is a Japanese medical mystery novel series written by Mikito Chinen and illustrated by Noizi Ito. Shinchosha has published thirteen volumes from September 2014 to August 2022 under their Shincho Bunko nex imprint. The story revolves around a doctor who solves murders and medical mysteries at the department of diagnosis at a general hospital.
A manga adaptation illustrated by Hiroki Ohara was serialized in Shinchosha's manga magazine Monthly Comic @ Bunch from April 2016 to March 2018, with its chapters collected into four volumes. A new edition of the novel series by the same author and illustrator began publication by Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha in October 2023 under their Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha Bunko imprint. An anime television series adaptation produced by Project No.9 aired from January to April 2025. A television drama adaptation titled Ameku Takao's Detective Karte aired on TV Asahi and its affiliates from April to June 2025.
Plot Dr. Takao Ameku is the talented director of investigative pathology at Tenikai General Hospital, in charge of diagnosing patients the other hospital departments cannot. However, due to her keen eye of solving mysteries, Takao also gets involved with mysterious deaths and murders, all while dragging along her assistant Yu Takanashi in her various adventures.
Characters
Portrayed by: Kanna Hashimoto She is the director of the Department of Investigative Pathology at Tenikai General Hospital, and is a vice-chairman of the hospital. Her division is in charge of diagnosing cases that cannot be diagnosed by any other physician in the hospital. She has the knack of solving mysteries to the level of a police detective, given her job is no stranger to cases involving mysterious deaths or murder. She lives in a brick house on the rooftop of the hospital, which also happens to be her office.
Portrayed by: Shouhei Miura Takao's assistant at the Department of Investigative Pathology who helps her with her mystery-solving adventures. He, nicknamed "Kotori" by Takao, is also proficient in karate.
Portrayed by: Mei Hata A first-year resident at the hospital assigned to the Emergency Department.
Portrayed by: Nozomi Sasaki Takao's older sister, and the only one she's scared of. She's greatly annoyed by Takao's laziness and often punishes her for it. However, she secretly deeply cares about her and is very proud of her skill, though she doesn't want to admit it.
Portrayed by: Toshiro Yanagiba He is the director at Tenikai General Hospital, and is Takao's uncle. He disapproves of Takao overstepping her bounds as a physician who only diagnoses cases unable to be diagnosed by others.
One of the detectives at the police station that Ameku and Yu would help concerning some cases. Though he prefers her not to get involved, he is witness to her brilliance in solving strange cases.
A senior detective from the police station who benefits from Takao's mystery-solving abilities. Unlike his partner Ryūya, he is more receptive to Takao's assistance.
Chief of the Psychiatry Department who banned Ameku from the Psych Ward due to an incident when Ameku changed the medications on a patient which Junko misdiagnosed while the former was the latter's resident.
Media Novels Original edition
New edition
Manga A manga adaptation illustrated by Hiroki Ohara was serialized in Shinchosha's Monthly Comic @ Bunch from April 21, 2016, to March 20, 2018. The manga adaptation's chapters were collected into four volumes from September 9, 2016, to June 9, 2018.
A second manga adaptation illustrated by Eri Takenashi, titled Ameku Takao's Detective Karte: Sphere no Shitenshi, was serialized in Kodansha's Good! Afternoon magazine from September 6, 2024 to May 7, 2026. The manga's chapters were collected into three volumes released from January 22, 2025 to July 7, 2026.
Ameku Takao's Detective Karte
Ameku Takao's Detective Karte: Sphere no Shitenshi
Anime An anime television series adaptation was announced on April 3, 2024. It is produced by Aniplex, animated by Project No.9, and directed by Kazuya Iwata, with Satoru Sugizawa handling series composition with Sugizawa and Yuko Kakihara writing the episode screenplays, Yuka Takashina designing the characters, and Fox Capture Plan composing the music. The series aired from January 2 to April 3, 2025, on Tokyo MX and other networks. The opening theme song is "Scope", performed by Aimer, while the ending theme song is "will be fine feat. Anly", performed by the Gospellers. Crunchyroll streamed the series. Medialink licensed the series in Southeast Asia.
A special event was held on Shinjuku Wald 9 on December 14, 2024, where the first episode was screened.
Episodes
Drama A television drama adaptation was announced on February 7, 2025. Co-produced by TV Asahi and Toei Company, the series is head-written by Hideya Hamada with episodes being directed by , Naoki Tamura, and Hiroti Kashiwagi with music by and produced by TV Asahi's Soei Hamada and Toei's Ryunosuke Idei and aired on TV Asahi and its affiliates from April 22 to June 24, 2025.
Radio show On November 30, 2024, a radio show was announced, known as Nikkan Sakura Ayane Tensai Ameku Takao ni Naru 100 nichi Kan, with Ayane Sakura as the host. It is estimated to last until 100 episodes.
Reception
By February 2024, the series had over 3 million copies in circulation.
See also Patient Chart Prayer – Another novel by Mikito Chinen House – An American drama television series that follows the same premise
Notes
References
External links at Shinchosha at Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha