Look, balloons.
Wait your turn.
I'll take one.
Here, Madoka. Nice, huh?
What do you want to ride next?
-Merry go round. -Merry go round, huh?
Madoka, you sure like merry go rounds.
I'm going to the bathroom real quick.
What do you want.
Daddy, my balloon flew away.
Daddy isn't out yet.
Dear!
Daddy, Daddy.
Dear!
You really should practice more.
You're never going to beat me if all you do is
concentrate on taking the corners.
I definitely had the advantage halfway into the game.
-That's five wins in a row. -Isn't it six?
That's right. Six wins in a row.
Seriously, you're impossible to beat.
But I was thinking during the game.
-What? -I was wondering
about our job. Is it to turn white to black,
or black to white? (*black=guilty; white=innocent)
Naturally, we're here to make sure that black is black.
Yeah, right? I guess it's not even funny if we turn white to black.
-Same goes for turning black to white. -That would be
-even worse, wouldn't it? -That's a bad question to start out with.
-Really? -One more game?
You bet.
But it's really slow, isn't it?
Considering the other team's working on a big case.
Never mind the other team.
Our team is our team.
I'm not in the mood anymore.
I'm going out for coffee.
It's definitely bothering her, don't you think?
That's only natural.
-Yes. Himekawa. -Can you go to Ohtsuka?
Ohtsuka? You mean the Medical Examiner's Office?
Yeah. Kunioku Sensei wants to see you.
Kunioku Sensei? Is it a criminal incident?
-I don't know. -Pardon me?
A body was brought in and it's unknown
if it's suicide or homicide. -If it's unknown,
there's a possibility that
the autopsy may determine it to be suicide.
Well yeah. Then you would've wasted your time.
But hey, Himekawa. Take someone with you
and go check it out. Alright?
Alright.
Why is it always me when it comes to Kunioku Sensei.
Yes.
How's it going?
-Huh? -You're not winning anyway, right?
-Not really. -I need you to go somewhere with me.
Thanks for coming. I'm so happy you're here, Hime.
I'm not here by choice.
-I didn't ask for this guy here. -Kikuta's my bodyguard.
What's that? Bodyguard?
I have to protect myself from
-Kunioku Sensei's persistent proposal. -Proposal?
I love the way you talk so coldly.
I found a great restaurant that serves the dobin-mushi you like.
Never mind the dobin-mushi. Please tell me why you called me here.
Damn~ I'm not giving up. Not until I win Hime over.
-Win her over? -So,
what's this about a body that you can't tell if it's suicide or homicide?
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
This, this, this, this, this.
The rope was wound around the neck three times,
and believed to have intersected and twisted at the throat.
So if he wanted to, he could have tied it himself, but
someone else could have done it too to make it look like suicide.
This isn't for you, you hear?
Can you tell anything from the autopsy?
We checked the subcutaneous bleeding, but we couldn't tell anything from it.
We can't determine medically whether it's a suicide or homicide.
-However. -However?
Estimated time of death is around 11:00 last night, but
there's something odd about the body.
-Something odd? -It's odd that
rigor mortis dissipated awfully fast just on the right side of the body.
In other words, just the right side of the body
was chilled for some time with something cold to lower the
body temperature quickly.
According to this, the air conditioner was on in the room
where the body was discovered. Could this be the reason?
That could possibly be the reason.
But even then, it's still odd that only one side got cold.
Moreover, it's not the season for air conditioners.
Are you saying someone tried to manipulate the estimated time of death?
Right, right, right. If it was homicide.
But even if it was homicide, why only one side?
Who discovered the body?
-Nishigahara Precinct. -Thanks, Sensei.
If you get the credit for solving this case, the dobin-mushi you like...
-Wah~ She's gone. -Excuse me.
Sensei.
-What's this proposal... -Never mind!
It's none of your business. Go, go, go.
Get outta my sight!
Thanks.
She totally ignored these delicious macaroons.
-What a coincidence. -What is?
Kusaka Team's currently at Nishigahara Precinct for their case.
Ah, that incident 3 days ago where the gang boss was shot to death.
Why do they always get these sensational cases the media loves.
There's nothing we can do about that. We just get the case in the order it comes.
