Kindaichi Case Files
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| Kindaichi Case Files | |
|---|---|
| 金田一少年の事件簿 (Young Boy Kindaichi's Casefiles) |
|
| Genre | TV Anime |
| Manga | |
| Authored by | story: Yozaburo Kanari / artwork: Fumiya Sato / Based on an idea by Seimaru Amagi / English adaptation: Matt Varosky |
| Publisher |  Kodansha  Tokyopop Tonkam Tong Li (Traditional Chinese) Waneko Seoul Munhwasa Chuang Yi (Simplified Chinese) Vibulkij (Thai) |
| Serialized in | Shukan Shonen Magazine |
| Original run | – |
| No. of volumes | 27 (Original Japanese run) |
| TV anime | |
| Directed by | Daisuke Nishio |
| Studio | Toei Animation |
| Network | Nippon Television |
| Original run | 7 April 1997 – 15 September 2000 |
| No. of episodes | 148 |
Kindaichi Case Files (金田一少年の事件簿 Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo?) is a serialized mystery manga series about a high school student who has an uncanny knack for solving murders.
Kindaichi was also adapted into an anime series consisting of 148 episodes, a live action movie, and three live action series. It is written by Yozaburo Kanari, or Seimaru Amagi (depending on series) and illustrated by Fumiya Sato, and collected stories are published in English by TOKYOPOP under the name Kindaichi Case Files.
Kindaichi mysteries are whodunnit stories featuring (usually multiple) gruesome murders, often with a supernatural tinge. They are typically of the style of John Dickson Carr, and feature a locked room mystery or other seemingly "impossible" crimes, such as a murder occurring when all surviving suspects have (apparently) airtight alibis. As opposed to the cold, calculating killers in some mystery series, the killers in Kindaichi Case Files are often sympathetic figures, pushed to great emotional trauma by the greed or thoughtlessness of others.
Currently, the series has been restarted with three additional cases. The writers plan to restart Kindaichi but not in a regular basis. The fourth case is started in Winter 2006. Only the first 19 cases (the first series) has been licensed by TokyoPop; the rest are unlikely to see print in the United States through them unless its relatively poor sales improve.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Characters
- Hajime Kindaichi (金田一 一 Kindaichi Hajime): High school student Hajime Kindaichi is unmotivated, lazy, and a little lecherous, much to the exasperation of childhood friend Miyuki Nanase. However, only a few people see his great intelligence and deductive prowess by his 180 IQ, possibly inherited from his grandfather, private detective Kousuke Kindaichi (a fictional character written by Seishi Yokomizo; called the "Japanese Columbo" by some). His catchphrase is "This mystery is solved!", indicating to readers that they are now in possession of all facts needed to correctly deduce the killer's identity and methods. He is also an accomplished sleight of hand artist. He is billed to have been quite unpopular when it comes to girls, but his kindness has in fact captured the hearts of many female characters throughout the story, such as Miyuki Nanase, Reika Hayame and Sakura Gozo. Despite his clumsiness and myriad other flaws, he is a loyal friend and a first-rate detective.
- Miyuki Nanase (七瀬 美雪 Nanase Miyuki): Hajime's childhood friend and next door neighbour, many question why a model student like Miyuki is friends with a slacker like Hajime. Deep down inside, Miyuki feels Hajime is not an idiot, and they seem to have a love that neither has yet fully expressed. Her birthday is November 24, as stated in "The Murderer From Screen," in which a character asked her for the purpose of reading her horoscope.
- Isamu Kenmochi (剣持 勇 Kenmochi Isamu): A Tokyo homicide police inspector who met Kindaichi on his first case, and was so impressed that he has lent the youngster his unquestioning support ever since. He is often the investigating officer on Kindaichi's cases, and provides the official stamp of approval Kindaichi often needs to pursue his investigations. He believes fully in Kindaichi's ability.
- Kengo Akechi (明智 健悟 Akechi Kengo): An extremely smart high-level police detective (superintendent), he is Kenmochi's supervisor. First appearing in "Death TV", he became a rival to Kindaichi, but still helped Kindaichi solving cases and getting him out of trouble afterwards. He always compares Japan's crimes with his experience in Los Angeles, making him an arrogant and snobbish character. In "The Magical Express", it's revealed that he met Reiko Chikayama before her death, and this eventually helps Kindaichi solve the case. In "Murder at Hell's School", he (disguised as a math teacher) claimed that he had actually been a teacher in a very famous prep-school for three years. Knows English and French.
