful of Shizuo. As the three in the chat room talk about the legendary headless motorcycle rider, the kidnappers wait at an exchange point. A helmeted woman on a black motorcycle appears and attacks them, but one kidnapper escapes. During the chase, he discovers that she is headless. When he attacks her, she slashes him with her scythe and renders him unconscious. Kida tells Mikado to stay away from Izaya Orihara and the Dollars gang. Mikado bumps into a red-haired girl, knocking her down. As Kida helps her up, Mikado notices a scar around her neck. The girl screams and runs away. Soon after, Mikado and Kida watch the headless motorcycle rider pass by. This episode is from Mikado's point of view. || Ryuugamine Mikado, a young man longing for something special to happen in his life, moves to Ikebukuro at the invitation of his friend, Kida Masaomi. He will begin a new life, living alone, as a high school student. He arrives in Tokyo for the first time in his life. Bedazzled by this new world, Masaomi gives him a warning: "If you want to live peacefully here, stay away from Heiwajima Shizuo, Orihara Izaya, and the mysterious color gang the "Dollars." Just then, he heard a sound similar to the neigh of a horse. Mikado and Masaomi follow the sound to its source and come across what they`d thought was only an urban legend: the "Headless Rider", atop a pitch-black motorcycle... Source: crunchyroll

Mikado and Masaomi begin the school year in separate classes. In Masaomi's class is the girl who was kidnapped before, Rio Kamichika, and her background story is revealed, including her encounter with the headless rider. || The entrance ceremony for Raira Academy. The students` varied mix of emotions swell. As they prepare for the new journey that lays before them, some meekly introduce themselves. One says he`s quitting school even though they`ve just begun. A seat where he should be sitting sits empty. Amidst all this, Kamichika Rio is there. A girl with a dark side to her. A crack suddenly opens atop this otherwise normal world. The girl who spots this should have died two days prior. Source: crunchyroll

Anri Sonohara, a classmate of Mikado's become class representative along him. While goofing off with Kida, Mikado spots Anri in trouble and decides to lend a hand to her and coincidentally, getting himself into a clash involving the dangerous Shizuo Heiwajima and his sworn enemy, the elusive Izaya Orihara. || Masaomi is out on the town, fervently trying to pick up girls. Confused, bewildered, Mikado goes along for the ride. Out recruiting for the Russian sushi restaurant where he works is Simon Brezhnev. Also out is Heiwajima Shizuo and Tom Tanaka, out to collect on a debt they`re owed. Yagiri Seiji is feverishly searching for someone and Sonohara Anri is walking around looking for her friend who hasn`t attended a day of school since opening ceremonies. All sorts of stories intermingle in Ikebekuro as rumors of the Dollars spread. Mikado runs into his classmate, Anri, who is about to get into a fight. Thinking he`ll rescue her, he calls out to her. But then, the info broker, Orihara Izaya, who he has been warned to steer clear of, appears. Source: crunchyroll

Shinra Kishitani, an unlicensed underground doctor, talks to the headless woman, whose name is revealed to be Celty Sturluson, about her day using a chat room. That morning, Celty learned from Izaya that an old street artist saw a dullahan missing its head. Celty quickly goes to find the man, but cannot find him. Shizuo knows where the artist is and helps her talk to him. However, they find that the artist could not draw the dullahan's head. Shinra tells Celty to give up looking for her head so they can live together forever. Celty becomes upset and leaves. It is revealed that during that morning, Shinra was the man that told the artist that the dullahan was perfect without the head. || The people of Ikebukuro speak of an urban legend: the "Headless Rider". A surprising number have personally witnessed it, riding the streets on a jet-black bike with no license plate. A mysterious being, that appeared to be the most natural thing in the world, in the darkness and back alleys of the city. However, does anyone really know what it truly is? One man, Shinra, considers the mystery. Meanwhile, the headless rider herself wanders... Source: crunchyroll

