Taiho Shichau zo (TV)

Hokey smokes, that was awesome. Only in the world of anime can policewomen beat out goddesses

You're Under Arrest! Its been one anime that I've been meaning to watch for years and years and have simply ignored for one reason or another. I knew all about it being the first child of Kosuke Fujishima (who also fathered another of my favorite all time franchises, Ah! My Goddess), and I had heard good things, but I just never ever bothered.

For the past week, I bothered.

Fourty-seven episodes never went by so quick. I was simply blown away at the sheer "goodness" of this series. From amazingly well ... developed characters to the quirk 90s fusion jazz soundtrack, there wasn't a single bad thing I could find here. Granted, there were leaps of logic at times, and a few episodes were just way too corny, but none of that really detracted from what proved to be a truly enjoyable series.

Onto the synopsis.

If you've never heard of the basic story, then you're either young or living under a rock. Tsujimoto Natsumi, on her way to her first day at work, is flagged down for violating several traffic laws by a beautiful policewoman named Kobayawa Miyuki. She then discovers that Miyuki is her new patrol partner at the Bokuto Station; Traffic section. The two start out rocky, but develop into one of the most impressive crime fighting duos ever seen.

Sorry Batman & Robin, but you need to step aside.

They unlikely pair are surrounded by a bevy of personalities including a timid mountain man (Nakajima Ken), a happy, gossipy, busybody (Nikaidou, Yoriko), and a stoic enigma of a section chief (Kachou). Throw in a draq queen and an archetype detective and you got yourself a decent supportive cast.

But it doesn't end there! Through their misadventures, Natsumi and Miyuki constantly encounter one of the most bizzare "superheroes" in anime history. Strike Man, the masked vigilante, while proving to be ultimately harmless, bungles his way through the series as a friendly pseudo-antagonist while providing some hilarious JUSTICE monologues. His deadly mega-ultimate-meteor-fireball-crusher-strike-ball-of-justice is a thing of deadly beauty...though Natsumi has never once failed to hit it out of the proverbial park and send him packing.

Another interesting character is one of the least seen but most explored. Tokairin Shoji makes his first appearance, unannounced and unheralded, late into the series but slowly develops as something very special. For someone like me who has never once touched this franchise, it was incredibly awesome to watch this guy interact with the existing characters, so I won't spoil anything, but I can guarantee you that his presence "makes" the series.

Of course the cast doesn't end there, but I got to cut it off at some point right? Shout outs go to the old man/young girl couple, the intense teenage policewoman wanna be, the kindergarten kids, and Beach Volley Ball Man.

Yes, Beach Volley Ball Man.

With all these interesting characters, its easy to think only a few of them matter. That simply isn't the case. While everyone does have their part to play, their path to that part is well explained and shown. It seemed as though for each character, even the most minor of them, the viewer is given a history and a reason to not only care for them, but also grow attached.

In other words, the characters are the story. Their actions, their relationships with one another, and the blossoming romances and admiration are the selling points, and with as uplifting as they prove to be, I'd be hard pressed not to buy!

Love, Friendship, and ACTION! Simple, heartwarming, and honest. Everything about this series gave off those feelings, and the soundtrack champions those themes.

Now, jazz certainly isn't the most popular music genres, and even less so is fusion jazz, but considering the setting and date of the series (1996 Japan), the music fits perfectly and adds a little something extra to every scene...smooth when it needs to be and fast paced fusion-action during the more volatile scenarios. The two opening songs were excellent and addictive while the endings did a nice job wrapping things up. As always, music is a matter of personal taste, so perhaps being a fan of jazz AND fusion jazz jades me, but I would think most anyone would agree that this was a decent OST.

Ultimately You're Under Arrest! was one of the most entertaining anime I have ever seen. I full expect to immerse myself in the franchise as a result, and I have to say, I'd expect the same from anyone else who gives this a try. There is a prequel four episode OVA, but they don't pack the same punch. If you're interested in the franchise, THIS is the installment you'll want to use as your barometer.

I HIGHLY recommend this. It doesn't matter whether you prefer new school or old school, action or romance, policewomen or goddess...this is something you'll want to check out for sure.

Here I find myself writing a review for a underrated show that from what I noticed doesn't get the love and attention that it needs. Well let's get on with it!

You're under arrest is a blast from the 90's providing everything that I wanted from this kind of show: Characters who steal your heart with their personality and charisma, jazzy ost during each episode and catchy op and ed song that makes you dance, unique animation style used during the 90's(glittering water animation is one my favorites) and finally a solid story that gives you a nostalgic feeling if you were a kid of the ... 90's.
The sound of the car engine running on the highway, the jazzy ost that accompanies it, a monologue filled with substance and depth told into the sunset, a dialogue line that emphasize the characters traits, a one second decision that changes everything during a car chase, this is what You're under arrest offer to it's viewers.

