Lupin III/Characters

The characters of Lupin III, now declassified by Interpol.

Since Lupin III has had so many voice actors for its characters over the years and across languages due to licensing and budget issues (and recently the advancing age of the original cast), only the most notable are listed below.

---

Lupin's Gang

Arsène Lupin III

Japanese Voice Actors: Yasuo Yamada (1969-1995), Kanichi Kurita (1995-present) English Voice Actors: Bob Bergen (Streamline), David Hayter (Cagliostro), Sonny Strait (Funimation), Tony Oliver (Geneon)

"Hey, Pops!"

The leader and founder of the gang, Lupin is looking to get his hands on as much as possible, be it rare treasure, lots of money, sexy women, or any combination of the three. Although he's a thief, plain and simple, he's never a malicious one; his targets tend to be the wealthy, powerful, and prideful, and his capers usually serve as a swift example of humility to his unfortunate targets. He will also take on a job if he knows it will help out someone in dire straits on the way.

---

• Absurd Phobia: He can't stand octopi. He will turn pale and flee in terror if he sees one.
• Accidental Hero: In Part 2 Episode 98, he and the gang save Zenigata from being roasted alive in a crematorium when they think he's dead.
• Ain't Too Proud to Beg: Jigen has stated that if Lupin were threatened by him, he would do this. When he's on the end of someone else's gun, he's pretty brave when his life is at stake. In Part 2 Episode 30, Lupin imagines himself acting like a coward if he were about to be beheaded.
• Affectionate Nickname: "Pickle" in the German dub of Part 1.
• AM/FM Characterization: He likes rock n' roll. Judging by the soundtracks of the early series, he probably also likes soul and disco.
• Anti-Hero: Type IV
• Anti-Villain: He's a notorious criminal, but has moments of vulnerability, as well as moments of compassion for the defenseless and sometimes magnanimity towards his enemies.
• Anything That Moves / Ambiguously Bi: Openly states that he likes women, but has flirted with / been attracted to men as well. In the manga, he has sex with Monkey Punch while disguised as a woman. In 'The Mystery of Mamo' he has a dream about Zenigata posing seductively.
• Badass
• Badass Adorable: Particularly in animations under Miyazaki's direction, he's an eager, boyish-faced man who is always one step ahead of his foes and can find his way out of most situations.
• Benevolent Boss: Despite his quick temper and strict perfectionism in heist rehearsals, he is forgiving of his teammates when they make a mistake and has a talent for settling disputes among them.
• Big Eater: At least in Cagliostro, where he goes on a eating binge in order to quickly recover from serious injuries.

"I've lost blood, Jigen. I don't want rabbit food; I want a FEAST!"

