Kindaichi Case Files

is a Japanese mystery manga series about the crime solving adventures of a high school student, Hajime Kindaichi, the supposed grandson of the famous (fictional) private detective Kosuke Kindaichi. Written by Yōzaburō Kanari or Seimaru Amagi (depending on series) and illustrated by Fumiya Satō, the ''Kindaichi series'' was serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Magazine'' from October 1992 to October 2017, spanning a total of 76 volumes. It is one of the earliest works in the mystery manga genre. In North America, the series was published in English by Tokyopop with the title ''The Kindaichi Case Files''. Only the first 17 volumes (the first series) were released by Tokyopop.

The series was adapted by Toei Animation into a feature film in 1996 and a 148-episode anime television series broadcast from 1997 to 2000. The series was also adapted into a live-action film, five live-action drama series, three live-action television specials and further animated features for cinema and television. A second 47-episode anime television series adaptation, titled ''The Kindaichi Case Files R (Returns)'', was broadcast from 2014 to 2016.

Another manga series, ''The Case File of Kindaichi Age 37'', was serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine ''Evening'' from January 2018 to February 2023 and continued on the ''Comic Days'' manga app from April 2023 to November 2024. It is set 20 years later, in which Hajime graduates high school, and becomes a manager of a PR firm, but is swung back into mysteries, despite quitting detective work. It was followed by ''The Case Files of Kindaichi Papa'', started on ''Comic Days'' in January 2025.

In 1995, ''The Kindaichi Case Files'' won the 19th Kodansha Manga Award in the category. By June 2019, the manga had over 100 million copies in circulation, making it one of the best-selling manga series of all time.

Overview

''Kindaichi'' mysteries are whodunnit stories featuring gruesome (usually multiple) murders, often with a folkloric tinge. Most feature a locked room mystery and recurring elements such as the murder occurring when all surviving suspects have (apparently) airtight alibis.

A notable trait of ''The Kindaichi Case Files'' is that the killers are not depicted as psychopathic murderers and the murders are never committed for financial reasons alone. The identified killers all have deep rooted problems, often involving great emotional trauma through the greed or thoughtlessness of others, as their reasons for committing the murder(s). Thus the killers are often portrayed as sympathetic figures, as opposed to cold, calculating killers in some other mystery series.

In addition to this, after being revealed, the criminal usually attempts suicide.

Characters

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:17-year-old Fudo 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 Kosuke Kindaichi. He is also an accomplished sleight of hand artist. Despite his clumsiness and myriad other flaws, he is a loyal friend and a first-rate detective.
:20 years later, he became a PR firm manager, quitting detective work. But crimes never retire. So he was stuck into a case he solved many years ago.
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:The childhood best friend and next door neighbor of Hajime; many question why a model student like Miyuki is friends with a slacker like him. Deep down inside, Miyuki feels Hajime is not an idiot, and they seem to have a love that neither has yet fully expressed. She possesses remarkable logic and perception, although she is obviously not as gifted as he is. Miyuki is the president of Fudo High's student council.
:20 years later, she became a flight attendant. She connects to Hajime via cellphone.
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:A Tokyo homicide police inspector who met Hajime 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 Hajime's cases, and provides the official stamp of approval Hajime often needs to pursue his investigations. He believes fully in Hajime's ability.
:20 years later, he retired, but had contact with Hajime.
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:An extremely intelligent, elite-level police detective (superintendent), who is Kenmochi's supervisor. He is an arrogant and snobbish character that becomes a rival to Kindaichi in crime-solving. However, Akechi (indeliberately) not only helped Kindaichi solve the case, but also aided him out of trouble. His relationship to Kindaichi is abrasive at the least, but they have an unspoken mutual respect for each other's abilities. He often compares the crimes in Japan to his experience in Los Angeles. He is proficient in English and French.
:20 years later, he became a Police Commissioner.
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:He is obsessed with filming through a V8 camera. He basically shoots everywhere at any time. His tape helped Kindaichi solve 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 trap. Afterwards, Ryuji claims himself as Kindaichi's assistant and sometimes really helps Kindaichi in solving cases. In the anime series, Ryuta survived the attack in "The Santa Slayings" story arc and Ryuji did not appear later on.
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:Portrayed by: Emiri Nakayama (1995), Wakana Sakai (2001)
:A famous actress and singer, first appearing in "Death TV", who initially appeared to be arrogant but turned out to be weak and desperate for protection. After this case, Reika has 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 past, that even she lost memory of, was revealed. In "Reika's Kidnapping", it was revealed that Reika's real mother is veteran actress Keiko Mitamura, but throughout the series Reika never knew it, and it was a secret that only Keiko and Kindaichi know.
:20 years later, she retired, married, has a son and is a florist.
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:Kindaichi's cousin. First appeared in "Saint Valentine's Murders" in manga and "The Undying Butterflies" in the anime television series, and later became a regular character appearing in the majority of cases for an extended period. Fumi has good reasoning skills (although not as good as Kindaichi), she even solves a few mysteries on her own. She sometimes pokes fun at Kindaichi when nobody else is around. Inspector Kenmochi nicknames her "Chibikin" (meaning little Kindaichi).
:20 years later, she became a mystery novelist (using cases from Hajime's young days), works at a detective agency and no longer has pigtails.
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:Kindaichi's nemesis, also known as . He is known to be extremely intelligent, considers himself to be the evil twin of Kindaichi, and describes their relationship as parallel lines. He is the only son of Reiko Chikamiya, an internationally known magician, who in turn drove Takato to be a magician himself. What he uncovered about the murder of his mother triggered what he is today. A twisted, coldhearted magician who considers his devilish setups for the perfect crime as masterpieces, and tolerates no mistakes from the people he uses as his puppets.
:20 years later, he called the trio on his cell.

