"Akai Meiro" drama, episode seventeen of 26 recap

 

 Air Dates: October 4, 1974 until March 28, 1975... Friday nights at 9:00 pm on TBS/Daiei

There's 26 episodes that are 46 minutes in length, this series is also known as Red Maze

 Once again the subs were done by GEO9875, fifth series I've recapped by them. This is the first of a long running RED series, there were a few more dramas and some TV specials.

The average rating for the drama was 18.9% with a high of 22.7%.

Main Cast: Thanks again to GEO9875 for doing the subs for this series, another classic that has been revived. This could prove to be a challenge for me and may write up 6-8 recaps before publishing any. The recent series I finished "Abunai Deka" had 51 episodes but all were stand alone stories. This drama is one long 26 episode story so don't want to have long gaps between the recaps, every now and again do need a break so that's where the challenge will be. Am writing most of this up after viewing two shows, know there will be much editing to the character's bios and a few new ones may have to be added in. But I am looking forward to this series and it has started off strongly, except for a pair of Sentai shows this is the oldest drama I've viewed. 

 This drama has such a strong cast, so many were stars at the time or became one. Ken Utsui is the older man above, he sadly died ten years ago but what a terrific actor he was. Playing his wife who died early on was Akiko Koyama, she'll be turning ninety this year and have seen her in so many older films, she was so classy and attractive. Momoe Yamaguchi needs no intro as she may be the most popular Idol in the history of Japan, recommend reading up on her. Yusaku Matsuda died at the age of forty in 1989, he was a star actor but could be known more for being the father of two current popular actors Ryuhei and Shota Matsuda. Some others in the main cast are also known, will talk about a few of them in future posts. Below on the left is Takeo who was killed at the end of the first episode, on the right is her old friend Yukiho and could that conversation be the key behind everything that will take place?

 Ken Utsui as Masato Yuki.... A psychiatrist who has just returned to Japan after spending three years in NYC as a college lecturer/professor about the minds of criminals. In Tokyo Masato works at Towa Medical University Hospital, he's the leader of a new section called Laboratory of Criminal Psychology and Medicine. Masato's wife was Takeo who was murdered early on, he's the father of the next character Akiko. He seems to be a calm and collected individual but does Masato have a secret past, such as did he have an affair with Yukiko? That is still unknown but in the fifth episode did learn that Masato isn't the true father of Akiko, who is?

 Momoe Yamaguchi as Akiko Yuki.... Masato's fifteen year old daughter who is a freshman in high school. She's also the daughter of the following woman and a major question is if Akiko is truly Taeko's daughter, will be doing much editing for this character. Which hasn't happened yet through ten shows but her role is becoming slightly more important.

 Akiko Koyama as Taeko Yuki.... Though she was murdered at the end of the first episode still have her in this section as Taeko is so important to the story. We will be seeing her in flashbacks as the main story is finding out who was her killer? While Masato was in America a huge question is was Taeko having an affair, she acted so secretly upon his return. Another puzzle for now is if Taeko is the birth mother of Akiko? No and that was revealed in the fourth episode but Taeko had raised her since birth.

Yusaki Matsuda as Jun Tsuzuki....  Jun is 26 in age and is currently unemployed, he had been a construction worker. He's the younger brother of the below woman, something unknown(for now) happened in Jun's past which has made him so dour and unsociable. At the end of the second episode he was arrested for the murder of Taeko but personally think he's innocent. In March 1971 his then girlfriend Fujiko had been raped and murdered by a middle aged man. Masato had done the evaluation on this man who he deemed unfit to stand trial which would be Jun's motive if he is the actual killer of Taeko. Jun was arrested again in the sixth episode for Taeko's murder but near the end of episode eight was released. The key bit of evidence had been his work helmet but according to the Forensics Unit it had been tampered with and who is trying to frame Jun? That is still unknown but Jun had zero to do with Taeko's killing.

