Mio Hironaka (Ayame Goriki) works as a hostess in the Nagoya suburb of Yanagase. Her brother Daiki (Kotaro Daigo), which whom she shares a tempestuous relationship, works part-time as a bar tender while moonlighting as a private detective. When Daiki’s detective work sees him tied up in a serious police case, Mio reluctantly teams upon to prove his innocence and find the real criminal.

Tatsuya Matsuoka’s Detective of Joshidaikoji (2023) is a breezy, low stakes comedy-drama, high on charm and humour but deliberately low on tension. It is based on a 2021 novel by Takehito Haka, who also writes the screenplay. The film marks the feature directing debut for Matsuoka, who to date has largely produced dramas for Japanese television. This may explain the film’s general tone and aesthetic: it feels more like television than cinema.

Ayame Goriki is an appealing and amusing lead. The character bristles with resentment and rage, due to childhood trauma, and her comically abusive treatment of her brother is the source of much of the film’s humour. Kotaro Daigo is similarly likeable as Daiki. Both actors are playing archetypes. While there is little here to challenge either actor, they fulfil the story’s needs capably and ensure it’s an enjoyable watch.

Beyond that, there is honestly not that much to say. A supporting cast that includes Natsuki Hori, Rie Kitahara, and Hiroki Konno does not have anything to do to make an impression. While the general charisma of the piece is high, the central mystery that Daiki and Mio are tasked with solving is both cursory and uninvolving. Any viewer coming for the crime angle is going to sorely disappointed.

There is entertainment value to Detective of Joshidaikoji, and there is a comfortable place for the film for fans of this kind of light drama. It is forgettable, however, and ultimately highly disposable. Short of getting some play via international streaming services, it is unlikely that non-Japanese audiences will ever encounter it at all. Keen fans of its stars or writer may be tempted to check it out. I wouldn’t rush.