Besides, theirs is just a fight between gangs, right?
That's the general consensus.
Then it's not such a juicy case.
Let's just concentrate on ours.
It might turn into something big.
We're gonna crack this case.
We searched the garbage collection areas and the river banks around the scene, but
we have yet to discover the gun that was used as the weapon.
Alright. Continue your all out search for the gun.
Next. Kusaka.
In regards to the victim, Kanbe Yoshitaka,
head of Kanbe-gumi, an affiliate of Yamato-kai.
Tanahashi Takeshi, the number two man of Ohta-gumi, an affiliate of designated crime gang
Yamato-kai, introduced Kanbe to Ohta Hiroshi, the boss of Ohta-gumi,
and in September of 1991, he was sworn in as Assistant Gang Leader.
Then in June 1992,
he started Sugita Kogyo in Minami Senju, Arakawa under the umbrella of Ohta-gumi.
-I can�t take him physiologically. -Sorry I look like this.
Apparently, this Sugita Kogyo was
raking in quite a profit. First year 31,240,000 yen,
2nd year 42,100,000 yen, 3rd year 123,690,000 yen,
4th year 134,820,000 yen, 5th year 148,930,000 yen.
Their sales steadily increased every year.
In April 1997 he left Ohta-gumi after
he was granted permission to set up Kanbe-gumi as a direct affiliate of Yamato-kai.
Hold it, Kusaka.
What's with this snail's pace every time. What the hell are you investigating?
-I'm not sure what you mean. -This case most likely
stems from gang rivalry.
I thought I made it clear that the investigation was to be
centered around Kanbe-gumi's rival, Jinwa-kai's Takami-gumi.
-I'm well aware of that. -Does your report
-have anything to do with their rivalry? -I don't know yet.
Why are you reporting on stuff that might be irrelevant?
I'm including facts that may or may not be relative.
I don't consider it to be a waste of time.
-What! -But you know, Kusaka.
If you try to investigate everything that comes your way,
-you'll never have enough time. -I don't believe my investigation is
taking more time than the others.
No one's saying you're taking too much time.
If the cause was rivalry, we need something to prove that.
I do not wish to investigate with a preconceived notion.
Enough! Next, Crime Lab. Shibata.
-Yes. -I'm not done yet.
Currently, Kanbe-gumi has 53 members.
If members held by the executive staff, that is, member of its affiliates, are included
that number goes up to 172.
-Kanbe-gumi's so-called front companies... -He's a hopeless case.
Looks like the meeting's over.
-I don't remember asking for extra help. -I'm working on an unrelated case.
Excuse me.
Just stay out of my way.
Kusaka Shunin never change, does he?
-Reiko-chan! -Ioka.
Why the heck are you here? Aren't you at West Kameari Precinct?
I was reassigned again.
I've been back here since last month.
You're kidding. I'd like to know
why you appear everywhere I go.
Isn't that because Reiko-chan's pinky and mine are
connected by the red thread?
Can't you see it? The faintly red thread on my pinky.
-I don't see it. At all. -Aw, come on. No need to be embarrassed.
Oh, that's right. Reiko-chan, you should really carry this charm with you.
-You're sure to be blessed. -I don't need it.
-Come on, don't be like that... -Cut that out.
Stop the violence!
But this is the pits.
I followed the red thread and ended up having to pair up with Kusaka Shunin.
It can't get any better than that. There's a lot to be learned from Kusaka.
Yeah, right. Like I really believe that. The man's hopeless.
He keeps getting stuck on trivial matters. I can hardly take it anymore.
-Ioka. -Yes.
-We're going. -Certainly.
Plus, he watches over me. God help me. See you around.
He sure acts buddy-buddy.
Wanna pair up with him once?
-Thank you, but no thanks. -Himekawa.
-Hello. -Sorry about the unexpected case.
-That's alright. -This is Nishigahara Precinct's
-Assistant Inspector Funakoshi. -I'm Nishigahara Precinct,
Violent Crime Investigation Division Chief Funakoshi.
-I'm Himekawa. -I'm Kikuta.
Anyway, you know the story, so I'll leave the rest to you.
Please excuse us.
The precinct's in a turmoil from that shooting murder incident.
