If our loved one
suddenly died one day,
and was found to have died of unnatural cause,
we would all want to know the truth
as to why that person died.
Whether it was an accident, homicide,
or suicide.
Presently, approximately 170,000 bodies are found annually in Japan.
Of those, only 8,000 bodies are turned in for forensic autopsy.
Even counting the administrative autopsies, the autopsy rate of 11 percent
is very low compared to the rest of the world,
indicating the present state in Japan
where, because of things like overlooked crimes, the truth may never be known.
-I have a question. -Yes.
There's a big difference in the Japan's autopsy rate
and countries like Finland's 90 percent and the U.S.'s 50 percent, so
what is the difference in the criteria for performing an autopsy?
There's just the professor who can answer that question.
A professor who was studying forensic medicine in the U.S. just returned to Japan,
and has agreed to come to the Department of Forensic Medicine here at Jyoto University.
I'm sorry!
Is something wrong? Are you alright?
Are you alright?
-You, please call for an ambulance. -Yes!
Also, see if you can find an AED* close by! (*automated external defibrillator)
"Akai" san...
Akai-san! Is it your chest? Are you having chest pains?
Are you alright?
Akai-san, we're here.
He clutched his chest and collapsed while jogging. His respiratory level deteriorated on the way so he was intubated.
He's currently at JCS (Japan Coma Scale) Level 3, being maintained on Unit 1.
-Are you a doctor? -Yes. Please take over!
Can you hear me?
We did everything we could to revive him, but I'm sorry to say we just confirmed his death.
I see.
-Excuse me. -Yes.
Please make sure it's reported to the police.
Police?
He collapsed while jogging. It's not likely to be a case for the police.
-We can reasonably treat it as a natural death... -No.
We can't conclude that it was a natural death.
I'll contact the police myself and participate in the inquest.
It sure is getting hot! Well,
I'll be on my way to pick up the bereaved family.
I'm Kamatsuda from Musashino Police Station.
I heard you're a doctor.
At this University's School of Medicine, Dept. of Forensic Medicine effective today.
I see. When a body found in our jurisdiction,
the Dept. of Forensic Medicine here takes care of the autopsy, if necessary.
We may have to see each other for a long time then.
No, I don't intend to be at a local station for long...
You're being groomed for management? You must be smart.
Not especially.
I understand he collapsed while jogging, and passed away after he was transported here.
Yes.
This way please.
Dear.
I'm sorry.
It's my fault. He was having chest pains
but I didn't take him to the hospital.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry...!
They were known by their neighbors as a very close couple.
Seems he started complaining of chests pains about a month ago.
We didn't find anything particularly suspicious.
We can presume he suffered a heart attack while jogging.
Doctor, we'd like get a death certificate for Akai Ryouji-san.
Right here...Doctor, over here...
"Unknown"?
What do you mean "Unknown"?
It means we don't know the cause of death.
Ah...No, I understand that, but...
The cause of death is heart attack, isn't it?
-Are you a doctor? -What?
It's the doctor's job to determine the cause of death.
Yes, of course.
But in this case, normally it would be considered...
We don't know the exact cause of death.
Unless we perform an autopsy.
I understand your desire as a forensic pathologist to perform as many
autopsies as possible, but the probability of this being a police case is very low,
and the probability of it being a heart attack is much higher, so
if you could take that into consideration.
"Take it into consideration."?
Yes, take it into consideration.
-Heart attack? -Yes.
I can't do that.
As long as the exact cause of death is unknown, I can't write the name of the disease in this block.
The regular doctor would have no problem writing it.
To determine whether an autopsy is needed or not is the responsibility of the police.
To determine the cause of death
is the responsibility of a doctor.
Can I have some tea?
Doctor Nakura must have mixed feelings about working with another associate professor.
The battle for the professor's slot is about to erupt.
Oh, Professor, Professor!
Isn't the new professor supposed to start today?
Yes.
She's late, isn't she?
What?
We're waiting to welcome a doctor who was studying in the U.S. for
2 years and 3 months as a specially appointed Associate Professor today.