- Reika Hayami (速水 玲香 Hayami Reika): A famous actress and singer first appearing in "Death TV," who appeared to be arrogant but turned out to be a weak girl who was desperate of protection. After this case, Reika had a crush on Kindaichi and sent her only Valentine's Day gift, a heart-shaped chocolate, to him without revealing her name. Since then, she and Miyuki seem to be rivals over Kindaichi. In "Playing the Fool", Reika's history, that even she forgot, was revealed.
- Ryuta Saki (佐木 竜太 Saki Ryūta) and Ryuji Saki (佐木 竜二 Saki Ryūji): Ryuta Saki first appeared in "Smoke and Mirrors" as a member of the Mystery Club. He is obsessed with filming through a V8 camera. He basically shoots everywhere at any time. His tape helped Kindaichi solved the case. In "The Santa Slayings", his tape recorded a critical piece of evidence and he was killed for this. In "Kindaichi the Killer", his younger brother, Ryuji Saki, who very much resembled his elder brother, approached Kindaichi at a party, telling him his elder brother told him in a dream that Kindaichi would be in trouble. Soon after, Ryuji helped Kindaichi avoid a murder rap. Afterwards, Ryuji claims himself as Kindaichi's assistant and sometimes really helps Kindaichi in solving cases.
- Yosuke Itsuki (いつき 陽介 Itsuki Yōsuke): A freelance writer who first appeared in "Legend of Lake Hiren" and they become friends after the case. Later on, he helped Kindaichi during his run in "Kindaichi the Killer". Since then, he became a contact and assisted Kindaichi using his job as a writer to check out suspects. His sources are very reliable--however, in "Kindaichi the Killer", Itsuki will discover that one of his friends, who supposedly tries to help, might be a prime suspect...
- Yoichi Takato (高遠 遙一 Takato Yōichi): Kindaichi's nemesis, yet to appear in American version. Known to be extremely intelligent, but he has never beaten Kindaichi. He's the only son of Reika Chikayama, a famous international magician, who in turn drove Takato to be a magician himself. His mother's death, caused by a magic trick book, made him what he is today. A twisted, cold-hearted but yet extremely unforgiving magician.
[edit] The Mysteries
14 volumes have been published in America, all except 2 with a complete story. New readers are recommended to read the volumes in order, since later stories sometimes reference killers or characters from previous tales, especially Kindaichi's arch-nemesis, who will appear in at least one of the mysteries not yet published.
In general, all the mysteries followed a certain theme (such as a famous legend/story), or have a certain MO.
In Japan, there is a total of 50 volumes with 29 cases, 17 Kindaichi's short cases and 7 Akechi's short cases as well as nine novels and 2 CD-books.
27 Volumes by the original Creator
10 "Case" Volumes
6 Short Stories Volumes
2 Akechi's Short Cases Volumes:
Book 1:明智少年の華麗なる事件簿
1.Farewell, my dear friend
2.The perfect violinist Akechi
3.The pride murder
Book 2:明智警視の優雅なる事件簿
4.The murder train
5.Unlucky men in the rain
6.The great chess player Akechi
7.The encounter
5 Volumes in the new re-run after serialising of Detective Academy Q.
Book 1 : Legendary vampire murders
Book 2 : The Third Opera House Murders (Part 1)
Book 3 : The Third Opera House Murders (Part 2 *end*)
Book 4 : Jail gate private school murder case (Part 1)
Book 5 : Jail gate private school murder case (Part 2 *end*)
Mysteries after no.14 have not yet been translated or announced by TOKYOPOP, and the titles have more or less a literal translation. As of June 2006, TokyoPop has not yet cancelled the series, but have reduced releasing schedule to one volume every six months until sales increase.
These titles, as well as some details, may be changed by TOKYOPOP if they release these volumes in the future.
- The Opera House Murders is the first Kindaichi mystery, and the story on which the first anime movie is based. Miyuki corrals Kindaichi into assisting the school drama club in rehearsing The Phantom of the Opera at an isolated island hotel. But a killer stalks the high school group, one who can walk across mud without leaving footprints, and it's up to Kindaichi to solve the case, fighting time, weather, and Police Inspector Kenmochi, who fails to take the young man seriously (for the last time).
