Hiroto Katagiri

Detective Hitoro Katagiri is a senior detective within the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.
==Biography==
===The Test===
Detective Hiroto accompanies Jake to meet with a high-ranking yakuza at a predesignated spot in a restaurant. However, this becomes compromised when they check in; they learn that their spot was moved to a different area where a group of yakuza and the person they were supposed to meet. The yakuza they're scheduled to meet threatens Jake not to publish a certain article concerning Tozawa.
Two years before the meeting, Hiroto arrived at a scene of a crime where the victim, Mr. Aoki, was slashed and stabbed with a sharp object.
===Kishi Kaisei===
Hiroto is seen again reviewing a book containing photos of Mr. Aoki's corpse as his co-worker, Funaki, interrogates the murder suspect. Despite Hiroto's suspicions that the Tozawa goon turning himself in was suspicious, Funaki argues that the suspect's fingerprints match the ones found on the murder weapons; therefore, its case is closed.
Eventually, Hiroto visits Mr. Aoki's wife and informs her of the news surrounding the case of her deceased husband. He then asked about her husband's financial issues, and she explained that the loan company they used had a stranglehold on them, which was a severe burden on them. Because of this, her husband tried to hire a lawyer to assist them, and she still has the evidence. As Hiroto reviews the evidence collection, he spots Jake talking with Mrs. Aoki.
Back at the police station, inside his superior Ohara's office, Ohara denies Hiroto's request to reconsider his stance on the Loan Shark murders and claims it's closed.
Eventually, Hiroto appears again to stop the Tozawa member Nakamura from killing a Chihara-Kai member. Once Jake's cover is blown, Hiroto takes the film from Jake's camera and warns him not to write about what he had witnessed there.
===Reading the Air===
Jake visits Hiroto's home and asks his wife if he's around, but he claims that her husband isn't. Hence, Jake offers Hiroto's wife ice cream and beer, and right as he leaves, Hiroto calls out to him. The two would enjoy a beer together and talk about their interaction from the other night. Before Hiroto can end their conversation, Jake asks him to learn more about the city's dark side. He cites his lack of knowledge on the subject, and Hiroto cites a Japanese proverb that means those who are honest gain the truth.
The two would sit together on Hiroto's porch and discuss Hiroto's interaction with the Tozawa member the other night. Hiroto then claims that since Jake didn't write about the incident, it maintained the peace between the two clans. Jake then jokingly assumes that he helped keep the peace there, making the two laugh.
Hiroto later tasks Jake with assisting him in a police job accompanied by a group of riot police officers. They arrive at a building where Hiroto advises Jake if things go south. They ring the doorbell there and are greeted by a man named Makabe. They're led to an office where the Tozawa members acknowledge their actions against the Chihara-Kai gang and allow Nakamura to be arrested. However, Hiroto wasn't satisfied with simply arresting Nakamura and demanded that two more be arrested for violating a gun law. After a tense exchange between one of the Tozawa men, Hiroto gets what he wants, and they leave without a hassle.
Outside, as the arrested men are taken away, Hiroto enjoys a cigarette with Jake, who asks that he not quote anything he witnessed in the office and the rest he can cover.
Jake would eventually visit his home and deliver a melon for him and his family to enjoy. After this, the two would head into his room and talk about the article he wrote about the Tozawa arrests. They'd then talk about the connections between the stabbing and immolation victims with a loan shark company. Despite the facts, Hiroto can't investigate the crime because of its associated complications. To make matters worse, Hiroto has a registration number to be able to track down the company; however, he can't reveal it to Jake, at risk of losing his job. As it was getting late, Hiroto mentioned he had to put his daughters to bed, so Jake left.
However, Hiroto had his daughter deliver the folder with the number and other evidence related to the case by his daughter Natsumi to avoid breaking the law.
===I Want It That Way===
As Hiroto was leaving the police station, Jake caught up with him, and as they were walking through a park, Jake explained the situation he was currently facing. Hiroto comments that if Ishida goes down, then it'd be the downfall of Chihara-Kai and the uprising of Tozawa. He then asks Jake about his progress on the folder, who responds that he'll work on it that day and the two part ways.
