Hero (2007 Film)
Hero is a 2007 Japanese legal drama film directed by Masayuki Suzuki. It serves as a theatrical continuation of the highly successful Fuji TV television series of the same name, which originally aired in 2001. The film features the return of Takuya Kimura as the unconventional prosecutor Kohei Kuryu.
Plot
Kohei Kuryu, a prosecutor at the Josai branch of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office, is assigned to a case previously handled by his colleague, Mitsugu Shibayama. While the case initially appears straightforward due to an early confession by the accused, the defendant retracts his statement during the first hearing and claims innocence. Kuryu finds himself opposing Issei Gamo, a high-profile defense attorney known for his success in securing acquittals. As Kuryu investigates, he discovers that the case is linked to a bribery scandal involving a prominent Diet member, Renzaburo Hanaoka. To uncover the truth, Kuryu and his legal aide, Maiko Amemiya, travel to Pusan, South Korea, to seek cooperation from Kang Min-woo, a South Korean prosecutor.
Production
The film was produced by Fuji TV and distributed by Toho. It was written by Yasushi Fukuda and directed by Masayuki Suzuki. The production team included cinematographers and assistant directors who helped maintain the visual and narrative style established in the original television series. The film was released in Japan on September 8, 2007, with a total runtime of 130 minutes.
Cast
The film features a large ensemble cast, including:
- Takuya Kimura as Kohei Kuryu
- Takako Matsu as Maiko Amemiya
- Hiroshi Abe as Mitsugu Shibayama
- Koshiro Matsumoto as Issei Gamo
- Lee Byung-hun as Kang Min-woo
- Kiichi Nakai as Akihiko Takida
- Tamori as Renzaburo Hanaoka