Kira kira hikaru

This is a light drama series about a female graduate student who joins a team of medical examiners in a Japanese city. The team consists of a male director (Toshirô Yanagiba), a serious no-nonsense female ME, and a second more friendly female ME. The female team members go out to do most all of the fieldwork -- often assigned investigations by a female homicide detective who is also a close friend to the senior team members.

The main dynamic throughout the series is the awe and admiration the young graduate student feels towards the senior no-nonsense lady ME (much like the Carter/Benton dynamic in the first season of ER).

To the male viewer, it does not hurt that the surly lady ME is a stunning statuesque beauty. Also noteworthy is the visual poetry of the opening credits. Most popular Japanese TV dramas begin with amazing visuals and music, and this series is no different.

This series is a mix of the American TV series QUINCY + CHARLIE'S ANGELS.

"KIRA KIRA HIKARU" had one single run with English subtitles on the International Channel in the USA in 1999. Alternative spellings I have often seen for this series are KIRAKIRA HIKARU and KIAR KIRA HIKARU.