Specialist 3 (2015)
A Japanese crime thriller where a detective's past collides with a chilling murder investigation he never expected to face alone.
Specialist 3 - Movie Information
Specialist 3 - Plot
Shu Kubota is killed by someone with a baseball bat. A metal bat and an old toy are found at the crime scene. Detective Yoshito (Tsuyoshi Kusanagi) with the special investigation unit goes to the crime scene to investigate. There, Detective Yoshito realizes that he made the old toy about 10 years ago when he worked at the public relations division of the Kyoto Prefectural Police Department. Detective Yoshito decides to solve the case by himself and without the help of his partner Detective Chinami (Kaho Minami).
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Specialist 3 - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Gō Shichitaka
Main Cast
- Tsuyoshi Kusanagi
- Kaho Minami
- Kenta Satoi
- Takaya Kamikawa
- Yuu Tokui
- Mahiru Konno
- Yoji Tanaka
- Mio Miyatake
- Yuta Hiraoka
- Kyōko Enami
Writers
- Masashi Todayama
Specialist 3 - FAQs
What is Specialist 3 about?
Specialist 3 follows Detective Yoshito, a sharp investigator with a special unit, who is drawn into a murder case after recognising a toy at the crime scene — one he himself made a decade earlier while working in the Kyoto Prefectural Police public relations division. Determined to uncover the truth, he pursues the case alone.
Who are the main actors in Specialist 3?
Tsuyoshi Kusanagi leads the cast as Detective Yoshito Takuma, with Kaho Minami playing his partner Detective Chinami Anekoji. The supporting cast includes Kenta Satoi, Takaya Kamikawa, Yuu Tokui, Mahiru Konno, Yoji Tanaka, Mio Miyatake, Yuta Hiraoka, and Kyōko Enami.
Why does Detective Yoshito work alone in Specialist 3?
After recognising a handmade toy at the murder scene — one he crafted himself about ten years earlier — Detective Yoshito realises the case has a deeply personal dimension. Rather than involve his partner Detective Chinami, he chooses to investigate solo, keeping the connection private as he pursues the killer.
Who directed Specialist 3?
Specialist 3 was directed by Gō Shichitaka, a Japanese filmmaker known for his work in television drama and crime thrillers. The film was produced by TV Asahi and released in 2015.
What genre is Specialist 3?
Specialist 3 is a crime thriller. It blends a tightly wound detective investigation with personal stakes, following a seasoned investigator as he untangles a murder case that reaches back into his own past. It is a Japanese-language film produced by TV Asahi.
How long is Specialist 3?
Specialist 3 has a runtime of 110 minutes, or 1 hour and 50 minutes. That gives the story enough room to develop its mystery at a steady pace while keeping the tension building throughout Detective Yoshito's personal investigation.
What are similar movies to Specialist 3?
If you enjoy Specialist 3, you might also like Collateral (2004), Mississippi Burning (1988), Hard Days (2023), The Black Book (2023), and Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995). For newer picks, All the Devils Are Here (2025) and Muzzle: City of Wolves (2025) are worth exploring.
Who wrote the screenplay for Specialist 3?
The screenplay for Specialist 3 was written by Masashi Todayama. The story centres on a detective who discovers an unexpected personal link to a murder investigation, weaving together themes of memory, guilt, and professional duty within a crime thriller framework.
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