• Black Comedy Rape: Inflicted this frequently in the manga. Part 3 Episode 38 has him getting raped by a dolphin.
• Broken Ace: The Castle of Cagliostro in particular puts emphasis on what Lupin can't do, despite his numerous useful talents.
• But Not Too Foreign: Lupin is half-French, half-Japanese, though Monkey Punch himself said (in materials to promote the first Lupin movie) that he considered Lupin to be of no nationality — a citizen of the world.
• The Casanova: In the manga, at least.
• Cat Smile: His usual closed-mouth smile is a long cat smile, when he shows his teeth, its a...
• Cheshire Cat Grin
• The Charmer: Although his success is a bit variable
• Characterization Marches On: In the anime he starts off being cocky and somewhat mean-spirited, until Miyazaki characterized him as a suave, debonair gentleman with a childish and mischievous streak who has moments of pride or arrogance.
• Combat Pragmatist: He isn't interested in "playing by the rules" of fair combat, and will steal your clothes if it makes you less effective as a fighter.
• Crazy Prepared: Lupin has pulled out a third or even fourth backup plan when plans A-C have failed.
• Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: He usually relies on the villain of the story seeing how foolish he acts and attribute Lupin's success to luck. That amount of luck takes planning.
• Depending on the Writer: Manga Lupin is much more... sexually-motivated than his anime counterpart. In early Part 1 he's violent and moody, in late Part 1 he's a suave gentleman and in Part 2 he's a charmer.
• Dressing as the Enemy: Lupin's favorite disguise is Zenigata.
• Dub Name Change:
  • In France he's called Edgar de la Cambriole.
  • Before the Arsène Lupin copyright expired, English dubs from the early-to-mid 90's often had him renamed to "Wolf". Anim Eigo's dub of The Fuma Conspiracy called him "Rupan" (the romanization of the katakana that make up his name). Lupin would not get his proper name in English until Manga UK's dub of Cagliostro in 2000. In the 1995 dub of 'The Mystery of Mamo, he's called by his proper name, but it's pronounced like the flower.
• Enemy Mine: Zenigata, all the time.
• Even Bad Men Love Their Mamas: In the manga, while he resented his grandfather, he loved his parents, and is devastated when his father is seemingly killed.
• Eye Scream: Not in most continuities, but in the San Francisco arc of the manga he has his eye punched out by Starmow and has to have a bionic replacement.
• Friends with Benefits: with Fujiko, due to the on-again off-again nature of their relationship.
• Fun Personified: This is Jigen's justification for following Lupin in Green Vs Red.
• Friend to All Children: His most consistent trait by far, even in the manga.
• Gaslighting: Has been subjected to this. In Part 2 Episode 16 he was made to think he committed a string of murders, and in The Mystery of Mamo he was made to believe he was his own clone.
• Gentleman Thief: To honor his ancestors. Every male parent/grandparent/uncle was one, it seems. In Hidan no Aria, his daughter becomes lady thief to honor her father.
• Gratuitous French: The English translations of the manga have him peppering his dialogue with French.
• Hard Head: In Part 2 Episode 121, he is sent flying head first on to a stone beam and it only leaves him slightly dazed.
• Handsome Lech: According to Fujiko, at least.
• Heavy Sleeper: Is portrayed as this from time to time. Most notably, in Part 2 Episode 24, Jigen has trouble getting Lupin up and needs to only mention Fujiko to wake him.
• Hypocrite: In his crime career, he has killed people, destroyed property, endangered bystanders and profited from the chaos... but hates war for the same reason.
• Identical Grandson: Monkey Punch's Arsène Lupin looked exactly like his grandson but with facial hair.
• Ink Suit Actor: Coincidental example: Yasuo Yamada just happened to look like him.
• Indy Ploy: Lupin doesn't like admitting that he's making up his plans while executing them.
• Last-Name Basis: His name may be Arsene Lupin III, but even his friends call him Lupin.
• Latex Perfection: When he needs to wear a mask, they're of this quality.
• Limited Wardrobe: Although the colour of his clothes may change, his "casual" wear is always the same style. Therefore, fans tend to identify him by the colour of his suit jacket.
• Lovable Sex Maniac: At least, in the anime his sex drive is lovable (if the focus really has an issue, Lupin will back off). In the Manga, Unfortunate Implications occur.
• Loveable Rogue: His flippant treatment of the law is from him seeking a challenge.
• Man Child: Just because he drinks, smokes and uses guns doesn't mean he doesn't enjoy dolls, cartoons and playing in snowflakes. He employs his childishness into his sleight-of-hand tricks as well.
• Master of Disguise: He's even fooled one lover into thinking he was the other one.
• Meaningful Name: "Arsène" means "virile", which fits the sex-mad Lupin.
• Motor Mouth: The most garrulous of the gang. He will sometimes give a lot of important information in a short space of time, or just express some thought process out loud.
• Not Afraid to Die: Downplayed. While he values his life, at the end of the manga, he does face his demise with a calm bravery. In one chapter, when he has his body swapped with an old man, Lupin is concerned about the time he has left but is more afraid of Fujiko laughing at him.
• Obfuscating Stupidity: Even to his own gang on occasion, much to their annoyance.
• The Other Darrin:
  • Lupin was originally voiced by the late Yasuo Yamada. After Yamada died of a brain hemorrhage early in 1995, the role went to Kanichi Kurita, whom Yamada had designated as his replacement.
  • In The Fuma Conspiracy, Toshio Furukawa voiced Lupin in that OAV instead of Yamada, and it is the only time prior to 1995, outside of the pilot film, that Yamada didn't play Lupin.
• Phantom Thief: Complete with calling cards.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: Red to Jigen's Blue. Even colour-coded when he wears his red jacket.
• Sad Clown: In more serious works. Despite being upbeat and outgoing, he had a rough childhood and a violent crime career, and carries a lot of pain.
• Sharp-Dressed Man: Doesn't feel himself unless he's dressed up. Even wears tuxedos for some of his thefts.
• Smoking Is Cool: Not as obvious an example as Jigen, but one nonetheless. Zenigata was able to track Lupin on one occasion by noting a discarded cigarette butt (it was an expensive import brand that only Lupin was known to smoke).
• Stealth Expert: While Lupin III often gets into buildings via disguise, he is also an accomplished second story-man. He can sneak in in a black cat suit, or cause enough distractions that his bright yellow tie and bright red jacket aren't noticed.
• Stealth Hi Bye: Has done this in the middle of a dogpile with 50 policemen.
• Stepford Smiler: In stressful situations, he tends to use humor as a defense mechanism, in order to hide how terrified he is. This is most prominent in Episode 13 of Part 1.
• Thou Shalt Not Kill: Gradually played straight. At the beginning of Part 1 he carelessly caused many fatalities and drew his gun on Zenigata before being tranquilized. After that, he became very careful not to kill people, and he and Zenigata have an agreement not to kill each other (although Lupin broke this rule in Part 2 Episode 139 on a flimsy self-defence excuse). In general, he values people's lives.
• Wholesome Crossdresser: He's not above disguising as a woman in order to get close to his target. It backfired hilariously once.
• Villain Protagonist: In the manga.
• Villainous Valour: Is fearless in a fight, even in the manga. The second manga ends with him bravely facing his death on an island about to be blown up by police.

