Silent hometowns are rarely peaceful in Silent Truth, the Japanese mystery series now streaming on Netflix. What begins as a straightforward murder investigation turns deeply personal when a detective realizes the crime may be connected to a secret he helped bury as a child – one that was never meant to resurface.
Led by Ryoma Takeuchi, Mao Inoue, and Koji Seto, the series blends procedural tension with the emotional weight of a long-delayed reunion. As the past and present collide, Silent Truth builds suspense around memory, guilt, and the cost of silence. Here is everything you need to know about Silent Truth – from the plot and cast.
You may also like ▶Asura, the tense Japanese drama that turns a family secret into emotional chaos
Silent Truth: All the key details
- Title: Silent Truth
- Original title: Saikai: Silent Truth / 再会 Silent Truth
- Format: Limited series
- Episodes: 6
- Genre: Mystery, crime drama
- Country: Japan
- Original language: Japanese
- Release date: January 13, 2026
- Director: Yoshihiro Fukagawa, Daisuke Yamamoto
- Writer: Atsuko Hashibe
- Based on: The novel Saikai by Dai Yokozeki
- Lead cast: Ryoma Takeuchi, Mao Inoue, Koji Seto
- Produced by: TV Asahi, Netflix
What Silent Truth is about
Twenty-three years ago, sixth-grader Junichi Tobina and three classmates buried a gun beneath a cherry tree at their elementary school. It was a childhood pact born from fear and confusion – one they believed would remain sealed forever.
In the present day, Junichi is a seasoned detective reassigned to his hometown, where he is tasked with investigating a murder that quickly reopens old wounds. The weapon used in the crime appears to be the very gun buried years earlier, dragging Junichi back into a web of shared guilt, fractured friendships, and unresolved trauma.
As the investigation unfolds, Junichi is forced to reconnect with the people tied to that long-buried secret, including Makiko Iwamoto, his first love and a central figure in the case. The deeper he digs, the clearer it becomes that the past never truly stayed hidden.
Who is the director of Silent Truth
Silent Truth is directed by Yoshihiro Fukagawa and Daisuke Yamamoto, filmmakers known for grounded, character-driven storytelling. Their approach emphasizes emotional restraint and moral ambiguity, allowing the mystery to unfold gradually while keeping the focus on the psychological cost of long-held secrets. The series is written by Atsuko Hashibe and adapted from Dai Yokozeki’s novel Saikai, preserving the book’s core themes of memory, accountability, and the fragile line between loyalty and truth.
Silent Truth cast: the main characters
Ryoma Takeuchi stars as Junichi Tobina, a detective whose professionalism is tested when his latest case turns into a confrontation with his own childhood. Takeuchi brings quiet intensity to the role, capturing the tension between duty and buried remorse. Mao Inoue plays Makiko Iwamoto, Junichi’s former classmate and first love. Her performance is deliberately restrained, leaving viewers uncertain whether Makiko is a victim of circumstance or something far more complex. Koji Seto appears as one of the childhood friends bound to the buried gun, embodying the fear and moral compromise that come with keeping a secret for decades.
Is Silent Truth based on a true story?
No. Silent Truth is a fictional story adapted from Dai Yokozeki’s novel Saikai. While the themes are grounded in emotional realism, the events and characters are not based on real cases.
What reviews say about Silent Truth
Early response has focused on the series’ measured pacing and its emphasis on character psychology over shock value. Critics and viewers alike have highlighted the way Silent Truth balances crime investigation with the emotional fallout of childhood trauma, positioning it as a slow-burn mystery rather than a conventional thriller.
Why watch Silent Truth
If you are drawn to mysteries where the real tension lies in what characters refuse to say, Silent Truth offers a compelling experience. It blends a classic murder investigation with the quiet dread of memory, making the question of guilt just as important as the question of who pulled the trigger.
Silent Truth release date on streaming
Available now. Silent Truth is already streaming on Netflix. Release date: January 13, 2026. Watch on Netflix.
