Koki Mitani
Director
Furuhata Ninzaburo (1994)
Specials
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.
Released April 13, 1994
Episode 60 min
None+
Keywords: imdb.television, imdb.detective, imdb.bumbling-sidekick, imdb.japanese-drama, tmdb.curious, tmdb.comforting, tmdb.detective + 2 more, tmdb.mystery, tmdb.japanese-detective
Production Companies: Fuji Television Network
Network: Fuji TV
S0E1 - The Laughing Kangaroo
A love triangle turns deadly during an awards ceremony in Australia. Unfortunately for the killers, however, Furuhata and Shintaro are on a well-deserved holiday in the same hotel.
April 12, 1995, midnight
S0E2 - A Brief Parting
The head of a flower arrangement clan murders her overbearing teacher and rival during a flamenco recital. The one thing Furuhata, who was in the audience, can't quite figure out is how the killer found her victim in the dark auditorium.
March 27, 1996, midnight
S0E3 - The Disappearance of Furuhata Ninzaburo
Famous detective Furuhata Ninzaburo has disappeared, so a TV crew decide to make a documentary about his career interviewing his associates and the killers he caught.
April 9, 1996, midnight
8.0
S0E4 - Furuhata Ninzaburo vs SMAP
Furuhata is called in to investigate a murder committed by the well-known Japanese boy band SMAP.
Jan. 3, 1999, midnight
S0E5 - Dr. Kuroiwa's Fear
Furuhata comes out of retirement to investigate a series of bizarre serial killings which would look like deaths by natural causes except for the notes found inside the victims' anuses.
April 6, 1999, midnight
S0E6 - All By His Excellency's Hand
An employee at a Japanese embassy in a South American country is kidnapped but Furuhata, who is there on holiday, begins suspecting that the man was killed by none other than the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary himself.
Jan. 3, 2004, midnight
S0E7 - Furuhata Ninzaburo Final: And Now, Death is Resurrected
Furuhata investigates a series of bizarre, seemingly random accidental deaths. He zeroes in on the suspected murderer, but loses faith in his instincts when the suspect is himself killed. However, in the end, he ends up solving three murders and catching the real suspect.
Jan. 3, 2006, midnight
S0E8 - Furuhata Ninzaburo Final: A Fair Murderer
Ichiro Suzuki, a baseball player obsessed with fair play, murders a man who was blackmailing his brother who is none other than Furuhata's faithful friend Mukojima.
Jan. 4, 2006, midnight
9.0
S0E9 - Furuhata Ninzaburo Final: Last Dance
Kyoko 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.
Jan. 5, 2006, midnight
S0E10 - Young Furuhata Special
Young Furuhata, a 3rd-year junior high student from Tokyo, transferred to a school in the countryside due to family circumstances. He doesn't fit in at first, but he eventually gains a reputation as a detective and opens his own detective agency. One day, he hears about the town's legend of buried treasure, and he immediately begins unraveling the mystery.
June 14, 2008, midnight
Network: Fuji TV
Episode Runtime: 60 min.
Season Runtime: 2160 min.
Released: April 13, 1994
Last Air Date: Jan. 5, 2006, midnight
Status: Ended
Certification: NR
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