geo9875 | Daitokai: Tatakai no Hibi (1976)

Broadcast: January, 6, 1976

Network: Nippon TV
Genres: Crime, Drama, Detective
Subtitle translation, timing, and editing: GEO9875

Synopsis:

In the big city where loyalty is rare and justice comes hard, a stoic detective (Tetsuya Watari) and his old friend, a sharp-eyed reporter (Yujiro Ishihara), forge a quiet alliance, uncovering brutal truths in days of relentless struggle.

Softsubbed MKVs:
MEGA | Archive | AvistaZ

Sub files available on:
d-addicts and Drama-Otaku (31/31)

After some months of inactivity, I'm back with my 50th project! It's been quite the journey, and fittingly, I'm doing another procedural cop drama after working on Abunai Deka two years ago. This time, I'm bringing you the first installment of the Ishihara Promotions Daitokai series for Nippon TV, featuring the iconic duo Tetsuya Watari & Yujiro Ishihara! This series helped shape an entire era of Japanese crime dramas, becoming one of Japan's biggest procedurals of the 1970s, eventually expanding into two additional seasons and even paving the way for the hugely popular Seibu Keisatsu for TV Asahi, also produced by Ishihara Promotions and featuring many of the same stars.

Part I of Daitokai stands apart from its successors with a more grounded, methodical tone. Instead of the explosive action, car chases, and high-intensity spectacle that defined Parts II and III (and later Seibu Keisatsu), this first entry focuses on steady investigative work, the dynamic between the police and the press, and a layer of social commentary. The main series writer, So Kuramoto, aimed to keep the storytelling serious and suspenseful, blending procedural work with subtle glimpses of human emotion. Episodes often highlight the police's organizational structure and investigative methods, and the series sometimes shifts attention to supporting characters, journalists, colleagues, and guest-focused stories, rather than relying solely on the leads. As a result, it functions extremely well as a self-contained series.

Daitokai ran for only 31 episodes, far more manageable to sub than the 100+ episode behemoth these usually ran for. Feels good letting people get a taste of one of these 70s cop shows, which are incredibly underserved and basically never get subbed in English.

The RAWs I used to make the subs are based on a WEB-DL. As usual with these projects, this was subbed by ear, so please excuse any errors and some omitted incidental lines, mostly relegated to the mahjong chatter during the scenes at the Toyo Press Club.

Thanks to everyone who's checked out my subs over the years. I hope I've managed to bring even a bit of joy into your lives. Enjoy all 31 episodes!