Hitori Shizuka Episode 1
This is one of the dramas in my 'to-watch' list for Fall 2012 because it has Kaho and it's on Wowow. I really believe that Kaho is still very much underrated, but I'd rather see her in quality dramas like these where she can show her strengths rather than on dramas that will underuse her skills and her long acting experience.
Since the drama has not yet been subbed, I used this as my reference:
In March 1996, a gangster is shot dead by another man who has broken into at an apartment in a residential neighbourhood of Toyko’s Kokubunji City. Sergeant Kizaki Shingo of Kokubunji Police Precinct’s Community Police Affairs Division, who works near the crime scene, hears the gunshot. When he rushes over, his senior Omura Kazumi is already there. The police focus on a suspect through legwork and forensics results, but Kizaki feels that the case was solved too easily and something lies behind it. Getting a message from the forensic pathologist in charge of the victim’s autopsy, expressing reservations about the gunshot wound that was the cause of death, Kizaki starts to investigate the case independently. Before long, Ito Shizuka, the missing step daughter of the head of Kokubunji Police Precinct’s Community Safety Division who is suspected of having a connection to the case, emerges … … Then in June of that year, a male factory worker is stabbed to death in Tokyo’s Adachi ward. A man from the victim’s circle of friends is inferred to be a possible suspect, but the man denies involvement. Meanwhile, Yamagishi Junya of Adachi Police Precinct’s Community Safety Division who is supporting the investigation, realises the relationship between Iimura Yumi, a convenience store employee that had previously come for a session on crime prevention, and the murdered man. From the web browsing records from the victim’s seized computer, Yamagishi discovers that Yumi’s fellow part-timer, Kozue, is listed by another name on the missing persons websie. Sensing something that lies behind the case, Yamagishi works his way to a mysterious girl when he proceeds to investigate on his own … … After that, four other murders occur at different times and places. The police proceeds with the investigations in order to crack these cases. However, behind the five cases which appear to have no connection to each other lies Shizuka’s mysterious life … ---jdramas.wordpress
Warning: Mild spoilers
Kizaki reaches the crime scene and sees his senior, Omura, already there.
As the police investigates, Kizaki sees a woman looking for her missing daughter. He sees Omura talking to the woman and accompanying her on her way home. (He looked like he knows something and was hiding it.) Omura tells Kizaki to mind their own investigation.
Kizaki receives a call from the forensics telling him about the autopsy and notices something strange about the gunshot wound.
The police was able to catch the murderer and tells them that a high school girl (Shizuka) saw him when he commited the crime.
Kizaki, feeling that there must be more to the case, goes back to the crime scene to investigate some more. He didn't know that Omura was watching him and goes back to their station to see if Omura was there (since he was the first to arrive at the scene).
Kizaki meets the woman, who was looking for her daughter, in an apartment and finds out that she is the wife of the Head of Kokubunji Police Precinct’s Community Safety Division.
Omura, then calls Kizaki and they go back to the crime scene. Omura, who was patrolling the day the murder occured, tells Kizaki what he saw.
The mystery behind the strange gunshot wound is finally revealed. (Kaho was really creepy in this scene)
Shizuka's stepfather hires a private investigator to look for her.
I'm really very intrigued with the mystery in this drama. All the actors performed well, imo. Kaho, as the lead/title character, was really good and mysterious while Takahashi Issei portrayed a good job as a police sergeant (he has always been a very good actor, imo). Even though, I can barely understand what they are saying I honestly didn't feel bored and did not think that the story dragged. In my opinion, the mystery was kept in a good pace. I don't think I'd be able to say anything more but I will patiently wait until someone subs this drama. Just like Tsumi to Batsu~A Falsified Romance~ that was picked up by unsolvedcases team. Yay!
Edit: What's up with lj not allowing me to upload pictures directly, I had to use imageshack for the other caps. >_<'