We don't even have any investigators to assign to you.
This is the only room we have available, but please use it freely.
Let's get right down to business.
Can you tell us what it was like when the body was discovered?
I'm hoping this ends up being a suicide.
If two investigation headquarters should get set up in a small precinct like ours,
it gets tough budget-wise and all.
Here's our initial findings.
This morning at around 10:30
a woman called in saying a man was found dead.
-and if someone could come take a look. -A call came in.
The location was Apartment 107 East Heights, Tabata 2-chome, Kita-ku.
And so 2 police officers were dispatched and found the body in the room.
The door was unlocked?
-Yes. -What about the woman who called in?
She wasn't there.
We immediately sent an investigator and a member of the crime lab to the scene, but
they weren't able to ascertain whether it was suicide or homicide.
That's how we came to ask for the medical examiner's participation.
Has the body been identified?
Murata Kazuo.
We verified it from the apartment lease document.
Can we take a look at the apartment tomorrow?
The scene's well preserved.
Isn't it more like no one's been here?
-That can't be. -It's possible.
As soon as we get there, he tells us he can't spare anyone to help us.
It's so obvious he intended to make us handle this case from the get go.
Meaning they don't have people to spare
on a case that hasn't been determined to be suicide or homicide.
I bet Kusaka's saying he needs more hands or something.
This is the air conditioner that was left on, huh?
Yeah, but judging from its position,
it doesn't look like the cold air was directed towards the right side only.
Excuse me. The landlord is here.
He's over there.
-I'm sorry for troubling you. -That's quite alright.
I'd like to ask you a few questions about Murata-san
who lived in Apartment No. 107.
What kind of a person was Murata-san?
It's hard to say. He was a reserved person
who didn't talk too much.
-How long has he lived here? -I think it's been about 3 months.
He showed up suddenly wanting to rent a room.
I turned him down once because he didn't have anything
to identify himself.
He didn't have any ID?
That's right. Then he said he'd pay
6 months' rent in advance. This is my business.
As long as he paid up, I had no reason
to turn him down.
Do you know where Murata-san worked?
Seems he went out to construction sites once in a while, but
I thought a woman was supporting him.
A woman?
The lease was for one person, but he brought in a woman.
Personally, they were quite a nuisance. And in the end, this.
No one will a rent a room where a corpse was found.
They're all men's stuff.
There's no sign anywhere that a woman lived here.
Do you think she's the one who made the call?
-Probably. -A woman who wiped out her presence and vanished.
Homicide is starting to look like a good possibility.
But if that's the case, why did she call it in?
I wonder what these are.
What's this smell?
Could they be cypress?
13 pieces in all.
What's this key for?
-Yes, Himekawa. -Shunin.
Prior criminal record was found from the fingerprint.
Alright. Gather everyone up. I'll be right there.
Sorry.
Sorry I'm late.
-Were you cultivating the field again? -Huh? Yeah.
-Present from the proprietress. -Field?
Let's begin.
This is the man who was found dead in an apartment in Tabata.
He called himself Murata but turns out that was an alias.
His real name is Kishitani Seiji.
He was born on September 28, 1967. 44 years old.
He was a notorious scoundrel from his teens. When he was 17,
he was sent to juvenile corrections for a year and 2 months for manslaughter.
From around the time he was 20, he started frequenting a gang's office, and
when he was 23, he became a member of Yoshida-gumi, a sub-sub-affiliate of Yamato-kai.
When he was 29, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison for murder, but
was released after 8 years. At that time, he was 37.
However, since then, he hasn't done anything to go on record.
If he was murdered,
it's possible he got himself involved in bad trouble.
Yeah. Kishitani was living with a woman.
-A woman? -It was a woman who notified the police too.
That was probably the woman who was living with him.
What I want you all to do is search out this woman.
We don't know her face or her name. She's between 30-35 years old.
She lived in Apartment 107 East Heights, Tabata 2-chome, Kita-ku.
That's all the lead we have.
I'm sure this woman knows something.
Nishigahara Precinct has no one to spare.
Our team will solve this case on our own.
Got that?
Nori, you pair up with Kikuta.
You'll be okay by yourself, won't you?
Yes.