While hanging out with Anri, Mikado and Kida learn about her worries for her missing friend and try to cheer her up. Later the duo gets themselves in trouble when they are cornered by a gang of thugs. || Mikado, Masaomi, and Anri are enjoying a very high schooler-like afternoon, as the reporter Niekawa struggles in his search to find "The Strongest in Ikebukuro". People tell him about the Headless Rider, the Dollars, Simon, Heiwajima Shizuo, the Yellow Scarves, the Slasher. Nobody can agree. Then one of the candidates for "strongest in Ikebukuro", the Headless Rider races off with two shining red eyes, in the darkness of an alley. At the same time, a certain chat room is being trolled by a user named "SinSong". Source: crunchyroll

The Dollars gang figures that a foreigner friend of theirs was captured by the manhunters and search through Ikebukuro determined to rescue him. || Lately, more people have been going missing between Ikebukuro and Shibuya. The ones going missing are people like runaways and illegal aliens; people who won`t be missed. And today, once again, a group of young thugs, metal pipes in hand, have broken into an abandoned hotel where illegal aliens live to go "manhunting". They call the fleeing people "materials", but then where is the "drop-off point" they speak of? And which surprising group of people stood up to save the person they captured? Source: crunchyroll

Shizou has been very angry and destroys everything around him. Just as he recalls how he started doing that, his past involving the secret of his limitless strength, his relationship with Shinra as well as his encounter and vendetta over Izaya Orihara is revealed. || The man known as the strongest in Ikebukuro, Heiwajima Shizuo. Lately he`s been short-tempered and he doesn`t know why. His senior and partner, Tom Tanaka, tries to calm him down. Celty worries over him, but it doesn`t help. What`s bugging him? As he wanders the city to try and find out, he reflects on his past... Source: crunchyroll

Celty runs away from home after arguing with Shinra, and an exchange student asks people to write what they're looking for in a notebook she carries. || Celty, anxious and uneasy about being unable to find her head, gets into a fight with Shinra and runs away from home. Shinra quietly awaits her return, when he is visited by a certain individual. What is their connection to Shinra, and what is their goal? At the same time, an exchange student named Shiri wanders the streets of Ikebukuro with a sketchbook and pen in hand. She asks the people she meets one question, "Hello! What are you looking for?" The people of Ikebukuro give her many different answers. Source: crunchyroll

After losing contact with her brother Seiji, Namie Yagiri enlists Izaya's help to find him. While roaming through Ikebukuro, Seiji and Mika Harima stumble onto Shizuo and Celty and a heated pursuit begins after Celty figures that the head attached to Mika's body is actually hers. || Yagiri Pharmacuticals executive Yagiri Namie was upset. She was upset because she couldn`t find her beloved brother, Seiji. To search for him, she contacts the Shinjuku information broker, Izaya. Unconcerned that he was being searched for, Seiji wanders the city of Ikebukuro with a girl with a scar around her neck. He smiles gently at her frightened insistence that they go somewhere "far away". Source: crunchyroll

Mikado runs away with Mika and shelters her into his apartment. However, in the following day, he is approached by Celty and Izaya, and after telling her secret to him, Celty convinces Mikado to help her find Mika. Unfortunately, Mikado is cornered by some Yagiri Pharmacy workers who question him on Mika's whereabouts. In order to save Mika, Mikado reveals to Izaya and Celty his secret. || Mikado bumped into a girl with a scar on her neck on a street corner. With a sense of déjà vu he hears the sound of a whinnying horse. The girl was being chased by the headless rider. He quickly decides to keep her safe, and takes her home. However, she says she has amnesia. Unsure of what to do, Mikado speaks to Masaomi, but the only conclusion they can reach is that they have to wait and see. The next day, as Mikado returns home from school, he finds the information broker Izaya and the headless rider waiting for him. Source: crunchyroll

