In the quiet, sunny streets of Vegitown, a kindhearted tomato detective named Tomanto solves cases not with conventional forensic science, but with vegetable and fruit trivia. This anthropomorphic produce investigator, whose name combines tomato with mantle as a nod to Sherlock Holmes, stumbles into detective work alongside an eccentric group of allies. His partner Pucchi is a cherry tomato with a wildly inflated sense of her own abilities, while Inspector Nasunbo, an eggplant police officer, would clearly rather be napping than working cases. Together, this unlikely trio unravels small-scale mysteries around town, with each episode presenting a self-contained puzzle that Tomanto resolves by applying real botanical facts as clues.

The series presents an authentic mystery format where knowledge about fruits and vegetables becomes the key to solving everyday crimes and odd occurrences. A stolen item might be located because a suspect knows how long a particular vegetable remains fresh, or a lie might be exposed through trivia about how a specific fruit ripens. The educational element runs naturally through the narrative, allowing viewers to absorb genuine produce-related information while watching a cartoon tomato interrogate suspects and piece together evidence. The tone remains gentle and lighthearted throughout, leaning into its absurd concept with a straight face and delivering a cozy atmosphere reminiscent of relaxed slice-of-life mysteries rather than intense crime dramas.

The production team brings considerable experience to this unusual premise. Yoichi Kato, known for his work on Yo-kai Watch, supervises and writes the scripts, while Yoko Usami directs at Fanworks studio. Michihiko Suwa, who has contributed to long-running mystery series like Case Closed, serves as production planner. The collaboration between Fanworks and San-X, the character design company famous for Sumikko Gurashi, results in a distinctive visual style that balances cute character designs with proper mystery structure. The series comprises 26 short episodes, each brief enough to be consumed during a commute or short break.

The broadcast format is notably unconventional. Uso Tantei Tomanto airs on TRAIN TV, the video platform installed on display screens inside Japan Railways trains, making the series an intentional companion for travelers. The episodes began airing on October 6, 2025, and continued through April 5, 2026. The rating is G, indicating suitability for all ages, and the mysteries are designed to be accessible to younger viewers while remaining engaging for adults through their trivia-based logic puzzles. The series maintains an episodic structure without requiring viewers to track complex ongoing storylines, though recurring characters and the established dynamic between Tomanto, Pucchi, and Inspector Nasunbo provide continuity across the 26-episode run.