Sins of Kujo

A Promising Mix of Law and Yakuza — But the Bromance Fell Flat; Stayed for Machida

I’d been looking forward to this series for three very specific reasons. First, Machida Keita — he’s become one of my go-to Japanese actors lately. Even in a supporting role, he tends to steal focus, so my expectations were quietly high. Second, the genre mix: yakuza undercurrents, legal drama, detective work, a bit of action and moral ambiguity. That blend is very much my thing. And third, I was hoping for a solid dose of bromance — ideally a mentor – trainee dynamic with some emotional weight and unspoken loyalty.

On the first point, no complaints whatsoever. Machida delivers. His character, Mibu, is calm, restrained, slightly opaque, and written with enough moral ambiguity to keep things interesting. He’s not exactly squeaky-clean, but he’s compelling and, crucially, believable. That kind of stoic presence can easily fall flat, but here it lands.

The plot, though, sits somewhere around a 7/10. It’s watchable, occasionally gripping, but not something that completely pulls you under. One issue is emotional investment: I didn’t really care about the clients or victims in many of the cases. Some of them are morally dubious at best, which makes the whole “defence” angle feel a bit… unearned. You’re watching, you’re following, but you’re not exactly rooting for anyone. Still, it’s entertaining enough to keep going.

What really threw me off, however, is the structure. After ten episodes, the story feels oddly fragmented, almost as if it just… stops mid-thought. It’s unclear whether this is meant to lead into a second season or if something got lost in the editing. Either way, the lack of narrative closure is frustrating.

Now, the bromance — arguably one of the main selling points for me — was a mixed bag, leaning towards disappointment. I actually liked Kujo: composed, purposeful, clearly driven by something beneath the surface. There’s a sense that he’s playing a long game, and that works well.

But the dynamic with Karasuma didn’t click at all. And this is very much a “type issue” for me. I struggle with the trope of the inexperienced junior who immediately starts questioning, lecturing, and emotionally demanding things from a seasoned mentor. Karasuma comes across as whiny, entitled, and oddly confrontational for someone with very little standing. The constant moralising and need for validation just grated on me. Instead of a loyal, perceptive partner trying to understand his superior, we get someone who feels more like a disruption than support.

Ironically, the secondary bromance (with Mibu) had far more potential. There’s a quieter, more understated connection there — shared history, mutual understanding, minimal words. You get the sense that something significant happened between them, something that shaped their relationship. I would have happily watched more of that, but it remains underexplored.

All in all, it’s a solid, fairly engaging watch with a few standout elements — mainly the performances and the genre blend — but also some noticeable shortcomings in character dynamics and narrative payoff. I enjoyed it, even if parts of it didn’t quite land for me. If you’re into legal dramas with a yakuza edge and don’t mind a slightly uneven character setup, it’s definitely worth a try. And if there’s a continuation, I’d be curious to see where it goes — this story feels like it still has something up its sleeve.

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Hoping for more...

Where does this leave us? If no one fights for the defenseless, who will?

This was done in a way to put a face to the evil, the reasons behind it and the advocate for justice for all. The never ending cycle of crime for the sole purpose of making money. The lawyer who fought the system regardless of the client.

I liked it for the steady portrayal of strength in the face of danger, from which ever side it came. I liked that there was a personal line he drew and never crossed it. The full circle from the first to last was a nice catch as well as how interconnected they all were.

There was a lag between ep 3 to 5, but it picks up as the characters are no longer isolated but linked through various means.

The main leads gave me what I wanted: evolving questions. It wasn’t straightforward, not always legal and differing views that didn't feel shallow. It was nice to see Keita as a gangster but personally didn't overshadow Yuya and Hokuto. They held their own.

If there is going to be S2, I'll be watching.

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The Law works the same no matter what part of the world you're in

Normally you would think this is a series of good against evil, but there's so many bad people in this, you find yourself rooting for a few of them. Yuya Yagira was perfect playing this role. A lawyer who fights for injustice and the less fortunate, but also shows how to manipulate the system of law. He shows the guilty how to become innocent if you do it right.
You are always rooting for him, even though some of his actions are not exactly ethical. It's the classic line, the end justifies the means.
The rest of the cast plays well. I'm always a fan of Keita Machida. He gives us a character that you really hadn't seen him play before, and he does a great job at it. He's got some bad in him, but definitely gets put on the side of the "good guys".
I think the only really negative I had with the series was the way it ended up. You're hoping for a great conclusion in the final episode, but it just doesn't come to be. I'm guessing we were set up for a season 2?? It can't come soon enough, because we were really left hanging in the wind!!

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A tad bit more than your average crime drama... with that Mentalist charm sprinkled

I thought this drama was very very good. The plot points were interesting and classic criminal cases presented in a rather compelling manner.

Drama also shed the light on complexities that surround the legal system and those within it. I think it is a thought-provoking watch on morality (and legality) and whom does it serve. And of what goes around comes around. The episode on the young women and the host culture was particularly impactful. The topics of exploitation and meeting one's fate in response to help attempts that backfired. Also interestingly psychological break-down of individual attempts to absolve ourselves of responsibility regardless of what comes after. Very good.

