One might think that having heroes who shoot with both hands while making snarky comments is pretty standard in the age of Marvel movies. But somehow. City Hunter feels different — maybe it’s because it’s set in Tokyo’s stunning Shinjuku district or perhaps because Saeba is so unpredictable for the uninitiated.
Let’s not pretend this show isn’t without its misogynistic undertones — after all, it is an 80s manga — the days of the original Baywatch. The Dukes of Hazzard and Life on Mars, to name some obvious culprits. So there’s a push-pull to remaining true to the manga character without being criminally sexist. City Hunter seems to have hit a balance of sorts — while Saeba is still glorifying porn and staring at breasts. The women that are involve are flaunting for their own ulterior purposes. I guess you could call it a win-win of sorts, no?
Directed by Yuichi Sato (known for manga adaptation Kasane: Beauty and Fate and The Master Plan). Leading man Saeba is played by Ryohei Suzuki (Tokyo MER, The Egoist), Misato Morita (The Naked Director) plays Kaori Makimura; Ryo’s partner Hideyuki Makimura is played by Masanobu Ando (Fishbowl Wives, My Second Aoharu) and Fumino Kimura (Love for Beginners, The Fable) plays Saeko Nogami. A beautiful detective who has a complicated relationship with Saeba. But truly, doesn’t everyone?
I’ll be honest with you. I came into this film with some trepidation. At the same time though — however obnoxious, the ‘playboy’ nature is a key part of the character; in fact it’s our lead’s cover as he searches for evidence underground. Playing the drunken scavenger is his thing and he does it well. And to be fair the person who shows the most skin is Saeba himself — gleefully one might add, as part of a strip show. It’s a chunk of his grand plan to scare off his partner’s younger sister and send her home while he works the underworld system.
In the same story, commenting about the use of Saeba’s manga catchphrase seeking a, ‘mokkori chance,’ a euphemism, Ryohei Suzuki — a fan of the original — says, “We felt it is tolerable, given Saeba doesn’t always use the word sexually but almost randomly. It is, after all, his identity.”
Honestly, I was pretty nervous about watching the City Hunter movie. Meanwhile, no matter how irritating it may be, the ‘playboy’ nature is integral to the character; in fact. It’s his leading man’s disguise as he hunts for clues underground. Being a drunk scavenger is what he does best. And honestly? It’s Saeba himself who shows the most skin – and with great joy, might I add – during a strip-show scene. It’s all part of his master plan to scare off his partner’s little sister so she goes home and he can work the underworld.
In that same piece, Ryohei Suzuki – a fan of the original – comments on the use of Saeba’s manga catchphrase seeking a mokkori chance,’ a euphemism: “We felt it is tolerable, given Saeba doesn’t always use the word sexually but almost randomly,” he says. “It is, after all, his identity.”
City Hunter is directed by Yuichi Sato (known for the manga adaptation Kasane: Beauty and Fate and The Master Plan). Ryohei Suzuki (Tokyo MER; The Egoist) plays leading man Saeba; Kaori Makimura is play by Misato Morita (The Naked Director). Masanobu Ando (Fishbowl Wives; My Second Aoharu) plays Ryo’s partner Hideyuki Makimura; Fumino Kimura (Love for Beginners; The Fable) plays Saeko Nogami. A beautiful detective who has a complicated relationship with Saeba. But honestly, don’t we all?
As far as character development or growth goes… well there isn’t much really. He is Saeba though he can’t seem to shake Kaori off him. There may be hope for him yet, something that could be explore further in future adaptations. She does get better with weapons though. So yeah.
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