- The Mummy's Curse sees Kindaichi and Miyuki visit a classmate about to get married, accompanied by a teacher, who was a boyfriend of the bride. The small hexagram-shaped village in which the classmate lives is packed with wealthy aristocrats who keep mysterious, cut-up mummies in their luxurious homes. But things turn serious when a murder is committed in a locked chapel, and the aristocrats start dying one by one. For Kindaichi, this case is more than the mummies' curse. After finding a connection between the victims and the tragic accident involving the burned church 27 years ago, Kindaichi finally reveals the murderer!
- Death TV follows Kindaichi and Kenmochi as they assist in the production of "Shock TV," a prank-pulling reality show. Fun turns to fright when one of the show's victims is slaughtered by someone dressed up as a legendary snow demon called Yukiyasha, while the crew (including pop star Reika Hayami) watches in horror via TV broadcast. The trouble is, how was the murder committed when all the suspects were a twenty minute drive away from the crime scene?
- Smoke and Mirrors hits Kindaichi's high school when he and Miyuki are asked to join the school's Mystery Club and attempt to track down a series of urban legends called "The Seven Mysteries of Fudo High." It seems the school has been receiving threatening letters from someone who calls himself "The Afterschool Magician" stating that his home in the old campus area must not be destroyed. But the school's legendary bogeyman turns out to be all too real, a shadowy figure who is able to make himself, and the corpse of one of Kindaichi's classmates, vanish in less than two minutes from a locked room. With Miyuki nearly killed, this case may be too much for Hajime Kindaichi...
- Treasure Isle is rumored to hide a vast bounty of gold said to be guarded by the legendary beast "Yamawara", which Kindaichi and other treasure hunters gather to search for. But the host is killed before the group even arrives, and a bloody slaying takes place during a time in which none of the people on the island could have done it. Will the island's mythical monster-guardian claim more victims?
- The Legend of Lake Hiren involves a legend about a pair of lovers who drowned themselves in a lake, but the lake itself now houses an exclusive resort whose shares could be worth millions. Kindaichi and Miyuki join a focus group evaluating the resort. But the group is soon stalked by an escaped killer who fashioned his slaying after those of Jason Voorhees, and wouldn't you know it, the only bridge to civilization has been cut off...
- The Santa Slayings revolve around an exclusive hotel and one of its most unusual guests, a red-bearded man whose dress resembles that of Santa Claus. His very mythos is a shadow hanging over a prominent acting guild staying at the hotel, putting on a murder mystery weekend game. But the murders turn all too real, and Kindaichi becomes personally involved when one of his friends becomes a victim, and the only other person found in the locked room... is him!
- No Noose is Good Noose, or so they say at an exclusive college prep school that Kindaichi is conned into attending by his mother. But the high-pressure school is known for driving its students to suicide by hanging. It's in this atmosphere that a teacher begs Kindaichi's help in finding a mysterious vandal who seems to be targeting her. But the vandal soon graduates to murder, and seems to have the ability to evaporate from locked rooms. Can Kindaichi make the grade?
- The Headless Samurai is a legend in a small town, warning of betrayal and blood. A childhood friend of Kenmochi asks him for help when this myth comes to life and begins threatening her. Then a mysterious stranger is killed in a sealed room, and Kindaichi has to deal with headless corpses, greedy heirs, and an entire village too scared to talk.
- Kindaichi the Killer!? Kindaichi is invited by an old acquaintance to help his publishing editor acquire the rights to a new book by a famous writer. The eccentric, arrogant author throws a code breaking contest at his villa to determine the lucky recipient. Unfortunately, the writer is murdered, and it's impossible for anyone to have committed the crime except one person: Hajime Kindaichi! Soon Kindaichi is in a race against the police and the killer to break the code and clear his name.
- Playing the Fool is something Kindaichi is loathe to do, especially when it comes to women. Pop star Reika Hayami invites Kindaichi and Miyuki to the Tarot Lodge high in the snowy mountains, which immediately sets off a rivalry between the two women. Joining them is a motley crew including Reika's manager, a lost skiier, and an obsessed fan. But the weekend turns tragic when Reika's father's darkest secret threatens to reveal itself, and terrifying murders occur. Can Kindaichi protect Reika, and figure out how a killer slipped in and out of a room under constant observation?
- The House of Wax is holding a murder mystery weekend, which Kindaichi and Miyuki are invited to by Superintendent Akechi. There they find numerous wax figures, including replicas of each participant. However, they soon find out that this is more than a mere game: the mysterious host, "Mr. Redrum," uses the wax figures to show a murder scene before actually killing the victim with the same method under seemingly impossible circumstances. Now Kindaichi must find the host that calls himself a murderer before the body count rises.
