64: Part 1 (2016)
A haunting Japanese mystery about an unsolved kidnapping, institutional conflict, and one detective's relentless pursuit of justice before time runs out.
64: Part 1 - Movie Information
- Original Title: 64-ロクヨン-前編
- Release Year: 2016
- Directed by: Takahisa Zeze
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Mystery
- Runtime: 2h 1m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Release Date (Theatrical): May 7, 2016 (Japan)
- Alternative Titles: 64－ロクヨン－前編 (JP), Six Four: Part 1 (US)
- Production Companies: TOHO, Cobra pictures, TBS, dentsu, CBC, WOWOW, The Asahi Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, TBS Radio, MBS
- Production Countries: Japan
64: Part 1 - Plot
1989: 64th and last year of the Showa era. A girl is kidnapped and killed. The unsolved case is called Case 64 ('rokuyon'). 2002: Yoshinobu Mikami, who was the detective in charge of the Case 64, moves as a Public Relations Officer in the Police Affairs Department. His relation with the reporters is conflicted and his own daughter is missing. The statute of limitations for the Case 64 will expire in one year. Then a kidnapping case, similar to the Case 64, takes place. The rift between the criminal investigation department and police administration department deepens. Mikami challenges the case as a public relations secretary.
64: Part 1 - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the tension of Case 64 unfold:
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64: Part 1 - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Takahisa Zeze
Main Cast
- Koichi Sato
- Go Ayano
- Nana Eikura
- Yui Natsukawa
- Naoto Ogata
- Masataka Kubota
- Kentaro Sakaguchi
- Michitaka Tsutsui
- Mayu Tsuruta
- Hidekazu Akai
Writers
- Shinichi Hisamatsu
- Takahisa Zeze
Producers
- Masaaki Ito
- OHARA Mahito
64: Part 1 - FAQs
What is 64: Part 1 about?
64: Part 1 follows Yoshinobu Mikami, a former detective turned police PR officer haunted by an unsolved 1989 child kidnapping known as Case 64. With the statute of limitations about to expire and a new similar kidnapping unfolding, Mikami is caught between institutional politics and his drive for justice.
Is 64: Part 1 based on a book?
Yes, the film is adapted from Hideo Yokoyama's acclaimed 2012 novel Rokuyon, a bestseller in Japan that won the Honkaku Mystery Award. The story was so expansive it was split into two films, with Part 1 released in May 2016 and Part 2 following shortly after.
Why is the case called 64 in the film?
The case gets its name from the year it occurred — 1989, the 64th and final year of Japan's Showa era. Since the era ended just days after the kidnapping, the case became forever linked to that fleeting moment in history, giving it an almost mythic weight within the police department.
What makes Mikami's position so difficult in the story?
Mikami is trapped between two worlds — the criminal investigation side he came from and the police administration he now serves. Neither fully trusts him. Add to that his missing daughter and the pressure of a cold case about to go permanently unsolved, and his situation becomes almost unbearable.
Who plays the lead role in 64: Part 1?
Koichi Sato takes the lead as Yoshinobu Mikami, the conflicted detective-turned-PR officer at the heart of the story. He's joined by Go Ayano, Nana Eikura, Yui Natsukawa, Masataka Kubota, and Kentaro Sakaguchi in a strong ensemble cast.
Who directed 64: Part 1?
The film was directed by Takahisa Zeze, a versatile Japanese filmmaker known for working across multiple genres. He also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Shinichi Hisamatsu, adapting Hideo Yokoyama's dense, layered novel for the screen.
Is 64: Part 1 worth watching for mystery fans?
Absolutely. The film earned strong critical praise in Japan for its slow-burn tension, institutional intrigue, and emotionally rich performances. It's less a whodunit and more a procedural character study — think bureaucratic drama meets cold-case thriller. Fans of thoughtful, atmospheric Japanese cinema will find it deeply rewarding.
Do I need to watch Part 2 after Part 1?
Yes — Part 1 ends without resolving the central mysteries, so Part 2 is essential viewing. The two films were designed as a single story split across two theatrical releases. Watching them back to back gives the full, satisfying arc that Yokoyama's novel delivers.
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