Ishikura-san, what does cultivating the field mean?
-Huh? -Earlier
-Kikuta-san mentioned it. -Oh.
Is that what's called jargon? I'm not up with that stuff.
Cultivating the field means
going around places like bars you know well and making small talk.
The field is a cop's information network.
If the land is fertile, you can harvest more crop.
-I see. -They say a cop's worth
is determined by the number of shoes he goes through.
I guess that won't fly these days.
No, no. That's not true. I have a lot to learn from you.
Oh, excuse me.
May I ask you a few questions?
Excuse me.
No one's home here too.
You don't have to say anything.
I'm sorry.
Shunin understands everything
about us.
You'll be okay by yourself, won't you?
-Excuse us for bothering you. -What is it?
This man who was working here, Kishitani...
Murata-san. Can you tell us anything about him?
-Murata? -It's this guy.
Ah, that guy. Haven't seen him at all lately.
Maybe he got came into some money?
There was a woman who was living with
Murata-san. Do you know anything about her?
I don't know if they were living together or not, but
-I've seen her. -You saw her?
Yeah. I'm not sure, but she came to pick him up or something?
I just happened to see.
Looked like something was brewing.
But anyway, they must've been doing well, huh?
-Then you wouldn't know her name? -Nope, I sure don't.
All I'm saying is I saw her, that's all.
I see. Thank you very much.
-Okay. -Let's go.
Let's go over Kanbe's peripherals one more time.
One more time? That's all we've been doing since yesterday.
If it was a cheap T-shirt, we would've worn it thin by now.
Isn't Takami-gumi behind it?
Director Hashizume... no, not just him.
All the investigators at our precinct agree that Takami-gumi is behind the Kanbe murder.
Yes, I think information is important to investigation
like you insist, but
there's a limit to everything.
I don't mean for a peon from a local precinct to defy Headquarters, but
isn't it okay for a cop to occasionally rely on his intuition?
I'm not like Himekawa.
I'll put everything within my reach through a sieve
and pick up that remaining one grain.
That's the way I investigate. If you don't like it, you can leave.
If leaving was an option, I wouldn't have said anything in the first place.
Reiko-chan.
Excuse me.
I'm with the police. May I ask you a couple of questions?
Yes. How can I help you?
Have you ever seen this man?
Oh, I've seen him a few times.
You have? Was he with a woman at that time?
-A woman? I'm not sure. -I'm with the police.
Do you use this road a lot?
Well, sometimes.
Have you ever seen this man?
If she was working somewhere along these tracks...
It could be somewhere other than bars.
Yeah. Let's search along the tracks from the station.
-I've never seen her. -I'm not sure.
I see. Then if you remember anything,
can you contact Nishigahara Precinct?
-Yes. -Thank you very much.
Shunin. We have an eyewitness who saw Kishitani's woman at the supermarket on 2-chome.
Let's go.
Seems like I've seen her...
Thank you.
Have you ever seen this man?
Excuse me.
I guess no one's home yet.
Excuse me!
Excuse me. Excuse me.
-Excuse me for stopping you. -Yes?
Do you live here?
Yes, I do.
I'd like to ask you a few questions about the man in Apartment 107.
Ah, you mean the man who was found dead?
Yes.
-Yes indeed, it was a horrific fight. -Fight?
It was like this, all of a sudden. He hit her.
-Get out! -No, wait...
I said get out.
Open the door, please. Please open the door.
It really scared me.
When did that happen?
Maybe 4-5 days before that awful that happened?
Was it that woman who killed him?
Thank you very much.
This must be what, the fourth station?
I can see how your shoes can get worn out.
Compared to the old days, we don't walk much anymore.
I'm only on my second pair this year. I guess I'm not young anymore.
Second pair?
I've been wearing mine for 2 years.
Let's try that place.
They're persisting, aren't they? Shall we start without them?
Let's wait a little bit more.
If the woman killed Kishitani,
was it because of the fight the neighbor said she witnessed?
You mean Kishitani broached the subject of breaking up so she
-flew into a rage and strangled him? -Yes.
But the woman was frequently seen picking up Kishitani after work.
-Doesn't that mean she loved him? -Isn't it possible that
she flew into a rage precisely because she loved him?
