, often shortened to , is a Japanese television drama aired by Nippon Television between 1986 and 1987. It stars Hiroshi Tachi as Toshiki "Taka" Takayama and Kyōhei Shibata as Yūji "Yūji" Oshita, two detectives of Minato Police Station, A fictional police station located in Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture.
This "buddy cop" series depicts the unconventional, aggressive investigative methods of two detectives; while its production concept was explicitly billed as a Japanese take on Starsky & Hutch or a live-action Dirty Pair/, the show's content also drew comparisons to Miami Vice, which began airing in Japan the same year.
Regarding its tone, the show initially followed the hard-boiled style typical of conventional police dramas. However, as the series progressed, it incorporated witty banter, rapid-fire exchanges, and ad-libbed dialogue, ultimately establishing a comedic style that largely abandoned the somber, tragic atmosphere usually associated with the genre.
This thoroughly "trendy drama"A genre of Japanese television dramas mainly produced from the late 1980s to the early 1990s, i.e., from the late Showa era to the early Heisei era, depicting the lives and romances of men and women living in cities. This is a Japanese-made English term, and while it has general tendencies and characteristics, there is no clear definition. appeal resonated with viewers; the first TV season—originally slated for a six-month run—was extended by another two-quarter block. The series became a social phenomenon, primarily appealing to younger audiences—a demographic different from that of previous police dramas—and has continued intermittently for over 30 years, with theatrical film adaptations and novels being produced.
Cast Main characters Hiroshi Tachi as Toshiki "Taka" Takayama: A detective at the Minato Police Station (later a private investigator after retirement). He sometimes refers to himself as "Dandy Takayama" (a nickname coined by Oshita). He's a professional in organized crime investigations and is relentlessly pursuing the "Ginsei-kai", a large-scale organized crime group based in Yokohama. Usually has a cool demeanor, but at times he shows a passionate side driven by a strong sense of justice. Well-versed in firearms, always carrying two handguns (Smith & Wesson Model 586 and Model 49 Bodyguard, load with .38 Special), and is also proficient with shotguns and rifles. From "Returns" onward, he switched from using the Model 586 to a custom Colt Government model (commonly known as the Taka Custom). Although he cannot drive a car, he is highly skilled at operating motorcycles and heavy machinery. After retiring, he moved to New Zealand and ran a detective agency with Oshita. In "Home Coming", he returns to Yokohama with Oshita after his detective license in New Zealand is revoked due to trouble with local police officers, and they open the T&Y Detective Agency. Kyōhei Shibata as Yūji "Yūji" Oshita: A detective at the Minato Police Station (later a private investigator after retirement). He sometimes refers to himself as "Sexy Oshita". He is skilled at investigating theft cases and disguising himself, and also possesses exceptional athletic ability and driving skills. Prefers to act decisively and quickly, but this comes at the expense of patience and perseverance. On the other hand, he shows a rational side when necessary, acting as a check on Takayama. Like Takayama, he is well-versed in firearms and prefers to use small revolvers (Colt-made until "Forever", and Smith & Wesson-made from "Madamada" onwards). He mainly uses a Nissan Leopard (F31),The pre-facelift Gold Metallic / Silver Two-Tone car was primarily used (also used in "Final 5 Days" and "Home Coming"). The pre-facelift Dark Blue / Silver Two-Tone car was used in episode 13 of the first TV series and the 1987 movie, while the post-facelift Dark Blue / Gray Two-Tone car was used in "Motto" and "Mottomo". Skyline Sedan,The R31 model (Painted with Dark Gray Metallic) is used in "Motto" and "Mottomo", while the R34 model (Painted with Sparkling Silver Metallic) is used at the beginning of "Final 5 Days". GT-R (R35),Used in the "Final 5 Days". Painted with Gold Flake Red Pearl. Alfa Romeo 164Used in the "Returns". Painted with Cold White. Maserati GhibliUsed in the "Forever TV Special '98" and "Forever The Movie". Painted with Dark Blue. and QuattroporteUsed in the "Madamada". Painted with Argento Luna. as unmarked police cars. After retiring, he moved to New Zealand with Takayama. In "Home Coming", he returns to Yokohama with Takayama and they open the T&Y Detective Agency. Atsuko Asano as Kaoru Mayama: A female detective in the Juvenile Division and a close friend of Takayama and Oshita. Specialist in juvenile cases, but as the series progresses, she takes on more of a comedic relief role and also appears in various cosplay outfits. She has known Matsumura since before she became a police officer. She respects Matsumura and, in "Madamada", succeeds Matsumura as Chief of the Juvenile Division (Chief Inspector). In "Final 5 Days", she becomes the director of the prefectural police's important artifact storage facility and retires on the same day as Takayama and Oshita due to marriage. Throughout the series, she uses an Smith & Wesson Model 36 during her time as a detective. Tōru Nakamura as Tōru Machida: A rookie detective who has just been transferred from the traffic division to the Investigation Division. He's a womanizer and is always busy trying to pick up women even while on duty as a detective. No matter how many times he gets into trouble, he's always taken advantage of by Takayama and Oshita's promise to "introduce him to a woman". On the other hand, he is a capable police officer, and from the 1990s onward, he was promoted in each installment, eventually rising to the position of Chief of the Investigation