Ehime Prefecture
Inspector Koshobu Tsutomu
This country is like a train with broken brakes.
No matter how hard you try, it's no good.
I exposed Toudou's wrongdoings.
All thanks to everyone.
Two secured!
Koshobu. There's no way I would leave you alone.
It's a nice place, isn't it? The JFTC.
Inspector Shirokuma Kaede
We are the JFTC.
Approval... I got it.
I'm going through it again from scratch.
- Who are you people again? - That's rude.
I'm sure it'll be fine.
Team Cap Kazami Shinichi
We've always managed somehow.
What if we do and fail?
Doing nothing is a failure!
Boom!
Inspector Momozono Chiyoko
It's the lowest form of conduct for a public agency to be influenced by the subjects of an investigation.
It's me. I leaked information to the prosecutors.
Inspector Rokkaku Kosuke
I got the approval.
Go and fight it out.
If I hadn't done anything unnecessary...
Ever since then... you've been doing everything by yourself.
Chief Inspector Honjo Satoko
Did you not understand?
That you can fight even if you're weak.
Even if I'm gone, the collusion will continue somewhere else.
Even so...
we'll keep fighting.
I'll be back.
I just heard, you're being transferred to Shikoku.
Ah. It's a promotion. A promotion.
Tangerine Bun
Mom, tangerine bun.
- This again? - Yes.
You really like tangerine bun, don't you, Shota?
Yeah.
Huh?
Ah, excuse me, this place...
It went under last month.
I see.
Uhm, do you know where I can find tangerine buns?
It's been a while since I've had some.
Ah, you can find it at Ace Mart.
Ace Mart?
It's a newly opened supermarket. It's cheap and nice.
- Thank you very much. - Have a nice day.
Ah.
Found it.
That will be 50 yen, please.
Eh? That's cheap...
Hey, you.
Yes.
What have you been doing all this time?
Eh?
Ah, no, no... you're mistaken.
Ace Mart Store Manager Matsuo Satoshi
Can you come to my office for a minute?
Oh, wait...
I'm sorry, that was just...
I told you I didn't shoplift anything.
I bought it properly.
Then why were you wandering around the store?
I was watching you the whole time. You were obviously acting weird.
That's because...
What's that?
- Wait here. - Eh...
I'm hungry...
Eh?
Sit down!
Yes.
Hey!
I bet you're the only ones left!
You're still here? You...
Hey! I thought you guys were the only ones left.
I'm sorry.
Hey! You're a customer?
Yes, I am.
Come here.
Hurry up!
What is this...
Don't come in!
Take one more step in the store and I'll kill the hostages!
I'm a hostage?
Sit down!
Stay quiet.
If you do anything funny, I'll shoot.
I'm serious!
Hello, can you hear me?
This is Osawa of Ehime Prefectural Police, Investigation Section.
Ehime Prefectural Police, Investigation Section Osawa Kou
The supermarket is completely surrounded.
Drop your weapons and surrender quickly.
I've taken nine employees hostage.
Bring me the president of Ace Mart right now.
You have one hour.
One hour?
I'll make some calls.
Apart from that, what is your objective?
Just go get him and then we'll talk.
If you're even a minute late, I'll kill one hostage. Got it?
It's impossible, the President should be at the Tokyo head office right now.
- He can't make it in time. - I don't give a damn!
Tajima-san?
Tadanobu Tajima
You're Tajima from the cake shop, right?
Why are you doing this...
Shut up!
Is that man a cake shop owner?
Ace Mart Employee Kitagawa Asako
Ah, yes.
He runs a cake shop in our neighborhood.
I used to go there since I was little.
What do you mean, "used to"...?
I think it went out of business, despite being so delicious.
Was the store near this supermarket?
Yes.
This is the Ace Mart Saijo Store in Nakamatsu, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture.
According to witnesses, a man with some kind of hunting rifle
has taken employees hostage and barricaded himself inside.
Customers have already evacuated the store.
It's been exactly one hour since the man took the hostages.
He can't make it in time?
Don't mess around. I said within one hour.
President Otani is on his way.
Just wait a little longer.
Time's up. I'll kill one hostage as promised.
Wait! Don't you dare!
Don't fuck with me!
Um Uhm... Uhm...
What's your intention of calling the president?
Kill him.
That's my only goal.
That's... that's...
because your shop went out of business,
and you're taking revenge?
Revenge?
Since the arrival of this supermarket,
you lost a lot of customers, didn't you?
Yes, that's right.
This is the only thing I can do.
