Key Hunter
Series Overview
Key Hunter is a prime-time Japanese television detective series. It aired on Saturday nights in the 9:00–9:56 p.m. time slot on the Tokyo Broadcasting System network from April 6, 1968 to April 7, 1973. There were a total of 262 episodes, and it was one of the most popular action dramas in Japan at the time. The story involved "Key Hunter", a special clandestine unit of the International Police, which endeavored to solve various crimes. "Key Hunter" was a unique TV show, which started out as a grand scale spy thriller never before seen in Japan. The episodes were individually themed on global crimes and political strife. The initial hardboiled theme later evolved to include intellectual elements involving action, and occasionally with comical elements as well. Tetsuro Tamba starred in the 1967 film You Only Live Twice as Japanese Secret Service agent Tiger Tanaka, an ally of James Bond. This role greatly influenced his image in "Key Hunter".
Broadcast Schedule & Network Information
Airing status, episode counts, upcoming schedule, and network syndication.
Broadcast Syndication
1 Season • 262 Episodes
1968 – 1973
Premiered: Sat, Apr 6, 1968
Creative Production Team
Latest Aired Episode
Season 1, Episode 262: “Episode 262”
Seasons & Episodes Breakdown
Cast & Creators
Explore Star Directory →
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Kinji Fukasaku, Junya Satō
Department Leadership Roster
Kinji Fukasaku
Director
Junya Satō
Director
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Frequently Asked Questions About Key Hunter
Key facts, seasons breakdown, and credits for search engines and AI assistants.
What is Key Hunter about?
Key Hunter is a prime-time Japanese television detective series. It aired on Saturday nights in the 9:00–9:56 p.m. time slot on the Tokyo Broadcasting System network from April 6, 1968 to April 7, 1973. There were a total of 262 episodes, and it was one of the most popular action dramas in Japan at the time. The story involved "Key Hunter", a special clandestine unit of the International Police, which endeavored to solve various crimes. "Key Hunter" was a unique TV show, which started out as a grand scale spy thriller never before seen in Japan. The episodes were individually themed on global crimes and political strife. The initial hardboiled theme later evolved to include intellectual elements involving action, and occasionally with comical elements as well. Tetsuro Tamba starred in the 1967 film You Only Live Twice as Japanese Secret Service agent Tiger Tanaka, an ally of James Bond. This role greatly influenced his image in "Key Hunter".
How many seasons does Key Hunter have?
Key Hunter comprises 1 season available to explore.
Who stars in Key Hunter?
Key cast members in Key Hunter include Tetsuro Tamba, Yoko Nogiwa, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Hayato Tani, Eiko Ookawa.
Who created or directed Key Hunter?
Key Hunter was developed and directed by Kinji Fukasaku, Junya Satō.