Mikado phones Namie proposing a deal, Namie attends with some followers around. Mikado claims he has Mika and demands the "truth" behind what she has done to Mika, she does (unknown to the viewer) while Kadota brings Mika to Celty at the roof of a building nearby Mikado and Namie. Mikado disguisted by the truth asks Namie to turn herself in, she thinking of Mikado's thoughts as nonsense orders her henchmen to move, however Mikado revealing himself as the leader of the Dollars sends massive-multiple email through his cell phone which is in fact sent towards the large mass of people of Ikebukuro who are in fact members of Dollars, ordered to only stare Namie and her workers. It is revealed that Mikado created the Dollars in hopes to create a rumor which would spread, however his plans were brought down when people calling himself Dollars were doing evil. In desperation Mikado left messages about Dollars being a group to do good, which in fact worked. Just as Namie and her followers are desperate, Celty with a high resolution over her existance caring little if she is seen as a monster, decides to attack the Yagiri workers defeating them, although revealing herself as "headless" causing panic among the people. Just as this happens Seiji in an enranged behaviour decides to attack Mikado knowing he knows where "Celty" is. || Anri`s missing friend, the Dullahan, the girl with the scar on her neck, Yagiri Pharmacuticals, the kidnappings, and the Dollars. The pieces are all falling into place. On a busy street in Ikebukuro, Mikado faces off with Namie. He`s afraid, but his eyes are staring straight through her soul. He`s there to reveal the truth behind the mysteries. Atop a building above them, Celty remembers Shinra`s words and asks herself: what has her reason for living been while she`s searched for her head? And then people begin to appear, one after another after another... Source: crunchyroll

It is discovered that Harima Mika is actually alive, and that Celty's head is being held by Yagiri Pharmacy. Shinra had known about it, and kept the secret from Celty for the fear of losing her because of her head's will. || Seiji attacks Mikado to get back the girl with the scar on her neck, but the girl tells him the truth. The truth startles both him and Celty. Seiji is too shocked to move, and an infuriated Celty leaves the scene. What answer will they find in it? At the same time, a shadow approaches Mikado as he watches them toyed with by fate. It was the information broker, Izaya. Source: crunchyroll

Anri and several others are attacked by the slasher. Each night someone is attacked, someone called Sinsong appears on the web, writing mysterious messages. "Today. Cut. Did Cut. More. Stronger. Love. Wish. Wish. Is. Want." Mikado is bothered by the rumors that the Slasher attacks are being perpetrated by the Dollars, and asks Celty for help. Celty eventually learns from Shinra that his father Shingen previously acquired a sword called Saika to separate the link between Celty's head from her body, and later had the weapon sold to a second-hand antique dealer. Shizuo offers to help Celty take care of the slasher when she goes out to search for the culprit. As Anri goes back home after parting ways with Mikado and Kida, she ends up at the place where she was spared by the slasher days ago. The slasher comes up behind her and prepares to strike. || Anri and several others are attacked by the slasher. Each night someone is attacked, someone called Sinsong appears on the web, writing mysterious messages. "Today. Cut. Did Cut. More. Stronger. Love. Wish. Wish. Is. Want." Mikado is bothered by the rumors that the Slasher attacks are being perpetrated by the Dollars, and asks Celty for help. Who is the Slasher and what are they after? Celty starts to get closer to the truth, but... Source: crunchyroll

A journalist named Shuji Niekawa is beaten up by Shizuo six months ago while trying to research who is the strongest person in Ikebukuro. As he goes around interviewing Simon, Izaya and Celty, Niekawa narrates his feelings on his latest work and the regret of not able to bond with his distant daughter, Haruna. After heading back home from a long day of work, Niekawa is attacked by the slasher who stabs him with a kitchen knife. After he survives the attack with no memory of the incident and awakes in hospital, Niekawa is possessed by the slasher spirit and directed to look for Anri, who was heading back home in episode 14. As he attempts to attack, Kyohei and his gang knock Niekawa down and rescue Anri. However, Niekawa gets back up to attack a second time but is knocked down by Celty on her bike with Shizuo in tow. Upon seeing Shizuo, the demonic spirit in Niekawa professes its love for him. Shizuo is enraged on hearing the slasher's confession and rips out a car door to bludgeon Niekawa. || Magazine journalist Niekawa`s unbridaled passion cannot be stopped. It`s raging as strong as ever. A foreigner who runs a sushi shop, the Awakusu organization, an information broker, the Headless Rider... He investigates the supposedly strongest man in Ikebukuro, Heiwajima Shizuo, by walking around the town and talking to people. However, he is suddenly attacked! But that wasn`t the only tragedy that night... Source: crunchyroll