Daisuke Jigen

File:Jigen 4969.jpg

Japanese Voice Actor: Kiyoshi Kobayashi (1969-present) English Voice Actors: Steve Bulen (Streamline), John Snyder (Cagliostro), Christopher Sabat (Funimation), Richard Epcar (Geneon)

"May I remind you the last time she brought us a good deal was never?"

Lupin's constant and most loyal partner, the laid back Jigen is constantly at his side, helping him with the next big score. Although Jigen can handle most any role Lupin hands him, his stand-out qualities are his remarkable, nearly-superhuman quick-draw and targeting skills. He also attempts to keep Lupin grounded where women are concerned, and especially where Fujiko is concerned; he has made his dislike of her and her motivations plain on many occasions. He works very well with Goemon, however, especially when it comes to taking down large portions of the enemy forces.

---

• Affectionate Nickname: "Grumpy Bear" in the German dub of Part 1.
• AM/FM Characterization: Classical music in some episodes, ballads in others.
• Ammunition Backpack: Has been used on occasion, most notably in the The Columbus Files.
• Anti-Hero: Type IV
• Arbitrary Skepticism: Depending on the writer. Believes in curses, but not the loch ness monster (until he sees it). He also either does or doesn't believe in ghosts. Basically, Jigen is cautiously skeptical in the supernatural and will believe something if he's sure he's seen it.
• Badass
• Badass Beard
• Badass in a Nice Suit
• Blinding Bangs: Sometimes, when he isn't wearing his hat.
• But Not Too Foreign: Despite his Japanese name (the structure of which can change Depending on the Writer; sometimes "Jigen" is given as his first name) there's evidence to suggest that Jigen isn't Japanese at all, but possibly American. He tends to come off as the most "American" member of the cast (and averting Eagle Land to boot) with his casual and laid-back nature and sarcastic cynicism.
• Blind Without'Em: Jigen is sometimes shown to need his hat to help his amazing targeting skills.
• Chekhov's Skill: His years of experience as a mob hitman have led him to become very good at treating bullet wounds. In Part 2 Episode 129 he removes the bullet from a young woman's leg, and in The Castle of Cagliostro it's hinted that he operated on Lupin when he got shot through the chest.
• Cold Sniper
• Deadpan Snarker: provides a cool head to contrast Lupin's off-the-wall behavior.
• Depending on the Writer: Averted; Jigen has remained the most consistent character throughout all of the manga and anime incarnations. How brooding and grumpy or mellow and easygoing he is depends on the incarnation.
• Dub Name Change:
  • In France, he's known as either Isidore or Auguste.
  • In Cliff Hanger, he was renamed Jeff.
• Gleeful and Grumpy Pairing: Sullen and snarky, compared to the excitable and bouncy Lupin.
• The Gunslinger: Indicated to be a better shot than Lupin.
• Hates Being Touched: He will sometimes be very uncomfortable with physical contact.
• Heterosexual Life Partners: He's Lupin's most constant and reliable companion.
• Hidden Eyes: So much so that it adds to the art dissonance when he's constantly drawn with visible eyes.
• Improbable Aiming Skills: And how! He brings down heavily armored vehicles with a single shot, and knocks enemy bullets out of the air with ease.
• Last-Name Basis: see But Not Too Foreign, above.
• Limited Wardrobe: Black suit? Check. Fedora? Check. Pistol? Check.
• Loveable Rogue
• Mr. Fanservice: The manliest cast member, and gets almost as many nude scenes as Lupin.
• Mr. Fixit: When it comes to guns or anything related to them.
• Never Bareheaded: He is rarely seen without his fedora. He won't wear it when necessary for a disguise (so few deliverymen or uniformed officers wear fedoras), but will wear it at pretty much any other occasion — including while scuba-diving in a rapidly-moving aqueduct.
• Nice Hat
• Not So Above It All: He will sometimes get in on Lupin's antics, or tease Lupin whenever he's the victim of a pratfall.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: Blue to Lupin's Red.
• Smoking Is Cool: Only smokes when he's relaxed. If he's getting tense, Jigen will put it out.
• Stealth Hi Bye: But not quite Lupin's level.
• Tsundere: Not as obviously as Zenigata, but once in a while he will be found acting like he doesn't care about Lupin and then have a big smile on his face when he enters the room. Later episodes would depict him as a typical modern tsundere who gets flustered if anyone suggests he's attracted to Lupin. The Castle of Cagliostro plays both aspects down: he worries about Lupin, but doesn't make a big deal out of it.