But we need to arrive to the center holding this universe together...

The lead that was perfectly cast. Kujo is almost like Simon Baker in the Mentalist. Simon Baker is Patrick Jane, and Patrick Jane is Simon Baker. The same could be said about Yagira Yuya playing Kujo Taiza. He did a wonderful job to realize the character as the nonchalant, clumsy but honest and almost accidentally gifted Kujo Taiza. Have no complaints about his performance. And I still do not understand him, and I want to. So props to Yagira.

While the chemistry with Karasuma was shed the light on the most, I thought that Kujo and Mibu had more potential especially with all the mystery surrounding it. It seemed that there was something behind the scenes that established their friendship. There was never explicit word saying they were, but the audience could feel the sense of comradeship between the two.


Waiting for the season 2. If it is not renewed, we are left with the amount of open loops could encircle the planet Earth. If it is cancelled I should come back to lower the score.

A recommend! Thanks for reading

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Thought provoking but ultimately incomplete

Thought provoking drama, excellent performance, unnerving and uncomfortable cases and over all pretty dark. The ending was… incomplet. Still, I appreciate the scene between Karasuma’s mom and Kujo was very touching.

The drama is really a commentary about the dark side of Japan, the rejects society likes to pretend they don’t exist. It portrays its real ugliness from setting to lighting. It was uncomfortable to watch. It also addresses the rigidity of their society, the quick judgement and lack of care the backlash causes.

I still don’t understand why Karasuma sought out Kujo to work for him. Karasuma and Kujo might be opposite types of lawyers, but somehow when facing their clients or persons related to their cases, they are on wavelength. They have each other’s backs.

While performances were great, and some actors were portraying characters very different from their usual choices, the characters themselves are straightforward. That is all except for Kujo himself. He’s not out there to make money. His choices are based on his values and beliefs. Good or bad, he will serve his clients to the end. He sees his role as a protector of the system. The contradicting side to him is that he doesn’t actually believe in the law when it comes to getting justice for himself or his loved ones.

Was it good? Yes!
Was it entertaining? Hm yes and no. Interaction between the leads are fun and relatable.

Many talented actors are in this drama, however, many were not used up to their potential. Ikuta Toma had 2-3 scenes in the entire drama.

Are there aiming at a second season? Will it begin with the bloodbath? I don’t know.

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Sins of Coup de Jokes

Les bengoshi drama sont légion et Sins of Kujo tente de renouveler le genre avec deux acteurs d’exception : le très propre Matsumura Hokuto et le très sale Yagira Yuuya en vedette. L’ange et le démon montrent deux facettes du métier d’avocat, respectant tous deux le droit mais ayant chacun leur propre morale.

Si ce drama devrait être montré à certains dirigeants expansionnistes mettant la morale au cœur de leur guerre, oubliant complètement le droit, en particulier international, pour nous simples spectateurs, Sins of Kujo a-t-il encore un intérêt après 60 ans de séries juridiques à la télévision ? J’ai bien peur que la réponse ne soit pas toute blanche ou noire.

Le casting fait évidemment rêver et, produit par Big N, on est en droit d’attendre au moins un choc à la Gannibal. Disney avait réussi un coup de maître en mettant les moyens au service du talent d’acteur de Yagira Yuuya, certainement l’un des plus doués de sa génération. Il avait retranscrit la folie et la violence de l’être humain comme personne depuis Jack Nicholson. Ce coup de maître en appelait d’autres, mais celui qui a pris le rôle d’Hokusai au cinéma ne joue jamais de la même manière et reprend rarement un personnage.

Timide dans Lion no Kakurega, j’attendais que la violence et la folie éclatent à nouveau à l’écran, mais il semblerait bien qu’il ait choisi le contre-pied dans une série dépeignant la pourriture de la justice en connivence avec le grand banditisme.
Son personnage de Kujo est bien présenté comme un avocat véreux, mais dès le début, et c’est peut-être cela qui est gênant, il montre de l’humanité, de la réflexion, des compétences extraordinaires, mais surtout de l’empathie. Le personnage controversé n’a pas le temps de s’installer que déjà il devient sympathique, pour ne pas dire aimable.

Dix épisodes sont pourtant prévus, Netflix aurait eu le temps de nous retourner la tête, mais la matière semble manquer dans cette série. Beaucoup de flashbacks, notamment sur l’épisode précédent, et de longs génériques. Un épisode ne dure pas longtemps, et il en faut souvent deux pour conclure un procès. Procès d’ailleurs que l’on voit très rarement, la série se concentrant sur des scènes de toit et de bureau.

Ce manque de moyens et cette façon hachée, propre aux séries destinées au smartphone dans le métro, ne sont pas les seules fausses notes. Tout semble faux dans Sins of Kujo. Le titre et l’affiche accrocheurs ne sont que des machines à clics pour Netflix. Cette série est creuse au possible.