-Doctor Odate... -That Doctor Odate
is being very uncooperative with the police and giving us a hard time.
Doctor Nakura, can you come with us please?
If there's nothing suspicious, I'd say it's a heart attack.
How can you positively say that?
What's the problem?
Both the police and I reached the most reasonable conclusion based on the information we have.
Doctor Nakura, please complete this.
Thank you.
Inspector, are you done?
Yes.
I'll bring the car around.
Hello, this is Kamatsuda.
I believe you're Doctor Odate?
Excuse me for not introducing myself sooner. I'm Nakura, Associate Professor, Dept. of Forensic Medicine at Jyoto University.
Excuse me, I have to go. Another body was found.
Professor Takeda's been waiting for you.
Please begin.
The facial area too, please.
This morning, I called him and then shook him, but he didn't wake up.
-That was around 10:00, right? -Yes.
Where does he work?
He was unemployed.
What time did your husband go to bed last time?
He shut himself up in the room after dinner, so
I'm not sure what time he went to bed...
Please have her wait in the other room.
Yes. This way, please.
I don't see anything suspicious, but
just to be sure, a simple urine test... -I already asked for it.
That's not what you promised!
You promised that you even if you followed us,
-you won't butt in at the scene, didn't you? -What's the point of being here then?
Did you deceive me?
In the first place, why is a doctor from Forensic Medicine out in the field?
To perform autopsy on a body determined to require an autopsy is the doctor's job.
Inspector, sleep inducing medication was found in the urine.
Although not enough to kill anyone.
Inspector,
According to their neighbors,
the couple was constantly fighting.
She's really late, isn't she?
-Oh, it's only you. -What do you mean "only"?
Tea, please.
The result of the alcohol test from yesterday's autopsy's out. Here.
Oh, the doctor returning from the U.S. hasn't come yet?
-I guess not. -She's late.
Doctor Nakura, what kind of doctor was she, not to cooperate with the police?
As I recall, you recommended her, didn't you, Professor?
Yes, sort of.
-Is she an eccentric doctor? -Well...
-You're so wishy-washy. -You don't have to say it that way...
I don't know what kind of doctor she is, but
she sounds like she has a big head.
I'm tall too.
Doctor Odate!
-We were waiting for you. -Doctor Takeda, I'm sorry I'm late.
I was attending a police inquest.
Is that right?
Hello, we met this morning.
Doctor, how were things in the U.S.?
I'm Takeda, a first year medical student.
-She's my daughter. -There's no need to tell everyone.
The body that just went through the police inquest,
it's been determined that an autopsy is necessary.
I believe the body should be arriving shortly.
I'll schedule the autopsy for tomorrow morning then.
Thank y... -We're doing it today.
From now?
Yes.
We normally schedule it for the next day when a body is transported late in the afternoon.
Everyone has other work to do besides autopsy.
Self-centered behavior is... Is something else
going on today?
No, I mean, that's not the point.
Please schedule it for 5:00.
5:00 is impossible. 5:10 then.
5:15 might work...
Agreed.
Please be ready then.
Sorry for making you do this at this time.
Why are they doing an autopsy at this late hour!
Room temperature 25.2 degrees.
Rectal temperature 29.3 degrees.
External observation is done.
Then...
let's begin.
Doctor Odate.
Excuse me, but...aren't you going to put your hands together (in prayer)?
Incision in the thoracic abdominal area.
Subcutaneous bleeding in the left temporal region
where an abrasion was observed.
Picture, please.
There's subcutaneous bleeding as well on top of the head where no external trauma was observed.
Looks like this might be a police case as we suspected.
There were two injuries which weren't visible externally.
The fatal wound was...
The fatal wound was the trauma to the left temporal region.
Skull fracture and epidural hematoma.
This is no different than the regular autopsies.
Right? I was anticipating an American style autopsy too.
Autopsies are universal.
What kind weapon can you think of?
Weapon... I haven't determined that it's a homicide yet.
The couple wasn't getting along at all.
The husband was laid off 6 months ago, and was currently unemployed.
