Masataka Kubota is an actor, known for "13 Assassins" (2010), "One Piece and Tokyo Ghoul" (2017). He also stars in Nippon TV's crime hit, "Criminologist Himura and Mystery Writer Arisugawa"

Masataka Kubota

When they were young, Tomoyo Shiino (Nagano Mei) and Mariko Ikagawa (Nao) were best friends. Fully aware of the fact that Mariko’s home life was nothing short of awful, Tomoyo stuck by her friend through years of abuse, abandonment, and depression. The one reassuring constant in Mariko’s life, Tomoyo was Mariko’s one light in a world of overwhelming darkness.

Close friends that they were, Tomoyo and Mariko kept in touch over the years, but even staying in contact couldn’t spare Tomoyo the wave of shock that hit her when she learned of Mariko’s death. Seeing the news of her friend’s death make headlines, Tomoyo is completely blindsided by the information. Overwhelmed by guilt for not being able to help her friend more during her life, Tomoyo decides to do the only thing she can to make amends now.

Determined to liberate Mariko from the clutches of her cruel family Tomoyo steals her friend’s remains. Taking Mariko on one final journey, Tomoyo recalls the memories she shared with her friend, hoping that doing so will free her friend’s tortured soul. Will this final trip together bring them both the peace they so desperately need?

Adapted from the manga series of the same name by Hirako Waka, “My Broken Mariko” is a 2022 Japanese psychological drama film directed by Tanada Yuki.

My Broken Mariko

TV Asahi

Sho Himonya (Masataka Kubota) is not much of a catch – aged 28, he still lives with his parents. He also happens to be exceptionally work-shy, and positively despises the idea of getting a job.

His long-suffering but loving girlfriend Yuriko Kasuga (Haruna Kawaguchi) is the polar opposite. She lives alone and works tirelessly as a nurse.

Life changes quickly for both Sho Himonya and Yuriko Kasuga when the former’s parents kick him out in a pique of rage.

Sho Himonya throws himself at the mercy of Yuriko Kasuga, who agrees to take him in, hoping she can reform him somehow.

But she is soon at her wits’ end when she discovers that he is totally incapable of paying his way, keeps demanding money, and is not much good at housework!

Will Sho Himonya ever change his ways? Will Yuriko Kasuga’s patience ever wear out? And will love be enough to see this odd couple through?

This drama was based on a hit manga series written by Konoike Tsuyoshi and published in 2015.

“My Moochy Boyfriend” is a 2018 Japanese drama series directed by Katayama Osamu.

My Moochy Boyfriend

💘The Love is Blind Team💘

In order to deal with a rise in crime and unusual deaths, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare launches a new forensics agency. The agency is named the Unnatural Death Institute, or UDI for short. The ministry appoints Yasuo Kamikura (Matsushige Yutaka), a veteran politician and former high-ranking official at the ministry as the UDI’s Director.

The star of his team is Mikoto Misumi (Satomi Ishihara), a 33-year-old female forensics expert who has conducted autopsies on over 1500 bodies. She will be working alongside her lab assistant Shoji Yuko (Ichikawa Mikako) and Kei Nakado (Arata Iura), an older, male forensics expert. Along with a team that also comprises a technician and a recorder, the UDI is tasked to investigate a range of baffling deaths. These include an apparent suicide that isn’t quite what it seems, a “poisoning” case involving an apparent heart disease victim...and more! Will Mikoto Misumi and the gang solve all the mysteries that come before them?

“Unnatural” is a 2018 Japanese drama series that was directed by Tsukahara Ayuko, Takemura Kentaro, and Murao Yoshiaki.

Unnatural

🧬 Mysterious Murders 🧬

“A&nbsp;beautiful&nbsp;crime?”

vs

“A&nbsp;fascinating&nbsp;crime?”

A master detective with quite a few issues brings you hardcore mystery entertainment!

Criminologist Hideo Himura&nbsp;gets so much pleasure out of being in crime scenes that he's even confessed to having wanted to kill someone. Constantly seeking out the ultimate crime, he is indeed a man with quite a few issues.

Mystery writer Arisu Arisugawa, on the other hand, keeps a close eye on Himura's investigations and writes about them but at times completely misses the point. Not at all the type of guy you'd call dependable, Arisugawa nonetheless professes to be the protector of the clumsy Himura.

Although these two men appear like they have no business being in crime scenes, they mitigate each other's shortcomings and use their compelling logic to unravel the elaborately woven tricks left behind by the criminals. It's almost as if Himura and Arisugawa use incredible magical powers to tease out unimaginable truths!

Himura stoically&nbsp;tackles bizarre and dark criminal investigations while&nbsp;Arisu's sense of mission&nbsp;propels him to passionately cover the back of his conflicted and vulnerable buddy. Based on deep trust for each other, theirs is a touching friendship you won't want to miss!

Criminologist Himura and Mystery Writer Arisugawa

Criminal Duo

The year is 2004, and a married couple has just been found dead in a room on the 48th floor of Sky Rose Garden, a super high-rise apartment building. Four individuals whose names begin with the letter N appear to be connected to the crime, namely the college student Nozomi Sugishita (Nana Eikura), his college classmate Shinji Naruse (Masataka Kubota), Nozomi's high school classmate, as well as former high school classmates Nozomu Ando (Kaku Kento) and Masato Nishizaki (Keisuke Koide). When Masato Nishizaki confesses to the crime, he is tried and found guilty – and given a 10-year jail sentence.

Now, a decade later, Masato Nishizaki is about to be released. A former police officer named Shigeru Takano (Miura Tomokazu) is conducting an independent investigation into the murders and is dogged by the fact that there seem to be so many flaws in the case. The witness statements seem to contradict one another, he also discovers problems with the way evidence was gathered back in 2004. Moreover, he can’t help feeling that Masato Nishizaki’s confession doesn’t quite make sense. The more he investigates, the more Shigeru Takano starts to feel that this murder isn’t quite as it seems. Which N is really responsible for the crime?

“Testimony of N” is a 2014 Japanese drama series that was directed by Ayuko Tsukahara and Takeyoshi Yamamoto.

Testimony of N

🚨The Truth Team 🕵🏻​

As a high school student, Tsukasa (Keiko Kitagawa) was involved in a car accident so severe, she has been forced to deal with the aftereffects to this day. Bound to a wheelchair, Tsukasa not only lives with a number of physical impairments, but with mental ones as well, the most severe being those that affect her memories. Despite the difficulties Tsukasa has been forced to deal with, she does the best that she can and tries to make the most out of every day, as she is keenly aware that every day is a gift.

Having spent the majority of her adult life alone, Tsukasa often dreams of finding that perfect someone someday but isn’t entirely convinced she ever will. Until the day she meets Masaki (Ryo Nishikido), a handsome taxi driver who quickly captures her heart. Completely smitten, Tsukasa finds herself constantly gravitating towards Masaki. Unable to ignore her attention for long, Masaki soon finds himself returning Tsukasa’s affection.

Finally together, Tsukasa and Masaki are ready to begin a happy new life together but their joy is short-lived. Forced to face an unexpectedly serious situation, will this young couple find the strength they need to overcome whatever lies ahead?

A touching love story, “I Just Wanna Hug You” is a 2014 Japanese biographical romantic drama film directed by Akihiko Shiota.

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