Les acteurs principaux jouent bien : Matsumura Hokuto est le gendre, voire le fils idéal, Ikeda Elaiza la bonne copine sympathique, gaffeuse et garante de moralité, et Machida Keita le bad boy sexy au grand cœur. Mais bon sang, que le scénario, l’écriture et la réalisation sont mauvais. Peu de punchlines, Yagira Yuuya est encore plus mou que dans Lion no Kakurega, et Matsumura Hokuto est d’une transparence cristalline.
Les méchants sont très méchants, mais surtout très bêtes, comme ce n’est pas permis dans un manga. Le yakuza incarné par Muro Tsuyoshi (oui, le comique) est loin de nous faire frissonner tant il sombre dans le cliché. Tout comme ces yankees grotesques, Takenori Goto, Otoo Takuma et j’en passe.
Et ces lignes de texte produites par ChatGPT qui empoisonnent vos oreilles, comme « je dois me cacher et je ne peux même pas aller voir ma maîtresse ». Des dialogues de cour d’école et des situations de jardin d’enfant : « mange ton vomi », « monte en haut de la tour » ou « fais du mal à ton chien ou je te tue ».
Non mais comment prendre au sérieux cette série alors que les producteurs eux-mêmes ne la respectent pas ? Et ce mystère bidon de la vie privée de notre avocat ne va pas arranger les choses. Une mesure d’éloignement de la série va être rendue pour nous épargner trop de peine.

Elle essaye bien de nous enseigner la morale, ou plutôt la justice, puisqu’à chaque seconde on nous rappelle la distinction. Comme si, là aussi, les acteurs comme la production n’y croyaient pas vraiment. Dans un pays comme le Japon, comment penser que la justice n’est pas rendue pour le bien de tous et par tous d’ailleurs avec les mass médias et les réseaux sociaux?
Le bien de l’accusé, personne n’y croit vraiment dans la série, et nous encore moins. Ce drama est un vrai gâchis. Un exemple de ce qu’il ne faut pas faire avec des acteurs bankables.
Sauf si l’on voulait rendre hommage à Perry Mason et à cette époque cheap des lawyer dramas, je ne veux plus jamais voir ça. Mes yeux sont trop précieux. J’en suis à deux doigts d’engager un avocat véreux pour obtenir réparation de la part de Netflix

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6/10 Show about "a good lawyer but a bad man"

I am a huge fan f K- and J-dramas. I watch much of what Netflix makes available unless they are really silly... OR really violent. I do not deal well with disturbing, gory violence.
There has to be a counter-weight to help me from turning it off.
(see bottom of this review for an addendum)
I fear this series is falling into the really violent category.
Don't get me wrong. This series has all the earmarks of being right up my alley. An eccentric (or two?) lead, a good ensemble cast, and it's a legal drama with a moral message.
The two male leads are intriguing and of course attractive.
It is a series about (as he describes himself) "a good lawyer, but a bad man". The character ("Kujo") is played by the impressive Yûya Yagira. I am mindful it has to be challenging taking on a role from Manga and Yûya Yagira does well.
We will see, I'm sure, as the series progresses exactly what this comment he makes about himself means: if he is indeed a bad man and if so if he is redeemable.
So this show is at its heart a character study with a legal framing. Will he transform or just be recontextualized?
There is not a lot of warmth in this show. And the lead character seems to be emotionally distant as well as emotionally complex. He appears to be morally compromised. The character of Kujo is of course intriguing.
His counterpart (played by Hokuto Matsumura) is more straightforward. He is less ambiguous. More morally grounded. He's not a foil so much as a counter-balance to Kujo. I would NOT say this is a buddy show, per se. The two characters rotate around each other like satellites.
I am about half-way through the series and I'm not sure I will finish it. The level of intense violence does not seem to let up and the plots -- the cases -- are depressing. There are incredibly disturbing scenes. I don't see this changing.
I realize this is based on a popular Manga (at least according to the information available). So many in the Japanese audience may be clued in to what they are about to see, but I am in the international audience and was not clued in.
I do want to mention that the production itself is really impressive. From the opening credits on, the camera work and the direction, and the music and editing are very good.
This is a high class production.
I don't know as I write this that I will watch it to the end. I am intrigued by the characters, would like to see further examination of the Kujo character, but I am not comfortable with the cases. If this was a K-drama (like "Pro Bono") I would be confident that there would be healing and redemption at the end. But this is a J-drama and we might expect the answer to "I'm a bad man" to be "So what?".
I'll update this if I come to any further conclusions.
Addendum: I did watch all ten episodes. I won't change my initial rating and my comments still stand. And I won't spoil anything. But the ending (for me) is difficult. I realize some may think how it ends is bold, even realistic, and intellectually satisfying. But for me the show chooses psychological truth over comfort and a "soft landing". Kujo is not redeemed but rather exposed.
If you are into dark, unresolved and ambiguous storytelling, this series may be for you.

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