Division (Chief Inspector) in "Madamada". Since becoming Chief Inspector, he has adopted phrases that Kondō used to say and, as a superior, has been strict with Takayama and Oshita, but when the three of them are alone, he easily reverts to his former subservient attitude. He likes flashy guns and cars, using Smith & Wesson Model 29, Model 586, and Colt Python pistols (all 4-inch), and mainly uses Nissan Skyline Sedan (R31), Cefiro (A31) and Mitsubishi RVR as unmarked police cars. Shizuo Chujō as Takuzō Kondō : A Chief of the Investigation Division (Chief Inspector). A veteran detective with 30 years of experience. He has trouble dealing with the problematic Takayama and Oshita, and if they continue to disobey orders, he throws a tantrum and abandons his work. However, deep down, he has great trust in the two, and ultimately, he will tacitly approve of or secretly support their actions, even at the risk of resigning. As the chief of the Investigative Division, he is susceptible to orders from the prefectural police, but he possesses a very strong sense of justice, and this personality has earned him great trust from those around him. He reached retirement age in 1990. Until Fukamachi's appointment in 1996, there was no official chief of the Investigation Division, but Kondō's presence has been mentioned even after "Returns". Michihiro Yamanishi as Kōichi "Papa" Yoshii: A police inspector. He is Takayama and Oshita's senior officer. Due to his honest character and the fact that he is married with children, he is affectionately called "Papa（Dad）" within the Investigation Division. Unlike Takayama and Oshita, he is a very orthodox detective. He is often troubled by the immoral behavior of Takayama, Oshita, and especially Tanaka, with whom he mainly works as a partner. Uses Minato Police's standard equipment such as a Smith & Wesson Model 36 or Colt Lawman for onduty sidearm and a Nissan Cedric/Gloria as an unmarked police car. He retired shortly after "Madamada", he runs an Oden restaurant with his wife, while also provides job placement support for young people who have been released on parole. Haruo "Bengal" Yanagihara as Fumio "Naka-san" Tanaka: Another senior detective to Takayama and Oshita. He excels at coercing suspects into confessions by repeatedly urging them to "spit out" during interrogations. On the other hand, he's a opportunist who always tries to please others. He's also incredibly weak to beautiful women, and will sexually harass any victim or perpetrator who is attractive. Initially portrayed as a gloomy and cynical character, he gradually became a comedic relief character as his comical interactions with other detectives, including ad-libs. Shortly after "Madamada", he retired and now works as a Ramen yatai owner and informant, cooperating with Takayama and Oshita. Takeshi Akiyama as Haruhiko "Haru-san" Yoshida: A colleague of Takayama and Oshita. Within the Investigation Division, he is the second most honest and orthodox detective after Yoshii, and assisted Takayama and Oshita in their investigations along with Tanimura. He holds a boat license and skilled at operating both cars and boats. The actor was suffering from rectal cancer and left the show after his appearance in "Forever TV Special '98", passing away shortly thereafter. Kenji Kinugasa as Susumu Tanimura: A young detective who works alongside Yoshida. Towards the end of the first TV series, his "muscle-bound idiot" character, who goes shirtless inside the Minato Police Station and when confronting criminals, became a defining trait. After Yoshida left the Minato Police Station, he served as a subordinate of Yoshii and Tanaka. In "Final 5 Days", he is transferred to the Yokohama Harbor Police Station. Kanae Hasebe as Hitomi Yamaji: A female police officer working in the general affairs department of the Minato Police Station. She is affectionately called "Hitomi-chan", and it's become a tradition for her to serve tea whenever a detective from the Investigation Division says, "Hitomi-chan, give me some tea!". She took over the traffic division's radio dispatch duties from Kōno—serving in that role from "Returns" through "Madamada"—and has served as secretary to Chief Machida since "Final 5 Days".
Recurring characters Nana Kinomi as Yūko Matsumura: A Chief of the Juvenile Division, female police Chief Inspector who is also a friend of Takayama, Oshita, and Kaoru. Has a lavish appearance reminiscent of a hostess at a high-class club, and is sometimes the subject of gossip about her looks. However, her friendly and big-sister personality makes her well-liked, and she wields considerable influence over biker gangs. She also prefers flashy red vehicles, owning a Nissan Fairlady ZThe Z31 model is used in the 1987 movie, while the Z34 NISMO (2015 model, White with Red accents) is used in "Final 5 Days". and a Ford Mustang Convertible.Third Generation were used in "Matamata", and Fourth Generation were used in "Forever". In "Madamada", she is promoted to police chief of the Minato Police Station (Assistant Commissioner). In "Final 5 Days", she retires from the police and becomes the president of an NPO that monitors imported goods. Although there are limitations due to her position, she continues to support Takayama and Oshita when they are in trouble, just as before. Due to the actress's schedule, she only appears in the first few episodes of both TV series. Hiroshi Miki as Hideo Suzue: A detective in the Juvenile Division. He often finds himself on the front lines during joint investigations with the Investigation Division, and gets caught up in the reckless actions of Takayama, Oshita, and Kaoru. Due to a retirement of actor, he left the show after "Mottomo". Husako Kenmotsu as Yoshimi Kōno: A female police officer in the traffic division and the radio operator at the Minato Police Station. She left the show after "Mottomo".