With scamming becoming a hot topic and a growing concern across Asia, Netflix’s “Tokyo Swindlers” is a timely addition to its Japanese live-action programming. The series, headlined by Ayano Go and Toyokawa Etsushi, is a seven-episode crime drama adapted from a bestselling novel by Shinjo Ko, originally published by Shueisha Bunko.
The story revolves around a group of cunning con artists led by Harrison Yamanaka, played by Toyokawa. This group uses forged documents and recruits imposters to pose as landowners, aiming to defraud major land developers. Their most ambitious target is a JPY10-billion plot of land adjacent to a Buddhist temple.
As real estate prices in Tokyo begin to skyrocket once again, Takumi Tsujimoto, portrayed by Ayano, encounters Harrison Yamanaka, the leader of the notorious real estate swindlers. Alongside informer Takeshita (Kitamura Kazuki), impostor recruiter Reiko (Koike Eiko), and legal advisor Goto (Pierre Taki), Takumi becomes a negotiator in their elaborate schemes. The swindlers engage in a clever back-and-forth with landowners and major developers desperate to repurpose land, all while being relentlessly pursued by the police.
Amid this three-way struggle between the deceivers, the deceived, and the detectives, a series of unforeseen events causes cracks to form within the swindler group. These events reveal the madness and greed among them, bringing to light Takumi’s past and Harrison’s grudge.
The series is written and directed by One Hitoshi, known for works like “Motkei” and “Elpis.” Ishino Takkyu of the music group “Denki Groove” makes his debut as a composer, providing the series’ original score. The cinematography is handled by Ato Shoichi and Morishita Shigeki.
The cast also includes Sometani Shota, known for “Himizu” and “Parasyte: Part 1,” Matsuoka Izumi, Yoshimura Kaito, Anthony, Matsuo Satoru, Suruga Taro, Sports Makita, Ikeda Elaiza, Lily Franky from “Shoplifters,” and Yamamoto Koji.
Produced by Nikkatsu Corporation and Booster Project, “Tokyo Swindlers” is set to premiere on July 25. The credited producers are Yoshida Kenichi and Miyake Harue.
Netflix has been expanding its original programming from Japan, following its success in Korean film and TV content. Earlier this month, Netflix confirmed a five-year deal with leading producer Isoyama Aki. This deal follows other collaborations with notable figures like Sakamoto Yuji, known for “Monster,” and Kore-eda Hirokazu, known for “Shoplifters” and “Nobody Knows.” Other collaborations include Babel Label Studio, known for “The Journalist,” and The Seven, known for “Yu Yu Hakusho.”
Source: Variety
