The Kindaichi Case Files (Japanese:金田一少年の事件簿,Hepburn:Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo) is a Japanesemysterymanga series about the crime solving adventures of a high school student, Hajime Kindaichi, the supposed grandson of the famous (fictional) private detectiveKosuke Kindaichi. Written byYōzaburō Kanari orSeimaru Amagi (depending on series) and illustrated byFumiya Satō, theKindaichi series was serialized inKodansha'sshōnen manga magazineWeekly Shōnen Magazine from October 1992 to October 2017, spanning a total of 76tankōbon volumes. It is one of the earliest works in the mystery manga genre. In North America, the series was published in English byTokyopop with the titleThe Kindaichi Case Files. Only the first 17 volumes (the first series) were released by Tokyopop.
The series was adapted byToei Animation into a feature film in 1996 and a 148-episodeanime television series broadcast from 1997 to 2000. The series was also adapted into alive-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, titledThe 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'sseinen manga magazineEvening from January 2018 to February 2023 and continued on theComic 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 byThe Case Files of Kindaichi Papa, started onComic Days in January 2025.
In 1995,The Kindaichi Case Files won the 19thKodansha Manga Award in theshōnen category. By June 2019, the manga had over 100 million copies in circulation, making it one of thebest-selling manga series of all time.
Kindaichi mysteries arewhodunnit stories featuring gruesome (usually multiple) murders, often with a folkloric tinge. Most feature alocked room mystery[5] and recurring elements such as the murder occurring when all surviving suspects have (apparently) airtight alibis.
A notable trait ofThe Kindaichi Case Files is that the killers are not depicted aspsychopathic 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.[6]
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 180IQ, possibly inherited from his grandfather, private detectiveKosuke Kindaichi.[9] He is also an accomplishedsleight 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.
The childhood best friend and next door neighbor of Hajime; many question why a model student like Miyuki is friends with aslacker 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'sstudent council.
20 years later, she became a flight attendant. She connects to Hajime via cellphone.
ATokyo 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.
An extremely intelligent, elite-level policedetective (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 inLos Angeles. He is proficient inEnglish andFrench.
He is obsessed with filming through aV8 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.
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 onlyValentine'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.
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.
Kindaichi's nemesis, also known as "The Puppeteer from Hell" (地獄の傀儡師,Jigoku no Kugutsushi). 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.
The Kindaichi Case Files is written byYōzaburō Kanari (File andCase series) andSeimaru Amagi (other series) and illustrated byFumiya Satō. The series ran 25 years inKodansha'sshōnen manga magazineWeekly Shōnen Magazine from October 28, 1992,[10] to October 18, 2017.[11] Six main series ran in the magazine:File series (FILEシリーズ,Fairu Shirīzu) (1992–1997), collected in twenty-seventankōbon volumes;[12][13]Short File series (Short Fileシリーズ,Shōto Fairu Shirīzu) (1997–2000), collected in sixtankōbon volumes;[14][15]Case series (Caseシリーズ,Kēsu Shirīzu) (1998–2001), collected in tentankōbon volumes;[16][17]New series (新シリーズ,Shinshirīzu) (2004–2011), collected in fourteentankōbon volumes;[18][19]20th Anniversary series (20周年記念シリーズ,Nijū Shūnenkinen Shirīzu) (2012–2013), collected in fivetankōbon volumes;[20][21] andReturn "R" series (金田一少年の事件簿R,Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo R) (2013–2017),[22][11] collected in fourteentankōbon volumes.[23][24]
In North America,Tokyopop licensed the series in 2003.[25] 17 volumes have been published in North America from October 6, 2003, to May 13, 2008,[26][27] before Tokyopop ceased the series' publication in July 2008.[28]
A seventh series, titledThe Case File of Kindaichi Age 37 (金田一37歳の事件簿,Kindaichi 37-sai no Jikenbo), set 20 years later, started in Kodansha'sseinen manga magazineEvening on January 23, 2018.[29] In January 2022, it was announced that the series would enter on hiatus.[30]Evening ceased its publication on February 28, 2023,[31] and the series moved to theComic Days manga app, starting on April 26 of the same year.[32] The series finished on November 27, 2024.[33] 18tankōbon volumes were released from June 15, 2018, to January 22, 2025.[34][35]
An eighth series, titledThe Case File of Kindaichi 30th (金田一少年の事件簿30th,Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo 30th), was serialized inEvening from January 11, 2022,[36][37] to February 28, 2023, ending in the magazine's final issue.[38] Fourtankōbon volumes were released from May 23, 2022, to April 21, 2023.[39][40]
A ninth series, titledThe Case Files of Kindaichi Papa (金田一パパの事件簿,Kindaichi Papa no Jikenbo), is set to start onComic Days on January 22, 2025.[33][41]
