Ryuhei Matsuda and Yo Oizumi to play private detectives in upcoming film

by Chris MaGee

Word this week about a new project for 27-year-old actor Ryuhei Matsuda. The "Nightmatre Detective" and "Blue Spring" star has been cast alongside actor Yo Oizumi in “Tantei wa Bar ni Iru”, a screen adaptation of the second novel in Naomi Azuma's popular mystery series “Susukino Tantei”. Being directed by Hajime Hashimoto, the film will feature Matsuda as a university agriculture assistant and martial arts enthusiast who doubles (or id that riples) as the sidekick to Oizumi's Hokkaido-based private detective. The two find their lives in danger after being embroiled in a case by a femme fatale named Kyoko Kondo. Ryota Kosawa, who penned the screenplay for "Always: Sunset on Third Street, will be providing the screenplay for this adaptation.

Although Azuma's detective novels have nothing to do with the late-1970's NTV series "Tantei Monogatari" it's hard not to read this news item and not feel a touch of nostalgia. Matsuda's father, Japanese superstar Yusaku Matsuda, became a sensation in Japan playing private detective Shunsaku Kudo, in the series which ran from 1979 to 1980. Sadly Matsuda Sr. passed away in 1989 after losing a battle with bladder cancer, so it's great to see Ryuhei Matsuda playing in another mystery.

Fans of Ryuhei Matsuda can catch "Tantei wa Bar ni Iru" when it is released in Japanese theatres in September. Thanks to Tokyograph for this news and to Nippon Cinema for the above promo still.