Goemon Ishikawa XIII

Japanese Voice Actors: Chikao Ohtsuka (1971), Makio Inoue (1977-2010), Daisuke Namikawa (2011-present) English Voice Actors: Steve Kramer, Kirk Thornton (Streamline), Richard Epcar (Cagliostro), Mike McFarland (Funimation), Lex Lang (Geneon)

"Once again, I have cut a worthless object..."

Originally, Goemon was one of Lupin's marks; the master thief wanted the secrets to Goemon's incredible sword and his amazing ability to use it. This caused their first confrontation to end with both of them being lit on fire. Since then, the thief has impressed Goemon enough for the master samurai to join Lupin's gang and participate in his incredible schemes. More moody than Jigen, Goemon often has a tendency to go off on his own in the middle of missions, or occasionally joins up with Fujiko, in spite of the fact that he is just as wary of her as Jigen is. But make no mistake... when the chips are down, Goemon will come back to Lupin's side in the end to help him deal with whatever mess he has managed to get himself into.

---

• Absurdly Sharp Blade: Lampshaded in the sword's anime incarnation; the name Zantetsuken translates as "Iron-Cutting Sword."
• Ambiguously Brown: In the manga, pilot film, and The Secret of Mamo feature film.
• AM/FM Characterization: Strictly enka music. Though he once had a Village People song stuck in his head.
• Anti-Hero: Type IV
• Badass
• Bishie Sparkle: Happened in one episode of the second TV series. And he got wings, too. Seriously.
• Bishonen: Although it varies from artist-to-artist.
• Culture Equals Costume
• Defeat by Modesty: He often slices the clothes off his opponents (he has also done this to Lupin to show his displeasure).
• Depending on the Writer: Goemon's first manga incarnation is much more temperamental and impetuous than his more well-known anime personality. Aside from that, he is the second most consistent character.
• Drama Queen: Becomes very self-effacing whenever his sword fails to cut anything. He also considers seppuku after losing to a slot machine.
• Dub Name Change: In France, he's called Yokitori.
• Everything's Better with Samurai: Goemon's reason for being one in modern-day society. In Real Life, it was Monkey Punch's reason for adding him to the gang.
• Famous Ancestor: The modern Goemon is descended from Ishikawa Goemon, an honorable thief of old Japan who is the subject of a well-known kabuki play.
• Friend to All Living Things: He once refused to cut down a huge crocodile when he and Jigen fell into a trap pit. However, he managed to wrestle it and tie it up with his kimono.
• Full Potential Upgrade: Goemon originally kept breaking swords with his slicing technique.
• Hey, It's That Voice!: Captain Harlock, to be precise.
• Implausible Fencing Powers: It would be shorter to list what Goemon can't do with his sword. On top of that, he seems able to choose what it cuts.
• Ishikawa Goemon: Lupin's Goemon is the descendent of that Goemon (see Famous Ancestor above).
• Limited Wardrobe: The colors of his kimono and hakama change, and that's about it.
• Luminescent Blush
• Mr. Fanservice: Goemon prefers to swim in nothing more than a Fundoshi.
• No Smoking: Goemon is the only main character who has not been seen smoking.
• Not So Stoic: He will, once in a while, be seen reacting with shock or surprise. He also cried when his sword was stolen in Part 2 Episode 61.
• Picky Eater: In some versions, Goemon is unwilling to eat anything other than Japanese food.
• Ronin: Particularly in the movies & specials, he's usually found wandering somewhere before Lupin contacts him.
• Samurai
• Spider Sense: In the second TV series and a couple of the TV specials, Zantetsuken occasionally acquired a "shadow of death" on the blade, warning Goemon of major danger ahead.
• The Stoic: In the anime. In the manga, he is much more openly emotional.
• The Other Darrin: Had two voice actors for Streamline - Kirk Thornton for Mystery of Mamo and Steve Kramer for all other projects.
• The Only One Allowed to Defeat You: His original motivation for joining Lupin's gang. Has pretty much since fallen by the wayside.
• The Quiet One: Usually, though sometimes he's more of The Stoic.
• Screams Like a Little Girl: Once or twice. In Part 2 Episode 128, he emits an absurdly girlish shriek when Lupin barges into his and Jigen's room.
• Thunderbolt Iron: The manga origin story for his sword. Lampshaded in its manga name, Nagareboshi.
• Weaksauce Weakness: Goemon's Absurdly Sharp Blade has cut through four-foot-thick trees, armored cars, main battle tanks, but will be stopped dead by konnyaku gel (or whatever the plot of the episode requires).

