Doberman Deka

Doberman Deka

Cover artwork of the first volume from the Jump Comics edition
ドーベルマン刑事
(Dōberuman Deka)
Genre Detective fiction
Manga
Written by Buronson
Illustrated by Shinji Hiramatsu
Published by Shueisha
Demographic Shōnen
Magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump
Original run 1975 – 1979
Volumes 29

Doberman Deka (Japanese: ドーベルマン刑事, "Doberman Cop") is a hardboiled manga series written by Buronson and drawn by Shinji Hiramatsu. It was serialized in the Weekly Shōnen Jump manga anthology from 1975 (Issue 39) throughout 1979 (Issue 48) and was originally collected in a 29-volume tankōbon edition. A later aizōban edition was published, as well as a bunkoban edition, which compressed the number of volumes to 18. The manga was also adapted into two live-action feature films (one of them starring Sonny Chiba and directed by Kinji Fukasaku) and a TV series.

Manga

The protagonist of the story is Joji Kano (加納 錠治 Kanō Jōji), a detective employed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's special crimes division, which handles serious criminal cases. His gun of choice is a customized .44 Magnum-caliber Ruger Blackhawk. Even though Kano and his co-workers are criticized by the media and society, he doesn't mind the criticism at all. Even though Kano has no pity for serious criminals, he holds a gentle respect for children and elderly people, as well as former criminals who want to redeem themselves from their past behavior.

At the beginning of the manga, the only members of the Special Crimes Division were Kano himself and Superintendent Nishitani (西谷), but they would gradually be joined by additional members such as Detective Miyatake (宮武), a gang specialist who was transferred to Shinjuku from Osaka; female detective Mimori (三森); and from America, female detective Judy Terao (ジュディー寺尾). While the series had a hardboiled atmosphere, it gradually became more light-hearted during the title's four-year run.

First film

Doberman Deka

Directed by Kinji Fukasaku
Produced by Norimichi Matsudaira
Kyō Namura
Written by Kōji Takada
Starring Sonny Chiba
Music by Kenjiro Hirose
Edited by Isamu Ichida
Distributed by Toei Company (Japan)
Release dates
 July 2, 1977 (Japan)
Running time
 90 minutes
Country Japan
Language Japanese

A live-action film version of Doberman Deka was released theatrically by Toei in Japan on July 2, 1977. The film was directed by Kinji Fukasaku and starred Sonny Chiba as Joji Kano (加納 錠治 Kanō Jōji).

Story

The burned remains of a young woman discovered in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The police comes to the conclusion that it is the work of a pyromaniacal serial murderer. The murder victim is identified as Mayumi Tamaki, a native of Ishigaki, Okinawa. As the investigation unfolded, her former boyfriend, a former rider of a motorcycle named Chōei Mikawa emerged as a suspect. But Kano did not agree Mikawa is the suspect. Kano started conducting the investigation himself to search the real criminal person.

Cast

TV series

A TV series based on the manga, titled Bakusō! Doberman Deka (爆走!ドーベルマン刑事, "Roar! Doberman Cop"), aired on TV Asahi affiliates in 1980. 22 episodes were produced, which aired from April 7 throughout October 27. Other than the main character, Joji Kano (portrayed by Toshio Kurasawa), very few elements from the manga were adapted to the series. In the TV series, Kano was a member of a motorcycle cop unit.

Second film

A straight-to-video film was released by Gaga Communications in 1996 starring Riki Takeuchi in the title role.

External links

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