True Detective: Keibuho Daimajin

 Absolutely KNOCKED OUT by the first episode of the crime thriller “Keibuho Daimajin”, following the exploits of a detective nick-named Daimajin and his venture into the underbelly of crime. From the GET GO this show pulled no punches and hit the ground running, taking me on a journey I had no IDEA where it would lead!

Ikuta Toma stas as Daiba Jin, an all-star ‘ace” within the Police Department for his record of arrest rates and his singular passion to punish the evildoers. But his dedication to the cause goes deeper than anyone might suspect.

When we are introduced to Daiba, he has caught up to a powerful leader in the force named Amo Dai, who has been leading a child abduction serial case for years, without success. The reason becomes clear to Daiba when he discovers that AMO HIMSELF has been the child murderer, and, knowing full well that because of his power and authority, will get off scot free, Daiba metes out the ultimate punishment- by KILLING HIM with his own hands, and setting it up to look like a suicide.

Later Daiba returns to the scene as the lead investigator, and persuades the investigative team to rule it as a suicide, while also trying to steer the team to the proof of Amo’s evil deeds.

There is a kink in Daiba’s plans, however, a keen investigator named Saimon Hirayasu (Osamu Mukai), who isn’t easily swayed by the obvious clues Daiba has left behind indicting Amo as the child killer. He examines the scene and has his OWN ideas of what's happened....

Hoping to show Hirayasu proof of Amo’s crimes, Daiba says they should check Amo’s second home. Daiba has recently rescued a child from Amo’s depraved basement, and wants Hirayasu to discover it on his own.

 They go to the house, where Daiba feigns innocence as they break into the place and make their way down the stairs to the torture room.  Daiba exclaims to Hirayasu, “Amo must have been the killer!” but is met with shock...when Hirayasu not only says that he knows FULL WELL that Amo was the serial killer- but that DAIBA was the one that executed him!

Daiba is in disbelief, but Hirayasu calms him down, stating that he fully APPLAUDS Daiba’s methods. Like Daiba, he knew that Amo was basically untouchable and would never answer for any crimes, so he completely understood when Daiba resorted to murder.

Hirayasu even goes as far as saying he knows of at least three other “murders” of corrupt individuals that he believes Daiba was responsible for, but instead of turning him over to the authorities, he orders him to JOIN his covert investigative team! Seems Daiba is going to be under this guy's thumb for awhile....

When Daiba arrives the next day, he is met with the most rinky dink of a team, with just two investigators there (Kavka Shishido and Kenta Hamano) in a cramped space. But when Hiroyasu arrives, he lets Daiba know that this task force has a secret agenda: to investigate all the corrupt goings on  within the governing landscape by an old cult-like organization known only as the “44”, of which Amo was a part of.

Together the team hopes to work in the shadows tracking down the ne’er do wells, and with Hirayasu, Daiba agrees on a shaky truce as they go into the deep workings of the organization...

Hirayasu meeting with his own  “Deep Throat” informant Taizo Kumota (Ken Matsudaira) for information....

The group may have a perpetual “fly in the ointment” on hand,  with a sharp and compassionate young detective named Yuka Tanabata (Tao Tsuchiya). Like the rest, she is concerned about the child abduction cases, and when the child who Daiba had rescued describes him to her, Tanabata suspects Daiba may have had something to do with the kidnappings!

And with a chance sighting of Daiba at Amo’s house and Daiba’s sudden departure from the department into Hirayasu’s mysterious team, she makes it her mission to pry into their goings on and movements!

MAN, I cannot tell you how jazzed I am for this show, and was CRYING OUT the fact that this first episode wasn’t at least an hour-long, it ended FAR too FAST! I’ve mentioned before how disappointed I am when crime dramas like JOKER: Yurusarezaru Sousakan and ALICE no TOGE portray the leads as cold-blooder anti-hero killers, anly to revela at the end that they didn’t REALLY hurt anybody and it was all for show. 

That’s why I was so BLOWN AWAY by the Oguri Shun crime drama BORDER, where the judgement and punishment extracted onto the villains were so cold, cruel and ABSOLUTE, and with Keibuho Daimajin’s INTENSE opening scene of Daiba STRANGLING the criminal to DEATH…I was GOBSMACKED!

PS: About the post title: This drama’s macabre and surreal vibe REALLY reminded me of the excellent “True Detective” series, especially the first one with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson… and until some station eventually actually makes a Japan version (like they did with Cold Case, Bones, Suits, etc), this one will do nicely!

REALLY excited to follow this one!!!

Another Unfortunate Detective: Akira Hamura

Kavka Shishido as Akira Hamura

 Just wrapped up Yappari oshii Keiji and wasted no time diving into another mystery drama, “Hamura Akira: Sekai de Mottemo Funna Tantei~ The Most Unfortunate Detective In The World” featuring Kavka Shishido as the titular Hamura Akira.

Hamura is a self-professed “unlucky” person who always seems to attract unfortunate things to herself. When she gets paid a week’s retainer to track down a suspect, he is apprehended in the first hour by the police and she has to return most of the money. When she is hired to find a missing relative, the said relative is the first person that answers the door when she starts her investigation. Looking at the meager amount from what was to be a huge weekly payday from multiple clients, she mutters, “Am I lucky or unlucky?”

Luck aside, Hamura is not your usual detective. Very low-key and unassuming and almost grudgingly accepting most jobs, she can be very efficient in the work, and when she is confronted, she can be pretty kick-butt as well!!!

Hamura works out of a Detective Agency/Bookstore where a eclectic bunch of wannabe junior sleuths hang out with the owner, making for a lively discussion whenever any new case comes about! Always FUN whenever they're around, especially pretty Akemi (Suzuka Ohgo)!

 Seems Hamura was originally just an employee at the bookstore, but when the owner found out she was a detective, he excitedly changed it into a real agency with HER as the star! He even offers her lodging so he can keep her on premises at all times!

Along with her bookstore cohorts, Hamura works alongside several members of the police force, Hayami (Kanji Tsuda), Shibata (Shunya Itabashi) and Okada (Shotaro Mamiya) all of whom respect her judgement though her stand-offish attitude can grate at times!

Wow, I’m really liking this character of Akira Hamura, Kavka Shishido’s brooding performance is simply mesmerizing! VERY charismatic, and I wondered if I had ever SEEn this girl before...Turns out I HAD!

Looking her up, I was surprised that she was the actress who played Yumiko Minatogawa in Red Eyes…WHHHAAA! I thought it was Ai Hashimoto! Going to have to get used to Kavka’s looks!