Special Investigation Nine (2018)

Special Investigation Nine (Japanese: 特捜9, Hepburn: Tokusou 9) is a Japanese police procedural television drama that premiered on TV Asahi on April 11, 2018. The series follows the formation of a new special investigation unit within the police force following the dissolution of the previous #9 investigation team.

Promotional image for Special Investigation Nine — Promotional image for the 2018 series Special Investigation Nine.

Premise

One year after the disbandment of the original #9 investigation team, the Chief of the National Police Agency, Sojiro Kandagawa, authorizes the creation of a new special investigation unit. This team is tasked with handling cases from the initial investigation phase through to the referral to the prosecutor's office. Sakutaro Munakata is appointed as the leader of this new unit, which includes several former members of the previous team alongside new personnel.

Production and Broadcast

The series aired on TV Asahi's Wednesday 21:00 time slot, succeeding Aibou: Season 16. It concluded its initial ten-episode run on June 13, 2018, achieving an average viewership rating of 14.0%. The production involved a team of writers including Masaki Fukasawa, Yukiko Okazaki, Chiaki Manabe, and Tomihiko Tokunaga, with direction by Rokuro Sugimura, Ryoji Nimura, Yasushi Hasegawa, and Keiichiro Yoshida.

Cast

The main cast features Yoshihiko Inohara as Naoki Asawa, supported by Michiko Hada, Kanji Tsuda, Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Hiromasa Taguchi, and Yuki Yamada. Akira Terao portrays the team leader, Sakutaro Munakata, while Kotaro Satomi plays the National Police Agency Chief, Sojiro Kandagawa.

Mitsuru Fukikoshi, who plays Yasushi Aoyagi.

Hiromasa Taguchi, who plays Hideaki Yazawa.

Noriko Nakagoshi, who plays Michiko Asawa.

Sachie Hara, who plays Masumi Hayasegawa.

Kotaro Satomi, who plays Sojiro Kandagawa.

Akira Terao, who plays Sakutaro Munakata.