The Confidence Man JP – Episode of the Princess –
Set in Langkawi, Malaysia, professional scammers Dako (Masami Nagasawa), Boku-chan (Masahiro Higashide), and Richard (Fumiyo Kohinata) target the Fuu Family for their next heist. Raymond Fuu, who was the head of the Fuu Family, passed away and he left behind 10 trillion yen. Dako, Boku-chan and Richard scheme to gain the inordinate inheritance. --asianwiki
The film earned $35.8M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Confidence Man JP – Episode of the Princess – (2020) reveals carefully calibrated story structure, characteristic of Akira Tanaka's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 4 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.9, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Dako, Boku-chan, and Richard are executing their latest con in a luxurious casino setting, demonstrating their established team dynamic and confidence artist skills in their ordinary world of elaborate scams.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when The team is approached with an impossible job: to con their way into a royal family in a fictional Asian kingdom to steal a legendary purple diamond worth 50 billion yen. The stakes and difficulty far exceed anything they've attempted before.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 30 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Dako makes the active choice to infiltrate the royal family by posing as a long-lost princess. The team commits to the con and travels to the kingdom, crossing the point of no return into this dangerous new world., moving from reaction to action.
At 62 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat False victory: Dako successfully gains access to the diamond's location and the team believes they're close to pulling off the heist. However, hints emerge that they may not be the only ones running a con, raising stakes., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 92 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The con is exposed and the team is captured. Their identities are revealed, and they face imprisonment or worse. The "death" of their con artist identities and their freedom appears imminent. Relationships feel betrayed and broken., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 99 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. A revelation or final piece of information shows that there's one more layer to the con - the ultimate twist that allows the team to synthesize everything they've learned. They realize how to turn the tables using both their skills AND their authentic connections., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Confidence Man JP – Episode of the Princess –'s emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping The Confidence Man JP – Episode of the Princess – against these established plot points, we can identify how Akira Tanaka utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Confidence Man JP – Episode of the Princess – within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Dako, Boku-chan, and Richard are executing their latest con in a luxurious casino setting, demonstrating their established team dynamic and confidence artist skills in their ordinary world of elaborate scams.
Theme
A character states that "everyone wears a mask" and "the biggest lies are the ones we tell ourselves" - establishing the theme of identity, deception, and the masks people wear versus their true selves.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the con artist team's methods, their relationship dynamics, and the establishment of their reputation. We meet the supporting cast and see how the crew operates in their world of high-stakes confidence games.
Disruption
The team is approached with an impossible job: to con their way into a royal family in a fictional Asian kingdom to steal a legendary purple diamond worth 50 billion yen. The stakes and difficulty far exceed anything they've attempted before.
Resistance
The team debates whether to accept this dangerous mission. They research the kingdom, the royal family, and the security around the diamond. Preparation sequences show them creating elaborate false identities and debating the risks versus rewards.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Dako makes the active choice to infiltrate the royal family by posing as a long-lost princess. The team commits to the con and travels to the kingdom, crossing the point of no return into this dangerous new world.
Mirror World
Dako enters the palace and begins forming relationships with the royal family members. These connections, particularly with the prince and other family members, create emotional stakes that will challenge her purely transactional approach to conning.
Premise
The fun and games of the elaborate royal masquerade. Dako navigates palace intrigue, the team executes clever schemes to gain access, and we enjoy watching the con unfold with lavish costumes, elegant settings, and comedic near-misses.
Midpoint
False victory: Dako successfully gains access to the diamond's location and the team believes they're close to pulling off the heist. However, hints emerge that they may not be the only ones running a con, raising stakes.
Opposition
Multiple reveals show that various characters have been playing their own games. Trust fractures within the team. Security tightens around the diamond. Dako's emotional connections to the royal family become genuine complications rather than tools.
Collapse
The con is exposed and the team is captured. Their identities are revealed, and they face imprisonment or worse. The "death" of their con artist identities and their freedom appears imminent. Relationships feel betrayed and broken.
Crisis
In captivity, the team confronts the emotional weight of their choices. Dako processes her genuine feelings versus her con artist persona. The dark night where they must decide who they truly are beneath their masks.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
A revelation or final piece of information shows that there's one more layer to the con - the ultimate twist that allows the team to synthesize everything they've learned. They realize how to turn the tables using both their skills AND their authentic connections.
Synthesis
The finale reveals the true con within the con. Multiple layers of deception unravel in a satisfying cascade. The team executes their real plan, confronts the true antagonist, and resolves both the heist plot and the emotional relationships formed.
Transformation
The team reunites, transformed by the experience. While they remain con artists, they've learned something about authenticity beneath the masks. A mirror to the opening image shows them planning their next job, but with deeper bonds and self-awareness.