Kogoro Mouri is known throughout Japan as a great detective, nicknamed "Sleeping Kogoro." In reality, he's a bit of a pitiful character, as he's always put to sleep by Conan with a tranquilizer gun and used for his own convenience. But in addition to his bad points, Kogoro also has a lot of cool qualities! This time, we'll introduce 10 of Kogoro's characteristics, including not only his bad points but also his cool ones!
Characteristic #1: A Useless Detective
Source: Detective Conan © Gosho Aoyama / Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, TMS
While Kogorou is asleep under Conan's spell, he's a brilliant detective, but on his own, his deductions are generally off the mark. He makes random guesses and quickly denies them, even to suspects, the police inspector, and the general public. Then, he starts calling the wrong suspect the culprit... He ends up laughing it off and then gets shot with a tranquilizer dart.
His deductions may be spotty, but his sense of justice is strong
Source: Detective Conan © Gosho Aoyama / Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, TMS
Even though he's causing nothing but trouble with his spotty deductions, Kogoro is still lovable because of his strong sense of justice. Although it's rare, he does display cool words and actions. He especially cares about his family, and when Ran and the others were in danger, he risked his life to protect them.
Characteristic #2: Is he actually strong? Another Side of Kogoro
Source: Detective Conan © Gosho Aoyama / Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, TMS
When you think of Kogoro, you might imagine a drunk, useless old man, but that's not actually the case. He's a master of judo, and has used his signature throw, the ippon-seoi (shoulder throw), to throw down countless criminals and formidable opponents. Apparently, during her college days, she was unbeaten even by a national champion. Perhaps Ran's talent for karate comes from Kogoro.
The Ippon-seoi Throw Taught to Eri by Kogoro
Source: Detective Conan © Gosho Aoyama / Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, TMS
"All I've gained thanks to Kogoro is Ran and the Ippon-seoi Throw." Kogoro's one-shoulder throw was so impressive that it made Eri say this, and he taught the technique to her. When the criminal attacked him during his first appearance, he beautifully threw the huge man, who seemed to be two to three times his size, to the ground.
Characteristic #3: Separated from his wife, Eri
Source: Detective Conan © Gosho Aoyama / Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, TMS
Kogoro, his daughter Ran, and Conan live at the Mouri Detective Agency. He is married to a lawyer named Eri, but they are currently separated. They occasionally meet on cases, but they always end up fighting. However, in reality, they don't hate each other; they just can't be honest with each other, and Eri often blushes at Kogoro's actions. However, in the end, their relationship deteriorated due to Kogoro's clumsiness. They are still living apart.
Kogoro's actions that make Eri fall in love with him
Source: Detective Conan ©Gosho Aoyama/Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, TMS
On rare occasions, Kogoro displays deductive abilities that are unexpected given his usual incompetence. When Eri loses her ring on the beach, he deduces that she is looking for it from the sight of her drying her hair while wearing her glasses, and finds the ring on the beach and gives it to Eri in a cheeky manner. Conan is surprised by this and laments, "If only she was this quick-witted all the time."
Characteristic #4: He's known Eri since childhood
Source: Detective Conan © Gosho Aoyama / Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, TMS
Kogoro often gets sulky when Ran gets close to Shinichi, but in fact, he had a similar relationship with Eri back in their school days. They were childhood friends and attended the same school. The two went on to college and got married while still in college. Eri says the reason for their marriage is "a long-standing friendship between childhood friends," but if Ran follows in her parents' footsteps, she may marry Shinichi while they're still students.
Characteristic #5: A playful person who doesn't think too deeply about small details
Source: Detective Conan ©Gosho Aoyama/Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, TMS
After each case, he is put to sleep with a tranquilizer gun, and upon waking up, he finds himself solving the case. A normal person would be confused as to what's going on and would ask those around them for explanation, but the playful Kogoro doesn't seem to mind at all, believing that even if he's unconscious he will solve the problem on his own. In fact, he sometimes even waits for the anesthetic needle to prick him in the neck.
He can also become disheartened when he is suspected of murder...
Source: Detective Conan © Gosho Aoyama / Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, TMS
Kogorou has been framed for murder several times, even while hospitalized with a broken leg. At the time, Kogoro was suspected of the crime, and even though he didn't do it, he became obsessed with the idea that "I might have committed murder while I was losing my memory." However, after the case was solved, he returned to his normal self as Sleeping Kogoro.