Come on... isn't that just resentment?
Shut up! You'll be the first, manager.
Get up! Get up!
Move! Move!
Ah, you. You...
owned a cake shop, didn't you.
Huh?
I heard it was a reputable shop loved by the locals.
So what?
Why did your shop go under just because a supermarket was built?
The price!
It was less than one-third the price of ours!
There was no way we could win against that.
But that can't be helped when you are doing business...
Shut up!
If your shop went out of business as a result of fair competition...
certainly, it's just resentment.
But,
it may not be so.
There is a possibility
that this supermarket is cheating.
Cheating?
Your shop may not have lost to the competition.
It may be that this supermarket's cheating caused you to go under.
What are you talking about?
If we can find evidence of fraud,
we can take administrative action against this supermarket.
You may be able to get your revenge in a proper way without committing any more crimes.
What kind of fraud?
It's called dumping.
Dumping?
Uh, well...
Uhm, Uhm... can you take this off?
Huh?
I'll explain.
Dumping is the act of
drastically lowering the price of goods or services without proper justification
and interfering with competitors' businesses unfairly.
This is a violation of the Antimonopoly Law.
But every store probably lowers their prices, don't they?
It is considered dumping when
the selling price is lower than the cost price.
Undercutting the cost price?
If they did, they would be in the red.
If rival stores go under due to price competition,
they can monopolize the customers.
After that, they can restore prices to original levels.
No matter how expensive the product is or how poor the quality is,
customers will have no choice but to buy from this store.
Are you doing that?
We are not cheating! I'm telling the truth.
We're just trying to please our customers in the community.
That's why we've been working hard.
Hey!
Aren't you just trying to buy time with your lectures?
Huh? Are you trying to trick me?
Losing customers to this supermarket,
your shop was not the only one affected.
Butcher shops,
fishmongers,
And the old supermarkets.
Many stores around here have gone under.
And this supermarket's products
were abnormally cheap.
I think there is a possibility that they are cheating.
Would you allow me to check this store now?
Ah?
I'm an inspector with the JFTC.
I'll find the evidence and prove the fraud.
If you can't find any evidence, I'll kill you first.
You still want to do it?
Fine. Even so.
You have one hour to find the evidence by then.
Understood.
The ledgers are here.
What is it?
Oh, no...
The latest vouchers are here.
Yes.
30 stores nationwide, huh?
So it's only recently,
that Ace Mart has grown this big.
It's the president's skill.
He's amazing.
When did you start working at Ace Mart?
Last year. I transferred from another supermarket.
It's amazing that you were suddenly put in charge of a new store.
If you work hard, they will reward you for your efforts.
That's the kind of company we are.
Uhm...
Can I make a phone call?
The entrance area is barricaded so we can't see what's going on inside.
That's worrisome.
I'm sure the police will do something about it.
What if SAT or SIT comes in?
SAT - Special Assualt Team SIT - Special Investigations Team
Okay, I think it's time to end this break. Time to resume reading.
Nnn!
Don't "Nnn"! We don't have time to take it easy.
As it is, we're short on staff without Koshobu.
Wait, wait...
Yes, this is Bureau 6.
Shirokuma?
Koshobu! What's going on?
There's something I'd like you to look into.
- Eh? - Is he in trouble?
It's a supermarket called Ace Mart.
I want you to check if they've ever received a cease and desist order from JFTC.
Eh? What? Is that a Shikoku Branch Office case?
But you haven't been assigned there yet, right?
Well, there's been a bit of a mix-up.
Hey!
- What? - It's a long story.
Anyway, please hurry up, I don't have much time. Bye.
Urgh!
What did Koshobu say?
He asked me to do some research. He said it's urgent.
Researching... we don't have time for that.
If you're going to do it, please do it alone.
Eh?
You're the one who was asked to do it, right, Shirokuma?
What?
Thank goodness I didn't pick up the phone.
A police car just arrived,
and a man in a suit exited the car.
It appears to be Ace Mart President Otani.
Do you have any idea what happened? Anyone with a grudge against you?
There's nothing. Why me?
Anyway, we need to talk to the culprit.
Ace Mart President Otani Masao
Come inside. In exchange for the hostages.
Me?
You don't care if your employees die.
W-Wait a minute. Uhm... Why me?
We'll talk about it when you get inside.
Then release the hostages first.
No, the President first.
All right, I'll think about it.
If you refuse, I'll kill the hostages this time.
I'm serious.
That person is already investigating.
Please stop this already.
It doesn't mean he's telling the truth.
