In both shows the protagonists constantly wrestle with suicidal thoughts and delve into existential discussions with people around them from time to time.
Sympathetic look on a man who lived his whole life in suffering only for it to accumulate to him committing irreversible, unforgivable crime that put them in a death row/about to be given death sentence.
Both talk about similar things: freedom of press/speech, cover-up by government/govenrment-affiliated institutions, the pressure experienced by low-level bureaucrats when they had no choice but to follow bigwigs' orders, struggle of whistleblowers, etc. KokoBoku approaches its topics in black comedy style while Shinbun Kisha is more cut-and-dry thriller.
About private detective, has similar noir vibes and jazz music, investigating simple yet sometimes weird af cases.
Another black comedy from the same writer about quirky, earnest, yet also flawed characters that teeter between being a genius or a dimwit, cooking up a revenge plan against a bigger 'evil'.
Mostly about character exploration of a woman with mysterious past and shaddy motivation who's suspected/convicted for murder, chronicling her past and relationships and what made her who she is now.
Mostly about character exploration of a woman with mysterious past and shaddy motivation who's suspected/convicted for murder, and a man who believed in the innocent of the woman.
Both dramas revolve around re-investigation of a possible false accusation case of a death row convict. Chase is more about finding out the true killer while 60 Gohan shades more light on Japan legal system.
About how ex-convicts re-integrate to society. Plage is mainly from the ex-convicts POV while Zenkamono is from probation officer POV.
About struggling comedians. Konto ga Hajimaru is a relatively upbeat ensemble drama although still realistic while Spark is more gloomy and moody.
Strong female friendship found in unlikely time/place that lead them to do crime for each other. Twisty with similar social messages.
If you want more dark mystery dramas with deep female friendships born in time of desperation as its emotional axis.