Characteristic #6: He was originally a detective, not a detective
Source: Detective Conan © Gosho Aoyama / Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, TMS
Kogorou founded the Mouri Detective Agency and works as a detective, but he originally served as a detective in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigative Division under Inspector Megure. That said, his deductive abilities were apparently woeful even back then, to the point that Inspector Megure even said, "Thanks to you, the case almost went cold." Even so, his dexterity immediately after a murder is reminiscent of his days as a detective.
His time as a detective and how he became a detective
Source: Detective Conan ©Gosho Aoyama/Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, TMS
When he was a detective, Kogoro was a refreshing young man, still beardless. He would have continued his career as a detective, but a certain incident led him to stop being a detective. The incident involved Eri being taken hostage by the criminal, and Kogoro firing a gun, grazing her leg. The hostage was unable to move and became a burden. This was his intended outcome, and the case was resolved, but Kogoro voluntarily resigned to take responsibility.
Feature #7: Acrophobia, Original to the Anime
Source: Detective Conan © Gosho Aoyama / Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, TMS
In the anime, Kogorou is depicted as having a fear of heights, and is so frightened that he becomes distraught on the airship and Bell Tree Tower. However, the details are a bit vague, and although he is generally afraid of heights, there are scenes in which he is shown riding an airplane without any problems. Since this is an original setting, it's possible that the setting hasn't been fully solidified yet.
Characteristic #8: A Big Fan of Idol Yoko Okino
Source: Detective Conan © Gosho Aoyama / Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, TMS
Kogorou's beloved and beloved "Yoko-chan" is the popular idol Yoko Okino. After solving a case involving her, they become close and Yoko gives him concert tickets. As a result, Kogoro's condition becomes so severe that he fantasizes about being kissed by Yoko.
Kogoro and Haibara team up to fight Yoko Okino's romance news
Source: Detective Conan © Gosho Aoyama / Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, TMS
An extremely unexpected pairing is the pairing of Kogoro and Haibara. Haibara, who loves soccer player Ryusuke Higo, and Kogoro, who loves Yoko Okino, share the same interests. After seeing the news of their romance, Kogoro and Haibara clasp hands tightly and begin investigating the couple's behavior. Although their investigations turned out to be unsuccessful, their bond may have deepened.
Characteristic #9: He Loves Alcohol and Gambling
Source: Detective Conan ©Gosho Aoyama/Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, TMS
Kogorou sometimes leaves empty beer cans scattered on his desk, even in the middle of the day. Even when he's drunk, it's no problem because it's Conan who's solving the mystery... But he also loves gambling just as much as he loves alcohol! He seems to be particularly fond of horse racing, and when a fellow horse racing fan won a million-yen ticket, Kogoro received a call on his cell phone inviting him to a celebration party.
He also has the liquor that restores the bodies of children.
Source: Detective Conan © Gosho Aoyama / Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, TMS
Conan and Haibara were able to temporarily return to their original forms by drinking a Chinese liquor called "Paikaru." Kogoro had this somewhat unusual liquor in his possession. While he's often thought of as a beer-drinking guy, he seems interested in a variety of alcoholic beverages, including rare Chinese liquors and cocktails at stylish bars.
Characteristic #10: Kogoro Mouri's Grim Reaper Suspicion
Source: Detective Conan © Gosho Aoyama / Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, TMS
Finally, we'll look at Kogoro Mouri's Grim Reaper suspicion. This comes from the fact that incidents occur wherever Kogoro goes, which is why Inspector Megure calls him the "plague god" and the "grim reaper." Other people besides Inspector Megure have also been given dishonorable nicknames such as the "cursed detective." However, Kogoro himself was never like that until Conan arrived, and it seems that the actual Grim Reaper is indeed that bald man with glasses.
A Summary of Kogoro Mouri's Actual Coolness
Source: Detective Conan © Gosho Aoyama / Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, TMS
Looking back at the series, Kogoro has a surprisingly cool side. His interactions with Eri, in particular, often make me grin. (But even so, it's typical of Kogoro that he ends up self-destructing in the end and things don't go well...) Kogoro is also known as a bad detective, but be sure to check out the episodes in which he shines. I'm sure your image of Kogoro will change!