Aiko Nagayama as Yukiko Sakurai.... Jun's older sister who is married but it seems to be a loveless marriage. Yukiko also has a few mysteries surrounding her, one is did she have an affair with Masato before he went to America three years ago? She had grown up with Taeko but the pair did drift apart, because of the affair? Or perhaps something else such as I'm thinking that Yukiko is the birth mother of Akiko!!!! The two women hold a very dark secret and have for fifteen years, that happens to be the age of Akiko! **** In episode five it was revealed Yukiko is the true mother of Akiko, the father's name is Egami who killed someone fifteen years ago and is still on the lam.

Ryoko Nakano as Kyoko Sonoda.... New clinical psychologist in Masato's criminal unit. Kyoko seems to be such a nosy woman but also very competent at her work, she is very attractive and wonder if she has set her eyes upon her leader Masato? Yes she does which many have noticed though not Masato, Kyoko had attended a university in Germany. Beginning with the 14th show began to wonder if Kyoko may be involved with all of these sordid incidents, if so that would make for such an interesting storyline.

 Makoto Sato as Yusaku Yanagida.... Prosecutor who is also Masato's lawyer, advisor and his best friend. The pair have known each other for decades and Yanagida seems to be a real decent man who is also trying to solve the mystery of Taeko's murder, that's him on the left below. He too once had the hots for Taeko but lost out to Masato though it never affected their friendship.

Masaya Takahashi as Professor Oyama.... He's Masato's superior at the university and don't know much about him to to date but he doesn't seem to like Masato and may not be trustworthy. That's Oyama on the right below, he cares more about the college's image than his own staff. In the fifth show some anger had arisen with the university staff because of Masato doing the evaluation of Jun, in a surprise Oyama has his back and will stand up for him. No longer as in episode ten Oyama will now be the leader of Masato's criminal lab and will take all of the credit!

 Here's a few others of the cast who we see now and again though don't have huge roles.

Goro Oshi as Goro Murai.... Owner of the snack bar seen often and Jun's best friend. Goro is also good friends with Misaki who visits his snack bar often and we do see him briefly in each episode. Misaki is a photographer and though not knowing Masato seems to dislike him immensely.

Goro Tarumi as Hidehiko Sakurai.... Yukiko's husband and owns a combo clothing factory and store. They had been in Yukiko's family for decades but had fallen upon hard times, Hidehiko has worked hard to make it profitable again.

Isao Tamagawa as Sakazaki.... Lead detective for Taeko's murder case.

Toshiaki Nishizawa as Masaru Egami.... We first learned of him at the end of the fifth episode. Over fifteen years ago he had been dating Yukiko in Kyoto and had gotten her pregnant. In March 1959 Egami had robbed and murdered a woman, since then he's been on the lam but is the.... true father of Akiko!!!! Many who knew of Egami thought he was dead but has now resurfaced in Tokyo, why as the statue of limitations ends in less than four months and could be have been involved in Taeko's murder? By the end of the eleventh show is doesn't appear so but it also seems as though an unknown man is trying to protect Egami from the police and Masato.

Previous recaps.... May be difficult to read many of them but if you've been following the story there would be no need. However much does happen in each show so don't have the time to explain everything that has taken place up until this point, some of the above is very informative but reading a few of these would definitely help.

 

Episode one .... Episode two .... Episode three .... Episode four

Episode five .... Episode six .... Episode seven .... Episode eight

Episode nine .... Episode ten .... Episode eleven .... Episode twelve

Episode thirteen .... Episode fourteen .... Episode fifteen .... Episode sixteen

 

 Once again you can't beat beginning a post with a screenshot of Ryoko who plays Kyoko! Though I do have too many posts for gravure models and Idols a woman such as her beats them all and it's a shame this series is so old as I would have loved doing some posts for her. In that last recap did say I would have some thoughts on the most likely suspects who may have killed Taeko and has been harassing her family endlessly since then. But will put most of those thoughts on ice for at least one more post as things have become even more confusing! May sound like a stretch but Kyoko has been on my short list of suspects the last four episodes, also on it would be Masato's best friend Yanagida. Even though he was attacked brutally in the last recap Misaki would remain the biggest suspect in my eyes and was he double crossed by his partner? Or is there someone else(two?) who we're not aware of yet and that could be the case as there's still nine shows to go, never watch the next one until completing a recap. Let's get to the action and after a slight downturn the intensity has picked right back up.

