Bayside Shakedown
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese police drama/comedy series originally broadcast by the Fuji Television
group in 1997. The series was so popular that five cinematic-release movies were made following the end of the TV series, the first in 1998, the second in 2003, the third and fourth (spin-off movies featuring single characters from the franchise) in 2005, and the fifth released in 2010.
In 1998 and 1999, an English-subtitled version of the series was broadcast in the United States on the International Channel
as "The Spirited Criminal Investigative Network".
The first movie, Bayside Shakedown The Movie, was a major box office hit in Japan, earning 10.1 billion yen (84 million U.S. dollars), and was the third highest grossing live-action film in Japanese box office history. DVD and video sales were also very high. Bayside Shakedown 2 is Japan's highest grossing non-animated movie and earned over $165 million at the box office.
of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
. Unlike most police dramas which tend to focus on action and car chases, Bayside Shakedown is largely concerned with the bureaucratic
issues of the police department that are also very present in many other sectors of Japanese society. The series depicted police work as office politics under a slightly different environment, complete with bureaucratic red tape, lethargic civil servants, bosses more interested in playing golf and saving face than solving crimes, interference from politicians, and conflict between Police Headquarters and the local officers. The officers depicted in Bayside Shakedown are not permitted to carry firearm
s except during major emergencies. Fuji TV used the fictional "All officers are to be armed" (拳銃携帯命令 Kenjū Keitai Meirei) order, which the portrayed bureaucracy is often reluctant to hand down. (This is in fact different from reality, where it is compulsory for a uniformed officer to be armed, and plainclothes officers are required to be armed if they expect to be exposed to any danger.)
The main character of the series is a young detective
named Shunsaku Aoshima (played by Yuji Oda
). Originally a corporate salesman, Aoshima decided to join the police department out of heroic idealism, expecting a life of adventure and excitement. Once inside, he is completely underwhelmed by the reality of police work, finding it dishearteningly similar to corporate employment. Throughout the series, he strives against the obstacles of bureaucratic indifference to help people and pursue his ideals of what a police officer should be, often with humorous results.
1997 December: Special episode, Bayside Shakedown: Year-End Special Alert
1998 June: Extra episode, Bayside Shakedown: Wangan Police Station Female Police Officers' Story
.
1998 October: Special episode, Bayside Shakedown: Autumn Campaign for Crime Eradication
1998 October: Bayside Shakedown: The Movie
2003 Summer: Bayside Shakedown 2
.
2005: Two "spin-off" movies, the first titled Tokyo Subway Panic based on the character of Mashita as a police negotiator, and the second movie The Suspect based on the character of Muroi. Another spin-off, Tobosha Jyoichiro Kijima was recorded for the DVD release of the Tokyo Subway Panic.
2007: For a Japanese variety show
, Trivia no Izumi, a new spin-off was made for a minor character from Tokyo Subway Panic (who did not even have a name at the time), titled Keigokan Uchida Shinzo.
2010 Summer: Bayside Shakedown 3.
Fuji Television
is a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
group in 1997. The series was so popular that five cinematic-release movies were made following the end of the TV series, the first in 1998, the second in 2003, the third and fourth (spin-off movies featuring single characters from the franchise) in 2005, and the fifth released in 2010.
In 1998 and 1999, an English-subtitled version of the series was broadcast in the United States on the International Channel
International Networks
International Media Distribution is a United States media company that markets and distributes international television channels to cable and satellite operators in the US and Canada. It also distributes multi-ethnic television programming to consumers via Video on demand services...
as "The Spirited Criminal Investigative Network".
The first movie, Bayside Shakedown The Movie, was a major box office hit in Japan, earning 10.1 billion yen (84 million U.S. dollars), and was the third highest grossing live-action film in Japanese box office history. DVD and video sales were also very high. Bayside Shakedown 2 is Japan's highest grossing non-animated movie and earned over $165 million at the box office.
