Abunai Deka

Abunai Deka
Genre	Drama
Directed by	Tōru Murakawa Takahito Hara Yasuharu Hasebe Haruo Ichikura Yusuke Narita Kiyoshi Nishimura Hiroyoshi Tezeni
Starring	Hiroshi Tachi Kyōhei Shibata Atsuko Asano Tōru Nakamura Shizuo Chujō Haruo "Bengal" Yanagihara Michihiro Yamanishi Hiroshi Miki Takeshi Akiyama Kenji Kinugasa Daisuke Iijima Yozaburo Itō Yudai Ishiyama Takahito Horiuchi Koshiro Kagawa Kōji Shimizu
Country of origin	Japan
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	51
Production
Producers	Hirokichi Okada Norio Hatsukawa
Running time	54 minutes
Original release
Network	Nippon Television
Release	October 5, 1986 (1986-10-05) – September 27, 1987 (1987-09-27)

Abunai Deka (あぶない刑事; lit. 'Dangerous Detectives'), often shortened to AbuDeka (あぶデカ), is a Japanese television drama aired by Nippon Television between 1986 and 1987. It stars Hiroshi Tachi as Toshiki "Taka" Takayama and Kyōhei Shibata as Yūji "Yūji" Oshita, two detectives of Minato Police Station, a fictional police station located in Naka-ku, Yokohama.

This "buddy cop" series depicts the unconventional, aggressive investigative methods of two detectives; while its production concept was explicitly billed as a Japanese take on Starsky & Hutch or a live-action Dirty Pair, the show's content also drew comparisons to Miami Vice, which began airing in Japan the same year.

Regarding its tone, the show initially followed the hard-boiled style typical of conventional police dramas. However, as the series progressed, it incorporated witty banter, rapid-fire exchanges, and ad-libbed dialogue, ultimately establishing a comedic style that largely abandoned the somber, tragic atmosphere usually associated with the genre.

This thoroughly "trendy drama" appeal resonated with viewers; the first TV season—originally slated for a six-month run—was extended by another two-quarter block. The series became a social phenomenon, primarily appealing to younger audiences—a demographic different from that of previous police dramas—and has continued intermittently for over 30 years, with theatrical film adaptations and novels being produced.