Media

Manga

''The Kindaichi Case Files'' is written by Yōzaburō Kanari (''File'' and ''Case'' series) and Seimaru Amagi (other series) and illustrated by Fumiya Satō. The series ran 25 years in Kodansha's manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Magazine'' from October 28, 1992, to October 18, 2017. Six main series ran in the magazine: (1992–1997), collected in twenty-seven volumes; (1997–2000), collected in six volumes; (1998–2001), collected in ten volumes; (2004–2011), collected in fourteen volumes; (2012–2013), collected in five volumes; and (2013–2017), collected in fourteen volumes.

In North America, Tokyopop licensed the series in 2003. 17 volumes have been published in North America from October 6, 2003, to May 13, 2008, before Tokyopop ceased the series' publication in July 2008.

A seventh series, titled , set 20 years later, started in Kodansha's manga magazine ''Evening'' on January 23, 2018. In January 2022, it was announced that the series would enter on hiatus. ''Evening'' ceased its publication on February 28, 2023, and the series moved to the ''Comic Days'' manga app, starting on April 26 of the same year. The series finished on November 27, 2024. 18 volumes were released from June 15, 2018, to January 22, 2025.

An eighth series, titled , was serialized in ''Evening'' from January 11, 2022, to February 28, 2023, ending in the magazine's final issue. Four volumes were released from May 23, 2022, to April 21, 2023.

A ninth series, titled , is set to start on ''Comic Days'' on January 22, 2025. Its first volume was released on June 11, 2025.

Other series

was published in ''Weekly Shōnen Magazine'' between 1998 and 2000, and compiled into two volumes.

started on '' Manga Box'' app in 2013 and finished in 2014. Its chapters were collected in a single volume, published on May 9, 2014.

A spin-off manga illustrated by Awabako, titled , was published on ''Manga Box'' from April 23, 2014, to December 7, 2016. Its chapters were collected in three volumes released from September 17, 2014, to December 9, 2016.

, written and illustrated by Shinpei Funatsu, was published on ''Magazine Pocket'' app from July 4, 2017, to March 25, 2020; the series had a "revival" serialization, titled from March 2 to May 11, 2022. Its chapters were collected in eleven volumes released from November 17, 2017, to June 16, 2022.

A 4-panel comedy spin-off manga, titled was serialized in ''Evening'' from December 28, 2021, to February 28, 2023.

Light novels

The novels were written by Seimaru Amagi and illustrated by Fumiya Satō. Nine volumes were released in Japan between September 22, 1994, and April 20, 2001.

Anime

Produced by Toei Animation and directed by Daisuke Nishio, the anime adaptation of the original manga aired on Yomiuri TV, Nippon Television and other NNS stations between April 7, 1997, and September 11, 2000, spanning 148 episodes plus one special episode. In addition, two animated films were released on December 14, 1996 and August 21, 1999 respectively. Seven years after the conclusion of the TV anime, two new animated episodes were aired in Japan on November 12, 2007 and November 19, 2007 respectively.

On April 6, 2007, DVD collector's box of ''Kindaichi'' was released by Warner Home Video to mark the 10th anniversary of airing of the original TV anime.

