[Held on Saturday, November 23] Cosplay Event “1000 Kindaichi Kosuke” 〜 A Day When Detectives Gather: Experience the World of Seishi Yokomizo in Mabi

Do you know the three great Japanese detectives?
They are said to be the following three:

• Akechi Kogoro: Created by Edogawa Rampo
• Kamizu Kyosuke: Created by Takagi Akimitsu
• Kindaichi Kosuke: Created by Yokomizo Seishi

All of these works are mystery novels representative of the Showa era, and continue to captivate many fans today. The “Kindaichi Kosuke series,” created by Yokomizo Seishi, is notable for having many stories set in Okayama Prefecture.

In addition to the protagonist, “Kindaichi Kosuke,” the series features many distinctive characters, including “Inugami Sukekiyo” from “The Inugami Family,” “Tajimi Yozo” from “The Village of Eight Graves,” and the famous Inspector Isokawa.

The annual cosplay event “1000 Kindaichi Kosuke,” where participants dress up as these characters, will be held again in 2024.

We went to find out what makes “1000 Kindaichi Kosuke” so appealing.

Overview of “1000 Kindaichi Kosuke”

“1000 Kindaichi Kosuke” is a cosplay event to be held on Saturday, November 23, 2024, in Mabi, Kurashiki City.

Participants will gather at JR Kiyone Station and walk about 5 km to the Kurashiki City Mabi Furusato History Museum.
Okada, Mabi, Kurashiki City, where the event is held, is where the original author, Yokomizo Seishi, evacuated from 1945 to 1948. It is also the setting for “The Honjin Murders,” the first work in the Kindaichi Kosuke series.

An overview of the event and how to apply are as follows.

A changing room will be available at Kiyone Station East Exchange Plaza, the meeting place. There is no parking at the meeting place, so please use public transportation to get to the event.

What makes “1000 Kindaichi Kosuke” appealing?

The protagonist, Kindaichi Kosuke, is known for wearing a kimono and hakama, geta, and a battered hat, while carrying a large leather attaché case. He is also depicted in the event recruitment brochure illustration.

At Yokomizo Seishi's own request, Kiyoshi Atsumi, who was cast as Kindaichi Kosuke in the film adaptation, wore “a jacket and a straw hat.” Akira Nakao appeared without a hat, wearing a denim vest and a necklace. Both appeared in distinctive outfits.

These distinctive outfits help make the cosplay event exciting, but even more interesting are the characters who appear in the works.

For example, “the Man with Three Fingers” is a famous character in “The Honjin Murders.”
On the day, 150 cosplayers dressed as distinctive characters, including Kindaichi Kosuke, will gather and walk through Mabi, the place where the original author evacuated and the setting of the story.

Along the way, local residents of Mabi will reportedly recreate a scene from the novel.

It’s the kind of event that makes you want to go and see it, even if you don’t participate.

Places visited during “1000 Kindaichi Kosuke”

The meeting place is Kiyone Station East Exchange Plaza.
It is the setting of “The Honjin Murders,” and is written as “Seiichi Station” in the novel.

Other place names in the novel include “Kawaichi Village,” “Okaichi Village,” and “Takaichi River,” all of which are based on real places: Kawabe Village, Okada Village (now part of Kurashiki City), and the Takahashi River.

Some TV dramas and films have changed the place names, but the mansion that served as the story’s setting was modeled on a residence near Yokomizo Seishi's Wartime Residence.

“The Honjin Murders” was the first work in the Kindaichi Kosuke series, making this an especially fitting venue for the “1000 Kindaichi Kosuke” event.

The event starts at Kiyone Station, follows a route of about 5 km, and ends at the Kurashiki City Mabi Furusato History Museum.

Details of the “1000 Kindaichi Kosuke” event

We spoke with Yasuhara Noriko and Miyake Takahiro of the Kurashiki City Tourism Division about “1000 Kindaichi Kosuke,” one of the main events of the “Meguri: Kindaichi Kosuke Trail.”

Please tell us how the cosplay event “1000 Kindaichi Kosuke” got its name.

Yasuhara (surname only)

The title doesn’t mean that 1,000 people will gather on the day of the event. It expresses our hope that “many people will take part.”

We are recruiting 150 participants, and about 150 people took part the previous year (2023) as well.

When did the cosplay event begin?

Yasuhara

It began in 2009, but was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year (2024) marks the 14th event.

Are most people dressed as Kindaichi Kosuke?

Miyake (surname only)

In 2023, 63 of the 150 participants cosplayed as Kindaichi Kosuke, so more than half were other characters. The next most popular was Inugami Sukekiyo, who appears in “The Village of Eight Graves,” but many people also dress as more obscure characters.

Yasuhara

Some people dress in an ordinary jacket as Inspector Isokawa, who appears frequently in the series, or wear a retro-style dress to portray Tamayo Nonomiya, who appears in “The Inugami Family.”

So you can take part easily without having to prepare a special costume.

Could you tell us about any participant benefits?

Miyake

We give all participants a commemorative gift. In 2024, the planned gifts are a candle and an A2-size poster.

They are generally made locally in Kurashiki City. For reference, in 2023 the gift was a small-item holder made from tatami edging.

So, are many participants from outside the prefecture?

Yasuhara

In 2023, 16 participants were from Kurashiki City, 25 were from elsewhere in Okayama Prefecture, and 109 were from outside the prefecture. We also welcomed participants from Hokkaido and Kumamoto Prefecture.

Many people who are unable to attend in person because they live far away take part in the concurrent event, “1000 Kindaichi Kosuke Questions” (a take-home exam), and say things like, “I’d love to join the cosplay event next time.”

Are there any activities besides cosplay on the day of the event?

Miyake

One of the highlights is a short play recreating scenes from the story, made possible with the help of local residents of Mabi. There is also an optional event held on the same day: a discussion session.

After the cosplay event, you can enjoy a networking event with fellow fans of Seishi Yokomizo’s works and Kindaichi Kosuke at the Okada Branch of Mabi Community Center (about a 10-minute walk from the cosplay event’s dispersal point).
Please apply in advance online via the website.

From the Writer

Even today, in 2024, Seishi Yokomizo’s works remain immensely popular, with their screen adaptations being remade.

The actors who have played Kindaichi Kosuke include Atsumi Kiyoshi, Nakao Akira, Ishizaka Koji, Nishida Toshiyuki, Furuya Ikko, Kaga Takeshi, and, more recently, Toyokawa Etsushi, Yoshioka Hidetaka, and Kato Shigeaki—to name just a few.

“Kindaichi Kosuke” must have a timeless appeal.

Perhaps one reason the stories have been remade so many times, despite being set in the early Showa period, is that their appeal lies not only in the plots and protagonists, but also in the distinctive supporting characters.

If you haven’t read or watched any of the works yet, take this opportunity to do so.

Why not experience an autumn of mystery in Mabi, Kurashiki City, a place connected to author Seishi Yokomizo and the setting of The Honjin Murders, the first story to feature Kindaichi Kosuke?

1000 Kindaichi Kosuke event details

Name	1000 Kindaichi Kosuke
Date	Saturday, November 23, 2024, 12:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. (Registration: 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.)
Location	Okada, Mabi, Kurashiki City
Participation fee (tax included)	1,000 yen
Website	Meguri: Kindaichi Kosuke Trail

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