Usotoki Rhetoric (2024)

Malevolent lies or...?

Usotoki Rhetoric. This drama has a lot of things to offer. Perhaps the absolute best drama I've watched this year. 10/10.
I don't have to love EVERYTHING about it to know that I've loved this drama deeply from my heart. One thing I would like to mention before the review is that this drama takes place in the early Showa era (presumably 1930s-1950s). The city is called Tsukumoya. I looked up the time and place while writing the review, but I ignored it in the drama. So, the details about the settings of the drama might be wrong. I'm sorry about that. And minor SPOILER ALERT.

Story and setting: 9.5/10
The story was amazing. As the synopsis says, it's about the duo- Souma sensei and Kanoko. They solve different mysteries and learn about life and people. One thing I love about Jdramas is that they tell stories from the heart, about people, about the small but important things in life. This drama is a great example of that. I cried during the last few episodes, thinking I wouldn't be able to see this fantastic drama again. Here Kanoko and Souma learn and teach things about people and life that will make people wonder about some rather important things that we might not have thought before. All of this while giving you things to laugh at and smile about. Might even make you cry. At first, the setting scared me, thinking that the language might be hard for me to understand (watched it while relying only on JP captions). But it turned out to be 95-99% similar to the Japanese language they use now. Either way, the setting is very pleasant, combining Western and traditional Japanese styles of clothing, culture, etc. 

Cast and characters: 10/10
Kanoko and Souma might go down in the history of Jdrama for being one of most entertaining comedy/mystery duo while maintaining the right amount of subtlety. The most significant thing that made me stick around is their relationship. The perfectly platonic superior/subordinate relationship is just so precious. Why perfectly platonic? Before watching this drama, I thought these 2 might get involved at some point, but that never happened, nobody even possibly had feelings for the other one (un)till the very end. Nonetheless, delightful performances by the cast. I've seen Suzuka Ouji before in dramas, but this is the first time I loved one of his characters this much. This is the first time I've seen Matsumoto Honoka in a main role of a drama and she did a great job. Katayama Yuki is made for comedy; hoping she gets more of them in the future. Another amazing thing about the drama was the pleasantly surprising guest stars, notably Kitano Kie (so much that I wish she was a regular cast member) and Hamao Noritaka, the most mysterious character who I thought was gonna have a bigger role before the finale.

Music: 10/10
The BGM goes perfectly with the drama's setting. I really am curious to know what that English-sounding song they play during the happy scenes, cuz I didn't see them name that song in the credits. The ending theme was also great, after the first few episodes, I got emotional every time the song played near the end of the episodes. And I think this drama gave this song a new meaning overall. 

Rewatch value: 8/10
I don't rewatch dramas a lot. But this is pretty high up. I'd definitely be willing to rewatch this one. Why not? It's a mystery drama after all.
Overall: 10/10Mathematically, the overall score isn't accurate considering that I didn't give all the different aspects 10/10. But that doesn't stop me from saying that I 100% recommend this drama. As a side note: Fuji TV has given me not 1, but 2 memorable Jdramas this year. And both leave me craving many more episodes and another season. Because Usotoki Rhetoric also has some loose ends, 1. Kanoko and Souma's relationship and 2. Hamao Noritaka's oh-so-mysterious character (you CAN NOT drop a bomb like that without further explanations!!!) And while they're major cliffhangers, I think my level of disappointment for this drama not getting a season 2 will be nearly as high compared to the disappointment I will feel if Geeks doesn't get a season 2.
Bottom line, who doesn't love a little bit of comedic mystery in their lives? Go ahead, give it a watch. I believe that you won't regret it.

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A light and heartwarming detective series

I just need a season 2 asap!

This is one of the best Japanese dramas I’ve ever watched. Souma and Kanoko are beautiful souls and they are just so sweet and adorable together! 🥹

This series reminds me of a Korean series named “My lovely liar”. Both female leads have the supernatural ability to hear lies. I think that Korean series gets the idea from the manga of this series. However, while that show is a mess, “Usotoki Rhetoric” is gold.

I love everything in this series, the heartwarming plot, the setting, the characters, the acting, the music, the cinematography. It’s such a beautiful series. Everything is just perfect for me. I enjoy every minute of it, and love every character.

It’s a light detective set in a historical period of time. The cases are not very complicated and often solved within an episode. And each is a heartwarming story. It has warmed up my heart in this cold winter.

