Keiji no Manazashi

Keiji no Manazashi (Japanese: 刑事のまなざし) is a Japanese television drama series that aired on the TBS network from October 7 to December 16, 2013. The series consists of 11 episodes and was broadcast on Monday nights.

Background and Production

The drama is based on the novel Keiji no Manazashi by Gaku Yakumaru, which was published by Kodansha Ltd. on July 1, 2011. The series was directed by a team including Kosuke Suzuki, Kentaro Takemura, Ken Yoshida, and Ryutaro Kawashima. The screenplay was developed by Yuko Iwashita, Tetsuya Oishi, and Junichiro Taniguchi.

Plot

The story follows Nobuhito Natsume, portrayed by Kippei Shiina, a man who transitions into a career as a detective at the Higashi-Ikebukuro Police Station after the age of forty. Prior to joining the police force, Natsume worked at a youth detention center. His background influences his approach to police work, as he is characterized by his tendency to listen carefully to those involved in cases to uncover the truth. He is partnered with veteran detective Seiichi Fukumori, played by Yutaka Matsushige. The investigations conducted by the pair frequently center on family-related crimes.

Cast

The series features an ensemble cast, including:

• Kippei Shiina as Nobuhito Natsume
• Yutaka Matsushige as Seiichi Fukumori
• Jun Kaname as Taiga Kikuchi
• Yuriko Ono as Ryoko Adachi
• Taiki Nakabayashi as Kohei Seto
• Yo Yoshida as Minayo Natsume
• Anna Yamada as Emi Natsume
• Yuka Itaya as Kumiko Tanabe

Reception

The series recorded an average viewership rating of 8.0% in the Kanto region during its initial broadcast run. The highest-rated episode was the fourth, which aired on October 28, 2013, achieving a 10.0% rating.