The special drama "Kasouken no Onna Final" was broadcast on January 23rd as the final installment of the TV Asahi drama "Kasouken no Onna" starring Yasuko Sawaguchi, bringing to a close the long-running drama which had been broadcast for approximately 26 years since its start in October 1999.
◇The following contains spoilers.
"Kasouken no Onna" is a popular series that depicts forensic researchers at the Kyoto Prefectural Police Scientific Investigation Laboratory (commonly known as Kasouken), including Sakaki Mariko (played by Sawaguchi), as they use their specialized skills in forensic medicine, physics, chemistry, document analysis, and more to uncover the truth behind cases.The drama series will be broadcast until season 24 (2024), and the movie "Kasouken no Onna - The Movie -" was released in 2021.
In "Kasouken no Onna Final," a male development staff member is killed in a special smart mobility demonstration zone in Kyoto City. The possibility of unauthorized access emerges, and Mariko and the other members of the forensic lab follow the digital trail to challenge the "faceless culprit."
Although she succeeded in identifying the culprit, Mariko took responsibility for conducting an analysis whose accuracy had not been established and submitted her resignation. She left a letter to her colleagues, took off her white coat, and left the Forensic Science Laboratory. Later, before leaving for an invitation to a research institute in the United States, Detective Domon Kaoru (Takashi Naito), who had been investigating with her for many years, said to her at the airport, "I'll do my job, and you do yours," to which she replied, "Of course."
And as the drama came to a close, a message caption was displayed saying, "Thank you for your support over the past 26 years! Mariko sends her heartfelt gratitude to you." After the broadcast, the drama's official account (@kasouken_women) posted a photo of Sawaguchi and Naito together, with the caption, "26 years since the series was born. I will never forget the days when I was able to walk with you all along Mariko's path, believing in science and pursuing the truth. To everyone who supported us - with the utmost gratitude -."
