Hi buddies! Here I am today, with a new mystery drama recommendation. The series is called Don’t Call it Mystery, but in reality, the only thing that isn’t a mystery is how perfect it was, down to every little detail.  It managed to keep me hooked and I enjoyed every moment of watching it. I was thanking my friend who suggested it to me, and I thought, why don’t I also share with you all the things I liked? So here we go!

Don’t Call it Mystery (2022)
Adapted from the manga Mystery to Iunakare by Tamura Yumi.
Country: Japan
Episodes: 12 + a special episode + a movie
Genres: Mystery, Psychological, Life, Drama
My Rating: 10/10

Main Cast
Suda Masaki as Kunou Totono
Ito Sairi as Furomitsu Seiko
Onoe Matsuya II as Ikemoto Yuto
Kadowaki Mugi as Leica
Nagayama Eita as Inudo Garo

The plot
First of all, Don’t Call it Mystery is not your typical mystery series, and that’s a good thing. The protagonist, Totono, isn’t a detective or anything similar, but just a simple college student who lives alone and clearly watches a lot of TV. He’s kind and considerate and his warm heart combined with his cute fluffy hair makes him simply adorable. His best trait is being highly observant.

One day, he gets investigated for a crime he didn’t commit, and very casually, he ends up solving his own case almost by himself. From that day on, we see him getting involved in various police cases and personal mysteries that people around him drag him into.

The plot isn’t nerve-racking, but it’s smart and full of twists that keep you hooked from the first episode. Even though the cases are independent of each other, we also see how Totono and his life change through them.

The casting
Suda Masaki is known for his unique roles and his incredible talent. He’s the kind of actor that makes you think, “He was born for this role.” Except… you think that for every role he plays! He gets so deeply into his characters that he makes you believe he’s a completely different person each time. Once again, in this series, he perfectly portrays Totono and makes you feel all his emotions and thoughts.

The rest of the cast is also very interesting, and the acting – from the main cast to the guests – is top-notch.

Totono’s character
Totono’s character is well-written down to every little detail. The most interesting part for me was watching his development — from a happily lonely boy to someone who becomes genuinely interested in other people and wants to understand them better. All his emotions and thoughts, and the way they evolve, are fascinating to watch. He’s so unique and down-to-earth that you can’t help but respect him.

Soundtrack
When I noticed that Ken Arai composed the soundtrack, I almost screamed out of happiness! His style was a perfect match for the series’ mysterious vibe. The same goes for the old classical songs that beautifully accompanied many scenes.

The Messages
The plot is very well-written and smart. As many Japanese series do, this one also touches on everyday problems, which we mostly see from Totono’s point of view — a man who lives alone, has no friends, no family, no kids, and is often underestimated. People expect him not to have a clue about anything. But Totono is a considerate and sincere person, and throughout the series, he doesn’t hesitate to point out things like:

• When someone is being bullied, the ones at fault are the bullies, not the victim.
• Every job is important; we shouldn’t show off or look down on others.
• How easy it is for people to ignore problems that aren’t theirs.
• Everyone should do what they truly want and love — and society should respect that. For example, not every woman dreams of having children, and even those who do deserve support and respect.

Conclusion
In my opinion, Don’t Call it Mystery is a series where everything was carefully crafted — the plot, the characters, the music, the acting, the mysterious atmosphere, and the great cinematography all came together perfectly. Not only Totono, but every character in the story is well-written and the way the plot connects the stories throughout the series is amazing.

If you’re a fan of mystery and smart storytelling, I believe this J-drama is perfect for you! The only thing I wish is for it to continue someday!

I hope you found my point of view worth reading and that I made you curious about this series. See you next time!

Thanks for reading,
Utaku 🌼