Within the police station's interrogation room, Hiroto talks to one of the recently arrested Tozawa men to get information about the nasty rumor surrounding Ishida. Hiroto believes a mole is the culprit, and he asks the Tozawa member who he is, but the man feigns ignorance. Hence, Hiroto releases the restraint on the man, which shocks him, stating his members would believe he's cut a deal with the police. Then, Hiroto slams the man's head on the desk and demands to know who the mole is.
Hiroto is seen reading a bedtime story to his two daughters and agrees to sing a song with them before they finally go to bed.
===Everybody Pays===
Jin mentions Hiroto when he asks what Jake talked to Hiroto about the other day and says a lone wolf like him is bound to make enemies. However, Jake rebutts that a man without enemies isn't a man at all. The comment doesn't fly with Jin, but he mentions that Hiroto is more trouble than he's worth. Apparently, Hiroto doesn't bend the rules as Jin does; Hiroto doesn't follow them.
Hiroto would meet Jake at the park and hand him the information on the mole he requested. Jake then asks him what he gets out of it by helping Ishida, to which he answers the mole works for Tozawa and, before leaving, warns Jake not to accept a favor from Ishida. His reason is that it'll be difficult to sever his ties with them if he does.
After checking the dead corpse of Kume, Hiroto talks with Ishida about plans for Kume's corpse, and when he learns his plans with it, Hiroto tries to reason with Ishida to reconsider. Later, Hiroto visits the Tozawa HQ, and meets with an associate to inform Tozawa that his Mole Kume is dead, Ishida is already privy, and there'll be no war between the Chihara-Kai and Tozawa. To that message, the Tozawa member informs Hiroto that his request will be considered carefully.
Hiroto meets with Jake late at night at a parking lot. After Jake updates him on the case, Hiroto informs him of his "Very Japanese" father, who owned a small market. On the market counter was a Buddha with the words inscribed, "Not knowing... is Buddha", which meant, "Not knowing is peaceful". To that point, Jake claims it's like the saying, "Ignorance is bliss", which is bad for his line of work. Hiroto laughs at the comment as Jake talks about his father, who wants him home and wishes him to be proud of him.
Changing the subject, Hiroto asks Jake how he got a new lead despite hitting a dead end. Jake claims it was his reporter's intuition and expresses remorse over Sugita-san's death over the loan shark deaths. On the other hand, Hiroto claims that Jake should not ruminate over it and get good and drunk that night to feel better in the morning. Hearing that advice pleases Jake, and he tries to hug Hiroto, but he pushes him away, and the two laugh over it.
===The Information Business===
Hiroto sits in his living room area with his wife by his side, watching Full House television until Jake visits him. Outside, Hiroto learns about the intel he received from Ishida and questions whether or not the information he received from Ishida is credible. Jake confirms it is and asks for help, but he declines, claiming he'll act when the time is right. Hiroto also informs Jake that a couple of days ago, a member of the Chihara-Kai killed himself after jumping off a rooftop; the person was the traitor that Jake informed Ishida about. He advises Jake not to be hasty or else it'd complicate the situation and that he should trust him.
However, Jake betrays his trust by enlisting Jin's help, and their investigation ends in a fiasco. Hiroto learns about this from Jin after he arrives at the airport where the drugs are suspected to be delivered. He'd then confront Jake and lecture him on how they could have proceeded, but his actions only jeopardized the situation, allowing Tozawa to take better measures next time. Although Jake apologizes, his comment that he needed a story makes Hiroto claim that his entitlement was disappointing and leave him.
===Sometimes They Disappear===
Hiroto learns about the dead mechanic who was connected to the airport drug raid that was conducted a month before by a coroner. Sometime later, Hiroto received another message from Jake that was forwarded to him by a subordinate police officer. However, he tosses it away in his trash bin after reading it.
Later, he meets with his superior to explain that he interviewed the mechanic, Tsutomu Makita, and the entire airport staff. As to why, he suspects that Jake received a tip from Ishida about the situation. Although Hiroto's superior argues that no drugs were located in the raid, Hiroto suspects it merely wasn't found. Hiroto's superior then asks Hiroto what he wants, and Hiroto asks for a favor.
The favor was asking for the Vice Department's assistance in arresting Tozawa as they'd collected enough evidence to arrest Tozawa, and Hiroto was to lead it. Jin would later ask Emi if she knew anything about the evidence that Hiroto had on Tozawa because her colleague Jake was close to Hiroto. However, she denies any knowledge about it and suggests that Jin ask Jake about it himself. Emi would again mention the situation surrounding Hiroto to Jake, who was shocked by the news.