I wonder why the subject of
breaking up came up.
Yeah, I wonder.
Well, only those two know what was going on between them.
By those two,
perhaps you mean Reiko-chan and me?
Why the hell are you here!
I tell you the reason all the time.
It's because Reiko-chan and I are connected by the red thread.
Will you please stop calling me "-chan"?
I can't possibly be so reserved as to call you Himekawa Shunin.
Oh, you left the seat next to Reiko-chan
open just for me. Excuse me.
-Don't come. -Hayama, you go sit next to her.
-Alright. -You sit here.
Ah~. Oh well, I can see her face
better from here.
Oh, you...
-Anyway, let me start with a beer. -Not yet. We're not all here yet.
Aw come on, don't be such a party pooper.
I need a drink today.
Waiter, four draft beers please. As soon as possible!
-Yes. -From what I can see,
Kusaka must have gotten on your case pretty good.
I can take it if it's just a matter of him getting on my case.
-He punched me. Out of the blue. -He punched you?
Yes. Right here. It's swollen, isn't it?
I don't see anything.
No, I tell you, it's swollen. Look, right here.
Come a little closer. Here, right here.
Ouch. What was that for, Kiku-yan*! (*equivalent of chan in Kansai dialect)
Kiku... You called me Kiku-yan just now, didn't you!
Anyway,
Kusaka Shunin is someone who only believes what's
in front of him, sees, and hears, right?
I'm just saying how can a cop not rely on intuition once in a while.
You can't judge without data. I remember
-being told that by Kusaka-san. -Yes, that's his favorite phrase.
He takes all that time to investigate, yet
his work doesn't progress slowly at all.
On the contrary, he's fast and accurate.
I hate to admit it, but I have to give him credit for that.
Wah~ I'm in shock.
Reiko-chan's complimenting Kusaka-san.
I'm not complimenting him.
As far as Kusaka goes, I can't take him physiologically either.
Make sure you stick to that physiology.
-Here's your order. -Oh, nice! That was fast.
-Thanks for treating me. -Huh?
It's Tamotsu-san.
Yes, Himekawa.
Yeah.
Okay. Thanks for your hard work.
-What did he say? -We're going back to Nishigahara Precinct.
-Alright. -What? You're going back?
You can have it all. Drink up and get Kusaka out of your system.
You pick up the tab, of course. See you.
What?
Bye.
-See you later. -That's cold.
The woman is
a hostess at a bar alongside the tracks called "Kaede" at Takinogawa 2-chome.
Her name is Harukawa Mitsuyo.
Harukawa Mitsuyo.
Apparently, Kishitani used to go drinking there alone.
We showed Kishitani's picture to the proprietress of the bar
and she confirmed that was him.
This is Harukawa Mitsuyo's picture taken
on the proprietress' cell phone.
What was Harukawa Mitsuyo doing the night Kishitani died?
She was at the bar. However,
she was only there until around 10:30.
-10:30? -Yes. At around 10:30
Mitsuyo got a call on her cell phone.
Really, stop it.
Mitsuyo-chan's not that kind of a woman.
But she doesn't have a man, does she?
Come on, go out with me. I'll give you lots of spending money.
Then maybe I will.
-So it's about money, huh? -What can I say,
I do love money.
Excuse me for a minute.
Hello.
Right after that, Mitsuyo went home.
Who was the phone call from?
We don't know.
From Takinogawa, she can be home in 15 minutes if she took a cab.
That gives her plenty of time to get home by 11:00, the estimated time of death.
Do you think the phone call was from Kishitani?
If the call was from Kishitani...
Are you still raising hell trying to make a case out of suicide?
We're investigating because we don't know. It's not that I'm raising hell.
You want to solve a case that badly?
Are there any cops out there who don't want to solve a case?
-What? -I won't lose to you.
Excuse me.
Who the hell does she think she is.
Key, wood pieces, a body with different temperature on just one side.
Harukawa Mitsuyo...where did she go?
Kikuta.
Good morning.
Morning.
Were you here all night?
Yeah, I had a few things on my mind.
It's unusual for you to spend the night at the local precinct.
-Thanks. -Huh?
-For this. -Ah.
