Tokyo Salad Bowl – Series Review & Episode Guide

Mari Koda works as a police detective. She has only been on the job for a month and is still learning the ropes. However, Mari doesn't look like your typical law enforcement officer. She stands out with neon green hair, oversized glasses, and a chic wardrobe. Her coworkers tease her with nicknames like Lettuce Head and Greenhead. They tell her to dye her hair to look more professional, but Mari refuses. Her green hair is her signature, and she takes pride in being different.

Mari works in the International Investigation Unit, which handles cases involving foreigners in Japan. She is expected to assist with major investigations, but prefers solving small cases and helping ordinary people. Her coworkers, Tarao and Shakuno, are exasperated, while Ilyama has a soft spot for Mari and defends her quirky behaviour. Despite their criticism, Mari is skilled at her job. She's observant, persistent, and has sharp instincts. Unlike her serious colleagues, Mari has a cheerful personality and sees the world with optimism.

Since her work involves foreigners, Mari may need help from professional interpreters. They assist with translations during interviews and interrogations. Ryo Arikano is an interpreter at Mari's precinct. He speaks fluent Chinese and helps with related cases. Ryo used to be a police sergeant a few years ago. However, he left the force after a scandal and changed careers. Mari and Ryo haven't met yet, though he already knows her by her infamous reputation as Lettuce Head.

One day, Mari is taking a break at the park. She notices Shen, a young Chinese woman who looks upset. Mari offers to help, but they struggle to communicate due to a language barrier. Mari doesn't speak Mandarin and can't understand Shen. Mari wants to call for help before realizing she forgot her phone. Just then, she spots Ryo nearby using his. He seems uninterested at first, but she persuades him to assist. Ryo translates for Shen and learns that she's worried about her missing friend. Candy hasn't returned Shen's messages since last night.

Mari offers to help Shen find Candy. Ryo is skeptical and thinks Candy may not be in danger. He explains that some foreigners in Japan go missing intentionally, either by overstaying their tourist visas or disappearing under suspicious circumstances. Despite his skepticism, Mari believes Candy's disappearance is genuine and insists on conducting an investigation. She pulls Ryo along to assist with translations. They soon become an unexpected duo, working on their first case together.

Besides watching BL, my other love is any quaint and quirky mystery show. Tokyo Salad Bowl seems right up my alley. I'm drawn to the lead, an unusual police detective with bright green hair. Her appearance alone tells you that she does things differently. Mari also has a spunky personality. With her bubbliness and boundless optimism, she goes against the stereotype of a hard-boiled detective. And you know what? I'm into it! Tokyo Salad Bowl has its own identity rather than feeling like a standard police procedural.

Solving a murder? Boring! Catching a serial killer? So passé! Tokyo Salad Bowl avoids the usual mystery show formula. Instead, it focuses on cases about foreigners in Japan. Some commit crimes out of desperation. Others become victims since the law won't protect them. The mysteries aren't complicated, and the culprits don't have clever schemes. Still, each investigation exposes the unfair treatment that foreigners face. As xenophobia and anti-immigrant views are growing louder around us, this series feels meaningful because it helps viewers understand marginalized communities better.

Although I agree with the messages in Tokyo Salad Bowl, the series can be hit or miss. My enjoyment depends on how interesting the cases are. The best episodes have emotional plots with sympathetic characters, tugging at my heartstrings due to the sad circumstances. A parent with an abducted child? Stop, I'm crying already! However, the dullest moments are whenever the drama gets bogged down by the police procedures. The story loses me any time it feels like a typical crime drama and focuses too much on the investigations. Stop, I'm bored out of my mind!

Mari's actress (Nao) has created a fun, whimsical protagonist. I'm not sure whether she seems believable as a police detective, but that's part of her charm. I'm glad she doesn't behave like a typical cop and still has a carefree attitude. Also, she looks fantastic with green hair. I didn't think anyone could rock this colour, but it really suits her character. Her co-star (Ryuhei Matsuda) portrays the stoic Ryo Arikano, who always seems like he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. His best moments are with Mari. The pair's chemistry makes every scene more enjoyable.

The BL content comes slowly, like water dripping from a faucet. We never get enough romance to quench our thirst. Most episodes show a brief flashback, vaguely hinting at Ryo's memories of his ex-boyfriend. Some moments feel precious because the series builds a beautiful ambiance. Picture two police officers passing each other in a hallway. Their hands brush discreetly. Their eyes meet knowingly. While I enjoy the couple's interactions, they share so few scenes together. There's also barely any affection between them. Ultimately, this love story is just so basic.

The final case of the series is dull. The last three episodes drag out an investigation into a corrupt cop, which doesn't interest me. I only care about Ryo and Satoru's romance, but even their relationship scenes become overly angsty toward the end. With a boring storyline and a lacklustre gay couple, Tokyo Salad Bowl finishes on an underwhelming note. I still value its progressive messages about open-mindedness. I love that it encourages us to embrace diversity in our community. That said, only some parts of this well-intentioned drama actually resonated with me.