The Japanese crime thriller Matori & Kyoken: Men in the Back Alleys continues to heat up with its third episode, which dropped on February 3, 2026. The series, airing weekly on MBS and streaming globally on Netflix, has kept viewers on edge with its intense cat-and-mouse game between narcotics agents and the criminal underworld. Episode 3 delivers major character development for the enigmatic Kurosaki Toru and forces double agent Umezawa Kyonosuke to make a decision that could cost him everything.
Episode 3 Release and Streaming Details
The third episode became available on Wednesday, February 3, 2026, following the show’s regular weekly schedule. New episodes arrive every Wednesday on Japanese broadcaster MBS, with simultaneous streaming available on TVer for viewers in Japan and Netflix for global audiences .
For international viewers, Netflix streams the series worldwide, making it accessible in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and numerous other territories. Subtitles in multiple languages are typically available within 24 hours of the Japanese broadcast.
The ten-episode season continues its run, with Episode 4 scheduled for February 10, 2026. The series is adapted from the manga Matori to Kyoken Rodjiura no Otokotachi, created by writer Tajima Takashi and artist Masashi, bringing this gritty seinen story to live-action .
Kurosaki’s Flashback Reveals Personal Trauma
Episode 3 opens with a rare vulnerable moment for Kurosaki Toru, played by Hosoda Yoshihiko. The hardened narcotics agent, who has been a relentless force throughout the first two episodes, receives a flashback that explains why drug cases consume him so completely.
The flashback sequence shows a younger Kurosaki arriving at a crime scene. Emergency lights flash against dark city buildings as he pushes through police tape. Inside a modest apartment, he discovers someone close to him—a family member—unresponsive on the floor. Drug paraphernalia sits on a nearby table. The look on his face shifts from professional detachment to raw grief in seconds.
This backstory explains the rage viewers saw in earlier episodes when Kurosaki cornered Umezawa. His obsession with taking down drug operations isn’t just about police work. It is deeply personal. The loss he experienced drives every decision he makes, including his choice to turn Umezawa into an informant rather than arresting him on the spot.
The flashback sequences use muted colors and tight framing, creating a suffocating atmosphere that mirrors Kurosaki’s emotional state. Director Shinagawa Hiroshi handles these scenes with restraint, allowing Hosoda’s performance to carry the weight without excessive dialogue.
Umezawa Faces an Impossible Choice
Meanwhile, Umezawa Kyonosuke, portrayed by Nishihata Daigo, spends most of Episode 3 trapped between two worlds. The former child performer now works as a double informant for both Kurosaki’s narcotics team (the Matori) and police officer Katsuragi Akito (Mukai Osamu) from the Drug and Firearms Control Division .
Episode 3 shows Umezawa receiving simultaneous demands from both handlers. Kurosaki wants specific intelligence about an upcoming drug shipment. Katsuragi wants the names of mid-level dealers operating in the Roppongi nightclub district. Both men make it clear: provide useful information, or become useless—and disposable.
The pressure builds throughout the episode. Umezawa walks through crowded streets with sweat on his brow, constantly checking over his shoulder. He meets with underworld figures while wearing a wire for Kurosaki, then meets with Kurosaki while hiding information that might benefit Katsuragi. The balancing act becomes impossible to maintain.
Umezawa Makes His Decision
The episode’s climax arrives when Umezawa finally chooses his side. After receiving threats from both law enforcement factions, he realizes that neutrality will get him killed. He must align with one handler and accept the consequences.
Umezawa chooses Kurosaki. The decision comes after he witnesses Katsuragi’s methods up close. The police officer plays by the book but seems willing to sacrifice informants when they stop producing results. Kurosaki, despite his intimidating presence, showed Umezawa mercy in their first encounter. He also carries genuine pain from his past, making him more human—and more trustworthy—in Umezawa’s eyes.
The scene where Umezawa commits to Kurosaki plays out in a quiet back alley, away from surveillance cameras and listening devices. Kurosaki listens without emotion as Umezawa explains his decision. Then, for the first time, Kurosaki offers something resembling respect. He nods once and tells Umezawa he made the right call.
Supporting Characters Get More Screen Time
Episode 3 also expands the roles of supporting characters. Sugihara Aoi (Morita Kokoro) appears more frequently, showing her own complicated relationship with the criminal elements operating in Roppongi. Kaga Hibiki (Kujo Joe) looms in the background as a potential threat, his connections to the drug trade becoming clearer with each scene.
Hainuma Taichi (Shoji Yusuke) and Aoshima Haruka (Yamaya Kasumi) provide additional layers to the police investigation, while Inaba Eiji (Yamashita Eiku) and Matsubara Tsutomu (Hirano Kinari) represent the younger generation caught up in the city’s underworld .
The ensemble cast brings texture to the series, showing how different people navigate the dangerous intersection of law enforcement and organized crime.
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What Episode 3 Means for the Rest of the Season
With Umezawa now fully committed to working for Kurosaki, the remaining seven episodes will likely explore how this partnership functions under pressure. Umezawa must prove his value by delivering intelligence that leads to arrests. Kurosaki must protect his informant from exposure—both from criminals who would kill a snitch and from police officers who might view Umezawa as competition.
The series continues to air Wednesdays at midnight on MBS (effectively Thursday mornings), with streaming available shortly after broadcast. International viewers can catch up on Netflix, where all three released episodes are now available.
For the latest Japanese drama recaps, release schedules, and entertainment news, keep checking back with VvipTimes for comprehensive coverage of Matori & Kyoken: Men in the Back Alleys and other Asian series.
