AIBOU: Tokyo Detective Duo

A closer look at the story

AIBOU is a long-running Japanese crime series about detective Ukyo Sugishita, who never compromises on his own principles as he fights crime. Ukyo works in the Special Task Unit and always has a partner at his side. A defining feature of the show is the succession of partners Ukyo works with over the years. His first, Kaoru Kameyama, is a kind-hearted, short-tempered, blunt and rather scatterbrained detective. He is later replaced by Takeru Kanbe, who, unlike his predecessor, is tall, cool-headed, arrogant and self-assured. Next comes young detective Toru Kai; although his father holds a top post in the National Police Agency as its deputy chief, he earned his place as a detective through his own efforts. Today, Wataru Kaburagi works alongside Ukyo; he is an elite bureaucrat seconded to the Metropolitan Police Department. As the first partner with no background in policing, he takes on tough cases alongside Ukyo. Airing on tv asahi since 2002, the series stars Yutaka Mizutani as Ukyo Sugishita, with Takashi Yamanaka and Kazuhisa Kawahara also in the cast.