If he can't expose the fraud, I'll do it.
I can't let things end like this.
Tajima, why did you go that far...
I inherited the shop from my father.
The shop was my father's life.
That's why I was desperate to protect it.
I even borrowed money.
But I couldn't save it.
And then he died.
Because he was deprived of his reason for living.
This supermarket
killed him.
It's been an hour.
Did you find any evidence?
I guess you didn't find anything.
No...
If it's evidence of fraud, I found it.
This is a voucher from a supplier for the purchase of goods.
And this is the list of products actually sold.
I have verified
that more than 200 items are sold below cost.
This has been going on for more than a year since the supermarket opened.
The company is barely making a profit, and yet....
- This is... - This is
evidence of dumping.
So they were doing it after all.
Yes.
It's all my fault.
That's why you should stop this....
The police are still trying to persuade him.
The man's objectives are still unknown.
Police are urging neighbors to evacuate the area.
But onlookers are gathering in the area....
Tell us everything you did on camera.
If he does it, will you stop this?
Yeah.
Let's go.
Excuse me.
Could you wait for a while?
Matsuo, did you really know about the fraud?
I'm sorry. There's something that's been bothering me.
Something's bothering you?
Shifts at this store are very reasonable.
That's why the manager, Matsuo works desparately
to keep labor costs down, so that they don't make a loss.
And so, what of it?
He listens intently to the voices of the customers.
He regularly conducts surveys with the customers.
You put that into practice, don't you?
Naturally, you are very careful about the quality of your products.
You have worked hard to please your customers.
What you have said is not a lie,
that's how I feel.
Without knowing that there was any fraud,
you just followed the instructions of the head office to lower the price, didn't you?
Did you lie to get out of this situation?
No, that's not it.....
Really?!
However, no matter how much I searched,
I just couldn't find any evidence that you were instructed by head office.
So even if Matsuo admitted to the wrongdoing...
Does that mean...
we can't hold the president and head office accountable?
There seems to be some movement.
Police officials are gathering one after another.
Are they preparing to raid the premises?
Don't move.
Why did you do something so unnecessary...
If I had just taken responsibility, it would have been over.
But...
Right now, it's more important to get out of this situation, isn't it?
People might get killed.
Damn it... we're definitely done for.
Shirokuma Kaede
Let me talk to her. I think she might have found something.
I looked into it as you asked.
And?
In the past a cease and desist order was issued for unfair dumping in the Shizuoka branch.
Was the head office involved?
Hmm, the head office was not involved.
It seems that the fraud was committed by the manager of the branch, and the manager has since been disciplined.
So that's what it was after all.
"After all?". What in the world are you investigating?
Or rather...what's wrong with Ace Mart?
I took the trouble to look into it despite my busy schedule, so at least tell me what's going on.
Ace-mart? Did she just say Ace Mart?
- Yes. - Hello?
Ehime - Saijo
News Flash
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ News Flash ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎
‎Ehime Hostage Situation
Employees held hostage with hunting rifle
Ace Mart Saijo Branch
A simple residential area with houses and apartments
This is an important place for the livelihood of the local citizens.
A lot of shoppers came to Ace Mart this morning...
Hey, Ace Mart is the supermarket where this hostage situation is happening.
Look, look, look. Eh?
Don't tell me it has something to do with the hostage situation that's happening right now?
Ah...
Come on!
... hostage situation. The residents in the vicinity...
That's enough.
It's clear now,
Ace Mart's strategy
is to conduct unfair dumping at all its branches nationwide.
No matter how hard I searched, I could not find any written instructions or e-mails
that would prove the involvement of the head office.
Even if the JFTC takes notice of this...
they've cleverly concealed it so that the manager would be held responsible.
Then, if the manager had accepted responsibility ...
You suspected it. That's why you stopped me.
You would get punished for just trying your best to do your job,
while the real cheater takes advantage.
I can't accept that, can I?
That means that no matter how hard I try...
I can't hold the president and the head office accountable.
Then I'll make an example out of you as promised.
If one person dies, even the president...
Tajima-san! Please don't do this.
I have no proof! What else do you want me to do?!
Huh?
Excuse me.
Uhm... can you take this off?
What?
I haven't given up yet.
The police have decided to raid the place.
Hurry! There's no time!
Here.
What? What are you doing at a time like this...
It tastes different.
This is not the traditional tangerine bun.
If you look closely, there's no tangerine symbol on it.
This is made to look similar, but it's from a different manufacturer, right?
Ah, but what does that mean?