At the Police Station, Jin approaches Hiroto, who is by the cigarette vending machine, and talks to him about the Tozawa case he's been assigned to work with him on. They discuss the details and some of the evidence related to the case in the interrogation room; although Jin agrees to help Hiroto, he asks where the evidence is being held. Hiroto answers it's in lockdown in the basement, but refuses to show it to him, claiming it'll be seen when they're ready to present the case and leaves the room.
Jake tries to contact Hiroto's household, but Hiroto's daughter Natsumi answers and claims that even if he is home, which he isn't, her father doesn't want to talk with him. She also confirms that he's still upset with him and hangs up on him.
Later that night, Hiroto leaves the police station, and while he does, Jin surreptitiously watches him. He'd later catch Jin in the act of breaking into the evidence locker room and say, "Smile, asshole", when Jin noticed the camera pointed at him.
===Yoshino===
Hiroto walks into his dining room area and greets his family, and while complimenting how wonderful the day is, he finds a picture of a Tengu on the table. His daughter Natsumi says it is a picture of Jake, and Hiroto smiles. He then sits at the table and talks a bit to his wife about work.
Sitting at his desk in the Police Station, Hiroto is approached by Jin, who he claimed had a guilty conscience. Jin asks Hiroto what he truly had against Tozawa, but Hiroto answers nothing but a new lead to go on, and Jin requests they talk at a different location.
Afterward, at a fishing dock, Jin informed Hiroto that his connection with Tozawa started when his men fed him drug shipment tips. After hearing Jin's story, he planned to speak to the top or resign. Hiroto chastised Jin, but still offered him an alternative.
Following Hiroto's request, Jin informs Tozawa that Hiroto doesn't have any evidence against them and plans to create his own unit to crush Tozawa under Ishida's advice.
Later that day, Jin meets with Hiroto at a restaurant and is informed that Tozawa bought the lie that Hiroto told him to tell Tozawa. Jin also informs him that the new shipment location is at a warehouse in Yokosuna and that one would arrive that night with him there to help divert suspicion. Hiroto then asks Jin how they should proceed, and he answers that Hiroto should visit the place before and after the shipment is made. Before, so Hiroto could scope out the area and after to plan hidden cameras to get collect evidence to arrest Tozawa for good, which Hiroto agrees to do.
Later, Hiroto drives to the warehouse location and waits until nightfall for Jin's message. However, he never receives one from Jin, and when he contacts Jin, his phone is out of service. Realizing there's trouble, Hiroto enters the warehouse, where he meets Tozawa in person. He alludes that Jin is dead, but confirms that his family is being held hostage by him, which breaks him. Tozawa warns Hiroto that if he decides to go against him, he'll never see his family ever again, which leaves Hiroto shocked and despondent.
Back at his home, Hiroto looks at a picture one of his daughters drew, and he then hears a knock at his door. Armed with his gun, Hiroto answered his door and saw that it was Jake, sporting some facial injuries. Jake claims he has something he must see and acknowledges his previous betrayal of trust against him. Still, Jake asks for a second chance, which Hiroto contemplates for a minute and allows him inside his house but warns that he better not have been followed.
===Don't Ever F**king Miss===
Hiroto watches the video that Jake gave him in his living room, where Polina is beaten to death by a Tozawa thug on the Yoshino. Jake recognizes one of the thugs as one who beat him up in his apartment, and Hiroto recognizes the other man as Jotaro Shigematsu, the Vice-minister of Foreign Affairs.
Driving Jake to a spot close to the Meicho Shimbun Newspaper building, Hiroto and Jake agree that they'll work together to expose Tozawa's misdeeds. Although Jake feels partly responsible for Polina's death, Hiroto claims that Jake isn't responsible for other people's misdeeds.
Using a coffee vending machine, Hiroto is given an envelope with his name on it; inside was an adult hotel matchbook that read "Miyamoto room 103".
Eventually, Hiroto visits the hotel located in Ueno that the matchbook originated from and finds Jin's dead body in room 107 of an apparent drug overdose. He also found a picture of them sitting together at the cafe, discussing their plan to take down Tozawa.