Just as Shizou defeats Shuji, Celty takes the knife he drops and shows it to Shinra claiming that it could be Saika. Haruna Niekawa the daughter of Shuji comes to visit Anri to discuss about Nasujima, the teacher who harrases Anri. Shinra and Celty discussing about Saika, discover that Saika loves humans so much that it demonstrates her love via actions manipulating her host. They also find out multiple Saikas in the chat room as they find out that Saika slashes humans just as it leaves her "children" to manipulate multiple hosts. Celty decides to go for Shizou who went to fight Izaya who could be a target of Saika, not much later a multitude of hosts get around Shizou claiming they "love" his power. Shizou now liking his own power for the first time decides to fight back. While Nasujima is being chased by a possessed Haruna, Anri is attacked by multiple Saika-hosts. Haruna then is able to corner Nasujima, however Anri asks her to stop slashing people, just as Haruna attacks Anri, she is left unharmed as Anri reveals she is in fact, the wielder of the true Saika. || Anri was the slasher`s target. Kadota and the gang happened to see her get attacked and went to save her. Shizuo and Celty joined in, and the slasher was at last defeated and his identity revealed. But their relief lasted only for a moment, as Celty is stunned at the chatroom log she says. At the same time, a certain person visits Anri when she returns home... Source: crunchyroll

Sonohara pokes Niekawa with Saika, and shows her a flashback of how she became its wielder. Sonohara's father was an antiquities dealer, and constantly beat up her and her family. Her mother then got possessed by Saika, killed her father, and committed suicide. Sonohara then grabs the cursed blade, and becomes its wielder. Meanwhile, Shizuo beats up Niekawa's "Saika children," flashing back to his past. Sonohara then assimilates Niekawa's Saika, and as a result takes control of all of the Saikas in Ikebukuro. Sonohara apologizes to Celty for attacking her back in Episode 5. Mikado later visits Sonohara at the hospital, and after realizing she has met the "unusual people," warns her to stay away from the non-normal. As a result of Niekawa's assimilation, Sonohara has gained her and all of the Saika's memories; she suspects that Izaya is up to something. Mikado is later shown contacting members of the Dollars, but it is unknown for what reason. The episode concludes, as Izaya's plot deepens further; he is revealed to be behind several events in the slasher arc. He has caused a split of the city's population into different "factions;" Saika/Sonohara's army, the Yellow Scarves, and the Dollars; and knows that they will fight amongst each other. Kida, not knowing Anri Sonohara's true nature, retakes his place as the leader of the Yellow Scarves. He suspects the Dollars to be responsible for Sonohara's injuries, and vows revenge. || Niekawa Haruka leaves to chase Nasujima, who appeared by chance at her house. Anri follows her. As she faces off against Haruna, who`s controlling the gang of slashers, truths about her past are revealed. At the same time, Shizuo fights an unending battle against the Slashers in South Ikebukuro Park. As he defeats them one after another, his expression starts to take on a hint of joy... Source: crunchyroll

Confusion is starting to descend on the town of Ikebukuro. Izaya grins with an evil smile... everything is going according to plan. Unaware of Izaya's plan, Masaomi is remembering the past in an abandoned building. How he came back here. How a girl named Mikajima Saki still waits for him at the hospital. He remembers the words Izaya once said to him: "You can never run from your past." || Confusion is starting to descend on the town of Ikebukuro. Izaya grins with an evil smile... everything is going according to plan. Unaware of Izaya`s plan, Masaomi is remembering the past in an abandoned building. How he came back here. How a girl named Mikajima Saki still waits for him at the hospital. He remembers the words Izaya once said to him: "You can never run from your past." Source: crunchyroll

