Furuhata Ninzaburo(1994)

Furuhata Ninzaburo is a Japanese detective drama series that aired on Fuji Television from 1994 to 2006. Written by playwright Kōki Mitani, it's often called the Japanese Columbo. Masakazu Tamura stars as the titular detective, alongside Masahiko Nishimura as his seemingly bumbling partner Shintaro Imaizumi. Each episode features a different high-profile guest villain—the show became famous for casting Japanese celebrities, from pop stars like SMAP to hosts and athletes like Ichiro Suzuki. The formula proved irresistible: a clever detective unraveling crimes committed by famous faces. Furuhata Ninzaburo became one of Japan's most beloved television dramas, spawning multiple seasons and TV specials across its twelve-year run.