Cop shows can start to feel the same. Even interrogation scenes can seem similar. Police drama Tokubou is different. Very, very different.
The show follows the adventures of police officer Souhei Asakura, the head of the Community Safety Bureau and a master of, well, rope bondage. Those who can't be arrested are punished and those needing more than an arrest are punished, too!
Each episode tends to start with a murder or a crime, and then climaxes with Souhei tying up someone. Tokubou features ropework by bondage master Go Arisue.
The show is based on the comedy manga by the same name, which ran between 2008 and 2010 in Super Jump.
[Pic: romaego7]
Here, you can see a TV guide type magazine featuring the show on the cover. The show isn't as graphic as the manga.
[Pic: Mbok]
The star of the live action version, Tsuyoshi Ihara, is a mainstream actor and even appeared in Letters from Iwo Jima.
[Pic: minorunba69]
That being said, this isn't exactly a mainstream show (though, you can see it is getting a mainstream push).
[Pics: yazironoko]
[Pic: Hayabusa]
[Pics: brnkhat]
[Pic: tamekunimitsu]
While it is broadcasted on regular Japanese television, the show is on late at night—around midnight. Perhaps, this is so kids don't watch or start tying each other up.
Those outside Japan, watch Tokubou on Crunchyroll with English subs, if you like!
Tokubou [Official Site]
To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find him on Twitter @Brian_Ashcraft.
Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan, Korea, China and beyond. Tune in every morning from 4am to 8am.