You're under arrest is a show that focuses on the daily life of its characters but also on their job as policemen/policewomen. It aims on the both sides of the coin and it does a great job at doing so, the result is a action packed slice of life with great female characters who steal you're heart with their personality and charisma, and capable male characters who despite their lazy and funny personality when they're is no room for mistake they are the ones who you can rely on them.

The characters are what makes this kind of show great! They have their own moments and spotlight during the show were they manage to shine. A single glance to their partner is enough to make both of them understand the next course of action is, one dialogue line filled with substance that changes everything, a flashback used at the right moment, well done collaboration to solve a case, these are the things which You're under arrest uses for the development of its characters.

You can easily distinguish the characters from their course of action and unique personality traits. We have Miyuki( best grill of course) a mechanical freak who loves to make adjustments on cars and motorcycles but she also has a sweet side and a crush on one of her colleagues, Natsumi who relies on brute force and her competitive spirit to manage everything, Nakajima a professional bike rider who has a crush on one of her female colleagues but he is to shy to confess, the Chief who is always lazy but serious and does his job perfect when it counts, Aoi who is one of the best traps that I have seen, her character and reasons are so well handled that you can relate to why he dresses as a women and finally Fujiko who looks like a hopeless policewomen at first glance who likes to gossip but when you get to know her she is really suited for her job. What I am trying to say is that the characters have depth, substance and solid reasons of choosing these line of career.

As many shows with a length of 50 episodes you will find some so called "filler episodes" that are only for the comic relief or to take a break from the serious episodes. Don't worry this show has some serious and dark arcs that portray the pride and stake of what means to be a police officer and how the public perceives this institution. You will see sweat on the face of the characters, you will see them putting everything they have at stake to protect their pride and honor as police officers during those arcs so you won't be disappointed at all.


The music is one of my favorites aspects from this show, the opening song is so catchy that I almost find myself dancing on it, the ending song is so 90's and has a nostalgic vibe and the jazzy ost during each episode makes me raise the volume higher. While the animation quality is not as great as the one from the ova(you will be amazed how each detail was so well crafted despite it's 24 years age) the visuals still manage to capture my attention and during the the action scenes the animation is top notch for its time.

I gave this show a 9 because I want others to try it out especially for the slice of life lovers who want something different you will not be disappointed, contrary you will be surprised like I was about how good the sol moments were handled. It's the magic of Studio Deen that manages each time to create something enjoyable and solid for its audience. Well then thank you for your time and patience reading this and I hope you will have a blast watching this anime!

逮捕しちゃうぞ - Taiho Shichauzo is an excellent slice-of-life comedy series about two female traffic cops, based on the popular manga series of the same name by Kōsuke Fujishima. This review covers both the four-episode OVA (1994 - 1995) and the later adapted television series (1996 - 1997). In my humble opinion, the series is definitely worth watching!

Story: A simple but profound portrayal of human warmth and values (7/10).
A police comedy about the everyday life of two police officers, Natsumi Tsujimoto and Miyuki Kobayakawa, in the traffic division of the fictional Bokutou police station in Tokyo's Sumida district. The everyday cases may seem unspectacular, but they ... put the actors in exciting situations. Moreover, it is both believable and entertaining to see how the small everyday disasters are solved. One could argue that a policeman shouldn't come to work with a hangover, and that the tone is generally a little too light-hearted. But overall the series is a coherent whole, with fast-paced car chases, natural disasters, but no shoot-outs. Instead, bad guys are caught, people are saved and dates are enjoyed. Everything is resolved in a humane and understandable way, and maybe that's why I like the show so much.