Anri Sonohara runs away from the Yellow Scarves. She hides in a dark alley and is scared of what will happen if Kida finds out her identity. The scene flashes back to when Anri was fetched out of the hospital by Mikado and Kida. Anri is puzzled over Kida's strange behaviour and worries about causing a gang war over Saika. This prompts her to ask her 'children' in Yellow Scarves who their leader is, not believing it when told it was Kida and decides to investigate. The scene comes back to when Celty sends her a text message and rescues her. As Celty drives away, a Yellow Scarves member throws a metal pipe at Anri, who brings out Saika and slashes it away just in time. Kida comes to the conclusion that Saika is also in Dollars. Meanwhile, Izaya fills Mikado in on the details of the gang war between Yellow Scarves and Blue Square. Kida realizes that he had only fought as the Yellow Scarves's leader for Mikajima Saki, and now his best friend Mikado. || Mikado, Masaomi and Anri continue their peaceful everyday life. But Anri realizes that something is wrong with Masaomi, and tries to find out what. At the same time, a gang war starts to break out between the Yellow Scarves and Dollars over the identity of the Slasher. The standoff grows as Mikado`s desire to stop it is ignored. Source: crunchyroll

Kida Masaomi looks into matters concerning the leader of the Dollars. He confronts Kyohei Kadota, a former Blue Squares member, about who might know something about this. Walker and Erika are there as well and they lecture Kida about forgetting that the blue squares ever existed since they hurt Saki Mikajima, Kida's former lover. They tell Kida to move on with his life and to forget that incident with Saki ever happened. Kadota gives Kida semi-useful information, but it still isn't enough. Anri becomes uneasy around Kida because she now knows that he is the leader of the yellow scarves. Kida goes to Izaya for advice and there, Izaya reveals to Kida that Mikado is the leader of the Dollars. At the recent meeting for Yellow Scarves, Kida orders everyone not to harm the Dollars yet, since there is not enough information to declare war on Dollars. Meanwhile, a member of Dollars who Mikado and Kida had met before is beaten severely in the streets by several Yellow Scarves members, despite Kida's orders. The next day, Kida tells Mikado and Anri that he will be visiting the hospital to see the injured Dollars member, increasing anxiety on Mikado's part. || The headless rider, a member of the Dollars, saved someone with a katana. This fact makes the Yellow Scarves even more suspicious that the slasher is a member of the dollars. What`s more, Masaomi starts to suspect that the remnants of Blue Square, the gang he once fought, are part of it as well. He visits Kadota`s gang to find out the truth. Source: crunchyroll

Mikado visits his injured classmate and Dollars member at the hospital instead of Kida since he backed out. His classmate tells him that he is going to quit the Dollars because he believes it is unsafe now. He then asks Mikado if he is part of the Dollars but he hesitates and says no. Mikado begins to worry about the Dollars and how the Yellow Scarves are threatening them. More Dollars members also begin to quit over the website. Celty discusses with Shinra of how Mikado, Sonahara and Kida don't know about each other of who they really are. Sonahara continues to investigate Kida and the Yellow Scarves. She controls some of the members with Saika to further investigate and gather more information. During a Yellow Scarves meeting, one member tells Kida that they have discovered who the invader was the other night and also says that she was rescued by the headless rider and she is the slasher (Sonahara) from how she controlled some of the members. They describe her as a Raira academy student who wears glasses and has big breasts. Kida instantly knows that it is Sonahara and he freaks out, keeping it all to himself. Mikado, still confused even after he had a chat with Yagiri, goes on the Dollars website and reads some of the posts. The members say that they quit and that the leader should do something and one suggests that the Dollars should be more a friendly group and protect Ikebukuro from the Yellow Scarves which Mikado agrees with. In the city, Sonahara is walking home and the Yellow Scarves spot her and they know that she is the invader from her features. While Mikado is still online, he reads a recent post about how someone (Izaya) has spotted a Raira academy girl with glasses and big breasts who has just been taken by the Yellow Scarves. Mikado instantly knows its Sonahara, just like Kida, and he also begins to panic. At the end of the episode, Sonahara is seen being taken away by the Yellow Scarves gang. || Masaomi`s orders are ignored as the Yellow Scarves begin to hunt down members of the Dollars. Mikado is depressed when he sees a friend of his attacked at wounded, and begins to wonder if the Dollars are really needed at all. Meanwhile, Anri tries to put a stop to the gang war, but only makes things worse... Source: crunchyroll

