In Asia, many nations have some catching up to do when it comes to television productions, but even though Korea is miles ahead, it isn’t the only giant in existence. Japan has always come a close second. The country is more popular for its anime shows, but it also has plenty lot to offer in other genres, especiallycrimedramas. Whether it is cops using unconventional methods to solve crimes or Yakuza members bullying everyone as usual, these shows consist of all kinds of intriguing characters that fall on different sides of the law enforcement divide. And the small screen projects don’t just focus on glorifying crime either. A good number of them condemn it, while still managing to provide the much-needed entertainment.
10Cheat (2019)
Cheatraises the important argument that it’s much better to make a criminal’s work pointless than to actually capture them. Events center around a detective who hires a team of expert swindlers to steal from other swindlers. Because they aren’t benefiting from their life of crime, many of the targeted con artists decide to quit.
It’s a smart and effective way to solve crime, only that some of the ‘victims’ chose to retaliate violently, resulting in further complications. Like many of the greatproductions with an ensemble cast, the characters have great chemistry, often helping each other in times of trouble and alerting each other whenever danger is around the corner.
9Midnight Diner (2009 – 2019)
Midnight Dinerfocuses on a chef only known as The Master and the moment it’s revealed that his diner only operates from midnight till morning, viewers can easily bet that plenty of shady activities take place there. Well, The Master isn’t really as good at cooking as otherfictional movie and TV chefs. In fact, his menu only has one item and he sometimes declines culinary requests. What he is excellent at is offering therapy sessions to people with questionable morals.
From mob enforcers to murderers, viewers get introduced to all kinds of criminals who are seeking both a meal and someone to lend them an ear. Police officers keep frequenting the diner. After all, because of the things he has heard, The Master is the kind of person who has the power to bring down many people if he ever decides to testify during court sessions.
8Tokyo Vice (2022)
Some of the best crime dramas feature “average Joes” who are aided by nothing but courage and luck.Tokyo Vice(a co-production between America and Japan) is such a kind of show. In it, American journalist Jake Adelstein gets a job as a crime reporter for Tokyo’s biggest newspaper and becomes obsessed with bringing down the Yakuza.
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As depictions stay true to facts yet fictionalize to fill narrative gaps, these shows walk an artistic and ethical tightrope, adding to the intrigue.
As delusional as Jake is, any viewer will find themselves admiring his courage. From sneaking into rooms where high-level meetings are being held to questioning everyone he can, Jake keeps risking his life. Away from Jake’s exploits, the show thrills throw its crisp cinematography, which is often boosted by Tokyo’s iconic neon street lighting.
7The Naked Director (2019 – 2021)
Heartbreak can either change someone for the better or for the worse, and for Toru Muranishi, it’s the latter. After finding out his wife is sleeping with another man, he erases the little traces of good-heartedness that were left inside him and begins peddling illegally acquired recordings of couples having sex at a hotel. On top of that, he partners with another criminal to sell porn magazines that have been banned in Japan.
Much ofThe Naked Director’s running time is thus dedicated to Toru’s efforts to avoid arrest and keep his illegal gig going. He bribes officers and even escapes after being alerted about potential ambushes. On a positive note, he tries to go legitimate by opening his own production studios, but because he has become a criminal heart, he just won’t resist the temptation to illuminate the competition using unfair means.
6Ninkyo Helper (2009)
In most mafia movies and TV shows, succession politics are never complicated. One person kills the boss and takes over, or an aging boss simply appoints the golden boy as his successor. However, things unfold rather differently inNinkyo Helper. Five members are selected as potential successors when the boss gets into the last stages of his sunset years. To prove their worth, they must go undercover as workers of a nursing home where swindling money from the elderly is the objective.
Though the show is dominated by men, it has strong leading ladies who never hesitate to put bullies in their place. The plot isn’t as straightforward as it initially seems either. Some of the characters end up suffering a crisis of conscience while others make out-of-character choices, leaving their colleagues baffled.
5Smoking (2018)
Viewers who have grown tired of the clichés plaguingmost skilled movie contract killerscan watch the Japanese crime series,Smoking. In it, the protagonists are homeless men who carry out assassinations in exchange for cash. And they don’t just report back with a “target down” remark. They make sure to bring the section of the skin with the victim’s tattoo as proof.
Some of the most memorable victims that the assassins get to hunt down are a mob boss who is hiding in the mountains, a criminal who stole from a dangerous client, and a man who didn’t keep his end of a deal. The entire show is quite the gore-fest too, hence fans who enjoy violence will have a blast. Most importantly, both the protagonist and antagonists are well-rounded, giving viewers every incentive to care about them.
4Yakuza: Black Panther (2010)
There aren’t many crime drama shows adapted from video games, soYakuza: Black Pantheris a distinctive show in its genre. The plot centers around a young delinquent named Tatsuya, who wakes up one day with a gun in his hand and several dead bodies around him. As he evades the police and does his best to prove his innocence, Yakuza members pick him up, and show him actual footage of him committing the crime. They then blackmail him into fighting for them in an underground mixed martial arts ring.
Fans who hate melodrama will be happy to find out thatYakuza: Black Panthersubverts the trope of characters crying in just about every episode. Instead, there is high-octane action, courtesy of the brutal and well-choreographed fight-to-kill matches. And the fact that the protagonist never loses his sense of morality is even more admirable.
3The Confidence Man JP (2018)
LikeCheat,The Confidence Man JPchronicles the adventures of con artists who are keen on stealing from shady people. Things often go wrong for them, but they always come up with ways to save themselves before disaster strikes. Occasionally, the protagonists end up bonding with the criminals.
A major thing that’s worthy of singling out for praise is the lavish production design. The characters mirror those ofgreat mafia and gangster moviessince they mind their fashion sense, and keep visiting the most exotic locales. And unlike other crime dramas,The Confidence Man JPavoids journeying too far into the dark route. There are numerous comical moments, all of which are executed with sitcom-like efficiency.
2Miss Sherlock (2018)
Miss Sherlockis a female-led adaption of Arthur Doyle’s popularSherlock Holmesnovels, and it focuses on the eagle-eyed Detective Sara “Sherlock” Shelly Futaba as she cleans up the streets of modern-day Tokyo. Assisting her is her flatmate, Dr. Tachibana, who has just returned home from Syria.
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Small-town crime TV shows hit different, for they leverage the tightly knit community dynamics at stake, thereby creating nail-biting tension.
Because the setting is the Tokyo world, the cases are darker than they normally are in otherSherlock Holmesadaptations. There is also a central overarching villainous organization that she works hard to take down. Like The High Table fromJohn Wick, this faction consists of some of the most talented and ruthless criminals in the land, and they all abide by certain codes. In addition to that, the show makes an effort to address critical feminist-related issues like gender balance in the workplace and abortion.
1Kei & Yaku: Dangerous Partners (2022)
The majority of TV bromances feature characters that have a lot in common but inKei & Yaku, the alliance that develops is somewhat taboo. A detective who is investigating the death of a senior colleague finds himself bonding with a young Yakuza leader who is also in search of answers. Together, they make significant progress in the case.
Kei & Yakuis ideal for genre fans who enjoy dialogue more than violence. The two men often get into deep conversations that stretch across various areas of life. Occasionally, it’s hinted that their alliance might just come to an end because none really trusts the other. After all, they have both been raised with different principles.