The series aired on Animax Asia as ''The File of Young Kindaichi'' in Japanese with English subtitles.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the series, two special episodes based on "The Black Magic Murders" were released on DVDs in November 2012 and February 2013.

A revival of the anime television series, ''The File of Young Kindaichi Returns'', aired from April 5 to 27 September 2014. A second season aired from October 3, 2015 to March 26, 2016. They were streamed on Crunchyroll during their original broadcast.

Video games

Seven ''Kindaichi'' video games were released as of September 17, 2009. All of them were released in Japan only. Many of the game voice actors differ from those in the anime version.

CD books

Kodansha released two CD books in 1996 and 1997 respectively. Both have been made into anime. However, nearly all of the CD books' voice actors are not the same as those in the anime version.

Live action film and series

Nippon Television aired five live action series in 1995, 1996, 2001, 2014, and 2022. Specials were aired in 2005, 2013, and 2014.

In the first adaptation, Tsuyoshi Dōmoto of Kinki Kids and Rie Tomosaka starred as Hajime Kindaichi and Miyuki Nanase for two seasons. They also starred in a live action film entitled ''Shanghai Mermaid Legend Murder Case'', directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi, released on December 13, 1997 in Japan, adaptated from the ''Kindaichi'' novel of the same title.

In the second adaptation, Jun Matsumoto of Arashi starred as Hajime Kindaichi, with Suzuki Anne as Miyuki Nanase.

In the third adaptation in 2005, a special based on "The Legendary Vampire Murders" was aired featuring Kazuya Kamenashi of KAT-TUN and Ueno Juri as Kindaichi and Miyuki Nanase.

In the fourth adaptation, Hey! Say! JUMP's Ryosuke Yamada starred as Hajime Kindaichi, while Haruna Kawaguchi portrayed Miyuki Nanase. In 2013, a special based on ''Hong Kong Kowloon Treasure Murder Case'' was aired, featuring Yamada and fellow JUMP member Daiki Arioka, with Haruna Kawaguchi, Vivian Hsu, Eric Tsang, Big Bang member Seungri, '' Rookies'' actor Kenta Kiritani and Taiwanese actor Chun Wu (Japanese voice dubber was Daisuke Namikawa, Jellal from '' Fairy Tail''). In 2014, a special based on ''Gate of Jail Private School Murder Case'' aired, also featuring Yamada. Wu (Japanese voice dubber was Hiroki Touchi) and Kawaguchi, who appeared in the previous special, were also included, as well as 2PM's Nichkhun.

In the fifth adaptation in 2022, Shunsuke Michieda of Naniwa Danshi starred as Hajime Kindaichi, and Moka Kamishiraishi portrayed Miyuki Nanase.

''Detective Conan & Kindaichi''

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of ''Weekly Shōnen Sunday'' and ''Weekly Shōnen Magazine'', the two magazines collaborated to publish twelve biweekly magazines consisting of chapters from ''Weekly Shōnen Sunday''s ''Case Closed'' and ''Weekly Shōnen Magazine''s ''The Kindaichi Case Files''. The magazine ran between April 10, 2008, and September 25, 2008.

Reception

By February 2012, the manga had over 90 million copies in circulation. By June 2019, it had over 100 million copies in circulation. ''Kindaichi'' tankōbon were ranked 2nd and 3rd in a Japanese Comic Ranking in October, 2009.

In 1995, the manga won the Kodansha Manga Award in the category.

Allen Divers of Anime News Network said that while ''The Kindaichi Case Files'' "presents some whoppers", the series also has mysteries that are very "familiar", calling it "the Japanese version of the '' Hardy Boys'' or '' Nancy Drew''". In '' Manga: The Complete Guide'' Jason Thompson described the mystery scenarios as "inventive and intricate, offering genuine brain teasers", but criticized the artwork as "bland".

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kindaichi Case Files, The
The Kindaichi Case Files
1992 manga
1994 Japanese novels
1996 anime films
1996 films
1997 anime television series debuts
1997 films
1999 anime films
1999 films
2014 anime television series debuts
2015 anime television series debuts
Animated films based on manga
Detective anime and manga
Films directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi
1990s Japanese-language films
Kodansha manga
Kosuke Kindaichi
Light novels
Live-action films based on manga
Manga adapted into films
Manga based on novels
Mystery anime and manga
Nippon Television dramas
Seinen manga
Shin Kibayashi
Shōnen manga
Toei Animation films
Toei Animation television
Tokyopop titles
Winner of Kodansha Manga Award (Shōnen)
Works based on Japanese novels
Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation original programming