Sonohara is being taken away by the Yellow Scarves gang but Mikado asks the Dollars to help her. Izaya sees this too and decides to observe from afar. She escapes with the help of various members of the Dollars (to which she is unaware), but is found again until Kida grabs her hand and secretly helps her escape from them. He then asks her what she wants from all this and accuses her of tricking him while sucking up to Mikado; disgusted by these accusations, Anri slaps him and walks away. Kida then regrets saying those things. Sonohara is once again found by the Yellow Scarves, then saved from them by Shizuo and is then taken to safety in Celty's house. Celty then lets Sonohara live with her for the time being. After an increasing amount of violent attacks by the Yellow Scarves, resulting in severe injuries, Mikado disbands the Dollars (much to the protests of the Dollar members). Meanwhile, Celty decides to bring Mikado to her house to convince him to stop the gang war, and also so that he can tell Sonohara the truth about himself. Kida calls Mikado repeatedly but he refuses to answer the phone calls. At the same time, some Yellow Scarves (Horoda and his gang) shoot Shizuo and falsely claim that Kida Masaomi had ordered them to do so. || The Dollars are enraged at the evil deeds of the Yellow Scarves. While watching the member`s comments on the BBS, Mikado desperately tries to find a solution. Meanwhile, the Yellow Scarves find the identity of the girl who escaped from their hideout the night of the meeting, and come after Anri. But a surprising group of people step in to save her... Source: crunchyroll

Kida learns that he has been marooned by the Yellow Scarves. Celty confronts Mikado and reveals the truth about Kida and Sonohara. Meanwhile, Shizuo knocks on Shinra's door, heavily wounded by the gun shots. Shinra gives him medical treatment while Shizuo swears to kill Kida and the Yellow Scarves for shooting him. Sonohara then runs away, wanting to warn Kida. Kida returns to the Yellow Scarves hideout and learns that the Blue Squares have taken over Yellow Scarves from the inside. He then attempts to kill Horoda now that he has no affiliation to them. Kida is beaten up badly by the Yellow Scarves and puts up a fight until Horoda is about to shoot him, but one of Saika's children in Yellow Scarves knocks away the gun just in time. Sonohara bursts into the hideout, followed by Mikado and Celty on a motorcycle. || A gunshot sounds in an rainy alley, and a call comes to Masaomi. Mikado heads somewhere with Celty, and when Anri learns the truth she takes off too. In each of their hearts lie trust, doubt, and uneasy. And Izaya smiles as he enjoys the chaos. Everything rushes toward a conclusion... Source: crunchyroll

Half of the Blue Squares turned Yellow Scarves members counter attack Horoda as they reveal themselves as Kadota and 30 other of his friends. Kida is then taken to the hospital by Mikado and Anri while Celty chases Horoda who managed to escape the warehouse. While running away with the rest of his main gang, they encounter Shizuo who hurls a big sign post and chops the roof of their car. Celty then stops knowing that they encountered Shizuo but the Ikebukuro police then manage to eventually arrest Horoda and his gang. Kida is put into hospital as Anri confronts Izaya near the hospital, telling him her desire to kill him after he was the one actually behind all of the problems they encountered. Izaya manages to escape Anri, telling her that he isn't weak if he can manage to go up against Shizuo. While Izaya walks home he meets Simon but Simon immediately punches Izaya in the eye and they talk in Russian about what Izaya did. Back in the hospital, Kida wakes up to Saki standing in his room and they confess their love to each other. The next day, Kida and Saki leave Ikebukuro together with Kida giving a note to his school and Mikado and Anri stick together. That night, the Dollars is reborn as Mikado notices that Kida has joined the chat and he is happy that he can manage to stay in touch with his best friend. Kida and Saki are last seen leaving on a train somewhere in the country and Mikado and Anri on the top of their school building saying that Kida will come back. || Filled with resolve, Masaomi burst into the abandoned factory, but there he met someone he didn`t expect. At last Masaomi, Mikado, and Anri meet. As each carryies within them inexpressible emotions, they reach an answer... What answer do they come to? And what will be the end of the Gang War that has involved so many of the people of Ikebukuro? Source: crunchyroll