Kikuta, you're unexpectedly thoughtful that way.
I'm sorry.
I don't know why you're apologizing.
Let's check out this key and wood pieces today.
Alright. Oh, and
it looks like there's movement in Kusaka Shunin's task force.
What?
Yes. Yes. Alright.
What, no rice?
Looks like the body found in the jurisdiction of
Kiba Precinct was that of Takami-gumi's Takami Yukihiko.
Shouldn't we attend the morning meeting after all?
-That's not necessary. -What do you mean not necessary.
Kanbe-gumi, whose boss was killed by Takami-gumi,
retaliated this time by killing the boss of Takami-gumi.
This proves the rivalry between the two gangs.
That's preconception. Don't speak out of speculation.
What do you mean speculation. Just ask anyone, it's a fact.
-May I? -Yes.
Could it be Aomori Hiba tree?
-Can you analyze it? -Alright.
I'll take it.
Thank you.
Yes, Himekawa.
What?
Excuse me. It's my chief.
Hello, this is Ioka.
Yes. Yes.
Is that right? Yes, alright.
I'll talk to Headquarters and head that way.
-Yes. Good bye. -What was that?
Evidently, it's going to be a joint task force with Kiba Precinct.
The folks from our precinct is starting to
search Kanbe-gumi's headquarters.
Shouldn't we be heading there too?
After all, a cop's worth is measured by solving cases.
When Kanbe was killed,
we did a search of Takami-gumi's headquarters, didn't we?
Yes.
Did anything come up?
I heard nothing came up at that time.
It's the same this time too.
But that's a preconception too then.
The key was for a post office box.
Yes. It's a post office box for personal use operated by the private sector.
Looks like Kishitani came here a few times a week.
We showed his picture and confirmed it was him.
Why a post office box.
Perhaps Kishitani periodically got mail he didn't want
delivered to the apartment.
Something he didn't want Harukawa Mitsuyo to know.
Yes. That's why he was receiving them here in secret.
Here it is.
It doesn't look like mail.
This is...
It's Harukawa Mitsuyo.
What's in there?
Sorry.
These are pictures too.
Who are these people?
Excuse me.
Kusaka.
Attention!
Bow!
Rest!
We will now begin the joint investigation meeting. Imaizumi.
Yes. First, the autopsy results of the body
found in the jurisdiction of Kiba Precinct.
The victim, Takami Yukihiko's estimated time of death
is 3 days ago, between 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm.
In addition, from the fact that seawater was detected in his stomach,
it is believed that Takami got shot, immediately fell
into the sea and died.
Two bullets were found.
One in the lower right lung, the other grazed the heart.
The gun has been identified as Glock 17 from the rifling marks on the bullets.
This is the same gun that was used to kill Kanbe Yoshitaka
on the 11th.
Hey. Quiet.
That means Kanbe and Takami were killed by the same person.
Yes. Currently, that possibility appears high.
Chief Imaizumi.
What.
I have something to report in regards to that.
-Go ahead. -I found out for a fact that
Kanbe-gumi's boss Kanbe Yoshitaka, who was killed on the 11th,
and the victim of this case, Takami-gumi's boss Takami Yukihiko,
were having frequent secret meetings at Mutsumi, an exclusive club in Ginza,
located at 4-18 Ginza, Chuo-ku.
You're saying the bosses of rival gangs were having drinks together?
Yes. Moreover, they appeared to be very close.
Kusaka. What do you infer from that.
-At this point, I don't know. -You don't know again?
-However. -However?
I'm compelled to say that it's dangerous to continue further investigation
based on the preconceived notion of a gang rivalry.
That's all I have.
Gaburiyori*. (*sumo term, pushing the opponent with the torso)
There were a total of 33 pictures in the can.
Eleven people, including two women, were the photographic subjects.
There was one of Harukawa Mitsuyo as well. This one was in an envelope.
Only one picture of Mitsuyo?
The rest appear to be taken in secret.
Isn't this Kanbe Yoshitaka, the guy who was shot the other day?
Y-es. -And this is
Takami Yukihiko, whose body was found this morning.
Who are the other nine people?
-I don't know. -But
why did Kishitani have pictures of the two bosses who were killed?
I may have been mistaken all this time.