The Murder of Kuroido (Japanese: 黒井戸殺し, Kuroido Goroshi) is a 2018 Japanese television drama, adapted by Koki Mitani and based on the Agatha Christie novel The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. It was produced by Fuji TV and directed by Hidenori Jôhô with screenplay by Kôki Mitani and first broadcast on 14 April 2018. The film is the second outing for Japanese actor Mansai Nomura in his role as the Japanese Poirot parallel Takeru Suguro.
Synopsis[]
This is a fairly faithful adaptation of the original novel. The year is 1952. Suguro has retired from detective work and has relocated to the small village of Tonosato, living in a house next to the local village doctor Shiba Heisuke. Suguro settles down to a quiet life growing pumpkins but soon finds this boring. When a murder occurs in the village, he is happy to become involved.
Comparison with original story[]
(may contain spoilers - click on expand to read)
The adaptation is highly faithful to the original book. Most of the scenes in the book are depicted.
- The adaptation begins with a scene late in the book where the doctor gives Suguro the manuscript of his journal documenting the investigation. He invites Suguro to read it, saying that he hopes to get it published. The rest of the investigation is then told in a series of flashbacks with voiceovers from the doctor to connect the scenes.
- The character of Hector Blunt is parallel by Rando Goro. Like Blunt, he is a friend of Kuroido (Ackroyd) and a houseguest. His occupation is however changed to an author.
Cast[]
Note: IMDb lists Japanese names in Western style as given name-family name. However the Japanese names here follow Japanese naming convention with family name-given name. This format is easier when searching for resources on the internet, especially those from Japanese sites. In the episode dialogue, characters are addressed in the Japanese format and this format is also used in the credits. In addition, it should be noted that the character names in IMDB are not exact.
Parallels are in brackets.
- Nomura Mansai as Suguro Takeru (Poirot)
- Oizumi Yo (大泉洋) as Shiba Heisuke (柴平祐) (James Sheppard)
- Saito Yuki (斉藤由貴) as Shiba Kana (柴カナ) (Caroline Sheppard)
- Yoshida Yo (吉田羊) as Karatsu Sanako (唐津佐奈子) (Mrs Ferrars)
- Sato Jiro (佐藤二朗) as Sodetake Koshiro (袖丈幸四郎) (Inspector Davis et al)
- Endō Kenishi (遠藤憲一) as Kuroido Rokusuke (黒井戸禄助) (Roger Ackroyd)
- Mukai Osamu (向井理) as Hyodo Haruo (兵藤春夫) (Ralph Paton)
- Matsuoka Mayu (松岡茉優) as Kuroido Hanako (黒井戸花子) (Flora Ackroyd)
- Yo Kimiko (余貴美子) as Raisen Tsuneko (来仙恒子) (Elizabeth Russell)
- Akimoto Sayaka (秋元 才加) as Honda Asuka (本多明日香) (Ursula Bourne)
- Wada Masato (和田正人) as Chagawa Kenzo (茶川健造) (Charles Kent)
- Terawaki Yasufumi (寺脇康文) as Reizei Moichi (冷泉茂一) (Geoffrey Raymond)
- Fujii Takashi (藤井隆) as Hakamada Jiro (袴田次郎) (John Parker)
- Imai Tomohiko (今井朋彦) as Rando Goro (蘭堂吾郎) (Hector Blunt)
- Asano Kazuyuki (浅野和之) as Hamose (鱧瀬) (Mr Hammond)
- Kusakari Tamiyo (草刈民代) as Kuroido Mitsuru (黒井戸満つる) (Mrs Cecil Ackroyd)
Other characters[]
- Harumi Shiho as the Head Priest of Chunen shrine
- Daichi Yosuke (大地洋輔) as the dictaphone salesman
- Harada Bunmei as shopkeeper Toku
- Matsuda Riku (松田陸) as Sodetake's subordinate and cameraman
- Takao Kinoshita (木下貴夫) as old man, a farmer and patient whom Shiba greets at the beginning
Uncredited characters and mentions[]
- Tasuke - newspaper boy
- Torao - milk delivery man
- Murakoshi - patient of Dr Shiba
- Old lady Kaneko - patient of Dr Shiba
- Old man Otone - patient of Dr Shiba
Research notes[]
Japanese names[]
As with many Japanese adaptations, much attention is given to making the Japanese names echo or match the original names. Shiba is close to Shepherd, and Hamose is close to Hammond. An interesting approach is Hanako, which means "little flower" in Japanese. This corresponds to Flora.
Easter eggs[]
Tropes and themes[]
Filming locations[]
The following locations were used for filming:[1]
- Kuroido's house - Rokkaen in Kuwana, Mie Prefecture.[2][3]
- Suguro's house - Former Mackenzie House, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture.[4]