They don't stock the famous tangerine bun that has been around for a long time.
Matsuo.
I'd like to conduct an interview now.
An interview?
I need you to tell me what you know.
Damn...!
Now, hurry and set me free.
You can escape through the back door.
Quickly.
Get out the back door. Get out the back door.
Hurry... through the back door...
Matsuo, wait!
He will be arrested immediately.
But that would be the end of it.
Of course, head office
will try to cover it up in before the police investigation.
It's now or never to expose the fraud!
This kind of fraud is going on all over the country.
There are other store managers like you who are being taken advantage of.
And many more people like you will be forced into a corner.
Please lend me your strength.
What are you going to do? You don't have any proof, do you?
No matter what I say...
Yes...
That alone is impossible.
But I have an idea.
This way, this way.
Don't come any closer! I'll shoot!
Stop! Don't come any closer!
Damn...
You.... The hostages....
When it comes to it, I will make the president confess in exchange for your lives.
I'll be the hostage.
Eh?
Matsuo.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Let's go. Come on!
Are you all right? Let's get out of here.
Yes.
Hey! Bring the president!
And the press too!
I'm serious!
Or I'll kill him!
One by one, police are entering the supermarket.
Hey.
They succeeded in opening the door and entering the store.
Hey, it's time for us to focus on work.
That has nothing to do with Koshobu.
That's true, but...
But now that we've come this far, I'm curious.
Ah, I think there's some movement.
Oh!
Ah, finally.
I'm so glad! I'm so glad...
- Excuse me. - Yes.
Public Prosecutor on Secondment Midorikawa Eiko
I brought the materials you asked for.
Thank you very much.
Do you have the TV on while working?
No, this is... Look, that's enough.
- Oh, the culprit came out! - Come on, stop this now.
Ah...
Police are approaching the entrance of the supermarket.
The police have also called in the press...
Koshobu!
Things are getting tense inside.
Koshobu...
Are you kidding me?
Koshobu...
I can't believe he's involved, but he's also a hostage.
Hey! Where is he?
I'm going to kill this guy! Where's the president?
Calm down.
President! I want you to admit to the fraud in this supermarket.
I want to hear all about it right here, right now!
Hey, reporters! Get a good shot of this!
Fraud? What are you talking about?
I'm talking unfair dumping! Don't play dumb with me!
Unfair dumping?
I don't know what you are talking about.
If there's any fraud, we'll take responsibility and look into it.
- So lay down your weapon. - That's not going to happen!
You will tell us right here and now!
Don't you care what happens to the hostage?
Even if you say so, I don't know what I don't know.
I think it's futile.
Mr. President.
I inspected the store, and
I found evidence that Ace Mart is engaged in unfair dumping.
Evidence?
In this supermarket, more than 200 items
are continually sold at below cost.
That's just the store's sales efforts to sell at a discount.
But I hear they're going to change the prices back next month.
An employee testified.
Actually, I was just told to change the price back to the original level next month.
The president
said that the community was happy with the price already.
It's because you were able to destroy enough rivals in the area, right?
I don't know anything about that.
I will investigate thoroughly and take action against those responsible.
Is that acceptable?
That's what I thought you'd say.
But this was all ordered by you, wasn't it?
What are you saying?
Don't say things that have no basis in fact.
Do you have proof to back this up?
The President made all the decisions regarding management.
He even lowered the prices,
to please the local customers around the area.
But all the instructions were given verbally.
So that no evidence is left behind.
All we have is the testimony of the employees.
That's as good as having no evidence.
- The employees are lying. - What is he trying to do?
It's like a public interview.
Tell us the truth!
Everyone! Turn on the TV! Something terrible's happened!
DFT Konno Mamori
- Koshobu is held... - Hey! Quiet!
Sorry.
But this is a pretty tough situation.
That's right.
It seems the fact of unfair dumping is certain.
But the employee's testimony alone will not be enough to hold the president accountable,
unless he admits to it.
I wonder what he's going to do.
But since this is Koshobu,
I'm sure he has a plan.
No, no...
Shouldn't you be more concerned about Koshobu's safety...
He's a hostage!
Yeah...
Hey, police! Shut him up!
Hey, stop filming! Stop filming!
I have one more important piece of testimony.
The president himself selected the suppliers, right?
There's something unusual with this store's product lineup.
The suppliers' manufacturers are biased.
They don't sell this region's specialty tangerine bun.
They only sell imitation tangerine buns...
It tastes different.
This is made to look similar, but it's from a different manufacturer, right?
Yes.
