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Main Characters
Inspector Keita Kurokôchi
The one black sheep of the Kanagawa Police Prefecture. On the surface, Kurokôchi is a corrupt policeman working at the second brigade of the prefecture, and thus responsible for investigating organized crimes and white-collar crimes. He uses the intel he gets to get bribes from practically all the local politicians and lives a luxurious life. However, behind this facade, Kurokôchi also seriously investigates cases whose perpretrators are normally beyond the scope of the law and works to bring some justice to them through guile, manipulations and stunts so crazy that he becomes unpredictable. Together with Seike, Kurokôchi slowly unveils the many conspiracies hidden within the National Police Agency.
- Accomplice by Inaction: Kurokochi discovers how much harm his corruption has brought when he learns that years ago, he ignored the content of a car trunk for 200,000 yen. Said trunk contained one of Sawatari's future victims and Kurokochi learns that he could have saved this girl. The discovery brings him to tears.
- Almighty Janitor: An inspector from a minor Police Prefecture shouldn't be able to have dozens of politicians at his boots nor should he gather enough influence to be asked a favor from the higher-ups of the National Police Agency.
- Ambiguously Evil: Kurokôchi has never revealed his motives for solving his cases. One time he claimed that he wanted to do good for once, another time he claimed that he was eliminating the competition by tackling other corrupt policemen. Even when going against terrorist groups, he claims that he very much likes the decadent state of Japan which allows him to blackmail politicians in relative impunity and that these terrorist may ruin his income source. He notably managed to steal the funds of the Sakura Council while stopping Hideo Takahashi from continuing murdering people.Shingo Seike:( Kurokôchi)'s either a genius or a demon.
- Character Tic: Kurokochi regularly adopts an exaggerated obsequious smile while rubbing his hands together.
- Color Motifs: His name has the kanji for "black", but in his case Dark Is Not Evil.
- Cowboy Cop: Kurokochi's foregoes procedures when he investigates, for instance officiously interrogating witnesses and sometimes manipulating them into giving him the intel he needs. If he feels like it, he will even arrange for one of his target to be assassinated.
- Dirty Cop: Despite his investigations, Kurokochi is still a cop who blackmails politicians and forces them to give him regular bribes which he does spend on frivolous things like having several luxurious cars.
- Good Is Not Soft: Kurokochi commits many crimes, from effraction to outright murdering the culprit, when he works to bring criminals to justice.
- Guile Hero: As a police inspector, Kurokochi shines more thanks to his investigative skills and keen mind rather than any feat of badassery. He is trained in firearm usage but when pitted against superior numbers Kurokochi usually tips the scale in his favor through tricks.
- Hero with Bad Publicity: Kurokochi is a shady character, but his heroic deeds are hidden from his colleagues so only his corruption is known while his efforts to arrest the most dangerous criminals of Japan are ignored.
- I Work Alone: Despite being an inspector and thus able to manage a team of police officers, his superiors refuse to assign anyone to him for fear he corrupts them.
- Manipulative Bastard: In his quest to bring whoever he's investigating to justice, Kurokôchi doesn't hesitate to blackmail or emotionally coerce people into doing whatever he wants them to do. Blackmail, lying, or Obfuscating Stupidity are a few of his methods. One of the reasons for his success is that he easily does that and can plan ahead with the predictable actions of those he manipulates.
- Perma-Stubble: Kurokochi is never seen clean-shaven, befitting his sleazy habits.
- Shotguns Are Just Better: At the end of the 400 Blows case, Kurokochi begins to walk around with a shotgun for extra firepower. It inevitably catches his opponents off-guard, as guns are strictly regulated in Japan.
Commissioner Shingo Seike
A freshman directly out of the most prestigious universities, Shingo Seike is a policeman with a strong sense of justice and a fair share of wits although he is also quite naive. When he is paired up with Kurokôchi on a case, Seike is initially disgusted by the latter's attitude, but when it becomes clear that they are against people even worse than Kurokôchi, Seike chooses to work with him. Seike's investigations lead to shocking discoveries about his father's death and he steadily begins to see how flawed the National Police Agency is. He eventually quits the police but his achievements lead him to be offered a job in the Public Security Bureau; he thus integrates a special investigation team named "Pink".
- Broken Pedestal: At first, Seike really respects the Police as an institution, but as he discovers how corrupt/incompetent/plain evil the police is, even the good guys compromising to preserve their reputation, Seike becomes disgusted with them. He eventually quits the police.
