Episode 306: Inheritance of Mystery Sounds – Amaku Takao’s Mystery Medical Record

“Amaku Takao’s Mystery Medical Record” is a TV anime that aired from January to March 2025. This is a film adaptation of a popular mystery novel by Chinen Mikito with director Iwataka Kazuya and staff from animation production Project No. 9. A TV drama version starring Hashimoto Kanna has also been airing since April.
Amaku Takao, who serves as the general diagnostic department of Tennyakai General Hospital, is a genius doctor with a superhuman memory and intelligence. Although he is petite and has a baby face, he is sometimes mistaken for a girl, but other doctors determine the cause of a patient that has difficulty in diagnosing, and the police uncover the truth behind the incident that is uncontrollable. On the other hand, Takao has the flaws that he cannot understand other people’s feelings, and because of this, he often gets disliked by others and causes trouble. Today, mysterious patients and incidents are brought to Takao’s face.
This is a medical mystery in which a doctor specializing in diagnosis plays a detective. The character of the main character, Amaku Takao, who lives with a house on the roof of a clinic, is intense, and even if the story is a little difficult, it will forgive him.

The music is handled by the three-member jazz rock band Fox Capture Plan. The “Seishun Pig Yaro” series, which I previously featured in this column, featured many lyrical songs that are typical of youth, but this work offers many jazz and rock style songs that can be said to show off their true potential. This music is irresistible for those who like the sounds of the dramas “Brush Up Life” and “Confidence Man JP,” which were written by the music of the Fox Capture Plan.
Kishimoto Ryo, a pianist at Fox Capture Plan, commented that he was particular about the music of this work, “how Takao expresses his brain when he is making his guess through music” (from the official anime website). Takao is not a character who expresses emotions, so it’s difficult to tell what he’s thinking from the video alone. Music helps Takao’s character portrayal. For example, “QED,” a song often used in scenes where Takao solves the mystery and finds out the truth, is a music that makes viewers imagine what is going on in Takao’s mind.
According to an interview with Fox Capture Plan, which was featured in the soundtrack and album commentary, this work features songs that use electric guitars. Apparently, since there are no guitarists on the fox capture plan, he doesn’t write much songs that normally use guitars. The electric guitar is also featured in the main theme, Amaku Takao, and the sound impresses Takao’s character.
Another fun thing about listening to jazz songs that are typical of detectives. Jazz is probably the mystery. This is a music that does not disappoint the expectations of soundtrack fans.
One of the major features of this work’s music is its small number of songs.
There are 28 music included in the soundtrack album. I checked it out and found that almost all of the songs played in the film are included in the album. These days, it is common for a single-course production to create around 40 songs, but this one probably only makes about 30 songs. The way music is created and how to use it makes it possible to produce music with a small number of songs.
First, how to make music. In the music of this work, for example, when the same melody is repeated twice, the second chorus melody is discarded or ad-libbed as is common in jazz performances. Taking advantage of this characteristic, the first half and the second half are used in the play to make it sound like a different song. Additionally, by providing different mixes for the same song, we have increased the variety and expanded the range of musical directions.
Next, let’s talk about how to use music. In this work, there are fewer songs with soundtracks used per episode. There are roughly around 10 songs per episode, and depending on the episode, there are five or six songs. The film is reminiscent of a live-action drama, with no music played, showing the footage carefully and making the dialogue heard (on the other hand, the TV drama version has too much music). Additionally, the story of this work is a style in which one case is solved in episodes 1-3. The basic format is fixed, so there is a classic musical production called “This music in situations like this.” This is the “QED” that plays in the scene where Takao grasps the truth, which the representative puts up first. The classic musical production also has the effect of lifting the viewers’ hearts with familiar songs. Perhaps the staff thought that this work would not have to mischievously increase the number of songs. I’m off topic a bit, but even Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) only had around 30 songs that were often used in the film. This actually strengthened the impression of each song. I think that’s the kind of thing that can be heard with a soundtrack.
The soundtrack album for this work is titled “Amaku Takao’s Mystery Medical Record Original Soundtrack” and was released by Aniplex on March 26, 2025. The CD’s explanation includes an interview with the fox capture plan.
The tracks included are as follows:

