The Kindaichi Case Files
The Kindaichi Case Files is a Japanese mystery manga series based on the crime solving adventures of a high school student, Hajime Kindaichi, the supposed grandson of the famous private detective Kosuke Kindaichi. They are written by Yōzaburō Kanari or Seimaru Amagi and illustrated by Fumiya Satō. The Kindaichi series was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine from October 1992 to October 2017, spanning a total of 76 tankōbon volumes. It is one of the earliest works in the mystery manga genre.
The series has been adapted by Toei Animation first as a feature film in 1996 and then a 148-episode anime television series broadcast from 1997 to 2000, and there has since been a live-action film, four live-action drama series, three live-action television specials and further animated features for cinema and television. A new anime television series adaptation, titled The Kindaichi Case Files R , began airing on April 5, 2014 and concluded on September 27, 2014. A second season began airing on October 3, 2015.
In North America, the series was published in English by Tokyopop with the title The Kindaichi Case Files. Only the first 17 volumes have been released by Tokyopop.
A new series, 37 Year Old Kindaichi Case Files, began in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Evening in January 2018 and 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.
In 1995, the manga won the Kodansha Manga Award for shōnen. As of June 2019, the manga had over 100 million copies in circulation, making it one of the best-selling manga series.
Overview
Kindaichi mysteries are whodunnit stories featuring gruesome murders, often with a supernatural tinge. They are typically of the style of John Dickson Carr, and frequently feature a locked room mystery or other seemingly "impossible" crimes, such as a murder occurring when all surviving suspects have airtight alibis.A notable distinction 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. 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
;Hajime Kindaichi;Miyuki Nanase
;Isamu Kenmochi
;Kengo Akechi
;Ryuta Saki Ryuji Saki
;Reika Hayami
;Fumi Kindaichi
;Yoichi Takato
Media
Manga
The Kindaichi Case Files is written by Yōzaburō Kanari and Seimaru Amagi and illustrated by Fumiya Satō. The series started in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine on October 28, 1992. It is divided into six main series. File series was published in Weekly Shōnen Magazine between 1992 and 1997, and compiled into twenty-seven tankōbon volumes. Short File series was published into six tankōbon volumes between 1997 and 2000. Case series was published in Weekly Shōnen Magazine between 1998 and 2001, and compiled into ten tankōbon volumes. New series was published in Weekly Shōnen Magazine between 2004 and 2011, and compiled into fourteen tankōbon volumes. 20th Anniversary series was published in Weekly Shōnen Magazine between 2012 and 2013, and compiled into five tankōbon volumes. Return "R" series was published in Weekly Shōnen Magazine between 2013 and 2017, and compiled into fourteen tankōbon 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 new series titled 37 Year Old Kindaichi Case Files, set 20 years later, started in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Evening on January 23, 2018. The first tankōbon volume was released on June 15, 2018. As of March 23, 2020, the series has been compiled into six tankōbon volumes.
Other series
Akechi File series was published in Weekly Shōnen Magazine between 1998 and 2000, and compiled into two tankōbon volumes. Takato Case Files started on Manga Box app in 2013 and finished in 2014, and compiled into one tankōbon volume published on May 9, 2014.A spin-off manga Kindaichi Case Files: The Mini-Vacation was released on April 23, 2014. Kindaichi Case Files Spinoff: Criminal Case Files, written and illustrated by Shinpei Funatsu, was published from July 2017 to March 2020 and compiled into eight tankōbon volumes.
Light novels
The novels were written by Seimaru Amagi and illustrated by Fumiya Satō. 9 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 Nippon Television 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.
An 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 are streamed on Crunchyroll.
Video games
7 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.| No. | Title | Platform | Release Date |
| 1 | "The Kindaichi Case Files: Hihō Island: The New Tragedy" | Windows, PlayStation | November 29, 1996 |
| 2 | "The Kindaichi Case Files: Star Viewing Island: Sad Demon of Revenge" | Sega Saturn | January 15, 1998 |
| 3 | "The Kindaichi Case Files: Hell Park Murder Case" | PlayStation | March 26, 1998 |
| 4 | "The Kindaichi Case Files: Azure Dragon Legend Murder Case" | PlayStation | August 5, 1999 |
| 5 | "The Kindaichi Case Files: 10th Year's Invitation" | Game Boy Color | December 16, 2000 |
| 6 | "Detective Conan & The Kindaichi Case Files: The Meeting of the Two Famous Detectives" | Nintendo DS | February 5, 2009 |
| 7 | "The Kindaichi Case Files: Devil's Killing Navigation" | Nintendo DS | September 17, 2009 |
CD books
released two CD books in 1996 and 1997 respectively. Both have been made into anime. However, nearly all 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" | Kodansha | January 17, 1996 |
| 2 | "The Kindaichi Case Files: Death God Hospital Murder Case" | Kodansha | April 21, 1997 |
Live action series
aired four live action series in 1995, 1996, 2001, and 2014. Specials were aired in 2005, 2013, and 2014.Tsuyoshi Dōmoto of the Kinki Kids and Rie Tomosaka starred as Hajime Kindaichi and Miyuki Nanase in the first two series. In season 3, Jun Matsumoto of Arashi starred as Hajime Kindaichi and Suzuki Anne starred as Miyuki Nanase. In season 4, Ryosuke Yamada starred as Hajime Kindaichi while Haruna Kawaguchi portrayed Miyuki Nanase.
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 2013, a special based on Hong Kong Kowloon Treasure Murder Case was aired featuring Ryosuke Yamada and Daiki Arioka of Hey! Say! JUMP and Haruna Kawaguchi also with Vivian Hsu, Eric Tsang, Big Bang member Seungri, Rookies actor Kenta Kiritani and Taiwanese actor Chun Wu.
In 2014, a special based on Gate of Jail Private School Murder Case was aired also featuring Ryosuke Yamada, Chun Wu who also played from the previous special also played again and Haruna Kawaguchi also feature Nichkhun from 2PM.
Live action film
A live action film entitled Shanghai Mermaid Legend Murder Case, was released on December 13, 1997 in Japan. The film was directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi and starring Tsuyoshi Dōmoto and Rie Tomosaka. It is an adaptation of the Kindaichi novel of the same title.''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 Sundays Case Closed and Weekly Shōnen Magazines The Kindaichi Case Files. The magazine ran between April 10, 2008 and September 25, 2008.Reception
As of March February 2012, the manga had over 90 million copies in circulation, making it one of the best-selling manga series. As of June 2019, the manga 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 shōnen 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 Jason Thompson described the mystery scenarios as "inventive and intricate, offering genuine brain teasers", but criticised the artwork as "bland".