The New Year's Day special (episode 9), "The Last Day," of the popular detective drama "Aibou Season 23" (TV Asahi, Wednesdays at 9 p.m.) was broadcast from 9 p.m. on January 1st, and recorded an average viewership rating (according to Video Research, Kanto region, same below) of 11.3% for households and 6.5% for individuals.
"Aibou" is a detective drama in which Ukyo Sugishita (Yutaka Mizutani), a member of the Metropolitan Police Department's "Special Investigation Unit," solves many difficult cases with his partner, using his genius mind to solve his case. Since its launch in 2000, four partners have been created to date: Kameyama Kaoru (Yasufumi Terawaki), Kobe Takeru (Mitsuhiro Oikawa), Kai Toru (Hiroki Narimiya), and Kanjo Wataru (Takashi Sorimachi). In "Season 21," Kaoru, the original partner, returns to the Special Investigation Unit. This marks the 10th season for Ukyo and Kaoru as a pair.
The New Year's Day special will feature guest appearances by Masanobu Takashima, Takahiro Fujimoto, Mitsuomi Takahashi, Junko Sakurai, and Kenjiro Ishimaru. Kohei Jinkawa (Ryuji Harada), a detective from the Second Investigation Division who is well known for his role in "The Third Man of the Special Missions Unit," will also appear for the first time in about a year since "season 22," and the story will depict the kidnapping of a popular news anchor's daughter.