Ensemble Tenshi, a production company that previously produced the award-winning epic period play “Shizuka – 靜” (Broadway World Regional Award, Los Angeles) and “Castles in the Crimson Flame,” delivers “Prostitute Investigator” by legendary Japanese playwright Kohei Tsuka at The Broadwater Second Stage in Hollywood beginning June 8.

Female chief detective Denbei Kimura at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is notorious for her fearlessness. She will do anything to get justice served even if it means losing the love of her life. Denbei’s loyal subordinate, Sadayuki Toda, has yet to find the courage to go back his home in a small village to confide to his parents that he is gay.

Denbei and Toda are assigned to solve the murder case committed by Kintaro Oyama, who killed his childhood girlfriend, Aiko Yamaguchi, from a distant southern island called Goto. Just before the murder, the pride of Goto Islands, Daizen Lee, took his own life.

Detective Tomekichi Kumada is transferred to Denbei’s investigation room. The two were lovers in the past. Kumada is desperately trying to protect the mystery of the murder. Behind the murder lies the secret of the small Islands. Denbei is determined to make Oyama a “first-class criminal” whatever it takes.

Tomoko Karina (“Captain America,” ”Cobra Kai”) will play the dynamic role of Denbei. She also directs the play with L.A. theatre favorite Carla Valentine (“Lady Bird,” “S.W.A.T”) and Dan Pousson as artistic supervisors. They have adapted this popular Japanese play to cater to English-speaking audiences.

The cast also includes Christian Lowery, Thomas McKean, and Quinn Vu.

Showtimes: Sunday, June 8, at 5 p.m.; Saturday, June 14, at 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 21, at 5 p.m. The Broadwater Second Stage is located at 6320 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles. Tickets are $25. Purchase at www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/12122.

For more information, email [email protected] or visit https://ensembletenshi.org/.

About the Playwright

Kōh(huán)ei Tsuka (1948-2010), a Korean Japanese playwright, theater director, novelist and screenwriter, was one of Japan’s most influential theater figures and has had a major impact on modern theatre since the 1970s. His plays have gained overwhelming popularity, sparking a “Tsuka boom.”

At the age of 25, he was the youngest person ever to win the Kishida Kunio Drama Award (for “Atami Murder Case”). He was also a Naoki Literary Prize laureate and winner of Japan Academy Award for best screenplay (for “Fall Guy”) and the Yomiuri Literature Prize (for the play “Hiryuden ‘90: Autumn of Slaughter”).

With his poisonously aggressive dialogues and passionate, fast-paced style, he uncovered the emotions swirling within people in weaker positions. Even now, more than a decade after his death, Tsuka’s works are performed every year all over Japan, attracting many actors and audiences.

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