Informa is a thrilling and fun look into the world of yakuza informants. As the titular character Keijiro Kihara takes new writer Kanji Mishima around town to show him the ropes, the series plays with a buddy cop dynamic without the restrictions that police have. Fresh-faced Mishima remains wide-eyed, as Kihara brings him to yakuza hotspots, sometimes intentionally provoking situations with the yakuza through taunting words, but walking away without harm. The series sometimes makes weird shifts, with the first episode halving a serious torture sequence of one gang, and inserting a more lighthearted sequence with Mishima’s crew in between. However, the strange edits don’t distract from the overall mystery and vibe of the series. Informa feels as intriguing but as chaotic as its titular protagonist.

The character introduction of Keijiro Kihara is so entertaining. The classic mistaken guest, the first glance of Kihara is over his shoulder, as Mishima apologizes to a well-dressed, suited old man for his lateness. With rock guitars, Kihara throws a piece of barbecue to Mishima’s face, for the camera to spot him. Instead of the dignified suited gangster Mishima expects, Kihara seems younger and less serious, with a floral shirt and casual demeanor. He unashamedly keeps his feet on Mishima’s dashboard as he explains the intricacies behind the event of Mishima’s article. This car drive explanation, and his tattoos, mark Kihara as the informant Mishima should expect. And with the striking face and performance of Kenta Kiritani, Kihara proves to be a memorable character that’s just so damn cool, even if it’s hard to connect with his motivations.