Angel Heart (2015 Japanese TV Drama)
Angel Heart is a Japanese television drama series that aired on NTV from October 11 to December 6, 2015. The series is based on the manga of the same name written and illustrated by Tsukasa Hojo, which was serialized in Weekly Comic Bunch from 2001 to 2010.
Plot Synopsis
The story follows Ryo Saeba, a private detective and "sweeper" known as City Hunter, who operates in the shadows to eliminate societal threats. Following the death of his long-time partner, Kaori Makimura, her heart is transplanted into a young woman named Xiang-Ying. The narrative begins when Xiang-Ying encounters Ryo, leading to a complex emotional journey for both characters.
Production and Background
The series was directed by Shunsuke Kariyama, Yuma Suzuki, and Mitsuru Kubota, with a screenplay by Yuya Takahashi. While the series features characters from Tsukasa Hojo's earlier work, City Hunter, the Angel Heart manga and its subsequent adaptations are set in a parallel universe rather than a direct continuation of the original City Hunter timeline.
Cast
The drama features an ensemble cast, with the primary roles portrayed by:
- Takaya Kamikawa as Ryo Saeba
- Ayaka Miyoshi as Xiang-Ying
- Saki Aibu as Kaori Makimura
- Shohei Miura as Liu Xin-Hong
- Brother Tom as Falcon
Reception
The series consisted of nine episodes and achieved an average viewership rating of 9.3% in the Kanto region during its original broadcast run.