This popular crime drama, with Masakazu Tamura as Detective Ninzaburo Furuhata, invites a well-known guest as the criminal in each episode.  This fast-paced, hilarious piece with the super-handsome criminal is loved by many Sanada fans. 

1998

<Movie>  D-slope Murder Case (Japan, “D-zaka no Satsujin Jiken”)
Director:  Akio Jissoji
His role:  Seiichiro Fukiya (main role, counterfeit artist)

Based on a classic mystery novelist Ranpo Edogawa’s story.  Set in 1920’s Tokyo, aesthetic and erotic story of the artist’s crime.  The movie itself is made aesthetically, with calculated lighting, graceful camera work and meticulous art work.  Hiro’s beauty and sexiness is in full bloom in this movie.

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Misty's Review

1998

<Movie>  “Tadon to Chikuwa” (Japan)
[Literal translation:  Charcoal and Fishcake]
Director:  Jun Ichikawa
His role:  Asami (main role in Chikuwa section, novelist)

The movie consists with two parts, Tadon part and Chikuwa part.  Hiro plays the main role in Chikuwa part and Koji Yakusho plays the other.  Surrealistic black humor　about two men getting mad under their everyday frustration.  It is hard to understand this story, but Hiro’s eccentric novelist and unlikely action scenes are both hilarious and impressive.

"Tadon to Chikuwa" trailer (needs broadband connection)
http://www.gaga.ne.jp/movie/tadon1.html　(Click “Story”, “Production note” and “Cast” for Hiro’s pictures)

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1998

<Movie>  Ring (Japan)
Director:  Hideo Nakata
His role:  Ryuji Takayama (main role, college professor and ex-husband of the heroin Asakawa)

This movie triggered a boom of Japanese horror movies, and was re-made in Hollywood as well.  The horror is rather implied than explicit, and Hiro’s mysterious role adds a complicated taste in this hit series.

http://www.tohokingdom.com/web_pages/reviews/ringu.htm

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1998

<Theater>  Hamlet  (Japan and U.K., re-run of 1995 Hamlet)
Director:  Yukio Ninagawa
His role:  Hamlet  (main role)

This beautiful and cutting-edge Ninagawa’s Hamlet was played in Japanese language, both in Japan and in U.K. The production is basically the same as the 95 version, but it incorporates more Japanese elements in the visuals, and Hiro plays this tragic prince with more authority. The production was enthusiastically applauded by British audience and the press, and lead him to the Fool's role in King Lear in later years.

1998

<TV series>  Tabloid (Japan)
Broadcaster:  Fuji TV
His role: Toshihiko Manabe  (supporting role, a suspect of a murder case)

A story of tabloid newspaper editor and a suspect who is trying to prove innocence. It tries to take up an unsually heavy theme for this type of popular drama, and Hiro's Manabe is so powerful that it gives a lot of weight on this drama. Manabe is one of the most popular Hiro's role among Japanese fans.

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Misty's Review

1998

<TV one-time>  “Sono Otoko no Kyofu”  (Japan)
[Literal translation:  That Man’s Fear]
Broadcaster:  Kansai TV
His role:  Keisuke Kishikawa (main role, man who gets drown into the world of the serial killer woman)

A love-and-murder story, with a taste of adult contemporary.

1997

<TV Series>  Story of Love (Japan, “Konna Koi no Hanashi”)
Broadcaster:  Fuji TV
His role:  Shuichiro Harashima  (main role, seriously ill chairman of a construction company)

A story of friendship among a rich but lonely man, a poor but kind man, and a modest and pure woman.  This drama also is very popular among Sanada fans.  Hiro’s eye performance is particularly unforgettable.  His level of acting has gone up a few notches after this drama.

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Misty's Review

1997

<TV Series>  “Shin-Hanshichi Torimonocho” (Japan)
Broadcaster:  NHK
His role:  Hanshichi  (main role, detective in Edo period)

Hanshichi is a civilian (non-samurai) detective in the middle of the city of Edo. The story is a great combination of mystery-solving (there is ALWAYS a surprise in each story) and human drama, with love and friendship as spices. High tempo, actions, laughter and tears - and Sanada-san looks just GREAT as the cool-looking, warm-hearted Edo's own hero.