Season 4 • Episode 3
LatestKyoko Kagami is a pen name for a pair of twin writers. After one sister kills the other, their technical advisor Furuhata investigates. His investigation is complicated by his feelings for the surviving sister.
Furuhata Ninzaburō is a Japanese television series that ran periodically on Fuji Television from 1994 until its final episodes in 2006. It was written by Japanese playwright Kōki Mitani and is often referred to as the Japanese version of Columbo. The series is a police detective drama starring actor Masakazu Tamura as Furuhata Ninzaburo and Masahiko Nishimura as his stereotypically bumbling sidekick, Shintaro Imaizumi. The program aired weekly and featured a guest villain each time, usually a famous talent in Japan. Pop-stars like SMAP, television hosts like Sanma Akashiya and even sports figures like Ichiro Suzuki have been featured on this program. It was one of the most popular television dramas in the history of Japanese television, having spawned several seasons and TV specials.
Acting
Masakazu Tamura's final-episode hair flip is national treasure material.
Writing
Koki Mitani scripts where the killer confesses to avoid more awkward small talk.
Production
Who's the guest villain? Olympic athletes? Idol groups? Yes.
Creator
Koki Mitani
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The show pioneered 'comfortable mystery' in Japan—violence happens off-screen so viewers can enjoy the puzzle without trauma. It aired during family dinner slots.
Real-life baseball legend Ichiro Suzuki's 1996 episode was so popular that 'Furuhata' became slang for catching someone in a lie. LIGHT: His character's alibi involved baseball stats he got wrong.
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