Black Dawn 
Japanese Title: Gaiji Keisatsu
Release Date: 02nd June 2012 (Japan)
Running Time: 129 mins.
Director: Kentaro Horikirzono
Writer: N/A
Starring: Atsuro Watabe, Machiko Ono, Kim Kang-Woo, Yoko Maki, Min Tanaka, Ryo Ishibashi
I have one particular blind side when it comes to Japanese movies – adaptations of TV shows. Despite a half-hearted attempt at watching the live-action Arakawa Under the Bridge I have not really given much though to other television shows. If I’m going to understand the Japanese movie industry better then I must investigate Japanese television beyond anime. I already know what my first two shows will be: Keizoku and Keizoku 2: SPEC. The reason I mention this now is because today’s trailer is based on the TV series: Anti-Terrorism Investigators. In the cast are Atsuro Watabe who was the in Sion Sono’s magnificent Love Exposure and Ryo Ishibashi who appeared in Audition and The Grudge.
When Japan is hit by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami it falls into chaos. The disaster coincides with news from the CIA that uranium is being smuggled in Japan. Kenji Sumimoto (Watabe) is part of the foreign affairs division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. A detective with the willingness to bend the rule, he finds himself handed a hot case when sensitive documents and enriched uranium go missing following the disaster. His mission is to uncover the truth of the smuggling operation which stretches to the Korean peninsula. His one lead is Kaori Okuda (Maki), the wife of a businessman thought to be a spy. He will soon be joined by an undercover Korean policeman named Ahn Min-Chul (Kang-Woo) in what will become an explosive adventure.
Genkinahito 
So you’ve never seen any Japanese TV dramas before? My word, there’s a ton of good stuff past and present to watch online. Hard to really tell you what to recommend: One Litre of Tears (Erika Sawajiri), the Gokusen trilogy (Yukie Nakama) or even Marumo no Okite (Mana Ashida). There’s just so many great dramas I’ve watched over the years.
One Litre of Tears would be a good place to go after Keizoku and Anti-Terrorism Investigators. I want to see the TV show that turned Erika into a major star.
I’ve watched Anti-Terrorism Investigators and I did enjoy it……although I know I’m going to like some element of it when Atsuro Watabe is involved.
Atsuro Watabe is in Keizoku too!
Since Anti-Terrorism Investigators only has six episodes that looks like it will be easy to watch. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to take Watabe totally seriously as a hardened investigator after seeing him dominated by Kaori in Love Exposure.
It’s good to see him in stuff like this, he does have a real presence and it really shows through when not in supporting role.
He’s definitely worth seeing in Keizoku, the show is a bit tangled up but his performance really stands out.