Characters: Amusing and well portrayed, therefore likeable and interesting (8/10).
The characterisation is well done, focusing on how the two very different women become friends and how working together helps them grow personally and professionally. This is also the summary of the OVA. If you were to ask me for a recommendation, I would say watch the first four episodes (OVA) and if you don't like them, skip the series.
Tsujimoto Natsumi:
She's outgoing, fun and tends to see everything as a competition to win. She's the kind of woman who's a sidekick, which sometimes leads to some very funny scenes. She is straightforward and kind-hearted, very believable and endearing in her own way, a true friend.
Kobayakawa Miyuki:
Serious, patient and a damn good mechanic, she is the perfect counterpart to Natsumi. Call me old-fashioned and typically male, but a woman with whom you can spend a whole day in the workshop repairing a motorcycle or a car, and who also has a great taste in classic cars and privately drives a 1968 Toyota Sports 800, you just have to fall in love with her ;)
The secondary characters, although clichéd, are well-structured and fulfil their roles well. In addition, the variety of characters keeps the story interesting and exciting until the very end.
Kachou (Captain):
At first glance, he appears to be a stern and distant superior whom everyone respects and trusts, but who is also feared. He fulfils his role very well and over the course of the series, which by the way is very well done, his character is gradually revealed and his nature becomes more and more tangible to the viewer.
Fox Oshou (Temple Priest):
Of the supporting characters, he is my personal favourite. I don't want to give too much away. But if you watch the series (especially the OVA), you'll understand why I think the priest is super cool.
Nakajima, Ken:
He is 100% a cliché, but his character is so brilliantly described that it fits perfectly. He is a decent man who respects the law. A bit naive and so delightfully awkward with women (especially Miyuki) that you can laugh heartily about it. Nevertheless, his character develops slowly but steadily. You don't notice it at first, and in the end you think: Oh! What happened?
Nikaidou, Yoriko:
She's kind of cute, but she's also the worst gossip. She's often the cause of misunderstandings and additional problems.
Aoi, Futaba:
Next to Natsumi and Miyuki, one of the most interesting characters in the series. The way she is introduced may be a bit awkward at first. However, as the series progresses, her character development is excellent. Her extraordinary personality has all the human facets, the character and motivations are very well developed from the situation.

Visuals: The art and animation are very well done (8/10).
The artistic design of the anime still shows a lot of skill, time and dedication. Fujishima-san is a fan of cars and motorbikes, so the vehicles have a very high level of detail and recognition. The same goes for the character drawings of Atsuko Nakajima in the OVA and Atsuko Nakajima and Tokuyuki Matsutake in the TV series, which are also very well done and bring the characters to life, making it easy for the viewer to identify with them. The colour palette is not very extensive, but for a cel-animated series it is very even and without any colour defects. There are also some nice shadings and the colour transitions are well done. The animation, especially of the chases, is brilliant for a time when computer animation was in its infancy. Great examples of this are the many chases in bad weather, these passages are simply brilliant.

Sounds: BGM, voices and sound effects are well suited to the series (8/10).
The BGM for OVA episodes 1 to 4 was composed by Kō Ōtani and provides an excellent background to the action. His arrangements do not push themselves into the foreground. They allow the characters to develop through their facial expressions and actions alone. It is a sign of professional creativity to give the characters room for complexity and let the audience interpret what they see without the influence of the background music.Yasunori Iwasaki joined the team for the musical design of the following TV series (Ep. 5-51).
OVA theme songs (Ep. 1-4)
OP: "100 mph no Yuuki", a happy song performed by Seiyū Hiramatsu, Akiko [Miyuki] & Tamagawa, Sakiko [Natsumi]. The melody is a bit like an idol song, but the lyrics and music do a great job of conveying the happy mood.
ED: "Arittake no Jōnetsu de" is also sung by Seiyū Tamagawa-san & Hiramatsu-san. It is a nice, soft closing sequence. The graphics and animation of the two theme songs are impressive, considering they were made in the mid-90s. The two very similar sequences revolve around the two policewomen and impress with their natural-looking movements, great use of light and shadow, and beautiful character design.
Theme songs of the series (episodes 5 to 25)
OP: "Boku de Aru Tame ni" by Flying Kids, the title is a really catchy tune.
ED: "Thank You, Love", sung by Terada and Keiko. The beautiful musical arrangement with Terada-san's delicate singing is one of my favourite songs.
The theme song from episode 26
OP: "Love Somebody" by Fukui, Mariko. A beautiful and lively title and the singer's debut song.
ED: "Sora o Miagete" sung by Shirai, Takako. It's a beautiful song with a great melody and a very charming voice. The animation is somewhat basic. But the character art is incredibly beautiful.
The Japanese voice actors are generally very good. There are many amusing scenes with typical Japanese puns and culture jokes. Given the show's age, the occasional lack of lip-synching is a minor gripe. However, I particularly enjoyed the voice of Kobayakawa Miyuki, voiced by Hiramatsu, Akiko. She brought a very feminine and caring softness to the character that fitted well. Matsumoto, Rica as the voice of Aoi, Futaba was also a very good choice with its pleasantly soft sound. Also impressive is the performance of Kozakura, Etsuko, as the voice of Nikaidou, Yoriko, giving the character such a fitting timbre. The English dubbing [AnimEigo] is not faithful to the original, but surprisingly the English subtitles are, so I would recommend the original with English subtitles.

Taiho Shichauzo focuses on its characters and their personalities rather than entertaining audiences with excessive bloodshed and gunfights. Charming and entertaining at a good pace, this series is well worth watching.

Thank you for reading and have fun watching.