Btw, it’s very funny to see Suzuka Ouji play a penniless chill guy in this series. I first saw him in a series about curry. In that series, he keeps following around a penniless chill guy and buying curry for him, while in this series, he’s the one who keeps eating free food from others. Isn’t it so funny? 😅

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Lies everywhere, Lies anytime

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

“Usotoki Rhetoric” is an easy-to-watch drama following the detective and his assistant’s adventures in solving mysteries. Most of the cases are episodic and are pretty simple. These cases are varied and offer a good balance of everyday simple mysteries to murder mysteries. However, sometimes I wish the drama had spent a little more time on each case because they are solved quite quickly without high stakes.

The dynamic duo of Soma (ML) and Kanako (FL) is fun to watch. The acting of the leads is really good too, especially for Suzuka Ouji, who still has such a baby face. They have good chemistry and I really enjoy how they care for each other. But if you are looking for romance, you might need to look elsewhere. The rest of the supporting cast and neighbors are lovely and super friendly. They create a great support system for the leads, especially when Kanoko has experienced some harsh challenges growing up in the village. I’m glad she’s able to meet Soma, who understands her and appreciates her talents, and accepts her for who she is.

Lies is a central theme in this drama. Through Kanoko’s journey and growth, each situation /case becomes a life lesson for her in learning the types of lies and reasons behind them.

If you are looking for a lighthearted and heartwarming detective series, this is a good one and I’d recommend "Usotoki Rhetoric".


Completed: 5/13/2025 - Review #576

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If you are expecting romance in this drama, don’t count on it. A few hints toward the end mean nothing. Although the premise of the show is of an investigative nature, its primary goal is to provide different perspectives on why people lie, and Iwai Soma, as a character, provides this insight in each episode.

Though destitute, Soma does not lack empathy. His astuteness and broad-minded view allow him to understand people’s motivations for lying. He comforts Kanoko, welcoming her abilities instead of shunning them. As each story progress, Kanoko becomes more self-reliant, and realizes that her ability to detect lies only tells one side of the truth (which is what she sees at face-value). Her powers do not guarantee as a deterrent to be duped. The drama tells us that when someone lies, we need context; and lying may not always be self-serving, but as a protection of a loved one.

This show is more than the supernatural, as it also teaches about the trust and faith we put in people, despite not knowing their reasons for lying. It also paints a contrast on how some become a pariah just because they are different, while others welcome strangers with open arms, expecting nothing in return. This drama provides life lessons in 11 episodes that are easy to watch and not over-preachy. A tad slow in some parts, but nevertheless decent.

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Life and Lies, a light hearted drama with some intriguing cases!

Chanced upon this drama recently on Irozuku Subs and decided to watch it. It has an interesting premise on having a FL who can hear lies, assisting a detective. Its lighthearted, quirky with good dialogue, and encourages the viewer to reflect upon themselves as well ! :")

If you're into hardcore mystery with difficult to solve tricks or twists, this drama is not for you. Rather, the drama showcases the human and life aspects, told through FL, Kanoko, and her struggles to navigate between the types of lies told by people. Like other japanese dramas, some dialogue makes you ponder about life, on the "whys" and what ifs" and the importance of seemingly small things in life. If you like this, you'll be sure to enjoy the drama like I did

Kanoko journeys along with Souma, and together, solve mysteries. They learn how to handle human relations, understand the complexities behind the telling of a lie, and balance whether it is truly good or bad to tell a lie.

Set in the Showa Era, the drama set is big budget, and certainly displays the allure of the architecture then.

I especially loved episodes 4 and 5, the dollhouse case was both intriguing, devastating and gave the creeps. Overall, the show features great acting, sentimental dialogue of their struggles and has a good OST which helps viewers to ping out when Kanoko hears a lie

Watch if you'll enjoy a different sort of light hearted, slice of life mystery drama!

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Appearing cliche but comes with nuance, complex characters, and a great main couple

This is genuinely one of the most high quality jdramas I've seen. It has great pacing, talented actors, clever sound design, beautiful/detailed shooting locations and sets, an emotionally intimate couple, and nuanced characters interacting with the concept of why lies are told.

The casting choices for the leads were perfect. Both are very talented with their eye acting, showing warmth, surprise, sadness, and lingering eyes to show attachment. The ML is great with physical comedy as well. Typically when jdramas try the same physical comedy that works in anime, it doesn't mesh well and comes across off and cringey. Yet the ML had extremely exaggerated body language and expressions at times, but somehow he makes it feel loveable and true to his character. I like that the story took the typically shy and kind FL and gave her personality reasoning and nuance. Her shyness and quietness comes from trauma and isolation as a child. Yet she remained strong enough to continue caring for others. But her shyness doesn't equate to weakness, she uses her courage to speak up, fight when needed, quick in moments of emergencies, and is no damsel in distress.

I love the the mutual respect and admiration the couple have for each other. It's a slow burn romance, but not a slow burn relationship. Their friendship is beautiful and warm filled with encouragement, honesty, attentiveness, and lots of the ML's lingering warm eyes as he looks at the FL with adoration and respect. One of my favorite quotes from the show is when the ML says to the FL "having someone like you around is truly a blessing."

I can't wait for a second season!

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A gentle, meaningful drama and that's no lie

I really enjoyed this drama. Its gentle storytelling resonates with me. This is particularly poignant during the current turbulent times. Life is simpler in Small Town Japan, circa 1926. Of course, I can't help but think the 1930’s is just around the corner . . but I digress.

What is not simple is the FL's life. She has the cliche ability to detect lies. We get the whole audio and visual effects. It came as no surprised that she was driven out of her village with extreme prejudice when she was still a teenager.

Nevertheless, she is lucky to run into the ML at her lowest point. The ML is a gentle soul and wise beyond his age. He etches out a simple existence as a private detective in a small provincial town. He does not judge the FL even after being made aware of her special ability. Instead of rejecting her, he decides to take the FL under his wings and they slide easily into cohabitation.

Now, you would think the ML being a keen observer of people plus the lie detection skills of the FL, they would make a successful crime detecting duo. However, they still struggle to stay afloat. It certainly adds spice to their lives.

Not that there is no work for them, but it is rare and a rather eclectic mix. More importantly, the ML uses these jobs as opportunities to educate the FL about truths and lies. The world is too harsh if we see everything as black or white.

Acting is decent from the ensemble cast. The young cast did their best and the easy-going script kept them largely in their comfort zone. You can feel they had fun making the drama.

I really enjoyed this show because it has such a genteel setting and promote positive messages. It is so easy to be invested in the characters and their lives. The OTP has a n easy going chemistry which is just starting to get more complicated. Their friends and associates are interesting. There are no extremely angsty situations. Yet, the plots are reasonably intricate and reflects the time and societal norms. Their world is a nice place to lose oneself for a few hours.

During my research for this review, I discovered that this series is based on a 10-volume manga of the same name (it is available in English). With so much material from the manga and a well charted plot, you'd think that more seasons would be a given. However, decision regarding live action adaptation doesn’t always play by the same rules. I can only hope. Please give us at least a second season. Pretty please?

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Soooo Lovely and Full of Charm - Season 2 please ?

Ahh I'm so glad I stumbled upon this drama. It's soo unique, cute and full of charm. At first, the studio like setting was obvious due to the era it's set in which isn't my favourite because it feels constricted. However, later on this became one of its strength. The characters are so lovely and it made it feel like a small community of warm hearted people.

The main leads complement each other perfectly too. Kanoko is so soft spoken and I love how gentle and how well Soma pays attention to her and accepts her for who she is.

Plus the cases are never too deep or too light. I can just watch this endlessly, I really hope they make a 2nd season. This was so calming and relaxing to watch!

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Usotoki Rhetoric is a drama you definitely don’t want to miss :)

I rarely write reviews outside of Asadora, but this is an exception because I truly fell in love with Usotoki Rhetoric, and I want to put that love into words, even if words can’t fully express how much this series means to me.

From just the first few minutes of watching, I already knew this would become one of my favorite dramas. The production quality stood out immediately and looked very promising. Usotoki Rhetoric offers a complete story, not just mystery, but also about family, friendship, and self-discovery.

The main reason I love this series is that, even though it deals with mysteries and Kanoko’s painful backstory, the overall story is light, making it easy and enjoyable to watch. The mysteries are solved in a clever and entertaining way, with just the right amount of depth to keep viewers like me engaged without feeling overwhelmed.

♡ Things I love about this drama:
1. Cinematography
I’m very picky when it comes to the setting, especially in historical or period dramas. If the set looks mediocre or feels empty, it distracts me and makes me less interested. But that’s not the case with Usotoki Rhetoric. The settings are precise, detailed, and full of life. The props bring the scenes to life, the lighting is beautiful, and the filters are perfectly chosen. I would even say this is one of the best Japanese dramas I’ve seen in terms of cinematography.

2. Faithful adaptation of the manga
Honestly, I only read the manga after watching the drama, so I'm speaking from the perspective of a drama viewer who became a manga reader. In my opinion, this is one of the best manga adaptations out there. As far as I’ve read, the drama stays very true to the original. In fact, some details are shown even more clearly in the drama, for example the tea Kanoko makes is explained more thoroughly, which helps the audience understand better. I also completely fell in love with how Suzuka Ouji and Matsumoto Honoka brought Souma and Kanoko to life.

3. Iwai Souma
At first glance, he may seem silly and carefree, but he’s so much more than that. While he can be lazy at times, he takes his work as a detective seriously. He’s kind, smart, considerate of others’ feelings, and the way he treats Kanoko with such warmth and gentleness really made me fall for his character. I love how, even though he and Kanoko live in poverty, their life is happy, warm, and full of mutual support.

