Synopsis

Kurama Rokuro is a private detective. He is a detective story aficionado, and a mystery geek. He believes in ghosts and UFOs. He hates the sight of blood and dead bodies. Actually he has a sharp insight and a creative imagination, but his reasoning is always just a guess. When he wrongly accuses people of a crime, he sends them a gift with a note “I’m sorry about the mistake”. His mission is to use all up the airtime (33 min.) to solve a quite simple case which must be settled in 5 min. His wild guesses and imagination increase the number of suspects, and his ambiguous reasoning turns the cases upside down. Can he finally discover the offender? –Fuji TV

Main Cast

Production Credits

Screenwriter: Fukuda Yuichi
Producers: Shikanai Tsugi, Moriya Takeshi
Directors: Fukuda Yuichi,  Narita Takeshi
Music: Ishida Katsunori

Review

Well what can I say. This drama is uniquely interesting as it is a comedy drama stringed together with episodic detective crime solving with a particularly interesting angle. Domoto Tsuyoshi has not done a solid drama in a couple of years or more and he came back with a comedy, although I think he could have picked a much better script for his come back.

With due respect to the production team and screen writer, the overall structure of the drama can be slightly better. But I have to admit I do enjoy the drama (in a weird uninhibited way), as the comedic elements are funny and at times corny, they hold well on their own and did not go over board. The quirky songs and dances and “freeze motions” are innovative and pretty true to the local Japanese comedic style, a style I grew to love, I am sure you will too.

The cast was also pretty well selected with Sato Jiro and Kojima Yoshio as strong comedic interventions. Takahashi Katsumi as the police inspector is also a well chosen cast who is pretty established in the comedy scene. Asami is great as usual, although not showing her full comedic range but overall she did a good job.

Rating: 3.5/5 (Can do without watching, but it is still overall a good laugh)

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Synopsis

The story begins with the deaths of ruling party’s Fukuoka legislator and his eldest son, his heir apparent, in an accident. It is decided that a by-election will be held, and Kanbayashi Masaichi, the leader of the ruling party, and secretary Miyama Rika conceive the idea of fielding the second son, Asakura Keita, who had been renounced by his father.

After Keita graduated from senior high school, he went on to a university in Nagano because he wanted to live in a place with beautiful stars, and eventually became an elementary school teacher over there. Well-liked by children and satisfied with his beloved star gazing, Keita has no interest in the world of politics. However, at Rika’s persuasion and the pressure of his family, he reluctantly decides to announce his candidacy.

Upon returning to Fukuoka, Keita is given a hearty welcome by supporters. The election strategist, Nirasawa Katsutoshi, arrives there. He is guided by the notion “election is the only permitted legal war” and begins Keita’s election campaign. –jade_frost

Main Cast

Production Credits

Screenwriter: Fukuda Yasushi
Producers: Goto Hiroyuki, Shimizu Kazuyuki
Associate producer: Ishihara Takashi
Directors: Sawada Kensaku (ep1-2,5,8,10), Hirano Shin (ep3-4,6-7,9)
Music: Nobuchika Teruyuki

Review

Rating: (A Classic)

Awards

• 12th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Spring 2008): Best Drama
• 12th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Spring 2008): Best Actor – Kimura Takuya
• 57th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Actor: Kimura Takuya

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