Furuhata Ninzaburō is a Japanese television series that aired periodically on Fuji Television from 1994 until its final episodes in 2006. Written by Japanese playwright Kōki Mitani, it is often referred to as the Japanese version of Columbo. The series is a police detective drama starring actor Masakazu Tamura as Furuhata Ninzaburo and Masahiko Nishimura as his stereotypically bumbling sidekick, Shintaro Imaizumi. The program aired weekly and featured a guest villain each time, usually a famous talent in Japan. Pop stars like SMAP, television hosts like Sanma Akashiya, and even sports figures like Ichiro Suzuki have appeared on this show. It was one of the most popular television dramas in the history of Japanese television, having spawned several seasons and TV specials.
