Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo
Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo, known in English as Ryoko's Case File, is a Japanese novel series written by Yoshiki Tanaka and illustrated by Narumi Kakinouchi. It was adapted into manga and an anime television series, two drama CDs had also been released prior to the anime adaptation with different voice actors.
Plot
The series is centered on an elite police officer named Ryōko Yakushiji. A graduate of Tokyo University's Law Faculty, she is currently among the youngest superintendents in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. With the assistance of her subordinate Junichirō Izumida, Ryōko works with her colleagues including her rival and fellow superintendent Yukiko Muromachi, alongside JACES security forces personnel and her personal maids Lucienne and Marianne, to investigate and resolve seemingly paranormal, supernatural or bizarre events that become involved in criminal cases—particularly when police procedures or modern science cannot be applied—before they go out of hand.Because the novels, manga and the anime adaptations have different stories, paranormal events and creatures involved, their central plots are most of the time different from each other.
Organizations
JACES
Owned by the Yakushiji family, it's a security company that ex-police officers both enlisted and high-ranking are employed into after their retirement. JACES is well known as one of Asia's best security companies, with its main headquarters located in Akasaka-mitsuke. The company's official slogan is "Safety". Its personnel use gray for their uniform color.In combat operations, they use PASGT ballistic helmets, gray BDUs, tactical vests and light to medium body armor. JACES personnel are armed with expandable baton sticks when they encounter unarmed people.
Its origins are traced back to the end of World War II when the "Japanese Empire Security Service" was established before it became JACES, which was supposed to be used for the basis of a restructured Japanese military before Ruriko went to create the JPP instead. The novel mentions that has branch offices in France and in the US.
Japan Private Police
Known as the "Nippon Private Police", it was founded by ex-Diet member Ryojun Tadomura and heavily funded by the Government of Japan to counter the influence of JACES in the domestic and international security market. They are known to be hired in war-torn countries after military forces are pulled back, conducting police duties in their place. JPP personnel are also hired as private security guards. JPP uses green as its color as evident in their uniforms. Unlike JACES, where most of its manpower comes from ex-law enforcement personnel, JPP recruits its personnel mostly from ex-SDF personnel.During combat operations, JPP personnel are identified with green heavy body armor, anti-riot helmets and are armed with mostly Howa Type 89 assault rifles, Heckler & Koch MP5 and Minebea PM-9 submachine guns with expandable baton sticks. In normal operations, JPP personnel operate as private guards and sometimes, deploy robot droids to help them conduct searches and patrols with/for them.
It does not appear in the original novel and manga version.
Shiba
Located in the Greater Tokyo Area, Shiba is said to house several departments of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department that operate under secret circumstances for covert missions.It takes its name from the Shiba district of Tokyo's Minato ward. It does not appear in the original novel and manga version.
Characters
Main
;Ryōko Yakushiji;Junichirō Izumida
;Yukiko Muromachi
;Akira Kishimoto
Allies
;Satomi Kaizuka;Mario Abe
;Maruoka
;Lucienne
;Marianne
Yakushiji Family
;Kinuko Yakushiji;Hiroki Yakushiji
;Masamoto Yakushiji
Antagonists
;Ruriko Isurugi;Kazuma Nonagase
Others
;MonamiRogues
The following are rogues monsters/creatures that have appeared in the anime:;Giant Snake
;Wisps
;Unknown Alpha Human
;Centipede Robot
;Mutant Mangrove Seeds
;Unknown Cricket
Media
Novel
The novel series first started in 1996 with 11 volumes in circulation. Kodansha has the publication rights on the series and published all bunko editions, but other publishers also published some volumes borrowing the rights by Kodansha.Volume list
The following have been published as part of the novels written by Dr. Yoshiki Tanaka:| Japanese Title | English Title | Year | First publisher | ISBN | Reference |
| 魔天楼 | Demon Skyscraper | 1996 | Kodansha Bunko | ||
| 東京ナイトメア | Tokyo Nightmare | 1998 | Kodansha Novels | ||
| 巴里・妖都変 | Paris, The Strange Attractive Capital | 2000 | Kobunsha Kappa Novels | ||
| クレオパトラの葬送 | Funeral of the Cleopatra | 2001 | Kodansha Novels | ||
| 黒蜘蛛島 | Black Spider Island | 2003 | Kobunsha Kappa Novels | ||
| 夜光曲 | Luminous Song | 2005 | Shodensha Non-Novels | ||
| 霧の訪問者 | Visitor's Fog | 2006 | Kodansha Novels | ||
| 水妖日にご用心 | Be Careful on Wednesday | 2007 | Shodensha Non-Novels | ||
| 魔境の女王陛下 | The Queen of Makyo | 2012 | Kodansha Novels | ||
| 海から何かがやってくる | Something is Coming From the Sea | 2015 | Shodensha Non-Novels | ||
| 白魔のクリスマス | White Demon's Christmas | 2018 | Shodensha Non-Novels |
Audio Book
Since 2015, the novels are adapted into audio books by Kikubon. They are narrated by Afumi Hashi.Drama CD
Two drama CDs were put on the market by Avex in 1999 and 2001. The cast was different from the later anime version.Manga
The manga started in 2004 in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Magazine Z. Its chapters were collected into eleven tankōbon volumes, released from July 23, 2004, to January 23, 2009. After Magazine Z ceased its publication, the series was transferred to Monthly Afternoon. The series began in the May 2009 issue of Monthly Afternoon, published on March 25, 2009, and it was renamed Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo: Kiri no Hōmonsha. The series finished in the January 2010 issue of Monthly Afternoon, released on November 25, 2009. It was compiled into two volumes, published on September 23, 2009, and January 22, 2010. A third series, titled Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo: Suiyobi ni Goyojin, started in the March 2010 issue of Monthly Afternoon, published on January 25, 2010. The series finished in the November 2010 issue of the magazine, published on September 25, 2010. Two volumes released on June 23, 2010, and November 22, 2010. A fourth series, titled Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo: Jyoō Heika no Maneki Neko was serialized from the October 2012 issue, published on August 25, 2012, and the January 2013 issue, published on November 24, 2012. A compiled volume was released on January 23, 2013. A fifth series, titled Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo: Makyo no Jyoō Heika was serialized in Monthly Afternoon from the February 2013 issue, published on December 25, 2012, to the November 2013 issue, published on September 25, 2013. Two volumes were published on May 23 and November 22, 2013.A spin-off manga was also created by Yoshiki Tanaka and Narumi Kakinouchi, titled SP Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo Tanpenshū, compiled in three volumes, released from June 17, 2008, to November 22, 2011.
In Taiwan, it has been published by Sharp Point Press.
Artbook
An artbook released with drawings related to the manga series called Flawless Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo Irasuto-shū was released by Kodansha on August 28, 2006.Anime
A 13-episode anime television series adaptation was broadcast from July 5 to September 27, 2008, with animation done by Doga Kobo. It aired on BS11 Digital, Chiba TV, KBS Kyoto, Sun TV, Tokyo MX, TV Aichi, Television Saitama and TVK television stations. The opening theme is Thème principal by KATSU (angela). The ending themes are various through series: À demain sur la lune, Ryoko 2, Songe d'une nuit d'été, La Vie en rose, Le combat by KATSU, and Thème principal La chanson d'atsuko by atsuko and KATSU. The series was released on 3 DVDs from September 26, 2008, to January 21, 2009. It was also available via broadband access streaming.The series began streaming in North America on RetroCrush as an exclusive title on November 5, 2021, under the name Ryoko's Case File.