 Quite a bit did take place at the end of the previous episode, can't discus all that happened so it may be wise to read that recap if you haven't been following the story. Akiko has been the center of attention these last three shows and it's a position she doesn't want as she was almost abducted, watched Misaki get beaten badly and there's been a few other incidents. Near the end of the last episode Akiko almost fainted and her father Masato felt she has anemia, he called up his trusty assistant and now close friend Kyoko to bring some medicine over to his house. When Kyoko left her apartment building waiting there was Jun, he was worried about her safety so was standing guard! The pair got the medicine and went to Masato's house, Kyoko gave Akiko an injection and she's now sleeping soundly.. While Kyoko was doing that Jun was in the kitchen preparing tea, he grabbed his head and slumped to the floor and that screenshot is above. Jun also did that in the last episode and towards the end of this show so what possibly fatal ailment does he have? The trio then had a long conversation about all of the recent events, so much has taken place it's become confusing to all.

 Jun had felt sure his friend Misaki has been involved in the harassment of Masato and Akiko along with some incidents to those close to them. But after Misaki was beaten so badly how can he be considered a suspect though Jun and Kyoko didn't rule it out. Kyoko thinks there could be two separate culprits in these incidents, Misaki who has been sending the threatening letters and making phone calls. But this other mysterious man seems to be the most likely suspect in the murder of Taeko but all are still so confused, Masato was skeptical about all of the evidence and opinions. The next day Jun did pay Misaki a visit at the hospital, considering the beating he took Misaki is doing well and left by the end of the day. Jun had brought two of the thugs who had tried to abduct Akiko two days ago to see if they recognized Misaki as the man who hired them to nab Akiko. Neither could ID Misaki so he had nothing to do with that potential attack on Akiko though Jun still isn't 100% convinced. Akiko is really down in the dumps, she's blaming herself with what has been going on as everyone around her is getting hurt or threatened. Three episodes ago Akiko had scribbled out the faces on a family photo after she learned her real mother wasn't Taeko. In this show she scribbled out her mother's face in an entire photo album and Masato is beside himself with worry.

 Masato may have said he was skeptical about the suspicions surrounding Misaki but deep down he had a strong feeling the man was involved in some incidents but how to prove it? If Jun couldn't how could Masato but the next day he went searching for Misaki after work and found the man outside of his seedy apartment. This was a long conversation and it really went nowhere for Masato which was his own fault, he would not make a good investigator though he is excellent at the psychology of criminals. Masato kept beating around the bush with his theories about the creep who has been harassing Masato and those around him. Misaki was getting a bit peeved with Masato as he too wanted him to just come out and ask whatever was on his mind, if he feels Misaki is a killer or involved in some other way then just say it!!!! That conversation is in the top three screenshots above, Misaki finally had enough of those run around accusations and left. The fourth screenshot may not be clear but that's the most we've seen to date of this Mysterious Person who was hiding in the bushes listening to the conversation. I thought he may go after Masato or perhaps Misaki but this person quickly left but not for long!

 There was another person there listening in who was Jun. We saw him pop out of the bushes and I'm surprised he didn't notice that other person who I've always thought to be a man but there is a possibility it's a woman. That Mysterious Person didn't quite leave the scene, he jumped into his car and zoomed down the narrow road aiming for Masato! But at the last second Jun threw himself at Masato and the pair went tumbling down an embankment. Jun was fine but not Masato who sprained his ankle badly plus cut up his left hand but if not for Jun he would have been a goner! Masato is now at the hospital and can't move around at all, no ETD but he should be there a while though being a drama you know that won't happen! Akiko was notified and rushed there, so didn't Kyoko but was held back by Jun. Who had to tell her the truth of what took place, this is at least the fourth time this man has tried to kill someone but all have failed, was it by design? Of course Jun couldn't let Akiko know what happened, there being nothing left to do at the hospital Jun escorted Akiko and spent the night just in case something should happen. The next morning Jun had to leave, to investigate what took place in the daylight and see Misaki? He couldn't leave Akiko alone as she was too stressed to attend school, with no options Jun called his sister Yukiko who rushed to Masato's house from her own hospital.

