The Laughing Policeman (2009)
"Warau keikan" (original title)

Jo Sasaki's 2007 novel is the first in the so-called "The Hokkaido Trilogy" and was inspired by corruption in the police force governing Japan's northern island. Set in the capital, Sapporo... See full summary »

Director:

Haruki Kadokawa

Writers:

Jô Sasaki (based upon the novel), Haruki Kadokawa (screenplay)

Stars:

Nao Ômori, Yasuko Matsuyuki, Yukijirô Hotaru

Cast

Credited cast:
Nao Ômori	...	Koichi Saeki
Yasuko Matsuyuki	...	Yuri Kojima
Yukijirô Hotaru	...	Tatsuo Uemura
Meiken Itô	...	Takashi Iwai
Hiroyuki Miyasako	...	Suguru Tsukui
Shûgo Oshinari	...	Masaki Shingu
Eugene Nomura	...	Mitsuyoshi Machida
Kôhei Ôtomo	...	Yasuda
Ken'ichi Yajima	...	Tadao Asano
Takeshi Kaga	...	Masazumi Ishioka
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Asuka	...	Policewoman
Ken'ichi Matsuyama
Daisaku Nishino
Shûta Uniya

Storyline

Jo Sasaki's 2007 novel is the first in the so-called "The Hokkaido Trilogy" and was inspired by corruption in the police force governing Japan's northern island. Set in the capital, Sapporo, the pic begins with the discovery of a strangled policewoman's body in an apartment used by the force's big brass. Senior officials keep the investigation under wraps and, in short order, the dead cop's ex-lover, Sgt. Suguru Tsukui (Hiroyuki Miyasako) - due to give damning evidence in a corruption hearing in 18 hours' time - is declared the perp. Police are ordered to shoot him on sight. Disturbed by the hasty manner in which his squad was pushed off the case, Tsukui's former police partner, smooth saxophonist Sgt. Koichi Saeki (Nao Omori), summons his team to discuss an alternative plan to the sanctioned witch hunt.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

14 November 2009 (Japan)

Also Known As:

The Laughing Policeman

Company Credits

Production Co:

DeNA Company, Haruki Entertainment, Kadokawa Haruki Jimusho

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"I Didn't Know My Own Strength"
Performed by Whitney Houston

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