I Just Didn't Do It

Teppei Kaneko is an ordinary young man in Tokyo who works part-time and is preparing for his first job interview. On a train, a schoolgirl accuses him of molesting her. He is arrested and charged, and although the police and his lawyer urge him to admit guilt, pay a fine and settle the matter, he refuses, insisting he did nothing wrong. His refusal draws him into a long series of court hearings, since in this system a suspect who goes to trial is almost certain to be convicted and carry the stigma for life.

Masayuki Suō wrote and directed the film, which followed his 1996 comedy Shall We Dance? Ryo Kase plays Teppei, with Asaka Seto, Koji Yakusho, Koji Yamamoto, Masako Motai and Tetsushi Tanaka in supporting roles; 28 cast members are credited. The production was handled by TOHO, Fuji Television Network and Altamira Pictures, and the film runs 143 minutes.

Released in Japan in January 2007, the drama has found a solid audience over the years. On IMDb it holds a rating of 7.6 from around 2,000 votes, while on TMDB it sits at 7.4 from roughly 40 votes. The larger vote count on IMDb and the smaller one on TMDB point to a well-regarded title with a modest but appreciative international following rather than a widely seen mainstream hit.