Cast

Main characters

• Hiroshi Tachi as Toshiki "Taka" Takayama: A detective at the Minato Police Station (later a private investigator after retirement). He sometimes refers to himself as "Dandy Takayama" (a nickname coined by Oshita). He's a professional in organized crime investigations and is relentlessly pursuing the "Ginsei-kai", a large-scale organized crime group based in Yokohama. Usually has a cool demeanor, but at times he shows a passionate side driven by a strong sense of justice. Well-versed in firearms, always carrying two handguns (Smith & Wesson Model 586 and Model 49 Bodyguard, load with .38 Special), and is also proficient with shotguns and rifles. From "Returns" onward, he switched from using the Model 586 to a custom Colt Government model (commonly known as the Taka Custom). Although he cannot drive a car, he is highly skilled at operating motorcycles and heavy machinery. After retiring, he moved to New Zealand and ran a detective agency with Oshita. In "Home Coming", he returns to Yokohama with Oshita after his detective license in New Zealand is revoked due to trouble with local police officers, and they open the T&Y Detective Agency.
• Kyōhei Shibata as Yūji "Yūji" Oshita: A detective at the Minato Police Station (later a private investigator after retirement). He sometimes refers to himself as "Sexy Oshita". He is skilled at investigating theft cases and disguising himself, and also possesses exceptional athletic ability and driving skills. Prefers to act decisively and quickly, but this comes at the expense of patience and perseverance. On the other hand, he shows a rational side when necessary, acting as a check on Takayama. Like Takayama, he is well-versed in firearms and prefers to use small revolvers (Colt-made until "Forever", and Smith & Wesson-made from "Madamada" onwards). He mainly uses a Nissan Leopard (F31), Skyline Sedan, GT-R (R35), Alfa Romeo 164 Maserati Ghibli and Quattroporte as unmarked police cars. After retiring, he moved to New Zealand with Takayama. In "Home Coming", he returns to Yokohama with Takayama and they open the T&Y Detective Agency.
• Atsuko Asano as Kaoru Mayama: A female detective in the Juvenile Division and a close friend of Takayama and Oshita. Specialist in juvenile cases, but as the series progresses, she takes on more of a comedic relief role and also appears in various cosplay outfits. She has known Matsumura since before she became a police officer. She respects Matsumura and, in "Madamada", succeeds Matsumura as Chief of the Juvenile Division (Chief Inspector). In "Final 5 Days", she becomes the director of the prefectural police's important artifact storage facility and retires on the same day as Takayama and Oshita due to marriage. Throughout the series, she uses an Smith & Wesson Model 36 during her time as a detective.
• Tōru Nakamura as Tōru Machida: A rookie detective who has just been transferred from the traffic division to the Investigation Division. He's a womanizer and is always busy trying to pick up women even while on duty as a detective. No matter how many times he gets into trouble, he's always taken advantage of by Takayama and Oshita's promise to "introduce him to a woman". On the other hand, he is a capable police officer, and from the 1990s onward, he was promoted in each installment, eventually rising to the position of Chief of the Investigation Division (Chief Inspector) in "Madamada". Since becoming Chief Inspector, he has adopted phrases that Kondō used to say and, as a superior, has been strict with Takayama and Oshita, but when the three of them are alone, he easily reverts to his former subservient attitude. He likes flashy guns and cars, using Smith & Wesson Model 29, Model 586, and Colt Python pistols (all 4-inch), and mainly uses Nissan Skyline Sedan (R31), Cefiro (A31) and Mitsubishi RVR as unmarked police cars.
• Shizuo Chujō as Takuzō Kondō : A Chief of the Investigation Division (Chief Inspector). A veteran detective with 30 years of experience. He has trouble dealing with the problematic Takayama and Oshita, and if they continue to disobey orders, he throws a tantrum and abandons his work. However, deep down, he has great trust in the two, and ultimately, he will tacitly approve of or secretly support their actions, even at the risk of resigning. As the chief of the Investigative Division, he is susceptible to orders from the prefectural police, but he possesses a very strong sense of justice, and this personality has earned him great trust from those around him. He reached retirement age in 1990. Until Fukamachi's appointment in 1996, there was no official chief of the Investigation Division, but Kondō's presence has been mentioned even after "Returns".
• Michihiro Yamanishi as Kōichi "Papa" Yoshii: A police inspector. He is Takayama and Oshita's senior officer. Due to his honest character and the fact that he is married with children, he is affectionately called "Papa（Dad）" within the Investigation Division. Unlike Takayama and Oshita, he is a very orthodox detective. He mainly works with Tanaka, and uses Minato Police's standard equipment such as a Smith & Wesson Model 36 or Colt Lawman and a Nissan Cedric/Gloria as an unmarked police car. He retired shortly after "Madamada", he runs an Oden restaurant with his wife, while also provides job placement support for young people who have been released on parole.
• Haruo "Bengal" Yanagihara as Fumio "Naka-san" Tanaka: Another senior detective to Takayama and Oshita. He excels at coercing suspects into confessions by repeatedly urging them to "spit out" during interrogations. On the other hand, he's a opportunist who always tries to please others. He's also incredibly weak to beautiful women, and will sexually harass any victim or perpetrator who is attractive. Initially portrayed as a gloomy and cynical character, he gradually became a comedic relief character as his comical interactions with other detectives, including ad-libs. Shortly after "Madamada", he retired and now works as a Ramen yatai owner and informant, cooperating with Takayama and Oshita.
• Takeshi Akiyama as Haruhiko "Haru-san" Yoshida: A colleague of Takayama and Oshita. Within the Investigation Division, he is the second most honest and orthodox detective after Yoshii, and he assisted Takayama and Oshita in their investigations along with Tanimura. The actor was suffering from rectal cancer and left the show after his appearance in "Forever TV Special '98", passing away shortly thereafter.
• Kenji Kinugasa as Susumu Tanimura: A young detective who works alongside Yoshida. Towards the end of the first TV series, his "muscle-bound idiot" character, who goes shirtless inside the Minato Police Station and when confronting criminals, became a defining trait. In "Final 5 Days", he is transferred to the Yokohama Harbor Police Station.
• Kanae Hasebe as Hitomi Yamaji: Works in the general affairs department of the Minato Police Station. She is affectionately called "Hitomi-chan", and it's become a tradition for her to serve tea whenever a detective from the Investigation Division says, "Hitomi-chan, give me some tea!".