Afterward, Hiroto would inform Jin's superior about what had happened, and when the two men who were documenting the crime scene were excused. The superior notes that Jin's death may not have been accidental and that he knows that Hiroto and Jin were working together to take down Tozawa. With that, Jin's superior leaves and wishes Hiroto well.
He'd later report to the Assistant Commissioner about Jin's death, and the Assistant Commissioner pins the blame on Jin's death on him. Furthermore, he informs Hiroto that Jin's death will be classified as a heart attack to avoid tarnishing the department's reputation because of Jin's involvement with Tozawa. Although Hiroto tries to request a special unit to take down Tozawa and provide security for his family, the Assistant Commissioner rejects it and orders him to stay with his family.
Hiroto scopes out the Millenium Garden Hotel inside his car, and when he arms himself with his gun, his wife Juno contacts him. She notes her concern that she's been tirelessly trying to contact him and wants to know why they were sent to her mother's house. Hiroto claims it's because a threat was made toward him, and he's acting accordingly for their protection. After Hiroto asks his wife to tell their kids he loves them, Juno asks for him to be safe so he can do it himself.
Returning home, he finds Jake standing in front of his house. The two talk on his porch about how Tozawa destroyed the evidence against him, how Hiroto is no longer allowed to investigate against Tozawa, and how Jin has died from a drug overdose. As frustrated as Jake was, Hiroto calms Jake down and warns them that their lives and Hiroto's family are at stake, and that he should seek out different cases to write about.
That night, Hiroto breaks into Shigematsu's home, where he threatens Shigematsu's life with a knife. He demands to know what Tozawa has on him, and Shigematsu confesses that Tozawa wanted the no-fly ban on him lifted so he could visit the States. However, that was impossible for him, and when pressed as to why, Shigematsu doesn't know. Believing him, Hiroto threatens that if Shigematsu talks about this encounter, he'll return and kill him.
===Be My Number One===
Hiroto is seen filing a complaint about a woman whose Hojicha tea was being stolen, and she blames the Yakuza for it. When Hiroto files it, Jake approaches him and offers him some coffee.
The two would go outside and catch up on each other's jobs, and when asked about Tozawa, Hiroto answered that nothing was new. Hiroto would go on to say that Tozawa's disappearance at that time is a testament to the fact that he's gone for good. After Jake asks about his wife and children, the two parted ways.
After filing a case about a missing cat, Hiroto is told by a fellow colleague named Funaki that a woman from the National Police Agency wants to see him. Soon, Hiroto heads to an office and talks with the NPA woman, who introduces herself as Shoko Nagata. She claims that out of everyone there, nobody knows the Yakuza better than he does and that Hiroto seeks to keep the balance between the Yakuza and the mundane citizens, which he confirms. However, Shoko refutes that claim, and Hiroto asks how she hopes to handle it. Shoko discloses her assignment to form a task force to deal with the crime in the city. Hiroto, though, declined the offer and left.
Hiroto sits on a bench with his wife at a play park as they watch their children play. He talks to his wife Junko about how Tozawa has kept quiet for the past three months and believes it'd be safe for the girls and her to return home. However, Junko suggests Hiroto retire and live with them where they're now. Junko also adds while she's sure he doesn't want to continue working at a desk job, she wants what is best for their children and should carefully consider his options. Hiroto then lights a cigarette for himself and takes a drag of it.
That night, Hiroto sits at his desk and looks at a picture of his two children. He then visits Shoko in her office and asks her about the task force she's building and how he can help with it. Shoko tells him that, from the bat, he needs to be through with his thoughts of balance.
===Old Law, New Twist===
Hiroto informs Shoko of a person of interest, a Yakuza of the Hishinuma-Kai named Hiroshi Shibuya. Shoko takes an interest in the clan, Hiroshi is affiliated with as a perfect test candidate for their endeavor and asks him how many men they'll need.
Eventually, Hiroto and Shoko hold a briefing on their plans to raid the Hishiguma-Kai HQ, and when they do, Hiroto pursues a member down to one of the lower floors, where he gets into a struggle with one of the members and loses his gun. At the Hishiguma-Kai's mercy, Hiroto begs him not to become a cop killer, and feeling pressured guilt, the member tosses away Hiroto's gun and flees the scene.