The songs are not recorded and are all composed of soundtrack music.
The song order is not limited to the order in which the main story is used, but it gives the impression that the overall image of this work is reproduced through music.
Track 1, “Amaku Takao” is the main theme of this work. The electric guitar plays wild phrases with the rhythm of the drums. The organ is added to create a rock-like performance. It’s a vibrant song that expresses the character of Amaku Takao. It is used in the film for Takao’s appearance in the first episode.
Tracks 2 to 12 are composed of arranging familiar songs that are commonly used.
Track 2, “My mood,” is a song set to “the music that Takao listens in his room.” It’s light-hearted jazz made up of piano trio. According to a comment from the fox capture plan, they lowered their original style and performed it with the image of a song played by a jazz trio in the world of the work.
Track 3, “First Year Resident” is the theme of Konoike Mai, a resident who is aspired to be in charge of Takao. It’s a heartwarming song with humorous synth sounds.
Track 4 “Investigation” and Track 5 “Cause” are songs that were often used in scenes where an inexplicable incident occurred and the police and Takao proceeded with the investigation. The tension and anxiety-filled melody creates the mystery atmosphere.
Track 6, “Emergency Request,” is a song that stimulates a sense of tension and anxiety with a series of crisp phrases. The music reminiscent of the medical drama “Life Rescue Ward 24:00” is cool.
Track 7 “Scepticism” and track 8 “Tenshi” are anxiety songs that were used every time. The tune that thrusts the heart was effective in scenes where the mystery deepens and the situation suddenly unfolds. Track 9 “QED” is a classic song that, as already mentioned, played when Takao discovers the truth behind the incident. A synapse in his brain ignites in Takao’s head, causing his reasoning to spin in full. This image is expressed through a thrilling ensemble of piano and electric guitar, and the dramatic moments of mystery solving are created.
The next track, “Dr. Sherlock,” is a song that often plays when Takao gathers people involved to solve the mystery of a case. The light melody, mainly piano and strings, expresses the catharsis of the truth as it uncovers. It gives the impression that it is used in conjunction with “QED.”
Track 11, “The Hawk and the Little Bird” is a daily song that often plays in the scene where Takanashi Yu, a doctor assigned to Takao, appears. The effect-equipped guitar phrases and relaxed rhythm ease the tension. The following track 12, “One Incident Resolution,” is also a relaxed jazz song that depicts a peaceful moment after the incident has ended.
Track 13 “Atsuya Enzo” and track 14 “The Cursed Tomb” are Japanese-style songs used in episodes 4-6 of the episodes depicting strange incidents surrounding the tomb of an Onmyoji. The sounds of shamisen and sho give off a sense of history, and also create an ominous atmosphere. This is a rare type of music for the fox capture plan.
Tracks 15-21 are structured not only focusing on specific episodes, but rather recreating the atmosphere of the entire film.
Following the mysterious guitar-based song “Mysterious” (track 15), the sinking piano and strings-based tune “As a Doctor” (track 16), depicts the helplessness and bitterness that Takao and Kotori feel.
“Fatal Issue” on track 17 is a song inspired by the director Amaku Oashi, who is in conflict with Takao, and was used in episode 7 when Oashi tries to decide to abolish the General Diagnostics Department.
The melancholic musically, musical track 18 “The End” reminds me of the unresolved ending. The incident has not yet been over, and the album’s final performance is lively with “The True Identity” (track 19), which depicts Takao’s mystery solving in a light-hearted melody, and the up-tempo track “Don’t let him get away!” (track 20), which liven up the album’s end.
“Saved Life” (track 21) played gently by strings is a song that plays in the grand finale that has finally come.
Even if the album is finished It’s not strange. However, there are still some highlights to listen to.
Tracks 22-26 are composed of songs used in “The Night of the Angels Descent (Part 1 and 2)” depicted in episodes 8 and 9. This episode depicts the incident that occurred to a boy who was hospitalized in a pediatric ward and their friendship. This block is a block with particularly emotional songs from this album.
Inside the Heart (track 22) is played in a flashback between Takao and the boy Kenta who suffers from a serious illness, and the “emptiness” (track 23) depicts Takao’s complicated feelings for Kenta. Both are delicate piano solos, and are important pieces that convey Takao’s human weaknesses as well.
Track 24’s “Silent Night -Ameku Takao’s Detective Karte Ver.-” is a song that is a fox capture plan adaptation of “Silent Night.” It is the real music that plays in the film, and also serves to express the feelings that Takao does not express.
Track 25 “Wish” is a piano solo that plays in the scene where Takao and Kenta interact. The heartwarming, smug, heartwarming tunes.
Track 26, “Good night emotional wounds,” is a jazz song written in the same way as “My mood” in track 2, with the music that Takao listens in his room. It was used in the final scene of episode 9.
The main story follows the final episodes depicted in episodes 10-12, but for the album, this is the ending. The ending of episodes 8 and 9 is a nice aftertaste, so it’s a nice composition.
Tracks 27 and 28 are instrumental versions of the opening and ending theme songs, respectively. Although it is a bonus track arrangement, it is used well in the movie.
Track 27, “SCOPE -Anime Instrumental Ver.-,” was frequently used as the background music for Takao’s room, starting with the first episode. Track 28, “will be fine feat.Anly -Anime Instrumental Ver.-” was used in the final episode (episode 12), so it’s a perfect ending to the album.

The soundtrack for “Amaku Takao’s Mystery Chart” is a great album that inherits the genealogy of mystery sounds using jazz rock to the present day. Fox Capture Plan, formed with a piano trio of piano, bass and drums, is a perfect band for this style of music. I would like them to continue this line, and since we’re a band, I hope they’ll also be holding a live show with a soundtrack.

“Amaku Takao’s Mystery Medical Record” Original Soundtrack
Amazon