- The Gentleman Thief is a famous thief who steals famous artworks, as well as their "themes," by destroying or mutilating the object featured in the artwork. However, it seems that this time he has gone too far, by killing the father of one of Kindaichi's friends. But solving this case will be difficult, since all the suspects apparently have perfect alibis...
- Graveyard Isle is one of the many results of the US's island hopping in World War II, where Japanese soldiers committed harakiri. However, it seems someone — or a ghost — has lived on, and is out to kill Kindaichi and his friends... Can Kindaichi get him and his friends off the island before they're all killed?
- The Magical Express is a train that runs between Tokyo and a remote town, but what makes it unique are the magic shows put on by a group of prominent magicians. However, the "Hell's Puppeteer" has decided to kill off the magicians one by one, seemingly delighting the magical aura that surrounds these seemingly impossible murders... So who is the "Hell's Puppeteer"? And what's his relation to the dead talented magician, Reiko Chikayama, who died five years ago? Was Reiko's death really an accident?
- The Undying Butterflies is a rediscovered butterfly species that's made its discoverer very famous. It's also inspired a murderer, who leaves his victims pinned like butterflies! Can Kindaichi stop a killer so cold-hearted that a child becomes one of his targets? A murderer from a case in the past, who is thought to be dead, unexpectedly makes his return in this case ...
- Burial Francs is a burial practice in a small French village, where a franc is buried with the dead. For one of Kindaichi's childhood schoolmates, however, it was an omen of death for her and her colleagues! Amidst trying to enjoy the bridal competition show and to protect the innocent lives from getting involved, will Kindaichi figure out this "Burial Francs" who is killing off people one by one? What's his connection to Kindaichi's friend?
- The Devil's Artifacts is the nickname given to four artifacts that were said to be cursed — but Kindaichi, who was hired to dig them up, didn't believe in the old tale... until people started dying because of it. Now, with people's lives (and his salary!) at stake, Kindaichi must find out the identity of the artifacts' "guardian" and where they are hidden.
- Reika's Kidnapping is exactly what it sounds like, the kidnapping of pop idol and Kindaichi's friend, Reika Hayami. After escaping from a villa, she claims that her kidnapper was a clown. Kindaichi soon deduces that the mystery clown has to be one of the crew working the movie Reika was appearing in. But which?
- Kindaichi and a group of friends visit the Forest of Cerberus to hunt mushrooms. Things start going wrong when their villa is burnt down, and they are forced to take refuge in an abandoned hospital with a group of medical students. Remnants of test animals, including a cage marked Cerberus, still remain there... Not to mention rabies infested dogs stalking the halls, and a shadow that resembles the Cerberus of legend. Then the medical students begin dying one by one, their deaths accompanied by vicious claw marks! Is the ancient Greek guardian of the underworld the killer? Will it matter if Kindaichi can't get himself and his friends out alive?
- The Murderer From Screen: The head of the movie club at Fudo High, grandson of Japan's king of cinema, offers Miyuki a starring role in his latest project. But when the other participants start dying, the crew notices the resemblance between their deaths and scenes from the club's previous film, "Scorpion." The case seems solved when the director apparently kills himself in a locked room, clutching the only key to the door. But Kindaichi isn't so sure the case is closed. Who is making life imitate art?
- Divine Treasure of Kotousu is a long lost treasure belonged to Catholics in Ancient Japan, guarded by a White Hair Ghost. Not caring much about the legend, Kindaichi — who desperately needed the money and by invitation — went to Kotousu to hunt for the treasure. However, just like in "Treasure Isle," the treasure hunters started to die one by one, one during a time when all the hunters are present and accounted for! Will Kindaichi be able to find the murderer, and get some money for himself too?
- Ghost of Yukikage Village: One of his childhood friends has died in the remote Yukikage Village, so Kindaichi goes to pay his final respects. However, the death isn't all it appears to be, and soon more of Kindaichi's friends are dropping dead. Who is the killer, and what does the original death have to do with these new murders?
- The Plot of Russian Dolls Once again, Kindaichi is invited to solve a puzzle, one that leads to the inheritance of a famous mystery writer. But the puzzle deepens when the heirs start losing their heads... Literally! To make things worse, a figure from Kindaichi's past — his nemesis, Takato — returns with a bet: if Kindaichi finds the murderer first, he will let the killer for justice. Otherwise, Takato will allow the killer to continue his bloody work... then will execute him! Can Kindaichi protect both the future victims AND the murderer?
