The Japanese police have specialized detectives who find fugitives using only memory and intuition. These officers, known as ‘Miatari’ succeed where high-tech investigative methods fail. On the hunt in stations and bustling streets, they stand for long hours, observe thousands of faces and try to find the fugitives. Their low-tech methods may look dated, but they continue to produce results. Sixty-year-old Hitoshi Morimoto of the Osaka Prefectural Police is an exceptionally successful Miatari. Morimoto draws each fugitive into his mind by talking to a photo of them with unimaginable persistence. Following Morimoto’s last days before his retirement, this documentary looks into a very unique investigation method based on a human skill that can only be achieved by hard training. As forensic investigation techniques become more advanced, artificial intelligence could soon take over this work. What part will humans play in such a world? What jobs can only humans do? The production team from NHK diverged from their typical style in terms of their camera work and wanted to unfold each scene without narration. The factors that emerged are the immense power of human imagination.
- Tags
-