- Chick Magnet: Seike is a pretty boy, and two female side characters fall for him during the story.
- Color Motifs: Befitting his upstanding sense of morality, his name has the kanji for "pure" in it.
- I Let Gwen Stacy Die: After Midorikawa dies as she interfered with a terrorist attack, Seike blames himself for her death as he wasn't her to stop the crime instead. It leads to a temporary Heroic BSoD whom he eventually shakes off.
- It's All My Fault: He puts the world's weight on his shoulder and initially interprets the death of two of his coworkers as being his sole responsibility. Kurokochi calls him out on that, explaining that Shingo is just being self-righteous for no good reason.
- Knight in Shining Armor: In contrary to all his colleagues, Seike is firmly on the side of justice as an ideal and doesn't care for money or reputation, remaining entirely clean except for allowing Kurokochi's excesses. Even when his colleagues and superiors committing shady acts to protect their reputation argue that the police would be devastated by any big corruption, he states that they all should assume the consequences of their actions.
- Knight in Sour Armor: Shingo eventually develops this. In the course of the story, he never drops his morals but then comes to see them as burden, confessing that he envies Kurokochi's ability to do the unthinkable to solve cases.
- Naïve Newcomer: During his first cases, Shingo expects the Police to be a completely corruption-free force in which everyone is upholding justice. His first day with Kurokochi challenges that belief.
- Supporting Protagonist: Seike is the protagonist of the story and does work alongside Kurokochi, but the latter is the driving force behind the good guy's advances during their investigations.
- You Killed My Father: Shingo has personal stakes in the investigation of the 400 Blows case as he learns that his father Bungo Seike was killed by one of them.
National Police Agency
Commissioner Bungo Seike
Shingo's late father, just like his son a dutiful and intelligent Police officer. Although at first believed to have died in an accident, Shingo discovers that he was murdered while investigating the murder attempt on the Commissioner General of the Police Agency.Inspector General Shiroshogi
Shiroshogi is an inspector working at the Human Resource management of the National Police Agency. He is an uptight individual who has known Kurokochi for a long time and aims to arrest him for corruption. However, Shiroshogi is secretly one of Kurokochi's allies and friends, as he too doesn't hesitate the bend the rules in order to arrest criminals.- Secret Relationship: Shiroshigi is actually a good friend to Kurokochi, but the two fake a dislike against each other to better work unnoticed.
Superintendant Koganezaki
The newly appointed Superintendant of the Kanagawa Police Prefecture transferred her after the Sakura Assembly case has been solved. He is in reality working for the Security Bureau of the National Police Agency, sent to watch over Kurokochi.Chief Inspector Ayaka Midorikawa
A newly appointed Chief Inspector transferred at the Kanagawa Police Prefecture after the Sakura Assembly case has been solved. She is in reality working for the Security Bureau of the National Police Agency, and is sent to watch over Seike.- Buxom Beauty Standard: Apart from her pretty face, everyone notes that she has large breasts.
- Honey Trap: She was sent to approach Seike thanks to her good looks.
- Romantic Fake–Real Turn: Although she's introduced as an enemy, she eventually develops real feelings for Seike.
Officer Kurebayashi
A dim-witted newcomer at Kanagawa Police Prefecture, put under Kurokochi's responsibility by Koganezaki. He is in reality watching Kurokochi for Koganezaki.- Obfuscating Stupidity: He's introduced as a dim-witted newcomer, but he's in reality an agent of the Security Bureau who is watching over Kurokochi.
Officer Yume Asaki
A young and enthusiastic officer freshly arrived at Kanagawa Police Prefecture. She is paired with Kurokochi as they investigate a case of fraudulent cash withdrawal with payment cards. Usually friendly, she's also a judoka and hates rapists with a passion, instantly getting angry in presence of one. It is explained as her sister being raped and murdered, and the culprit is revealed to be none other than Sawatari.- Action Girl: Yume is a good judoka and she easily beats up three men.
- Berserk Button: Sexual abuse. Because her sister was victim of a rape and murder, Yume hates rapists and other abusers of all sort to the point she cannot stop herself from beating them up despite being a policewoman.
- Beware the Nice Ones: She usually nice, but she is also incredibly violent to sexual abusers.
- Boyish Short Hair: She has a bob cut, and come become the opposite of womanly when she gets angry.
- Cowboy Cop: When it comes to sexual abuse. She pays lip service to procedure and makes sure to beat up any abuser she catches, which leads to some problem when it comes to convicting her suspects.
Superintendant General Aonuma
One of the highest ranked policemen in Japan. He comes to prominence when he is suspected to be the mole from the 400 Blows.- Red Herring: It happens twice in the story. First he's suspected to be the mole from the 400 Blows but Superintendant General Meguro was framing him, and then is suspected to be an agent of Susanoo's Cherry Tree. However, it is revealed that it was the Commissioner General was the real culprit and had fed Aonuma false information.
Pink
A small team of the Department of Security of the National Police Agency named "Pink". Working under the cover of a small-time publishing company, their job is to investigate the National Police Agency for any infiltration from outsiders. Shingo Seike is recruited into their team.
Shima
Commander Komada
Captain Furukawa
Captain Ako
Commissioner Kurayoshi
Sakura Council
The Sakura Council is a conspiracy of policemen and even agents of the Public Security Bureau, whose goal is revealed to do the police' dirty work. After a series of gruesome murders of former policemen, Seike and Kurokochi learn about the Council and begin to investigate it just as Kurokochi becomes a target for them.
Hideo Takahashi a.k.a. Momotaro/Peach Tom
The treasurer of the Sakura Council.In reality, "Takahashi" is an alias, and this man is an infamous assassin working for the Sakura Assembly. Once going by the name of Momotaro, he was enlisted by Shiroo and sent to Vietnam to train as a special force soldier and assassin alongside Kiritani. Befriending Kiritani, he agreed to pass off as him and receive the 300 million yen Kiritani stole, thus he became "Takahashi". However, when Kiritani's father began to ramble about his son being alive, Takahashi feared that his secret identity would be discovered and began to decimate the higher-ups of the Sakura Assembly.
- Ax-Crazy: Takahashi was reported to have fired his assault rifle on two homeless men and enjoyed the sight of their mangled corpse. His murders are also particularly gruesome compared to other forms of execution.
- The Dog Was the Mastermind: He's officially the accountant for the Sakura Council. [In reality he's wrested control of the council from Heizo Shiroo and is its head.
- Evil Mentor: He's had several assassin disciples over the year, although none have reached his expertise.
- Evil Old Folks: He's quite mature and is a veteran of the Vietman War, but he's still strong enough to overpower two of his students.
- Identity Impersonator: He switched identity with Kiritani, who wanted to forget his past. Thus taking Kiritani's planned role, he's managed to secure the 300 million yen for himself.
- Professional Killer: He is Momotaro, an infamous assassin working for the Japanese.
Ide
A receptionist at Sohgo Capital Security Agency, a private security company. In reality, she's an assassin working for the Sakura Council and one of the disciples of Momotaro. After the Sakura Council case is solved, Ide is left alone but Kurokochi contacts her from time to time to enlist her help.- Dark Action Girl: She's an assassin on the Sakura Council's orders.
Kazutoshi Kaga
A former agent of the Public Security Bureau sacked for his sadism. Curently the head of the Sohgo Capital Security Agency, a private company. However, he's an assassin working for the Sakura Assembly and one of the disciples of Momotaro. He's also Ide's lover. At first following Momotaro's orders to kill the founders of the Sakura Assembly and any people involved with Momotaro's secret, Kaga fails one of his assassination attempts and decides to kill Momotaro before the latter kills him for his failure.Akatsuki Kurizuka a.k.a Hideto Kiritani
A seemingly innocuous member of the Sakura Council, who's responsible for giving the compensation money to the families of deceased policemen.Kurizuka is in reality Hideto Kiritani, the patriotic son of a police commissioner who alone committed the famous 300 million yen robbery, out of a desire to shake the police and make them realize how flawed they were. He was soon caught by Shiroo but, to avoid a scandal and make use of the money for the foundation of the Sakura Council, Kiritani was enlisted in Peach Tom and sent abroad as a special agent. During that time, he befriended Momotaro and eventually secretly switched identity with the latter to escape his past. Thus he became "Kurizuka". Then, when Kurokochi began an investigation on one of the minor associates of the Sakura Council, Kiritani talked to Takahashi and made him suspicious that their secret was out, leading Takahashi on a killing spree against the Sakura Assembly's founders. Kurokochi eventually confronts him, but Kurizuka and the inspector make peace.