Back at the Police HQ, Hiroto answers Shoko's question about the current number of Criminal Organizations as twenty-five. After Shoko's speech, Hiroto retreats into the hallway, contacts his family, and briefly talks with his daughter Natsumi. He had hoped to speak with his wife, but she didn't want to talk at that time, and he asked Natsumi to tell Junko he had called, and she did and hung up.
That night, Shoko gives Hiroto a beer for their recent accomplishment; despite Shoko noting how pleased the prosecutors were with their actions, Hiroto isn't happy. He notes that all actions come with a cost, and Shoko argues that they'll endeavor to make it worth it, which Hiroto agrees with and drinks his beer.
===Like a New Man===
Hiroto visits Ishida about the recent raid that occurred at the Hishinuma-Kai HQ, where Kobayashi and Murase were arrested and have since been held in custody for two weeks. Despite Ishida's request that they be released, Hiroto refuses, citing the new set of rules the police follow. Ishida then claims that Japan would perish under the chaos they protect it from, without the Yakuza. Before leaving, Hiroto says that he gave Ishida his warning to him.
Jake meets Hiroto and Shoko in a car parked at the police HQ. He introduces himself to Shoko, who coldly refuses to acknowledge him. After learning that Jake and all of his co-workers are working on articles about the recent acts against the Yakuza by the police, Hiroto refuses. Although Jake understands, he asks Hiroto for an off-the-record comment, which Shoko states that Hiroto cannot comment to the press and leaves with Hiroto following.
While sitting on his bed and reading a book, Jake contacts Hiroto to inform him that Tozawa is back. Hiroto asks how Jake knows, and Jake claims that he learned from a reliable source who also claimed that when Tozawa left, he was sick, but upon returning, he was healthy. This leads to Hiroto reminding Jake not to approach Tozawa, which he had no plans of doing, but Jake then asks if Hiroto knew if Tozawa was ill and where he went. However, Hiroto avoids the question and reminds Jake that patience isn't a weakness.
Hiroto is briefly seen again, finding a small vanilla envelope attached to his car that had a few pictures of his daughters.
===Illness of the Trade===
Hiroto arrives at the scene of Nakahara's death and is met by Funaki there, who brings Hiroto up to date with all of the pertinent information related to the case. Although Hiroto is suspicious of Nakahara's death, one thing he's certain about is that Tozawa now holds full control of the Kansai region.
The next day, Hiroto meets with Jake, and they talk about a few subjects. Nakahara's suspicious death, his relationship with Noko, and his relationship with Jake. From Jake's point of view, their relationship is like that of Starsky and Hutch, where Jake is Starsky, but Hiroto disagrees with that sentiment.
Hiroto is later seen with Shoko at a press conference about Nakahara's death but leaves after Trendy asks a couple of Jake's questions as his proxy.
Following Shoko back to her office, she compliments Jake's intelligence. Inside the office, Hiroto suggests they go after Tozawa now that he's supposedly returned, and Shoko agrees and says she'll have temp wiretaps installed in his offices and hotels. After some consideration, Hiroto discloses to Shoko that months ago, Tozawa threatened his family's livelihood if he continued investigating him. After learning that HQ had no knowledge of Hiroto's situation, Shoko promises Hiroto that she'll grant his family protection without HQ's knowledge and assign him a case unconnected to Tozawa. Thankful for Shoko's offer, Hiroto politely bows and leaves the office.
Eventually, Hiroto suggests that Shoko tail the Tozawa gang in person after Shoko's failed attempt to obtain any pertinent information via wiretapping the Tozawa phone lines. In their pursuit, they catch a Tozawa member purchasing some burner phones. Shoko wants to get a warrant to get the serial numbers, but Hiroto gets them by coaxing the clerk there. He also purchases two sets of panda stickers for himself while he's there.
Hiroto listens to Jake's intel about Tozawa, who is believed to have gotten a blood transfusion from Thailand and has extended his life to at least six months. However, Hiroto doesn't believe that it's valid and they should continue their search.
===I Choose You===
When Jake arrives at Club Polina, Hiroto informs Jake of what had occurred there and any other significant details, including that Samantha was alright. Before leaving, Hiroto tells Jake that all they can do now is catch the shooters and pray that things don't escalate from then on out.