Akechi File series (Akechi Fileシリーズ,Akechi Fairu Shirīzu) was published inWeekly Shōnen Magazine between 1998 and 2000, and compiled into twotankōbon volumes.[42][43]
Takato Case Files (高遠少年の事件簿,Takatō Shōnen no Jikenbo) started onManga Box app in 2013 and finished in 2014.[44][45] Its chapters were collected in a singletankōbon volume, published on May 9, 2014.[46]
A spin-off manga illustrated by Awabako, titledKindaichi Shōnen no Ippaku Futsuka Shōryokō (金田一少年の1泊2日小旅行, "Kindaichi Case Files: The Mini-Vacation"), was published onManga Box from April 23, 2014,[45] to December 7, 2016.[47] Its chapters were collected in threetankōbon volumes released from September 17, 2014,[48] to December 9, 2016.[49]
Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo Gaiden: Hannin-tachi no Jikenbo (金田一少年の事件簿外伝 犯人たちの事件簿, "Kindaichi Case Files Spinoff: Criminal Case Files"), written and illustrated by Shinpei Funatsu, was published onMagazine Pocket app from July 4, 2017,[50] to March 25, 2020;[51] the series had a "revival" serialization, titledKindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo Gaiden R: Hannin-tachi no Jikenbo (金田一少年の事件簿外伝R 犯人たちの事件簿) from March 2 to May 11, 2022.[52][53] Its chapters were collected in eleventankōbon volumes released from November 17, 2017,[54] to June 16, 2022.[55]
A 4-panel comedy spin-off manga, titledKinnyaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo (きんにゃいち少年の事件簿) was serialized inEvening from December 28, 2021,[56] to February 28, 2023.[57]
The novels were written by Seimaru Amagi and illustrated by Fumiya Satō. Nine volumes were released in Japan between September 22, 1994,[58] and April 20, 2001.[59]
Produced byToei Animation and directed byDaisuke Nishio, the anime adaptation of the original manga aired onYomiuri TV,Nippon Television and otherNNS stations between April 7, 1997, and September 11, 2000,[60] 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.[61]
On April 6, 2007, DVD collector's box ofKindaichi was released byWarner Home Video to mark the 10th anniversary of airing of the original TV anime.[62]
The series aired onAnimax Asia asThe File of Young Kindaichi in Japanese with English subtitles.[63]
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.[64] A second season aired from October 3, 2015 to March 26, 2016.[65] They were streamed onCrunchyroll during their original broadcast.[66]
SevenKindaichi video games were released as of September 17, 2009. All of them were released in Japan only. Many of the gamevoice actors differ from those in the anime version.
No.
Title
Platform
Release Date
1
"The Kindaichi Case Files: Hihō Island: The New Tragedy" (金田一少年の事件簿 悲報島 新たなる惨劇,"Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo Hihōtō Arata Naru Sangeki")
"The Kindaichi Case Files: Star Viewing Island: Sad Demon of Revenge" (金田一少年の事件簿 星見島 悲しみの復讐鬼,"Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo Hoshimitō Kanashimi no Fukushūki")
"Detective Conan & The Kindaichi Case Files: The Meeting of the Two Famous Detectives" (名探偵コナン&金田一少年の事件簿 めぐりあう2人の名探偵,"Meitantei Konan to Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo Meguri Au Futari no Meitantei")
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.
No.
Title
Publisher
Release Date
1
"The Kindaichi Case Files: Devil Suite Murder Case" (金田一少年の事件簿 悪魔組曲殺人事件,"Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo Akuma Kumikyoku Satsujin Jiken")
Nippon Television aired five live action series in 1995, 1996, 2001, 2014, and 2022.[77]Specials were aired in 2005,[78] 2013, and 2014.
In the first adaptation,Tsuyoshi Dōmoto ofKinki Kids andRie Tomosaka starred as Hajime Kindaichi and Miyuki Nanase for two seasons. They also starred in a live actionfilm entitledShanghai Mermaid Legend Murder Case, directed byYukihiko Tsutsumi, released on December 13, 1997 in Japan, adaptated from theKindaichi novel of the same title.[79][80]
In the third adaptation in 2005, a special based on "The Legendary Vampire Murders" was aired featuringKazuya Kamenashi ofKAT-TUN andUeno Juri as Kindaichi and Miyuki Nanase.
The first issue of the crossover series betweenCase Closed andThe Kindaichi Case Files
In celebration of the 50th anniversary ofWeekly Shōnen Sunday andWeekly Shōnen Magazine, the two magazines collaborated to publish twelve biweekly magazines consisting of chapters fromWeekly Shōnen Sunday'sCase Closed andWeekly Shōnen Magazine'sThe Kindaichi Case Files.[81][82] The magazine ran between April 10, 2008, and September 25, 2008.[82]
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By February 2012, the manga had over 90 million copies in circulation.[83] By June 2019, it had over 100 million copies in circulation.[84][85]Kindaichitankōbon were ranked 2nd and 3rd in a Japanese Comic Ranking in October, 2009.[86]
Allen Divers ofAnime News Network said that whileThe Kindaichi Case Files "presents some whoppers", the series also has mysteries that are very "familiar", calling it "the Japanese version of theHardy Boys orNancy Drew".[88] InManga: The Complete GuideJason Thompson described the mystery scenarios as "inventive and intricate, offering genuine brain teasers", but criticized the artwork as "bland".[89]
^ab名探偵コナン＆金田一少年の事件簿 [Detective Conan &The Kindaichi Case Files] (in Japanese). Aga-search.com.Archived from the original on December 4, 2010. RetrievedNovember 28, 2010.
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