Recurring characters

• Nana Kinomi as Yuko Matsumura: A Chief of the Juvenile Division, female police Chief Inspector who is also a friend of Takayama, Oshita, and Kaoru. Has a lavish appearance reminiscent of a hostess at a high-class club, and is sometimes the subject of gossip about her looks. However, her friendly and big-sister personality makes her well-liked, and she wields considerable influence over biker gangs. She also prefers flashy red vehicles, owning a Nissan Fairlady Z and a Ford Mustang Convertible. In "Madamada", she is promoted to police chief of the Minato Police Station (Assistant Commissioner). In "Final 5 Days", she retires from the police and becomes the president of an NPO that monitors imported goods. Although there are limitations due to her position, she continues to support Takayama and Oshita when they are in trouble, just as before. Due to the actress's schedule, she only appears in the first few episodes of both TV series.
• Hiroshi Miki as Hideo Suzue: A detective in the Juvenile Division. He often finds himself on the front lines during joint investigations with the Investigation Division, and gets caught up in the reckless actions of Takayama, Oshita, and Kaoru. Due to a retirement of actor, he left the show after "Mottomo".
• Husako Kenmotsu as Yoshimi Kōno: A female police officer in the traffic division and the radio operator at the Minato Police Station. She left the show after "Mottomo".
• Takahito Horiuchi as Ryu Takeda: A police officer. He was Machida's classmate at the police academy. He often acted as Takayama's driver when Oshita was absent, but due to a retirement of actor, he left the show after "Matamata".
• Yozaburo Itō as Tetsuo Izawa: A police officer. In "Motto", he takes on more screen time, replacing the absent Ryu Takeda. Although the character disappears after "Mottomo", the actor Ito appears as Detective Takeshi Kishimoto of the Juvenile Division in "Returns" and subsequent installments.
• Issei Kai as Keizō Takeda: A police officer. In "Madamada", he is transferred to the Juvenile Division and becomes a detective. In "Final 5 Days", he is transferred to the vehicle department, and Takayama and Oshita forcibly take new unmarked police car (Nissan GT-R) away.
• Yudai Ishiyama as Ichiro "Yas-san" Yasuda: Forensic investigator. He reached retirement age in "Madamada".
• Daisuke Iijima as Shiro Aikawa: A detective in the Juvenile Division. In "Madamada", he has already reached retirement age and is working as a security guard at a police building.
• Koshiro Kagawa as Tōru Dobashi: Chief of Traffic Division (Chief Inspector). In "Madamada", he has already reached retirement age and is working as a security guard at a amusement park.
• Kōji Shimizu as Satoru Shibano: A semi-regular character who made irregular appearances from episode 1 to 22 of the first TV series. Whenever a major incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Minato Police Station, he would try to take the initiative in the investigation as an overseer from prefectural police headquarters, but he would always be at the mercy of Takayama and Oshita's pace and end up having troublesome tasks conveniently dumped on him.
• Nenji Kobayashi as Shinzō Fukamachi: A second official chief of the Investigation Division (Chief Inspector). In 1996, he was transferred from the prefectural police headquarters to the Minato Police Station as Kondō's successor. While he usually presents himself as an inflexible, rigid man with a strong sense of elitism, his sense of justice is just as strong as Kondō's. When faced with despicable crimes or unreasonable orders, he becomes uncontrollably angry and acts even more recklessly than Takayama and Oshita. In "Madamada," he relinquishes the position of chief of the Investigation Division to Machida and is promoted to prefectural police chief (Senior Commissioner).

Vehicles

Pre-facelift Nissan Leopard 3.0 Ultima. Primarily driven by Oshita.

Post-facelift Nissan Leopard 3.0 Ultima Turbo. Introduced in Episode 5 of "Motto", replacing the pre-facelift vehicle.

Much like Starsky & Hutch and Miami Vice, a key feature of this series is the significant attention garnered by the vehicles driven by the Takayama and Oshita. In particular, the vehicles supplied by Nissan—used from the first TV series through the 1989 "Mottomo" have garnered a massive fan following, and replicas of these cars have been created.

While the detectives drove only the F31 Leopard and the Y30 Cedric/Gloria during the first TV series, the lineup expanded to include the latest models of the time in subsequent installments—such as the post-facelift R31 Skyline in the 1987 movie, the Y31 Gloria in "Matamata", and the post-facelift F31 Leopard and A31 Cefiro in "Motto", drawing even greater attention. These unmarked Nissan police cars were later released as scale models by Aoshima Bunka Kyozai and TOMYTEC.