- Identity Impersonator: He switched identity with Momotaro to forget his past, becoming a small member of the Sakura Council.
The 400 Blows
The 400 Blows are a small but dangerous far-left terrorist group whose every members are very dangerous. Kurokochi and Seike discover them when it is revealed that Bungo Seike was assassinated when investigating this group, and the two also learn that they want to carry a terrorist attack that would bring down Japan.
Kyoji Torio
One of the 400 Blows' founders. He's a particularly sly terrorist from the far-left recognizable because he's always with his black umbrella. However, he's also a master manipulator and bomber. Alongside his plotting of terrorist attacks, he also sells his talents to those who can pay him.- Bomb-Throwing Anarchists: One of his talents. He's been taught by terrorists how to make bombs and he's become able to create elaborate bombs hidden in innocuous objects and having complex triggers such as opening a door.
- The Faceless: He's first seen as an individual whose face is always hidden out of sight from the audience, and is only properly seen after a whole volume of chasing after him.
- Genius Bruiser: A man of many talents: he speaks French, excelled during his training at the Police Academy, and knows how to make bombs. He's also a good fencer.
- Dirty Business: The police station bombing he is famous for? He deeply regrets it. Torio had warned a young Meguro out of harm on his way to the police station and then told the policemen that the package he was giving them was a bomb, but the policemen didn't believe him.
- I Did What I Had to Do: He's disgusted by many of his misdeeds but has always thought that they were for the good of his country. Indeed, as a former top police academy student, he was deeply loyal to his country and considered the infiltration as an honor and great responsibility. As a result, he's appalled to know that one of his colleagues is engineering terrorists attack under the pretense of Just Following Orders without thinking for himself.
- Manipulative Bastard: He's nicknamed "the Whisperer", and has repeatedly driven people into suicide and other odious act through very convincing persuasion, using their psychological weaknesses or threatening their loved ones.
- Sword Cane: His umbrella's shaft has a sword in it. Thanks to it, he's managed to take his enemies by surprise several times, having crippled Kurokochi but also killed a former coworker he was disgusted with.
- Undercover Cop Reveal: He was in reality a mole for the police infiltrating communist sympathizers among student, working his way into terrorist organizations.
- Weakened by the Light: Downplayed, Kyoji Torio is allergic to sunlight, hence his umbrella.
The Infiltrator
The second member of the 400 Blows, who is suspected to have infiltrated the police and is disrupting their investigations about his terrorist group. That member is revealed to be Yuji Meguro, one of the Superintendant General of the National Police Agency.- It's All About Me: Meguro is quite self-centered. After their failed attack, he complains to Torio that he's lost his cozy position at the police, something that he insists Torio would never understand. Torio, a former candidate to the police who's actually had to commit various crimes against his conscience is disgusted and kills the Infiltrator.
- The Mole: His main role among the 400 Blows was to land a high-ranked job within the Police and be able to disrupt any investigation against the group. He's responsible for Bungo Seike's death and is manipulating the police against Kurokochi and Shingo Seike as they try to stop the police.
The Specialist
An infamous terrorist acting as a consultant and technician on how to carry out attacks. He was recruited by the 400 Blows to train pawns into carrying terrorist attacks. He is revealed to be Tsuyuguchi, a not-so retired communist activist.- Evil Genius: The Specialist' main skill is his knowledge on how to carry out attacks, and he's usually seen training would-be terrorists.
- In the Hood: The Specialist is always seen wearing in a raincoat, whose hood hides his face.
- Kansas City Shuffle: The Specialist has concoted a two-fold plan, the first involving an elaborate attack on nuclear plants. But, after the attack is foiled and the police releases their guard, the Specialists enacts his second plan which is to try to assassinate the Commissioner General of the Japanese Police as a reenactement of a similar crime from 1995.
Susanoo's Cherry Tree
An old organization living on from the first generation made of various scientists and military, all war criminals who were of interest for the United States. They are a far-right conspiracy who stir up trouble by causing cases of mass poisoning among the homeless, and Kurokochi and Seike discover that the Susanoo's Cherry Tree plan to carry out a grandiose plan to steer Japan on the warpath.
