The truth buried for 23 years has finally surfaced. The sixth episode of the Japanese mystery drama Silent Truth, which aired on February 17, 2026, delivered a shocking confession from the show’s protagonist. Viewers watching on TV Asahi and streaming on Netflix witnessed Detective Tobina Junichi (played by Takeuchi Ryoma) break down and admit to a crime he committed as a child .
The episode, titled “ๆฟ็ฝ” (which translates to “Declaration” or “Confession”), pulled back the curtain on a secret that has been haunting Junichi since elementary school. The intense hour of television paid off for the network, as the episode scored the series’ highest viewership ratings to date, hitting 6.9% for households in the Kanto region .
The Moment Everything Changed
The episode’s climax came in its final minutes. Detective Minami Ryo (played by Eguchi Noriko), who has been quietly piecing together the puzzle, forced a re-enactment of the crime scene from 23 years ago. She brought Junichi and his three childhood friendsโIwamoto Makiko (Inoue Mao), Kiyohara Keisuke (Seto Koji), and Sakuma Naoto (Watanabe Daichi)โback to the forest where they found the body of Keisuke’s father, a police officer who died in the line of duty .
Minami walked the group through the sequence of events, focusing on the number of gunshots fired that day. She pointed out a critical flaw in the official report. The officer, Kiyohara Kazuo, had been shot through the heart. It was medically impossible for him to have fired back at the fleeing criminal after suffering such a wound. This meant the official story of an exchange of gunfire was false .
Minami then turned to Junichi. She calmly stated her theory: Junichi arrived at the scene first, found the officer’s gun, and shot the criminal.
The weight of the accusation was too much for Junichi. Visibly shaking and struggling to breathe, he dropped to the ground. The show then cut to a flashback. Viewers finally saw what happened through young Junichi’s eyes. He was alone at the scene when he locked eyes with the criminal. Terrified, he fell backward and his hand landed on the officer’s gun. With trembling hands, he pointed it and fired .
The flashback ended, and the show returned to the present. Junichi, his voice cracking, finally spoke the words he had held inside for over two decades:
“โฆI shot him” .
The Secret That Broke Them Apart
This confession did more than just solve a cold case. It finally explained a personal mystery that has haunted the series since the first episode: why Junichi cut off all contact with Makiko after moving away.
In the aftermath of the confession, Makiko finally understood. She recalled the day Junichi left town. She had wanted to see him off, but he refused. He told her never to come, never to contact him again. At the time, she was heartbroken. She had even thought about marrying him. The rejection left a deep scar .
The episode made it clear that Junichi’s decision to push Makiko away was not about losing feelings. It was about guilt. He believed he was a killer. He did not think he deserved to be happy or to be with the girl he loved. He isolated himself to protect her from the truth he carried.
A Friend Who Knew All Along
The confession also connected back to a reveal from the previous episode. In Episode 5, Naoto (Watanabe Daichi) had already told Junichi that he saw him pull the trigger that day. Naoto, who has remained a loyal friend, made a promise. He swore he would never tell anyone. He made it clear he was determined to protect Junichi, no matter what .
This puts Naoto in an incredibly difficult position. He is the brother of the current murder victim, Sakuma Hideyuki. He is also the only person who knew Junichi’s secret before the official confession. His loyalty to his childhood friend is now colliding with the search for justice for his own brother.
Police Politics and Cover-Ups
While Junichi’s personal guilt took center stage, the episode also highlighted a darker side of the police force. The station chief, Kosugi Fusanori (Danta Yasunori), was shown having private conversations with the head of the criminal affairs division, Morita Shoji (Yamada Junta).
Their discussion revealed a disturbing plan. Because the gun used in the recent murder was a stolen police weapon, the prefectural police want to avoid a scandal. They discussed the possibility of closing the case by labeling Naoto as the sole culprit, despite the lack of a full investigation. They are willing to let Naoto take the blame to protect the police department’s reputation .
This subplot adds a layer of tension to the story. While Junichi is fighting his own demons, his superiors are playing political games that could send his innocent friend to prison.
Detective Nara Closes In
Throughout the episode, Detective Minami continued to work the case quietly. She had been tailing Makiko and noticed inconsistencies in the alibis. She discovered that the “person” seen at a beauty salon near the time of the murder was actually an employee, not Makiko. When she tried to bring Makiko in for questioning, Makiko refused and immediately called Junichi for help .
Minami also brought the four friends back to the forest for a full re-enactment. By analyzing the sounds of the gunshots, she theorized that the first two shots were warning shots from the officer. The third shot likely killed the officer. The final two shots were fired later. Her sharp questioning and logical approach forced Junichi into a corner where he could no longer hide .
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What’s Next After the Confession
With Junichi’s confession now public among the group, the dynamics have shifted completely. Makiko now knows why the man she loved pushed her away. Naoto’s secret is no longer his alone. Keisuke, whose father’s gun started all this trouble, must process the fact that his friend used it to kill.
The central mystery, however, is not fully solved. While the identity of the person who shot the criminal 23 years ago is confirmed, the current murder case involving Naoto’s brother remains open. Someone used that same gun to commit a new crime. With Junichi’s past now exposed, the question becomes: who is hiding the remaining secrets?
Silent Truth Episode 6 is now streaming on Netflix for viewers in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and India. Japanese audiences can catch up on TVer for a limited time. The series will continue with Episode 7 releasing on February 24, 2026 .
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