Meanwhile, Takayama—whose character is depicted as unable to drive a car—he would frequently commandeer motorcycles from civilians or the street to pursue suspects; in the TV series, these were exclusively Suzuki sports bikes—a brand Hiroshi Tachi promoted in commercials. From the film "Matamata" onwards, however, he switched to using a Harley-Davidson chopper.

Regarding the vehicle suppliers after "Mottomo", Mitsubishi Motors provided the cars for "Returns" and "Forever The Movie", Mazda for "Forever TV Special '98", and Nissan once again for the 2016 "Final 5 Days".

On the other hand, the vehicles that Takayama and Oshita primarily use since "Returns" are all foreign cars, with the exception of the R35 GT-R in "Final 5 Days".

Film

Title	Directed by	Original release date
"Abunai Deka"	Yasuharu Hasebe	December 12, 1987 (1987-12-12)
One night, Takayama and Oshita were pursuing a suspicious vehicle. However, the patrol car accompanying them was blown up by a rocket rauncher, killing two uniformed police officers. Around the same time, at a research center of a major pharmaceutical company, two engineers in charge of new drug development were murdered, and data on an anti-cancer drug under development was destroyed. Based on eyewitness accounts, the Minato Police Station issued an arrest warrant for Hyōdō, a mercenary marked by public security as a professional saboteur, as a suspect in both incidents. Meanwhile, Takayama and Oshita obtained information about an art dealer named Narumi who had made a huge profit from the surge in the stock price of a rival company following the research center attack. They apprehended Narumi's female secretary, Yūki, to try and pressure him, but Hyōdō instead kidnapped Kaoru and demanded an exchange for Yūki.
"Matamata Abunai Deka"	Haruo Ichikura	July 2, 1988 (1988-07-02)
Takayama and Oshita were investigating a man named Nagamine. He was a suspicious figure rumored to be involved in various illegal businesses, including gambling, prostitution, and drugs. One night, they arrested Ogata, a drug trafficker under Nagamine's influence. However, the next morning, Nagamine's legal counsel visited the Minato Police Station, and Ogata was released due to insufficient evidence. Immediately afterward, Takayama and Oshita received a call from Ogata requesting protection, but during the call, Ogata was shot and killed by an unknown assailant. The keyword "bombing" that Ogata left behind before his death raised suspicions that Nagamine was planning a terrorist act. Therefore, Takayama and Oshita sought the cooperation of Hagiwara, a female reporter who had been closely covering Nagamine, to exchange information.
"Mottomo Abunai Deka"	Tōru Murakawa	April 22, 1989 (1989-04-22)
One night, Takayama and Oshita raided a gun manufacturing plant. The ringleader, Miyasaka, was a subcontractor for the Ginsei-kai gang and also a key asset in their plan to dismantle the organization. However, despite their surprise attack and pursuit, Machida's carelessness allowed Miyasaka to escape. While Takayama and Oshita were pressuring Ginsei-kai chairman Maeo, it was discovered that Miyasaka's handgun was identical to one used in a murder case involving a trading company 15 years prior. The statute of limitations for that case was only four days away. As the Minato Police Station began a full-scale investigation, pressure from the prefectural police headquarters began to mount.
"Abunai Deka Returns"	Tōru Murakawa	September 14, 1996 (1996-09-14)
Six years after Chief Kondō's retirement, Fukamachi arrives from the prefectural police headquarters as the new head of the investigation division. He is frustrated by the problematic behavior of Takayama and Oshita and repeatedly scolds them. Meanwhile, the Minato Police Station busts a drug deal at a high-end club in Kannai, but shortly afterward, the club is bombed. Takayama and Oshita visit the hospital to question the injured hostess, Higuchi Asami, and stumble upon the scene where Asami is being kidnapped. After a fierce gunfight, Takayama and Oshita manage to rescue Asami. As they continue their independent investigation behind Fukamachi's back, the existence of a cult organization called "Bremen" comes to light.
"Abunai Deka Forever The Movie"	Yusuke Narita	September 12, 1998 (1998-09-12)
Immediately after "Forever TV Special '98", Jojima's plans is stopped by Takayama and Oshita, who also seriously injure Jojima and arrest him. That night, when the case seemed solved, Jojima brutally murders a nurse and a police officer and escapes again. The prefectural police headquarters, exasperated by Takayama and Oshita's repeated reckless behavior, was about to order them to resign. However, Fukamachi was secretly lobbying headquarters and working tirelessly to prevent their resignation. Unaware of this, the two learned of an attack by the Jojima gang and tried to stop it. A clue from one of the Jojima gang members who died led to a man named Date emerging as the mastermind. Date had joined the international terrorist group NET and was now one of its top executives, carrying out acts of sabotage around the world. Takayama and Oshita raced against time to stop Date's terrorist plans.
"Madamada Abunai Deka"	Kunio Torii	October 22, 2005 (2005-10-22)
Following the NET incident, Takayama and Oshita were hired as undercover agents and were investigating criminal organizations in Asia. Then, in 2005, the two reunited in Busan, South Korea, at a scene where a Korean mafia and an international criminal organization were conducting a black market deal for a miniature nuclear bomb. Although they seize control of the transaction site, they failed to secure the bomb. After completing their major undercover assignment, the two returned to Yokohama, only to be shot by an unknown assailant. They were apprehended by Mizushima and Kanuma, two young detectives from the Minato Police Station who happened to arrive at the scene. Sensing a generational shift at the Minato Police Station, Takayama and Oshita then encountered a case where Bitō, the perpetrator of a bank robbery they had arrested seven years prior, escaped from prison and began killing his former accomplices. Now reinstated as detectives, Takayama and Oshita pursued Bitō.
"Dangerous Cops: Final 5 Days"	Tōru Murakawa	January 30, 2016 (2016-01-30)
Takayama and Oshita were just five days away from retirement. Despite the concern of Machida and Fukamachi, who wanted them to retire peacefully, the two enjoyed fighting criminals until the very end, but they also harbored secret dreams for their post-retirement lives. Takayama, in particular, was about to embark on a new life with his beloved girlfriend, Natsumi. Their final target as detectives was Inō, a remnant of the Ginsei-kai, who was now a high-ranking member of the newly formed organization "Tōryū-kai", controlling an illegal black market. They raided the scene and pursued Inō, but a mysterious rider thwarted their efforts, allowing him to escape. The next day, Inō was found dead. As the power balance between the crime organizations began to crumble, Kyōichi Garcia, a Japanese-American executive of the Central American crime organization "BOB", appeared. As Garcia attempts to turn the Tōryū-kai into a puppet organization by killing key figures in the Chinese mafia and the organization, Takayama and Oshita embark on their final investigation.
"Dangerous Cops: Home Coming"	Hiroto Hara	May 24, 2024 (2024-05-24)
After retiring, Takayama and Oshita, who had been running a detective agency in New Zealand, got into trouble with the local police, they returned to Yokohama and reopened their "T&Y Detective Agency". Ayaka Nagamine, who had come from Nagasaki searching for her mother, appears as their client. Ayaka's mother was a well-known Yokohama singer named "Natsuko", but she had traveled to Hong Kong and had been missing for about 20 years. Meanwhile, Takumi Kaidō, the president of the giant venture company "Hydonic" and son of Maeo, the second-generation chairman of the Ginsei-kai, was promoting a casino development project in collaboration with a Hong Kong company, aiming to "revitalize the Yokohama economy". A series of murders related to this project had occurred. Takayama and Oshita visit Machida to ask for his help in finding Natsuko, but they find themselves targeted by mercenaries from Kaidō's armed security company.

