Tokyo Swindlers is a gripping watch from beginning to end. Despite initial skepticism during the first few episodes, the Japanese crime thriller maintains its high-energy pace throughout. However, the first 30 minutes may feel clunky and forced, as the writers struggle to establish the premise. Once the narrative unfolds, it becomes surprisingly binge-worthy.
To fully grasp the show’s premise, understanding what a “land swindler” is is essential. The Netflix series explains this in detail in Episode 1, though it is buried in the narrated skippable title screen.
In simple terms, a “Land Swindler” involves fraudulent activities related to land and property. This scheme typically includes a group of con artists who claim ownership of a piece of land and attempt to sell it to unsuspecting realtors or construction investors. The fraudsters often impersonate the landowner, along with fake lawyers, brokers, and asset managers, to close the deal.
Now that you understand the concept of a Land Swindler, you’re set to dive into Tokyo Swindlers. The series explores the booming land swindling operations, particularly highlighted during the Tokyo Olympics. It follows Harrison Yamanaka and his team of adept fraudsters executing large-scale land scams. Harrison’s ambition leads him to plan his most audacious fraud yet.
On the other side, police officers Shimomura and Kuramochi work to investigate and dismantle the conspiracy.
The show evokes a sense of Money Heist, though it lacks in-depth character development. The narrative constantly shifts, keeping your mind engaged with the evolving scheme.
It’s challenging to choose a side in this series. I’ll admit, I didn’t necessarily want the police to win. The elaborate plans and their execution provided entertainment. You find yourself rooting for the scheme to succeed.
However, there’s no clear-cut good or evil in this story. Although land swindling is illegal, it’s hard to sympathize with the greedy executives of large real estate corporations. Much like The Wolf of Wall Street, the characters are not particularly likable, regardless of your stance; they’re there to entertain.
Tokyo Swindlers can be somewhat overwhelming with its details. Some episodes delve excessively into patterns or revelations. While this adds depth, it sometimes feels unnecessary. The series occasionally overcomplicates straightforward crimes, which detracts from its cleverness.
Whether you enjoy Tokyo Swindlers will depend on your tolerance for unsympathetic characters. This Japanese series is undeniably engaging, and while it may not reach the heights of Money Heist, I would be open to a continuation, provided there is more character development.
Tokyo Swindlers Ending Explained
Episode 7 of Tokyo Swindlers is packed with suspense and excitement. The finale delivers everything you’d expect from a crime thriller—a resolution to the con and a climactic showdown. The closing chapter of Season 1 focuses more on Takumi Tsujimoto uncovering the truth about his boss, Harrison Yamanaka, than on the land scam involving Sekiyo House. Here’s a breakdown of the key moments in Episode 7:
The Swindlers Seal the Deal with Sekiyo House
For much of Episode 6, it seemed the land swindlers might fail in their con involving Sekiyo House and the land where Kouan-ji Temple is situated. With the genuine nun, Natsumi Kawai, heading to the site, Goto, Takumi, and Reiko were in a race against time to finalize the deal during the on-site visit.
They managed to convince Mr. Aoyagi, Sekiyo House’s key representative, that Reiko was actually Kawai, thanks to a convincing makeover and a showcase of the Five Tathagatas within the temple. The visit concluded successfully.
However, they narrowly avoided detection on their way out. As Sekiyo House left the temple, the real Natsumi Kawai arrived in a taxi. Fortunately, Goto and Takumi managed to escape, leaving Reiko to hide and devise her escape.
The swindlers secured a staggering 11 billion yen deal with Sekiyo House despite the high stakes and challenges. You might think this would be the climax of the finale, but there’s more to come.
Kuramochi Reveals Takumi’s Dark Family History
It’s easier to connect with the characters in Tokyo Swindlers, excluding Harrison, who is a complete psychopath with no regard for human life.
In a pivotal scene, Police Detective Kuramochi visits Takumi and reveals a shocking truth. She informs him that she knows the whereabouts of Nishitani, the swindler who defrauded his family. Nishitani’s real name is Kazuma Saeki, and he is held at a detention center in Manila, Philippines. Kuramochi reveals that Harrison Yamanaka attempted to kill Nishitani and was behind the fraudulent scheme that devastated Takumi’s family. Harrison was the true architect of the tragedy that befell Takumi’s family.
Takumi had spent years searching for someone he thought was responsible for his family’s downfall, only to discover that he was working with the real perpetrator all along. This revelation is a dramatic twist and a major plot twist.
Aoyagi’s Death: An Expected Outcome
When Aoyagi discovers he has been deceived by the land Tokyo swindlers, he is left in shock, tainting Sekiyo House’s reputation. While I admired his ambition, his desperation and greed ultimately led him astray. A desperate, money-driven individual often lacks good intentions.
I felt a pang of sympathy for Natsumi Kawai when she saw construction workers at her temple, but the situation was quickly resolved once the police and the Legal Affairs Bureau intervened.
As the series demonstrates, Harrison leaves no loose ends in his criminal activities. He orchestrates a hit-and-run on Aoyagi, who, overwhelmed by shock, doesn’t see the vehicle coming. Aoyagi is killed in broad daylight.
Does Takumi Kill Harrison Yamanaka?
Aware of Harrison’s role in his family’s demise, Takumi confronts him before he leaves the country. During this confrontation, Goto and Reiko are killed by Harrison’s men, resulting in significant collateral damage.
When the truth comes out, Harrison tries to manipulate Takumi, but Takumi is not interested in games and draws his gun. A confrontation ensues, during which one of Harrison’s inept subordinates attacks Takumi from behind, only to be killed by Harrison himself. The resulting fight between Harrison and Takumi is intense, but Kuramochi arrives just in time to save Takumi from imminent death.
Harrison attempts to take everyone down with him by throwing a grenade, which Takumi manages to throw back.
Takumi and Kuramochi survive, but Harrison’s fate remains unclear. At the end of Episode 7 of Tokyo Swindlers, the camera reveals Harrison hunting in the snowy wilderness. Whether this is a flashback or a current event remains uncertain, but it appears he may have survived the violent encounter and the grenade attack.
The Ending of Tokyo Swindlers: A Moral Quandary
Kuramochi’s confusion at the end of Tokyo Swindlers is understandable. When she visits Takumi in his hospital bed, she questions how a man seeking revenge failed to recognize the broader implications of his actions, which have caused significant harm to others despite his own grievances.
While Takumi’s confession to the police resulted in sensational media coverage and national shock, his moral ambiguity is evident. Harrison was straightforwardly evil, but Takumi, consumed by revenge, lost sight of his own ethical boundaries. This complexity makes Takumi a compelling, albeit morally ambiguous, character. Without his ingenuity, the swindles involving the temple and the initial land scam would not have succeeded.
Summary
The conclusion of Tokyo Swindlers is action-packed and full of surprising twists. Among the characters of Tokyo Swindlers, Reiko stands out with redeemable qualities—she ensured the nun she manipulated received funds for her family’s hospital bills. Takumi took down the architect of his family’s suffering only after discovering the true extent of his involvement.