JDrama Review : Nippon Noir (2019)

On this occasion, I will review and critique a JDrama titled Nippon Noir. This Japanese drama aired on NTV on October 13, 2019, and consists of a total of 10 episodes.

If you've watched the detective-themed Japanese drama Mr. Hiiragi’s Homeroom, the events in Nippon Noir take place about six months after the incident in that drama. Interestingly, both dramas were written by the same writer, and several characters or actors from Mr. Hiiragi’s Homeroom appeared as cameos.

However, the story and plot are different compared to Mr. Hiiragi’s Homeroom. This Japanese drama revolves around a detective named Kiyoharu Yusa, played by Kento Kaku. One day, he wakes up with amnesia concerning the events of the past few months in an old building in the middle of a forest. To make matters worse, his colleague, Kaoru Usui (Ryoko Hirosue), is found dead near him.

With no evidence to prove his innocence, the suspicion of who killed Kaoru Usui indirectly falls on him.

This situation puts Kiyoharu Yusa in a difficult position. Some of his colleagues even attempt to bring him down and plan to kill him by exploiting his vulnerable state.

At the same time, his superior assigns him to take care of Kaoru Usui’s son, Katsuki Usui (Ken Tanoi).

Amid all the uncertainty surrounding his current predicament, Kiyoharu Yusa strives to unravel the case. He believes that the murder of Kaoru Usui is connected to an unresolved 1 billion yen robbery case.

Watching this drama makes us think hard about who the real perpetrator behind Kaoru Usui's murder is.

Is Kiyoharu Yusa truly the killer, or is there someone else with the power to do it? Questions such as how Kiyoharu lost his memory, what happened before his memory loss, and many others arise.

In this drama, Kiyoharu doesn’t even know who his friends and enemies are. He also cannot trust himself. As the investigation progresses, puzzles gradually start to get solved.

This concludes a brief review of the JDrama Nippon Noir. If you are curious about the message and emotions conveyed through its visuals, feel free to watch the full version.