Afterward, Hiroto parks his car in the police HQ parking building and takes a momentary breather. He's then spotted entering the restroom, where Tozawa spots him and enters it himself. Inside there, Hiroto washes his face at the sink as Tozawa uses the urinal. The two would then talk about how Hiroto and his new partner, Shoko, worked late that night. After this brief exchange, Hiroto learns outside from Shoko about why Tozawa was there and is stopped by her when he tries to pursue him.
The next day, Hiroto visited Ishida's residence and paid his respects to him by being led into the room where Gen had placed his body, where Sato was mourning him. He was then led to the room where Hayama was in the process of choosing a photograph of Ishida. He'd get into a back-and-forth conversation with Hayama about Ishida's death, Hayama becoming the self-proclaimed new leader of the Chihara-Kai, and Tozawa's assumed involvement in Ishida's death. In the end, Hiroto warns them that the police will handle the situation and that any violence made by the clan will have harsh repercussions. Hiroto then takes his leave.
Back at Police HQ, Hiroto receives an update about the Tozawa wire tappings. However, Hiroto becomes alert when his associate claims that Tozawa's men may know their lines were being tapped.
In an interrogation room, Hiroto asks Hishinuma to reveal the names of the men with tattoos matching the drawing he had shown him. However, Hishinuma wasn't willing to disclose the information as his life was ruined because of him, and the situation was his fault for the men killing Ishida. However, Hiroto informs Hishinuma about Tozawa's plans and begs him to reveal the names of the gunmen.
Following the tip from Hishinuma, Hiroto and Shoko find the body of one of the men in the junkyard. Shoko believed that Tozawa was behind it and that they should find the other gunman before Tozawa did.
Sitting at his desk, Shoko shows Hiroto a news article about Samantha and claims she lied to them. Before leaving, Shoko suggests they meet with Samantha again and get the truth.
Back at this home, one of the Hishinuma members who killed Ishida breaks into Hiroto's apartment and surrenders himself to him.
===The War at Home===
Hiroto and Shoko visit Samantha at her apartment to ask her a few more questions. Shoko does the questioning and criticizes Samantha for omitting a couple of key facts about the tattoos and her relationship with one of the victims. This makes Samantha defensive, and Hiroto claims that they're merely trying to close some information gaps and assures her that she's not under investigation. However, he asks that she don't leave the city without informing them first. With that, the two take their leave.
Inside a police integration room, Hiroto questions the Hishinuma gunman named Shinjiro about multiple subjects, but mainly focuses on why he killed Ishida. Shinjiro answered that he had no other choice. He claims that after his clan broke up after the police raid, Tozawa approached him, offering him enough money to live the remainder of his life if he killed Ishida. Hiroto then asks Shinjiro where the gun used at the club shooting was, and Shinjiro tries to bargain, if he gets witness protection, he'll tell Hiroto everything. However, Hiroto states that it's only in America and not Japan, as it was for him, he'd get the death penalty, but if he cooperates with him, he'd spend twenty years for manslaughter. Again, Hiroto asks Shinjiro about the gun.
Following Shinjiro's tip, Hiroto finds the murder weapon in a wall at the junkyard, where they had found the corpse of one of the gunmen. He's then contacted by Shoko, who informs him that the local DA agreed to a manslaughter charge and wants to see Shinjiro in person within two hours. Hiroto suggests that they should bring a heavy police presence with them and for them to tag along too, and Shoko agrees.
Sitting in a van while in traffic with Shoko, Shinjiro, and Funaki, until a couple on a motorcycle drives by, and one of them shoots and kills Shinjiro, much to Hiroto's dismay.
Later that night, Hiroto learns from Shoko that the motorcycle killers were found dead with no witnesses in sight. Hiroto concludes that someone tipped Tozawa of their plan, and when Shoko asked if Hiroto had turned in the gun he had found, Hiroto said no. Shoko was glad to hear it as she suspected it'd disappear too. With all that's left are the wiretappings they have, Hiroto suggests they use it to the best of their ability.
Sitting at his desk, Hiroto listens to a wiretap from Tozawa's hotel suite. When he learns something vital, he visits Shoko in her office and plays it. It features a Tozawa member talking with a lady named Marge from the Southern Minnesota Medical Center, calling about an outstanding bill. However, the member claims she's called the wrong number and hangs up. Hiroto then claims that Tozawa did visit the States despite being on the no-fly list, which Shigematsu said he was.
