G-Men '75 Explained

Genre:Police procedural
Crime drama
Starring:Tetsurō Tamba
Yosuke Natsuki
Gō Wakabayashi
Yū Fujiki
Maria Mori
Mari Natsuki
Hiroshi Miyauchi
Gō Ibuki
Takeshi Kaga
Bunjaku Han
Kyōko Enami
Daijiro Harada
Yûsuke Kawazu
Narrated:Takayuki Akutagawa
Theme Music Composer:Shunsuke Kikuchi (ep.1-306)
Pierre Porte (ep.308-355, G-Men '82)
Composer:Shunsuke Kikuchi (ep.1-306)
Hiroaki Yoshino (ep.308-355, G-Men '82)
Country:Japan
Language:Japanese
Num Episodes:355[1]
Executive Producer:Teru Kondo
Runtime:54 minutes
Company:Toei
TBS
Teru Kondo Productions
Channel:TBS
Related:G-Men '82

was a long-running prime-time popular television detective series in Japan.[2] It aired on Saturday nights in the 9:00–9:54 p.m. time slot on the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) network from May 24, 1975 to April 3, 1982. A sequel, G-Men '82, followed, as did the specials. It had also been broadcast in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Since Hong Kong was one of the filming locations, it was very popular there.[3] With several updates and cast changes, it ran for 7 years. Selected episodes are available on DVD.

Plot

The story revolved around a special detective agency, the eponymous G-Men. The principal character, who spanned the entire series (and continued into the sequel and specials), was Superintendent Tetsuya Kuroki, who was portrayed by Tetsurō Tamba. Kuroki directed the members of the group.

The original cast also included Yasuaki Kurata as Detective Yasuaki Kusano, trained in karate. Gō Wakabayashi joined in Episode 105, and remained to the end of the series (and the sequel). His character, Lieutenant Goro Tachibana, replaced a detective who was written out of the script.

Music

Shunsuke Kikuchi wrote the opening theme songs. Various artists, including some cast members, wrote and performed the closing songs. For most years, the lyrics were by Junya Sato, set to Kikuchi's music. Veteran announcer Takayuki Akutagawa narrated the series.

Ending songs

Opening sequence

The opening sequence featured the main cast walking along a runway with a "75" placed at the bottom, with an arrow beside it, as their characters were viewed in separate close-ups (with the name of their actors accompanying).[4] The placement of the arrow and the "75" logo were changed as the series progressed. It was intended to film the opening at Haneda Airport, but permission was not granted, so it was filmed instead at Yashio, a district of Tokyo's Shinagawa ward, and later openings at the JMSDF Tateyama Air Base.

G-Men '75 cast

G-Men '82 cast

TV specials

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gメン75とは . kotobank. January 2, 2020.
  2. Web site: 昭和の激アツ刑事ドラマ主役を総直撃 倉田保昭 和製ドラゴンが本領発揮した香港ロケ. Japanese. www.asagei. 19 October 2020.
  3. Web site: 和製ドラゴン倉田保昭さんインタビュー. Japanese. www.hkpost.com.hk. 19 October 2020. 23 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201023112625/http://www.hkpost.com.hk/history/index2.php?id=5833. dead.
  4. Web site: 名作ドラマ"至高の最終回"の謎を総直撃!1982年4月3日・Gメン'75 若林豪. asagei. 12 November 2019. Japanese.