Shield of Straw (Wara no tate) (藁の楯 わらのたて)

All units: report of a body in Kitazawa.

Units in the area, please respond.

Kitazawa 5, Umegaoka, block three.

Copy that.

The scene is a tree grove in South Matsubaru, block 5.

A man named Mamiya, who was walking his dog, called it in.

The body is lying face down. Naked from the waist down.

Most likely a child, possibly female.

Whether she's alive or dead is not confirmed.

Guess he's stuck in Unit 4 again.

Mekari can live with that.

As long as nothing stands in his way

SHIELD OF STRAW

PLEASE KILL THIS MAN

KUNIHIDE KWOMARU, AGE 29. 1 BILLION YEN

One billion yen?

A related incident occurred three months prior.

On June 4th,

in this drainage ditch in South Matsubaru, in the Setagaya Ward...

the corpse of Chika Ninagawa, a female elementary student, was found.

From DNA testing of evidence at the scene...

Kunihide Kiyomaru was the most likely suspect in the crime.

Not that case'?

The victim was Chika Ninagawa, aged 7.

Shock from brutal assault was the cause of death. it was terrible.

Eight years ago, the suspect Kiyomaru assaulted and murdered a young girl.

He was just released from prison last October.

Usually nabbing a high profile criminal would mean a promotion.

A promotion, eh?

I'll catch up to you one of these days, Lieutenant Mekari.

The suspect is still...

On the run.

If we can catch him and try him,

he should get the death penalty

I don't blame the bereaved family for their rage.

The victim was Takaoki Ninagawa's granddaughter.

The victim was Takaoki Ninagawa's granddaughter.

As the bounty ads are believed to be connected,

the police await Ninagawa's cooperation,

but remain unable to contact Ninagawa, or locate his whereabouts.

Ninagawa served as chairman of the JBF and is a financial tycoon.

His personal assets are believed to be in excess of 100 billion yen.

Why?

If that happened to my granddaughter, I'd do the same.

Not that. Why this ad in the newspapers?

Ads get inspected before going to press.

The checking process is repeated many times.

The editing department does the final check.

Seems the ad was swapped there.

PLEASE KILL THIS MAN Seems the ad was swapped there.

PLEASE KILL THIS MAN

As if all 65 people planned it,

1 BILLION YEN As if all 65 people planned it,

1 BILLION YEN

1 BILLION YEN they all resigned.

1 BILLION YEN

1 BILLION YEN When questioned as to why, they lawyered up and...

When questioned as to why, they lawyered up and...

won't cooperate at all.

Let me... show you something.

Take a seat.

My son was on my ass to switch to a smartphone.

The Kiyomaru Site.

I want you to kill this man, Kunihide Kiyomaru.

The man who murdered my seven-year-old granddaughter.

As a reward, I'll pay you 1 billion yen.

The ISP is located in Columbia, and can't be shut down.

I have heart disease... I don't have long to live.

Money is merely scraps of paper for a man with no will to live.

My terms are:

One: anyone found guilty for...

attempted murder or murder of Kiyomaru.

Multiple parties are allowed.

Two...

Anyone who kills Kiyomaru by order of the nation.

It's not one billion for simply killing Kiyomaru.

It covers anyone given a guilty verdict.

His premise pays for their crimes.

As for "by order of the nation",

it's not capital punishment or war, so...

we're not sure what he means.

Closing this site is impossible.

Loan buy anything...

except the life of a child.

That's all.

What's wrong, Mekari?

Either way my job is protecting VIPs.

You never change.

Just don't let Shiraiwa show you up.

The pride of Unit 4 rides on you.

With a nationwide arrest warrant out, Kiyomaru remains at large...

as the police close in.

One billion yen to murder a man...

We hope no one entertains this offer'...

H's me, man. Open up.

Mr Famous!

Can I get your autograph?

You better not go out. Not everyone's a sweet guy like me.

Eat up. I got your favourite again.

Tanaka...

Sorry man.

I'm home.

Happy birthday

No Japanese tea to go with the sweets?

Okay honey

Mekari speaking.

It's Ohki.

Kiyomaru turned himself in.

Apparently, he was given shelter by a yakuza gang boss that...

exploits illegal immigrant Chinese.

They met in the joint. The man...

tried to kill Kiyomaru.

Kiyomaru went to the Fukuoka police and was taken into custody

Covered in blood, he probably had nowhere else to go.

That advertisement is to blame.

Why are you telling me this?

Well, Mekari...

I need you in Fukuoka tomorrow.

You've got 48 hours to transport Kiyomaru to the prosecutors.

Get him to Tokyo Metro ASAP

This unprecedented exception means us. The Security Police have been assigned.

Ready to...

be a bullet-proof vest for a lowlife'?

Ready

Along with our unit, two other officers have been selected.

8 am at HQ tomorrow, got it?

An SP firing in the line of duty will make history

Besides, we're...

the closest to the 1 billion yen.

Just kidding.

This mission is a shortcut to promotion.

Salute!

From the crime unit, Agent Okumura and Head Patrol Officer Kanbashi.

I'm Okumura.

I'm Kanbashi.

From the SP unit, meet Lieutenant Mekari...

I'm Mekari.

And Head Patrol Officer Shiraiwa.

I'm Shiraiwa.

A Fukuoka police agent will also be on hand.

Tokyo Metro is reviewing the means of transport.

Chief.

In this unprecedented case, there's no telling what will happen.

Prepare for all 120 million people in Japan...

to be your enemies, and carry out your mission.

You're not only guarding a criminal...

but also the Japanese police itself.

Our national pride is at stake. Don't let him be killed.

Bring him back alive, at all costs!

Salute.

They lack our experience. Don“! rely on them.

Use them as a shield in an emergency

How do you feel about protecting a man like Kiyomaru?

If top brass say "protect", then we protect whoever.

That's the job.

Sucks for you. Taking bullets for a piece of shit like Kiyomaru.

If told to protect, we protect whoever. That's our duty

I'm under a woman's thumb at home...

and now here at work, too!

Shiraiwa is highly capable.

I'm aware of that.

She's top in arrest skills and shooting.

A kendo master. Speaks many languages.

A candidate for top brass, but...

no one's ready to promote a single mom yet.

What surprised me most was... you.

Sorry but checking up on people is in my blood.

Three years ago... your accident?

The truck driver, he...

Leave my personal life out of it.

Want to know why I got assigned?

Ask those who chose me.

The culprit was hired for 100 million by Ninagawa Governance.

Gimme a break.

Once again,

the man who attempted to kill Kunihide Kiyomaru...

has turned himself in to the authorities in Fukuoka.

The Kiyomaru Site announced that...

Ninagawa Governance hired him under contract for 100 million.

100 million for attempted murder?

It's open season on Kiyomaru.

Let Kiyomaru out for questioning.

Kiyomaru, get out here.

They caught Kiyomaru in Fukuoka. For taking a shot at him...

you can hit the jackpot. It's nuts!

You off to see the media circus, too?

Driver, turn up the radio.

Sure thing.

White in police custody, the suspect Kiyomaru was attacked by a custody officer,

and sustained injuries.

- Let me go! - Move!

He was rushed to hospital and treated for his injuries...

Heading there now. Drive to Kyushu Central Hospital.

Now a cop tried to kill him? God help us.

Tokyo Metro, First Investigation Unit.

We're here for Kiyomaru.

He's being treated.

Wait at the precinct, will you?

Where is Kiyomaru?

- I said, he's being treated. - So I'm asking: where?