They were having to sell the home they finally purchased 3 years ago,
and for the past 3 months they've been heard fighting frequently.
So you're suspecting the wife of killing her husband?
That's scary!
She took advantage of the fact that her husband took sleeping pills for insomnia
and committed the crime after he fell asleep.
I told you it's too soon to conclude that it's homicide.
I'll make her confess tomorrow.
Excuse me.
It's late today so
we'll leave the body here.
Kamatsuda.
No honorific?
Kamatsuda.
Yes.
Oh! Right there, where the bicycle's parked.
Thank goodness it hasn't been removed yet.
The police car is not a taxi.
Thank you for your hard work.
Kamatsuda.
Yes.
Don't you think it's strange?
What is?
If Akai-san was experiencing chest pains,
I don't think he'd be jogging.
And isn't it strange that he had his driver's license
when he was jogging?
Not necessarily.
Anyway, the investigation on Akai-san has ended.
Thank you for your hard work.
What? Do you have a date or something?
Yes, thank you very much.
What about you, Doctor?
I haven't had a date in ages.
That's what I thought.
You know, about that guy who had a heart attack while jogging.
If you had to think of another cause, what would it be?
Hmm. Maybe poisoning by medicinal or toxic substance.
How long before that takes effect?
It depends on the type of capsule containing the toxic substance
and how fast it dissolves.
Nothing suspicious was noted on the body so it was determined that no criminal activity was involved,
and the body wasn't turned in for autopsy, but was it was actually murder by poisoning...just kidding.
What?
It's strictly just a supposition.
Gotta be, right?
If we had to investigate every little possibility, there's no way we'd be able to handle all the cases.
That's right.
What that doctor's preaching is simply idealism.
That's right. Even though she goes around flaunting her idealism,
she didn't even put her hands together for the body.
What is she thinking?
When a woman lives alone, is that how she becomes?
Or maybe it's because she's like that
that she has to live alone.
Oh, that's right.
You forgot this at my place last time.
It's not that I forgot it...
I appreciate you bringing it for me, but
I was thinking maybe I'd come over tonight.
You mean spend the night?
If it's alright with you, but don't go out of your way.
It doesn't matter to me.
If you leave before I wake up in the morning.
Okay, I'll do that.
I have a meeting first thing in the morning anyway.
I'm home~.
Hi, Mom. -Hey, Kousuke.
Ah~ good. You took a bath.
Good boy.
Wow, looks delicious!
There's nothing in your fridge.
-I picked up some things for you. -Thanks.
-Kousuke, how was your new school? -Normal.
-Did you make any friends? -I don't know.
-How did you like Japanese classes? -I don't know.
What do you mean "I don't know"?
-I don't know! -You mean you don't know if you understood?
Or you don't understand the classes?
I have something to tell you, Mom.
Hm? Hey, it's past 10 already.
We'll talk tomorrow. Go to bed now.
He was about to go to bed when you came home.
-What about homework? -I'll do it tomorrow morning.
-Do it right now. -But you just said "Go to bed"...
-Where's your class schedule? -Go ahead and go to bed.
Let me see your homework and class schedule.
-I'm going to bed! -Kousuke?
You'd better wake up early tomorrow!
Everything you do and say is always at your own convenience.
-Don't you feel sorry for Kousuke? -I know.
In the first place, just when you bought this house and Kousuke was about to enter first grade,
you suddenly said you want to study abroad. What you were thinking?
On top of that, leaving your husband behind and taking the child with you for 2 years and 3 months.
I know.
I don't know how Takahiro-san puts up with you.
I said I know.
I'd understand if Takahiro-san went to study abroad. He's a surgeon, after all.
My studying abroad has meaning too.
As a forensic pathologist, there's tons of things
that can be done in the U.S. that can't be done in Japan.
Well, anyway, you should do more around the house too.
After I leave, tidy up the area around the entrance.
Before Takahiro-san comes home.
It's alright. He's staying at the hospital tonight so he won't be home.
There you go again... This house isn't only yours, you know.
