Japan has the best film directors in the world and horror-comedy director Noburu Iguchi is my favorite. His movies are not of consistent quality but I regard his Deddo Sushi and Machine Girl in high esteem.
I was wondering why this 2008 Nippon TV show was so funny. Iguchi is one of the directors of Shiori to Shimiko no Kaiki Jikenbo. The title translates to Mystery casefiles of Shiori and Shimiko. It is based on a popular manga created by Daijiro Morohoshi.
The Plot
Like every Japanese TV show, schoolgirl Shimiko is a transfer student. She moves to the town of Inaotama after her parents go abroad for work. She stays with her uncle who runs a bookstore. At the new school, Shimiko becomes friends with Shiori.
Inaotama is a place with lots of strange things going on. Even before Shimiko finds the address of her uncle, she has encounter with a corpse. As Shiori pulls out the corpse from the ground, Shimiko notes that the corpse is holding up a arm in a V sign. That is indicator not to take the show too seriously. Shiori declares she will solve the mystery and she ropes in a reluctant Shimiko into the investigation.
There are 13 such episodes, each dealing with a strange or horrifying incidents — a people disappearing at a park, a cat that transforms into a human, a family of ghosts that returns to seek revenge...
Each episode begins with a shocking incident (which may put off many viewers) but the rest of the episode will be lined up with funny segments till the end.
The cast
The lead duo are very much unlike. Shiori believes she can solve all strange phenomenon and mysteries. Shimiko is the straight character. Everyone except Shimiko reacts as hyped-up versions of typical Japanese horror movie characters. Shimiko tries to remain grounded as much as possible but eventually the madness gets to her as well.
I think I have seen enough Japanese movies and TV shows that I feel I know all the girls in Japan. I cannot tell their names but no matter who is the lead, I feel I have seen them before. That's not all. The trainer from Attention Purizu is a regular in this show as a professor and a writer.
Recommended Age Rating: 15+