♡ Overall, I absolutely love Usotoki Rhetoric! I adore the main characters, Souma and Kanoko, the neighbors in Tsukumoya, and even their detective service clients. I especially love how Kanoko finally finds a place she can truly call home. I couldn’t find a single thing I disliked about this drama, but honestly my only complaint is the cover, as it really doesn’t do justice to how good this drama is.

I highly recommend watching Usotoki Rhetoric! this is one drama you definitely don’t want to miss :)

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Demon Liar

Mentir, c'est tout un art. D'autant plus pour un homme pour lequel une femme peut lire comme dans un livre ouvert. Moi, par exemple, cela fait bientôt 200 chroniques de dramas japonais dans lesquelles je travestis la réalité. Série "exceptionnelle" par sa réalisation ou le jeu d'acteur ? Ma grandiloquence doit en énerver plus d'un (si, si, inutile de mentir !). Surtout après s'être laissé séduire par mes mensonges rédactionnels et avoir été déçu par la piètre qualité du drama.

Mais comme tout passionné, je n'ai pas conscience de mon mensonge. L'héroïne de Usotoki Rhetoric ne pourra donc pas me démasquer. Mais moi, je ne suis pas dupe. J'ai bien compris que ce énième Tantei Drama essaye pour la 100ᵉ fois de faire du neuf avec du vieux. Mais comme on dit, c'est dans les vieux nabe qu'on fait les meilleurs oden...

Meiji Patron
L'ère Meiji et les Années folles sont souvent utilisées comme cadre dans les Mystery Drama et autres histoires de détective. Il faut dire que c'est aussi la grande période de la littérature de gare. Le Japon se modernise, s'industrialise, tout en gardant cette touche de l'ère Edo, avec les rues des grandes villes ressemblant davantage à des villages et ses costumes mélangeant borsalino et kimono.

C'est donc visuellement que Usotoki séduit. Les couleurs et les décors sont chatoyants. La reconstitution de ces quartiers flatte la rétine, et clairement, une nouvelle page s'ajoute à l'arsenal du Cool Japan pour attirer les touristes américains. Tout comme Demon Slayer, le meilleur de l'ère Meiji est montré ici. Et clairement, on comprend la fascination de notre héroïne à venir travailler en ville pour ce détective bidon, elle qui n'a connu que les affres de la campagne.

La malédiction de la répétition
Une fois séduit par le cadre, on sera bien plus critique sur les personnages et l'intrigue. Comme souvent avec les Tantei Drama, on use et abuse d'un pouvoir ou d'une malédiction, attribué au détective ou à son partenaire. Le pouvoir de détecter les mensonges, pourtant central, ne vous fera donc pas sauter au plafond.

Perçu comme une malédiction par Matsumoto Honoka, son personnage manque clairement de personnalité. Il aurait fallu davantage de folie ou de dynamisme, mais l'auteur a choisi un personnage complexé et renfermé. Trop proche de son rôle de Suzu dans l'excellent Dans un recoin de ce monde, je ne conseille cette série que si l'on est fan de l'actrice. L'étant, je passerai donc sur sa discrétion pour me pencher sur le manque d'éclat également du côté de Suzuka Oji et Mikata Ryosuke. Au moins l'un des deux aurait pu être flamboyant, mais la retenue est de mise pour les deux, ce qui donne un rythme bien trop lent à l'ensemble de la série et des dialogues.

L'humour est présent, mais à dose homéopathique. Très léger, car la série se veut vraiment familiale. Vous ne trouverez donc pas réellement d'originalité ni de raison de regarder tous les épisodes, hormis l'esthétique Meiji. L'émotion n'est présente qu'à très peu de moments par ailleurs et ça, ça peut être rédhibitoire.

Bof, mais...
Je conseille particulièrement les deux épisodes sur les poupées. Marqués par une esthétique très soignée et des moments forts sur le plan scénaristique. L'ending de Eiru est de plus un moment de grâce dans la série, qui n'en a pas tant que ça. Une écriture certainement trop respectueuse du rythme du manga, voire proche de la littérature du début du 20ᵉ siècle, gâche ce qui aurait pu être une œuvre steampunk flamboyante. Clairement, le Sherlock Holmes de Miyazaki est plus moderne et passionnant, sans parler d'un Demon Slayer, arc du train de l'infinie ou des quartiers du plaisir.

Trop plan-plan, donc je déconseille ce drama aux moins de 40 ans. Et pourtant, je l'ai regardé avec passion... à moins que je ne mente sur mon âge.

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