Hiroto would later contact Jake in America about his findings about Tozawa getting a liver transplant in Minneapolis. He entrusts Jake to do it since he can't trust anyone else.
===The Noble Path===
Hiroto and Shoko visit Jake at his apartment, where he discloses his theory that Tozawa entered the U.S. using a forged passbook, which is illegal in Japan. When Hiroto asks Jake what laws Tozawa could have violated in the U.S., Jake claims immigration and manslaughter for cutting the waiting line for a transplant. After Shoko mentions the possibility that the U.S. may want to extradite Tozawa, Hiroto mentions that all Yakuza fear U.S. prisons. Curiously, Jake asks why they haven't made an arrest yet, and Hiroto states that someone in their department may be under Tozawa's influence. However, Hiroto follows up by saying that if Jake releases a story related to this incident, they could release warrants and make arrests. Hence, Jake agrees to help, and Shoko suggests that he start with the FBI.
During a police re-enactment of the shooting where the two motorcyclists killed Shinjiro, Hiroto realizes that Funaki had ducked down moments before the shooting. Shoko would also mention Hiroto's findings to the assistant commissioner.
Afterward, it was revealed that the assistant commissioner had promoted Yamada to Shoko's position, although Hiroto would argue against this decision at the assistant commissioner's office. The assistant commissioner warned Hiroto that he'd be reassigned if he continued with his arguments.
Hiroto would accompany Jake to his meeting with Yabuki, where Jake agreed not to publish the story on Tozawa. Yabuki was relieved to hear that, and when he asked why Hiroto was there, he answered it was as a friend, and Yabuki mentioned he considered Jin a friend too. But finishes off that he hopes that Tozawa doesn't consider their actions a violation of their agreement between Tozawa.
After the meeting, Hiroto talks with Jake in an elevator about how to proceed since many people are relying on him to stop Tozawa's plans.
He'd later take his family to a motel to stay, and after talking things over with his wife, he promised to end things with Tozawa.
===Consequences===
Visiting Shoko's apartment, Hiroto tells Shoko that he knows she was transferred to Misawa. He vows to fight it, but Shoko dissuades him. Instead, she gives him some evidence from a friend of hers in Internal Affairs, revealing that Funaki was the double agent working for Tozawa, as he had compromising evidence against him. With that in mind, Shoko asks him to finish what they started together.
Hiroto talked with Jake in his car at an undisclosed location; they talked about the possibility of Tozawa being an FBI informant, and Hiroto cites Harada Isamu as an example of one. Jake knows of him and thanks Hiroto for his help, but Hiroto stops him as he tries to exit his car and asks him if Jake is safe. A bit confused by the question, Jake mentioned he was and even used a landline phone to contact him. Hiroto notes his caution as to whom they're dealing with, which is a force to be reckoned with, and Jake understands and leaves.
In the police interrogation room, Hiroto reveals the dirt he has on Funaki, who confesses his connection to Tozawa to Hiroto. Though Hiroto chastises Funaki for what he did, Funaki has little choice. In his defense, he could have revealed his family's address to Tozawa, but he refused. Hiroto gets an epiphany and asks Funaki to reveal his family's address to Tozawa.
This would lead to Hiroto confronting Yabuki at the hotel his family once stayed at to stay safe. After Hiroto made Yabuki drop the knife he was wielding, he tried to use the one that was placed on the bed. However, the gun had no bullets in it. Shoko then arrives, and Yabuki tosses the gun away and tries to attack Shoko, only to be restrained and arrested for the death of Masahiro Ohno. Despite Yabuki, denying that he was the one who did it, Hiroto claims his prints were on the murder weapon and tries to broker a deal with him. Hiroto says for leniency, he asks for information on Tozawa for a reduced sentence. On the other hand, Yabuki denies it claiming Tozawa will be his boss soon enough and after being released, he'll kill his family. However, Hiroto gets in Yabuki's face and threatens his life when he leaves prison.
As Yabuki is led into a car outside, Hiroto informs Shoko that Funaki turned himself in, which pleased her. Hiroto asked that Shoko book Yabuki for him as he wanted to contact Jake. Seeing Shoko off, Hiroto heads to his car, where Hagino pulls up. Hiroto threatens to leave, but Kazuko rolls down her window and greets him. She offers evidence he'd want about her husband Tozawa. Immediately, Hiroto enters the car, and Kazuko mentions how her husband is an FBI informant and that there are two plausible places where the contract could be. The first is his hotel, and the other is his Yahtc, the Yoshino.