TV series

• Motto Abunai Deka (もっとあぶない刑事) (1988-1989) 1 season, 25 episodes

Title	Directed by	Original release date
"Abunai Deka Forever TV Special '98"	Haruo Ichikura	August 28, 1998 (1998-08-28)
Takayama and Oshita apprehend a gang of robbers at an oyster bar, but Oshita is burdened with a large compensation claim due to the shootout during the arrest. He is tempted by a high-paying job advertisement he finds online for "active police officers" and visits the warehouse designated as the interview location, where he is attacked by two armed men. Oshita shoots and kills one of them in a gunfight, but the other escapes. The escaped man is identified as Jojima, a dangerous criminal wanted by the FBI for kidnapping and bombings, and an organization called "NET" comes to light. Jojima targets Asuka Kazefuki, a female idol who hacked into NET's plans.

Novel

Title	Written by	Original release date
"Abunai Deka 1990"	Hiroshi Kashiwabara	March 29, 2024 (2024-03-29)
May 1990, shortly before Chief Kondō's retirement. A lawyer was found shot dead at a construction site in the developing Minato Mirai district. It was suspected that the murder was committed by Ebisawa, a hitman who had escaped from Takayama and Oshita in 1985. Further investigation revealed that this murder was connected to a series of robbery and murder cases that Kondō had handled 15 years earlier.