The Dinner Table Detective (TV series)

The Dinner Table Detective
Promotional poster
Also known asThe After-Dinner Mysteries
GenreMystery drama
Comedy
Based onThe Dinner Table Detective
by Tokuya Higashigawa
Written byKuroiwa Tsutomu
Directed byHijikata Masato, Ishikawa Junichi
StarringSho Sakurai
Keiko Kitagawa
Opening themeLove Me Back by Koda Kumi
Ending themeMeikyu Love Song by Arashi
ComposerYugo Kanno
Country of originJapan
Original languageJapanese
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10 (1 special)
Production
Executive producersHiroaki Narikawa, Misato Sato
ProducerNagai Reiko
Running time54 minutes
Production companiesFuji Television
Kyodo Television
Original release
NetworkFNS (Fuji TV)
ReleaseOctober 18 (2011-10-18) –
December 20, 2011 (2011-12-20)

The Dinner Table Detective (謎解きはディナーのあとで, Nazotoki wa Dinā no Ato de, lit. "The After-Dinner Mysteries") is a Japanese television drama series based on the mystery novel series of the same name by Japanese author Tokuya Higashigawa. It premiered on Fuji TV on October 18, 2011.[1] This drama series was subsequently followed two-hour long special episode,[2] then a film sequel.[3]

Plot

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Reiko is a rich heiress to a zaibatsu, but she chose to work as a detective. She resents her superior, Kazamatsuri, who always seem to be making illogical deductions that causes murder cases to become cold cases. One day, her butler suddenly announces his retirement, and he chooses Kageyama as his replacement. Reiko realizes that Kageyama's deduction skills are very good after Kageyama solved a seemingly unsolvable mystery. After that, whenever Reiko meets an unsolvable case, she would lay out the details of the case for Kageyama, and he would explain to her how that particular case is solved after dinner. After every case, Kageyama also explains to Reikko some universal truth or human nature that led to each crime being committed.

Cast

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  • Sho Sakurai as Kageyama, Reiko Hosho's new butler. He has a special interest in solving mysteries, and helps his mistress solve seemingly unsolvable cases. However, he often shames her whenever she asks for help or when she makes a wrong deduction. He is seemingly good at everything, and has a wide range of general knowledge. Coupled with his observant nature, Kageyama manages to solve every single case almost in his first try.
  • Keiko Kitagawa as Reiko Hosho, a rich heiress who has begun working undercover as a police detective. As she lacks deductive skills, she is often forced to turn to Kageyama for help. The young Reiko is played by child actress Cocoa Ito.
  • Kippei Shiina as Kyoichiro Kazamatsuri, the head of the Serious Crimes Unit at Kunitachi Police Precinct’s Criminal Affairs Division. A bachelor and quasi career detective, he is also Reiko’s superior. He was promoted to be an inspector at a young age, and is known to show off his status as the son of the millionaire owner of Kazamatsuri Motors. Despite his position, he has a tendency of making ridiculous theories and taking credit for others' more-relevant ideas as if he'd thought them up. However, his ridiculous theories sometimes play an important role in helping Kageyama solve cases.
  • Toru Nomaguchi as Seiichi Namiki, an assistant detective under Kazamatsuri. He has a cool personality, which sharply contrasts him with Kazamatsuri.
  • Katsuo Nakamura as Satoru Yamashige, a crime scene investigator who is an expert in crime scene forensics.
  • Anri Okamoto as Azumi Munemori, a female police inspector. Together with Ejiri, they form a duo that worships Kazamatsuri and can be seen serving him during investigation.
  • Konatsu Tanaka as Yuka Ejiri, a female police inspector.

Episodes

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Episode title Romanized title Translation of title Broadcast date Ratings[4]
Ep. 1 殺人現場では靴をお脱ぎください Satsujingenba de ha kutsu wo o-negi kudasai Please remove your shoes at a crime scene October 18, 2011 18.1%
Ep. 2 殺しのワインはいかがでしょう Koroshi no wain ha ikagadeshou Would you fancy some deadly wine? October 25, 2011 16.1%
Ep. 3 二股にはお気をつけください Futamata ha o-ki wo tsuke kudasai Please be careful of infidelity November 1, 2011 16.4%
Ep. 4 花嫁は密室の中でございます Hanayome ha misshitsu no naka de gozaimasu The bride is inside the locked room November 8, 2011 16.7%
Ep. 5 アリバイをご所望でございますか Aribai o goshomou de gozaimasu ka Do you require an alibi? November 15, 2011 15.9%
Ep. 6 綺麗な薔薇には殺意がございます Kireina bara ni ha satsui ga gozaimasu The beautiful roses are murderous November 22, 2011 14.9%
Ep. 7 殺しの際は帽子をお忘れなく Koroshi no sai ha boushi wo o-wasurenaku After committing murder please do not forget to take your hat November 29, 2011 15.1%
Ep. 8 殺意のパーティにようこそ Satsui no pāti ni youkoso Welcome to the murderous party December 6, 2011 15.4%
Ep. 9 聖夜に死者からの伝言をどうぞ Seiya ni shisha kara no dengon wo douzo Here is the message from the deceased on this holy night December 13, 2011 15.2%
Ep. 10 December 20, 2011 15.4%
Ratings for Kanto region (average rating: 15.93%)[4]
Special 謎解きはディナーのあとで スペシャル Nazotoki ha dinā no ato de supesharu Solve the Mystery after Dinner SP March 27, 2012 14.7%

References

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  1. ^ Shiso (September 26, 2011). "Koda Kumi to sing the opening theme for "Nazotoki wa Dinner no Ato de"". Tokyohive. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
  2. ^ Shiso (2012-01-26). "櫻井翔&北川景子の"謎解き"コンビがSPドラマで復活". Oricon. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  3. ^ Shiso (2012-06-04). "『謎解きはディナーのあとで』が映画化 毒舌・櫻井翔&お嬢様・北川景子コンビ再び". Oricon. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  4. ^ a b "Show schedule and ratings". Audience Rating Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 2013-01-22.
[edit]
Preceded by
Zettai Reido
(12/07/2011 – 20/09/2011)
Fuji Television Kakku dramas
火曜9時枠
Tuesdays 21:00 – 21:54 (JST)
Succeeded by
Strawberry Night
(10/01/2012 – 20/03/2012)