Lost Youth is a film that exposes the darker side of Tokyo, exposing the true stories of youth in Japan. Unlike how Japanese cultures are famously exhibited to the world, the film displays a perspective rarely reported by the Japanese media due to political censorship. Some of its contents are disturbing and may appear controversial, but this is the reality and not something to hide from. Taichi adds: "I wanted to demonstrate why Japanese film makers should not be afraid of showing the truth, limiting their creativity as a result. I also wanted to change the Western world's glossed understanding of Tokyo by showing the true face of the city."