Inspector Zenigata is a trench-coat icon.

This Article pairs well with “Zenigata March” from UP↑ with Yuji Ohno & Lupintic Five

-Douglas Rohal

Anime and Trench-Coats are my vibe. I honor the style and enjoy many a trench-coated character in anime.

Inspector Zenigata is one of those Trench-Coated fellows.

He is the 5th man in the 4 man band of the Lupin Gang, from the anime LUPIN THE THIRD.

Not that I don’t love the entire cast of the show but, ICPO’s Zenigata is the only one that is not an-

International criminal.

Inspector Zenigata is an Extremely Competent Interpol agent, unless he is not. It really depends on the writer of the series.

He is a tour de force of international policing power. Not to mention the 9th best anime detective according to Mania.com

(according to some wiki, the website is down now)

And I am nothing if not a sucker for Japanese detectives.

Zenigata is also a legacy character, he being a reference to Heji Zenigata another fictional detective, who defeated criminals using a coin.

Zenigata sometimes has a similar ability, but instead of knocking out criminals with a coin, he throws hand cuffs over great distances and with great accuracy.

Sometimes he has powers relating to his obsession with capturing Lupin and gang. Like waking from a coma after hearing Lupin’s name, to resisting electrocution and drugging to accomplish his tasks.

A competent if goofy detective, the only criminal that stays out of his reach is The Lupin the III.

Which is understandable as he is the title character of the anime.

The Tom to Lupin’s Jerry.

Zenigata is best portrayed, in my opinion, in Castle of Cagliostro.

When he sees crime and corruption he will do all he can to get rid of it.

When (SPOILER FOR MOVIE YOU SHOULD WATCH) is found he reports it and when he is taken off the case after they ignored the evidence, working within the law he shows the people the crime and forces the government to deal with it.

It was his frustrations that made Zenigata stand out to me.

I won’t bore you with story but corruption swept away because it would be to hard or inconvenient to do anything about it. Happens.

Needless to say it is hard to stand aside knowing wrong doings are happening.

It makes your blood boil, then chill and a hollow darkness fills your chest then your teeth ache.

Your honesty and duty means nothing, yet you hold onto it because it is the right thing to do. Knowing that those who are over you value corruption more than honor.

That is why I say ICPO’s Inspector Koichi Zenigata is a Trench-Coat Icon.

He is the real hero of the series and a role model for my life.