There were many other products like that.
You even purchased products from little-known, minor suppliers, didn't you?
I had wondered about that myself.
But I thought the boss had his own ideas...
Why would he do that?
That's...
because suppliers who paid "sponsorship fees"
A sponsorship fee is a fee paid by a company to sponsor an event, but in some cases, is simply a donation under the guise of advertising fees.
would have their products promoted and get more sales,
isn't that the case?
Why would you sell products
below cost, and losing money for over a year?
I was an idiot.
I didn't know anything.
I respected the president...
I thought this was a good supermarket.
That's why I tried so hard to make up for the losses.
How did they do it?
It was because of the efforts of the ignorant manager,
and the suppliers' sponsorship money, wasn't it?
As for the sponsorship fees,
the employees didn't know anything about it.
The money was probably transferred directly to head office.
Hey! Listen to me.
Don't make accusations without any proof! I'll sue you for slander!
Koshobu...
Hey, hey, I can't see the screen!
Ah, I'm sorry.
I see. Sponsorship fees, huh?
If we inspect the head office, there may be physical evidence of the sponsorship fees.
If we can find it, we can prove the president's involvement, right?
If we can get testimony from the employees, we should be able to conduct an on-site inspection at the head office.
Huh?
Ace Mart's head office is in Tokyo, right?
Huh?
Could it be that Koshobu's plan...?
How dare you spout such lies here!
Enough! Admit it! You're the one who's lying!
Hey, who is that hostage?
Isn't it usual? You're in on it, aren't you?
Hey, you! Who are you?
I can't do this anymore. He's never going to admit it.
- Tajima. - Stop it!
This is the only thing I can do.
Ace Mart ruined my life.
That's a fact.
If I can't bring them to justice,
I'll just destroy their reputation!
- Hey! Turn off the camera! - Tell them to stop the broadcast.
Please shut off the cameras.
Tajima!
It's too soon to give up.
You don't have to do this.
He's never going to get caught for this!
I will definitely expose the wrongdoing!
Of course it's impossible!
It's going to be alright.
I've already given them all the information I have.
A team should be on the move by now.
They'll cover this up if we don't hurry.
Ugh, I'm busy as it is.
Seriously, he really knows how to make a scene.
Honestly, I didn't think I'd be pushed around anymore after he got transferred.
Who put the baby seat here?
Why don't you just move that thing?
They may complain a lot,
but they are amazing people who do what needs to be done.
This is an urgent matter and we need to conduct an on-site inspection today.
Oh, no, it has to be done today. Yes.
They're the best team that's uncovered many frauds.
They will definitely
prove Ace Mart's wrongdoings.
So please throw that thing away already!
You're a cake maker, aren't you?
Atone for your sins and make delicious cakes again.
And then you can fight fair and square.
This market...
we will protect it.
Go! Apprehend!
Don't resist.
I'm done. Excuse me.
Move! Get out of the way! Hey!
- The culprit... - There's no fraud!
Uhm... this.
What? !
A real tangerine bun.
Actually, I love them too.
If you like.
Is that OK?
Thank you very much.
I can finally eat.
Can you tell us what happened?
Uh...
This way, please.
‎ issued to Ace Mart
‎Unfair Dumping and Abuse of Dominant Position
‎Fair Trade Commission
On-site inspection of Ace Mart's Tokyo head office, found violation of the Antimonopoly Act (Unfair Dumping and Abuse of Dominant Position)
Cease and Desist order
At this time, the JFTC has conducted an on-site inspection of Ace Mart's Tokyo head office.
Ace Mart violated Article 19 of the Antimonopoly Act... - Wow.
They were able to issue a cease and desist order already. Amazing.
It seems that the team created by Honjo was in charge of the investigation.
As expected of them.
Honjo-san used to work here, right?
Shikoku Branch Office Inspector Mijima Osamu
She was my senior. She trained me well. Haha.
Ace Mart's violation of Antimonopoly laws...
Oh, the guy who's coming today
Shikoku Branch Office Inspector Mijima Osamu
is the one who was pulled out of that team, right?
Ah, they're an elite team of the best and brightest.
Poor guy. He probably couldn't keep up.
Then I don't have high hopes.
Well, we'll just have to whip him into shape. Haha.
Hello.
He's here.
I'll be working here from today. Is this seat okay?
Please use this desk.
You know, you should greet everyone properly first.
Oh, I'm sorry.
But it's the best tangerine bun after all.
Huh? Where have I seen him before...
Ah...
I'm Koshobu. Pleased to meet you.