Excuse me.
Are you an acquaintance of Akai-san?
Yes.
I'm the doctor who accompanied him in the ambulance.
Is that right? When I heard he passed away yesterday
I was shocked. He looked so well in the morning.
It must have been quite a shock for his wife too.
She seemed like a good wife.
-Oh, at the hospital... -Yes.
-Are you going somewhere? -Yes, to submit the death certificate.
Did you need something?
Wouldn't you like to know the
real reason your husband died?
My husband died of a heart attack, didn't he?
Excuse me.
We can't say for sure unless we perform an autopsy.
Are you going to cut up my husband? What autopsy...
Please don't make us suffer any more.
The results of the forensic autopsy revealed that your husband's death
was epidural hematoma caused by a blow to the left temporal region.
Does that mean he hit his head hard?
Or he was hit hard on his head by someone.
I heard that you were constantly arguing with your husband.
[Where did you get that camera?]
[If you have that kind of money, spend it for your child!]
[Shut up!]
[What right do you have to take away a simple pleasure from me?]
[If you have that kind of time, look for a job!]
[I've been looking day in and day out!]
[Get serious about it!]
[We're going to have to sell this house too!]
-[Give it here.] -[Hey, stop it...]
[I've had enough of this!]
And that object fell
and hit your husband on the head.
Yes.
But at that time, he really was alright.
Inspector!
Can I see you...
This is it for today. Anyone with questions can stay behind.
Um...I have a question...
Doctor Odate!
Can you please explain what this is all about?
The lecture isn't over yet.
What are you doing?
I heard that you recommended an autopsy to Akai-san's wife.
She rejected the autopsy.
Of course she would.
That would mean cutting up the body of her loved one.
Is that the real reason for rejecting the autopsy?
I don't know why you're being so insistent, but
investigation is the job of the police.
Investigation of Akai-san's case has ended.
It's not that it ended, you put an end to it, didn't you?
By calling it heart attack.
We did the necessary investigation.
Once the body's cremated, it's all over.
This is the cremation permit.
Once the body's cremated, we can't perform the autopsy
and we won't be able to probe into the real cause of death.
That's why before the body's cremated...
There's an order of priority in investigations.
In Japan, 170,000 bodies are discovered annually.
There are only 170 doctors who can perform autopsies.
That's the indisputable reality of Japan.
Priority must be placed on cases with a high probability of murder
rather than a case with a high probability of natural death.
-What's this? -The weapon.
After Taguchi-san fell asleep, his wife
killed him with this.
Hm?
It looks like the object is unrelated to the fatal wound.
Please check it out thoroughly.
I'm positive this delivered the fatal blow.
Hey, wait. Stop. What if you hit the body!
It might match up if I did it...
That's not going to happen, so don't butt in. This is a doctor's job!
-Wait...Let me try once! -Ouch!
-Let me go! -Hey...Let go!
Pisses me off!
Will you be returning to the station?
No, I'm done for the day.
-Thank you. -Okay. We'll see you again.
Oh no...
Grandma?
-Oh...he's my grandson. -Is that right?
-What? -What should I write?
Anything you like.
Okay.
How do you get this dirty?
-Tadaima. -Okaeri.
Dad, okaeri.
-Hey Kousuke. You must've been practicing calligraphy. -Yeah.
If you're going to practice calligraphy, you have to wear clothes that can get dirty.
You understand, don't you?
That's hardly anything to scold him for, is it?
I know, but I'm the one who has to wash it.
It won't come off with regular detergent.
Oh look, you got it on here too.
Take a bath first and clean up.
-Mom, there's something... -Go wash up right now.
Between the nails too. Go.
What? Why do I have to get scolded
when I was taking care of him?
Just make the clothes he got dirty today his practice clothes.
Anyway, be more careful from now on.
-You too, Tamami. -What do you mean?
You haven't listened to what Kousuke had to say, have you?
You're always too busy to listen.
I know.
No, you don't. That's why I'm telling you.
I said I know!
No, you don't.
Don't just listen to the voice of the dead,
and make an effort listen to your own child's voice too.