- Circus du Murder: Miyuki, Kindaichi, and his know-it-all cousin, Fumi, are invited by Kenmochi to join him and his wife Kazue at an inn located on a tropical island. There, they meet a circus troupe named the Goblin Circus, who live near the resort. When a storage room is found wrecked, along with mysterious gigantic footprints and a message on the wall that reads "MONSTER IS BACK," the troupe members are suspiciously quiet. However, some members have been secretly discussing a 2.3m tall performer who disappeared a year ago, nicknamed 'Monster.' With the storm which prevents them from escaping the island and two clowns found dead, Kindaichi must find the culprit: Is it really the 'Monster,' or someone else with an axe to grind?
- Judgment of Gankutsuou: Looking over a traveler's brochure, Kindaichi discovers that his old nemesis is in Hong Kong, and up to no good. Indeed, Takato latest scheme involves assisting a murderer who calls himself the Gankutsu Ou (Count of Monte Cristo). Ultimately, Takato manages to frame Kindaichi for the murders, just to prove he is the smarter man! Now, Kindaichi must prove his innocence by finding Gankutsu Ou, and make his nemesis pay for his crimes, once and for all!
- Legendary vampire murders: A month after Kindaichi went on his bicycle riding vacation, he sends a letter to Miyuki, inviting her to a themed inn named "Ruins," where one of their former classmates has a part time job, and asks that she also invite Inspector Kenmochi. The inn is located in a virtual ghost town (hence lending to its theme and name of "Ruins"), due to the resurgence of rumors regarding vampirism that sprung up a few years past. The rumor comes to life when guests of the inn are found dead, their bodies drained of blood, with two puncture wounds on their necks--which appear to be vampire bites.
- The Third Opera House Murders: Kindaichi, Miyuki, and Kenmochi return to the island Opera House Hotel for the third time (the second was detailed in the first of a series of Kindaichi novels by Seimaru Amagi), this time after the death of the hotel's owner, Kurosawa. The hotel and island has been bought by an old friend of Kurosawa, who wishes to honor his memory with a final performance of The Phantom of the Opera, before tearing the place down for good. Along with Kindaichi and gang, the new owner has invited members of Kurosawa's old theater troupe. However, tragedy strikes again when murders occur before the performance can take place.
- Jail gate private school murder case: Back from his bicycle riding vacation and applying for a top quality but extremely hellish school, Kindaichi once again encountered a murder on the day of his application exam... but Kindaichi kind of expected it. The exam site and the school itself were two of the locations on a "crime site tour" list compiled by his nemesis Takato — who, in his twisted mind, believed that these locations could be used to plan murder (thus Kindaichi's bike tour around Japan). To make it worse, Takato has recently escaped prison, and initated his list of murder. Now, also sending the list to Akechi, Takato (disguising as an English teacher to observe, unknown to them but revealed to readers) silently challenged them to figure out the common point among the murders and find his client... or is he planning something else for them? And lastly, is he going to make all the possible murder sites a reality?
[edit] The short cases of Kindaichi
- Murderous intent of below freezing 15 degrees
- Who killed the goddess?
- The twin murderer
- Christmas eve murder
- The murder in the mirror labyrinth
- Kindaichi Fumi 's kidnapping
- The adventure of Kindaichi Fumi
- Lost ransom
- Alibi in the film
- The homicide restaurant
- Homicide of the blood dyeing pool
- Departed spirit school murder case
- Puzzle of instantaneous disappearance
- The challenge from mysterious gentlemen thief
- Morning sound of Gun shot at 4.40 am
- The bee poison sword murder case
- The strange intrigue of the female doctor
[edit] The short cases of Inspector Akechi
[edit] Book 1:明智少年の華麗なる事件簿 (明智少年之华丽灿烂事件簿)
- Farewell,my dear friend/明智少年最初の事件/图书馆的秘密
- The perfect violinist Akechi/殺意の四重奏/古典乐团杀人事件
- The pride murder/幽霊剣士殺人事件/幽灵剑士杀人事件
- (Special story) Welcome to Kengo's Room
[edit] Book 2:明智警視の優雅なる事件簿 (明智少年之优雅犀利事件簿)
- The murder train/証言パズル /急速列车杀人事件
- Unlucky men in the rain殺人ポーカー /扑克牌杀人事件
- The great chess player Akechi/死者のチェックメイト/死者的将军棋
- The encounter/幽霊ホテル殺人事件/幽灵酒店杀人事件
- (Special story) Kengo's Morning Style