Story Summary
Bayside Shakedown takes place in the fictional Wangan PrecinctTokyo Wangan Police Station
is a police station located in Kōtō, Tokyo.-History:During the fast growing development in the Tokyo's Wangan area, in the early 2004, a suggestion for the creation of a new police station was brought up. With the popularity of Bayside Shakedown franchise, it was thought that the station will be...
of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department serves as the police force for the entire Tokyo metropolis. Founded in 1874, it is headed by a superintendent general, who is appointed by the National Public Safety Commission and approved by the prime minister.The Metropolitan Police, with a staff of more...
. Unlike most police dramas which tend to focus on action and car chases, Bayside Shakedown is largely concerned with the bureaucratic
Bureaucracy
A bureaucracy is an organization of non-elected officials of a governmental or organization who implement the rules, laws, and functions of their institution, and are occasionally characterized by officialism and red tape.-Weberian bureaucracy:...
issues of the police department that are also very present in many other sectors of Japanese society. The series depicted police work as office politics under a slightly different environment, complete with bureaucratic red tape, lethargic civil servants, bosses more interested in playing golf and saving face than solving crimes, interference from politicians, and conflict between Police Headquarters and the local officers. The officers depicted in Bayside Shakedown are not permitted to carry firearm
Firearm
A firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...
s except during major emergencies. Fuji TV used the fictional "All officers are to be armed" (拳銃携帯命令 Kenjū Keitai Meirei) order, which the portrayed bureaucracy is often reluctant to hand down. (This is in fact different from reality, where it is compulsory for a uniformed officer to be armed, and plainclothes officers are required to be armed if they expect to be exposed to any danger.)
The main character of the series is a young detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
named Shunsaku Aoshima (played by Yuji Oda
Yuji Oda
is a Japanese actor and singer.Yuji Oda was born on 13 December 1967 in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. He was born to an upper-middle-class family and attended the private academy of Touin Gakuen. Originally he had a promising career in sports, but had to give it up after a knee injury. He...
). Originally a corporate salesman, Aoshima decided to join the police department out of heroic idealism, expecting a life of adventure and excitement. Once inside, he is completely underwhelmed by the reality of police work, finding it dishearteningly similar to corporate employment. Throughout the series, he strives against the obstacles of bureaucratic indifference to help people and pursue his ideals of what a police officer should be, often with humorous results.
Timeline
1997 January–March: TV Drama.1997 December: Special episode, Bayside Shakedown: Year-End Special Alert
1998 June: Extra episode, Bayside Shakedown: Wangan Police Station Female Police Officers' Story
Odoru daisosasen bangaihen - Wangansho fukei monogatari shoka no kôtsûanzen special
is a Japanese TV movie that aired on June the 19th 1998 in Japan, directed by Katsuyuki Motohiro, and starring Yuki Uchida in the main role. It's one of the spin-off of the hugely successful Japanese TV drama "Odoru daisosasen", aka Bayside Shakedown, that aired in 1997 in Japan, but the original...
.
1998 October: Special episode, Bayside Shakedown: Autumn Campaign for Crime Eradication
1998 October: Bayside Shakedown: The Movie
Bayside Shakedown: The Movie
was a Japanese police drama / comedy movie released in October 1998. The movie was based on the hit TV series Bayside Shakedown which had just finished airing roughly a year and a half before...
2003 Summer: Bayside Shakedown 2
Bayside Shakedown 2
is the second movie based on the popular Bayside Shakedown TV series, known for its unique and humorous depiction of the Japanese police force while avoiding the conventions that define most police dramas...
.
2005: Two "spin-off" movies, the first titled Tokyo Subway Panic based on the character of Mashita as a police negotiator, and the second movie The Suspect based on the character of Muroi. Another spin-off, Tobosha Jyoichiro Kijima was recorded for the DVD release of the Tokyo Subway Panic.
2007: For a Japanese variety show
Japanese variety show
Japanese variety show is a entertainment television program made up of a variety of original stunts, musical performances, comedy skits, quiz contests, and other acts.-Current situation:...
, Trivia no Izumi, a new spin-off was made for a minor character from Tokyo Subway Panic (who did not even have a name at the time), titled Keigokan Uchida Shinzo.
2010 Summer: Bayside Shakedown 3.