Pretty soon, Kousuke's going to stop talking to you.
Don't you understand?
What I had to go through to keep on working.
Your mother understands you better than anyone else.
It's not only the living people who rely on doctors.
People who died can only rely on forensic pathologists.
My job is to respond to the feelings of
those who rely on me.
Whether the truth can be conveyed to the bereaved family
depends on me.
Yeah.
You think that doctors who treat live people
are better too, don't you, Takahiro?
Why aren't you saying anything?
Right now, no matter what I say, it's going to turn into an argument.
You mean you don't want to be bothered?
Are you fighting?
No, we're not fighting.
I told you we're not.
Oh, that's right. You haven't shown me your calligraphy...
You're the one who said "Take a bath right now"!
What's "Sannin Isshu"?
Play on word on "Hyakunin Isshu"* maybe? (*100 poems by 100 famous poets)
Confiscate this too.
You can't just confiscate everything in sight...
I'm going to find the weapon no matter what.
Of course you should.
Why are you here?
To look for a clue to find out the cause
of Taguchi-san's death, of course.
-I'm the assistant. -I didn't bring her.
-I just followed her on my own. -Don't make me repeat myself.
Investigation is the job of the police.
To investigate the cause of death
is my job.
Excuse me, but are you with the police?
Yes, you're the daughter, aren't you?
Yes, I'm Taguchi Yuuka.
There's something I want to tell you.
What is it?
Mom didn't kill Dad.
I came back here to get the evidence.
Evidence?
Evidence that Mom didn't kill Dad.
Is this the evidence?
Mom and I were planning a party.
Party?
The day Dad died was Mom and Dad's wedding anniversary.
The last party in this house.
Mom was going to cook a delicious meal and make up with Dad.
So there's no way Mom would kill Dad.
Thanks.
You can have this back.
Even though it's evidence?
I'm sorry, but
this can't be used as evidence.
Mom didn't kill Dad.
Dad was trying to patch things up with Mom too.
Thanks for telling us.
Why don't we move over there for now?
Wait a minute.
Say,
do you have evidence that your dad was trying to make up with your mom too?
Are you from the police?
No, I'm a doctor.
Doctor?
Do you have evidence that your dad was trying to make up with your mom?
Yes.
Dad and I were secretly making a photo album
as a present for Mom.
What is it?
-I haven't seen this picture before. -Let me see.
It's a picture of this house.
-This is it. -Yes.
Sky?
What other pictures are there?
Yuuka-san, thank you.
This is a very important piece of evidence.
What in the world are you doing?
This is where the picture was taken.
What are we looking for?
Oh, watch it.
Hey, be careful.
Give me the photo of the left temporal region.
Send the substance on the block to the crime lab.
See if it matches Taguchi-san.
Check for any signs of a third party.
Can do.
That day, after Taguchi-san had an argument with you,
he shut himself up in his room,
and worked on this photo album.
He wanted to include a picture of this house, so
he waited for dawn and quietly slipped out of the house to take the picture.
[Ouch.]
He hit his head hard, but he got up
and took a picture of the house.
At that time, blood was already starting to accumulate
in Taguchi-san's head due to the damaged blood vessels in the
surrounding area of the fractured skull in the left temporal region.
But Taguchi-san continued to work on the photo album
and when it was done, he went to sleep.
The blood that accumulated in his head
pressed against a very important part of the brain called brain stem,
and I believe he passed away
peacefully without any pain.
Dad.
"To Yoshimi. I'm sorry for being a such a loser until now."
"I'll find a job soon and do my best to start all over."
"Bear with me from now on too."
Doctor...
Thank you.
Kamatsuda.
Akai-san's memorial service is tomorrow.
Doctor Odate was so trained in the U.S.!
She was just like Doctor Deka*. (*Cop)
-Doctor Deka? -Yes.
They say that in the U.S. forensic pathologists go to the investigation scenes.
They call them "Doctor Deka."
But "Deka" isn't an English word, is it?
See.
You're right.