===Endgame===
Within Shoko's apartment, Hiroto and Shoko discussed how they'd proceed in procuring the FBI contract between them and Tozawa. Shoko volunteers to get it from the hotel due to her situational circumstances, and Hiroto takes the boat where the evidence will be given to Jake so he can write about it. On the other hand, Shoko claims that Tozawa would kill it before it reaches the press, and suggests giving it to his enemies instead. However, Hiroto still insists on first giving it to Jake, who will need help reaching the boat.
Amid Hagino's explanation to Tozawa about Yabuki's arrest, Hagino mentions Hiroto entrapping Yabuki to take the fall for Masahiro's death at Samantha's club. To that point, Tozawa laments not dealing with Hiroto sooner.
Getting a call from Jake, Hiroto tells Jake how he's tried to contact him multiple times and asks about what Jake has found out about the connection between the FBI and Tozawa. However, Jake tells Hiroto the bad news that his paper had canceled the story because of the threats against it and that a colleague of his was stabbed. Changing plans, Hiroto asks where Misaki is, as he knows his relationship with her is, and Jake agrees to help him find her. Hence, Hiroto asks for the hideout address, and after learning it from Sato, Hiroto heads there via his car, and unbeknownst to him, he is tailed by a Tozawa member.
As Hiroto exits the hideout, he reluctantly allows Jake to come with him. Sato also mentions him, who informs Samantha that Hiroto had ordered police officers to be sent there to protect them. Furthermore, Sato claims that he'll be leaving for a while to help Hiroto's plans to take down Tozawa.
Accompanied by Jake and a fellow officer, Hiroto forces their way onto the Yoshino and has a crewmember there to lead them to the master suite. It's there that the safe is empty, and Hiroto finds another crewmate has taken its contents; hence, Hiroto and the officer chase after the crewmember as Jake stays behind.
The crewmember who had escaped was named Ando, and Hiroto had him contact Tozawa to inform him that he procured the documents. Hiroto then met with Jake to discuss the FBI documents they found. When Jake asks him what they can arrest Tozawa for, he reluctantly answers they'll see. Then Jake finds a check and receipt from Jotaro Shigematsu, which Hiroto claims he'll have another story to use, and they go their separate ways.
Later, Hiroto meets with Sato, gives him the FBI documents, and trusts that he will do the right thing with them. Sato gives no answer and drives off.
Hiroto talks with Jake underneath a bridge, where he informs him that Jake's superior was writing the article involving Shigematsu. However, he breaks it to Hiroto that Tozawa won't be arrested since Sato is going to deal with him. He finishes the right way, which isn't always moral, and he doesn't tell Jake because he doesn't want him to dirty his hands.
When Jake and he arrive at where Tozawa is, Hiroto stops Jake from entering and suggests they wait. Jake agrees and does it beside Samantha.
As the Yakuza leaders leave the restaurant, Hiroto watches them exit from his car and waves goodbye to Kazuko when she acknowledges them. Hagino then approaches Hiroto and informs him that a dead body was found in the restaurant. Thankful for the tip, Hiroto takes Jake inside, where they find Tozawa's body. Jake tries to take a picture of it, but Hiroto doesn't allow him to, citing there's the story he wants to write and the story he should write.
Eventually, Jake visits Hiroto and shows him the paper featuring the article he wrote on Tozawa's death. They then talk about a few subjects, such as Jake's thoughts on how it ended and Hiroto's retirement. Their conversation finishes with Hiroto telling Jake about a breathing observation done during Zen meditation. Jake tries it under Hiroto's dare, but part way, Jake has to take a leak and challenge Hiroto to try it himself. Hiroto does, but he is unable to complete it himself and laughs at the fact.
==Appearances==
:;Season One
*The Test
*Kishi Kaisei
*Read the Air
*I Want It That Way
*Everybody Pays
*The Information Business
*Sometimes They Disappear
*Yoshino
:;Season Two
*Don't Ever F**king Miss
*Be My Number One
*Old Law, New Twist
*Like a New Man
*Illness of the Trade
*I Choose You
*The War at Home
*The Noble Path
*Consequences
*Endgame
==Trivia==
==Gallery==
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==References==
Category:Characters