 That was a mistake asking Yukiko to care for Akiko, she may be her birth mother but Yukiko and her husband have now become unwanted at Masato's house. Akiko was giving Yukiko the cold shoulder, she didn't want her help in doing anything which did silently frustrate Yukiko but what could she do? Akiko prepared some clothes for her father to wear at the hospital and soon headed there but alone, Masato had no clue that Jun had asked Yukiko to visit his house but think Kyoko did though kept it a secret. Also paying a visit to Masato at the hospital was his superior Oyama, he's in two screenshots above. As usual Oyama was more worried about the image of Towa University/Hospital than he is about his own employees though Oyama does acknowledge the fact Masato is his best professor. But Oyama was worried about what others may think as Kyoko is spending a lot of time at the hospital helping Masato out and the rumors could quickly spread of them having an affair which Oyama himself has been thinking for at least ten episodes. It wasn't a long chat as Oyama took his leave and there was another visitor for Masato who arrived shortly after, his daughter Akiko.

 Who did notice how closely attached her father and Kyoko have become, at home Masato rarely smiles and laughs but Akiko noticed what a changed man he is around Kyoko. Instead of staying Akiko left her father's clothes with a nurse and fled home, Akiko's maturity level has really increased since her mother's murder but lately her imagination is beginning to run wild with scenarios. Akiko rushed back home and while she was gone arriving there was Yukiko's husband Hidehiko, Akiko entered the house unnoticed. Hidehiko is far from being a compassionate man but does keep his emotions under control, not this time as he tore into his wife and said he wouldn't grant her a divorce! If she wants to live with Akiko that badly let Masato come groveling to him and ended up slapping Yukiko quite hard! With that Akiko rushed into the room and screamed for him to stop, why has everyone around her become so miserable and hateful Akiko wondered, once again she fled the house though Yukiko remained.

 At the hospital the clothes Akiko had brought were given to Masato but an hour after they had been dropped off. Masato wondered why didn't his daughter stick around and called home, he was shocked and angry that answering the phone was Yukiko! Though he should remain in the hospital for a few more days Masato checked himself out and dashed home, not easy to do in his condition. When he arrived home he didn't want to have any kind of chit-chat with Yukiko and told her to leave immediately, Masato is just so fed up with her and Hidehiko. There was no Akiko there and where could she have gone but before she had left Akiko had written a note in her room, at first I thought it was a suicide note. We viewers didn't see what was written but Yukiko did, don't think she made Masato aware of it. It wasn't a suicide note but one where I think Akiko said she was leaving for good as she can't live with herself because of all of the tragedy she's brought upon others. There's two screenshots above of Akiko at the Harumi Futo pier, she bought a ticket for a boat leaving at 9:00 pm and the current time was 4:00 pm. Akiko still believes her father Egami was killed at sea before she was born and think her destination is to visit where he perished!

 At the Snack Village shop Jun was still on the hunt for his friend Misaki as he still has some doubts on his innocence. There the owner Goro told Jun Misaki had also gone to the Harumi Futo pier as he had an assignment there to take photos, a pure coincidence. Jun rushed there and for the second time in this episode had another 'attack', he has some intense pains in his head and he can barely stand when they hit, he's also having problems controlling his hands so it must be a brain issue. At home Masato is waiting patiently for Akiko and of course has no clue she's set to sail in a few hours. As the episode came to it's close the doorbell rang, Masato naturally felt it was Akiko and was overcome with joy. We viewers saw who was at the door and it will be a surprise to Masato as the person there is Misaki, why he would show his face at Masato's is unknown and the reason why will be revealed in the next recap. Which is the post below this one and this series has rebounded nicely in the last 3-4 shows.