A thief and detective fall in love while trying to outwit each other—what could go wrong?
Set in the future where it is commonplace for high tech crimes to get through cyber defense, Iwase Shobei, a wealthy man and well-known collector of gems, asks private investigator Akechi Kogoro to provide personal protection for his daughter Sanae. Iwase has been warned that she will be kidnapped. The mysterious phantom thief Kurotokage, who deftly replaces precious gems with imitations, stands in Akechi's way. However, Kogoro catches on that Madam Midorikawa, the owner of an exclusive hotel who has give shelter to Sanae, is actually Kurotokage, and prevents Sanae's abduction. However, he is hampered by a trick laid in the entire hotel and fails to catch her. At that moment, the thief and famous investigator secretly fall in love. Akechi chases Kurotokage and eventually learns about her tragic past and surprising identity. Although swayed by forbidden love, both have a final showdown at Kurotokage's secret museum which houses her collection. Who will be the victor?—Jdrama Weblog
Costume
Kurotokage's theatrical disguises steal every scene
Production
Gaudy retro-futuristic sets that refuse subtlety
Direction
Hayashi's unhinged melodramatic flourishes
Director
Kaizo Hayashi
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This is Hayashi's second adaptation of Edogawa Rampo's 1934 novel, following his 1968 version starring famous drag queen Akihiro Miwa. The story has become a queer cult classic in Japan.
Ryo, playing Kurotokage here, is the child of legendary actor Tatsuya Fuji and singer Mie Nakao—nepo baby energy absolutely deliberate in this role.
JP