Who ever made up that
lame term "Doctor Deka," huh?
But this is Japan.
See ya.
But it's hard to take when she has you running all over the place.
You said you had something to tell me. What is it?
Forget it.
What was it?
Never mind!
Sorry.
I...
I was in the wrong.
I want to go somewhere.
Like where?
It doesn't matter where.
Here.
A letter?
"Bring a shukubutsu picture book if you have one."
What's a "shukubutsu picture book"?
Shokubutsu* picture book. (*plant/vegetation)
Oh, Kousuke, you got the small "yu" and "yo" mixed up.
Maybe it's because you were in the U.S., but you're already in third grade.
Look. "Sho" isn't "Shi" plus a small "yu"
but a small "yo".
"Issho..." (*together)
Kousuke.
Do you want to go somewhere on our next day off?
The three of us together. (Sannin issho, not isshu, is what Kousuke meant to write)
I suppose I could make myself go with you guys.
-Where shall we go? -I don't care, so let me go.
-No way. You know you like it. -Okay, let's make a plan.
River fishing.
-Sounds good. -No.
-Mountain.
-Barbecue! -Barbecue! How's that sound?
-Okay. -Alright!
Come in.
Excuse me.
Do you have time to look at a report?
-Yes, I'll take a look. -Thank you.
-Also... -Yes?
Why did you bring Doctor Odate here?
Is it difficult to work with her?
No.
I'm just curious why Professor Takeda brought her here.
Even if nothing changes,
it's kinda nice to have someone
who can stick to her principles and say things are not right
when they're not, don't you think?
Is that the only reason?
Yes. Nothing else comes to my mind.
Excuse me.
"Are you trying to do something that's none of your business?"
Is something wrong?
No.
What are you trying to do?
That case was closed as a natural death.
Not that it matters.
I'll do anything.
Hello.
Yes, got it.
A body was found at Chuo 2-chome.
Got it. Let's go.
-Wait a minute! -What?
Everything will be over after the memorial service tomorrow, right?
That's right.
I held back doing the things I wanted to do
and lived my life just for my husband.
But to find out he had a mistress.
Now he's dead.
Yes.
Serves him right.
The husband of the friend Akai Yukiko was with last night
also passed away 6 months ago.
Isn't it just a coincidence?
Both husbands had an enormous insurance policy on them.
Also, the friend is a nurse, so she's knowledgeable about medicinal substance.
Plus, she knew that if he was transported to the hospital while jogging,
it would be treated as natural death and not be reported to the police.
That's why Akai Yukiko had him carry his license so he could be identified right away...
Enough is enough!
-Kamioka. -Yes.
-Come here. -Yes.
Chief, what is it?
Oh, Doctor.
I'd like to ask you about the day Akai-san died.
Anything you can remember, no matter how trivial.
I do remember him saying that he took a vitamin capsule.
He said his wife urged him to take it.
Hello.
We found something new too.
So that means it's highly possible that the content of the capsule was a toxic substance.
At any rate, we don't have time! I'll get Akai-san's blood sample.
Matsuoka, syringe!
Morning.
What the...
She's like a bulldozer.
Good morning.
Sorry!
[Once the body's cremated, it's all over.]
[We won't be able to probe into the real cause of death.]
Where's Akai-san's body?
I was originally
a doctor in the emergency department.
Patients in critical condition
were brought in one after another,
and all I thought about there was to save lives.
When a patient died,
that was the end.
I realized for the first time when I switched over to forensic medicine 10 years ago.
Death is not the end.
That I can't let it end until I find out why they died.
That's why until I can find the true cause of death,
I can't get myself to pray for the soul of the dead to rest in peace.
[Doctor Odate, aren't you going to put your hands together?]
I want to do everything I can to find out the cause of death.
Before the body gets cremated.
Akai-san was...
He's here.
Why don't you go? Voluntary questioning is the job...
The job of the police.
-You thought you didn't make it on time. -I did not.
-You did too! -Listen.
Do not interfere in police matters.
Akai Ryouji (62) Cause of death - Homicide
Okay, let's begin.