Tatsunori Sakuragi
The elderly head of the Susanoo's Cherry Tree. Publicly known as a respected dentist and horticultor, he's also a gifted chemist responsible for working in various poisons and drugs, as well as runs the Susanoo's Cherry Tree with an iron fist to lead Japan to the warpath.- Master Poisoner: He's a master chemist who's develop very complex poisons and other drugs, usually from plants. One of his latest achievements is a complex drug made from a harmless derivative of cyanide in a first drink, and a second drink containing enzymes that synthetize the chemical into proper cyanide, killing their victims in a roundabout and practically untraceable way.
Makoto Yoshioka
One of Susanoo's top henchmen, acting as a field supervisor for the group's operations.Haida
One of Susanoo's top henchmen, specialized in performing assassinations. Officials and Politicians
Kazunari Sawatari
The governor of Kanagawa Prefecture. Kurokôchi discovers that he is a serial rapist and murderer, but Sawatari's influence and slyness makes gathering proofs or testimonies impossible. He becomes Kurokôchi's archenemy and though the Inspector is constantly distracted by several conspiracies, Sawatari still manipulates Kurokôchi's enemies to get him killed while the policeman discovers the true scope of Sawatari's exactions.- Almighty Janitor: Even when seemingly retired, Sawatari holds a much greater sway over the police and the government. He has connections to many criminal organizations, one of the Superintendant Generals of the Police (the second highest grade in the country) as one of his pawns, and is able to have a personal talk with the Prime Minister himself at a moment's notice.
- Corrupt Politician: Perhaps the most corrupt in the series. He's a serial murderer and rapist who's misused his great influence to cover his crimes and enable other many crimes.
- Ephebophile: Sawatari has a preference for highschool girls. However, he's not that picky and will abuse any pretty woman.
- Fat Bastard: He's noticeably obese.
- Serial Rapist: His worst trait is that he periodically loves to capture teenage girl, use them as sex slaves and then kills them. Kurokochi is aware of this but he needs proof to arrest him. Moreover, Sawatari reveals that he's also extremely sadistic, using a special drug that completely paralyzes his victims but lets them feel everything he does to them, even when he begins sawing off their limbs one by one.
- Shadow Archetype: To Kurokochi of all people. He's a corrupt politician who's illegally acquired more money and influence than he should have, but unlike Kurokochi's purely financial gains, also uses his power to cover for his rapes and murders and is trying to steer Japan toward a dark political path just because he wants more power.
- Villain with Good Publicity: Sawatari is quite charismatic, having been a popular governor despite how corrupt he was.
Yatarô Echigo
Yatarô Echigo is a prosecutor, in charge of criminal affairs investigation for the local government prosecutor's office. He first meets Sawatari for questioning him, but then discovers the existence of the Sakura Assembly and begins to cooperate with Kurokôchi in order to bring down the organization. Contrary to most officials, Echigo is an upstanding and honest prosecutor, although he was forced once to accept a bribe.Heizo Shiroo
Once the former head of the Public Security Bureau, Heizo Shiroo was known for his ruthlessness and efficiency. He is responsible for setting up many shady operations in order to fight the "enemies of Japan" and maintain order, including creating the Sakura Assembly and making Kyoji Torio a far-leftist double agent. He is currently retired but his name still commands respect among the force. Despite being one of the Sakura Assembly's founders and generally acknowledged as its current head, Shiroo is little but a puppet for the real head in reality.- Gone Horribly Wrong: Both of his most notable operations ended up turning against him, but also the security of Japan which he sought to protect. By enabling "Peach Tom", he empowered a sadistic assassin to the point said assassin went on to have much influence within the police, and his efforts to create a mole among communist sympathizers end up in said mole losing faith in the system and becoming a real terrorist.
- Good Is Not Soft: He was famously ruthless when dealing security matters. One shining example of this is that when he asks a young Torio what he would do if, during an infiltration, he had to kill a cop as a test. When Torio answers that he'd act depending on the situation, Shiroo praises the answer as the perfect mix of pragmatism and ruthlessness that he wants of his agents.
- Living Legend: He is famous within the police for having been a cornerstone of the Public Security Bureau during most of post-war Japan, earning himself the title of "Mr. Security".
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: He's implemented some questionable operations for Japan's security, such as forming a black ops unit of soldiers, making a youth infiltrate far-left terrorists even if it meant some policemen dying in a bombing, and others.
Miscellaneous criminals
Kenta Takamiya
A former Yasuza from the Akaba clan, who committed a robbery and allowed himself to be captured for a friend. Upon his release, Kenta has nothing to look forward to and becomes one of Kurokôchi's unofficial aides, helping with miscellaneous tasks.