Fujiko Mine

Japanese Voice Actresses: Eiko Masuyama (1969, 1977-2010), Yukiko Nikaido (1971), Miyuki Sawashiro (2011-current) English Voice Actresses: Edie Mirman (Streamline), Dorothy Fahn (Cagliostro), Meredith McCoy (Funimation), Michelle Ruff (Geneon)

"Luuuu-pin!"

A master thief in her own right, Fujiko is Lupin's one obsession that isn't stealing or messing with those who deserve it. She will often work with Lupin, only to screw him out of the goods in the end. Or perhaps she sets up Lupin for a job that ends up with him doing all the dirty work for her. Either way, she knows how to use Lupin and his love of her to get what she wants. In spite of her blatant use-and-abuse of Lupin, she has been shown on a number of occasions to truly love and care about him, and is quick to be at his side when things have really gone wrong. Occasionally, Fujiko will set up independent jobs of her own that have nothing to do with Lupin, but always end up paralleling one of his jobs in the end. Jigen pretty much wants nothing to do with her ever, but strangely Goemon, even with his honorable nature, has been known to partner up with her on the occasional heist.

---

• Absurd Phobia: She has a fear of frogs.
• Action Girl
• Animal Motifs: Butterflies and peacocks in The Woman Named Fujiko Mine.
• Anti-Hero: Type IV
• Badass
• Bi the Way: The Woman Named Fujiko Mine sees her humoring the advances of Schoolgirl Lesbians.
• Buxom Beauty Standard: The trope maker, being physically modeled on Bond Girls such as Honey Rider and Pussy Galore.
• Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: Fujiko double-crosses Lupin to Zenigata and/or the villain of the week regularly, and usually then goes on to side with Lupin again later on in the episode/movie. Then betray him again in order to take the treasure for herself. Despite the frequency of these betrayals, Lupin is still willing to trust her (Which inevitably gets him double-crossed again in the next movie).
• Combat Pragmatist: Perhaps even more so than Lupin.
• Dark and Troubled Past: Alluded to in The Woman Named Fujiko Mine; molestation as a child is involved at the very least.
• Defiant Captive: While in captivity, she generally keeps a cool head and will sometimes even offer a witty remark.
• Depending on the Writer: Moreso than the others. Fujiko's loyalty, attitude, interest in Lupin, and tendency to keep her clothes on change dramatically between iterations.
• Depending on the Artist: Fujiko has undergone the most redesigns of any of the Lupin characters
• Distressed Damsel: Occasionally, though this role more often goes to the female lead created for the film.
• Double Entendre: Her name translates as "Twin Peaks."
• Dressing as the Enemy: Almost as often and as well as Lupin.
• Dub Name Change: In France, she's called Magali, and in Italian she's sometimes called Margot, but not always.
• Easily Forgiven: Despite her repeated betrayals, Lupin continues to blindly trust her. This is because he knows she betrays him a lot, but she makes his life exciting so he almost doesn't care.
• Even the Girls Want Her: As Cicciolina from The Woman Named Fujiko Mine is helpful enough to point out.

Cicciolina: What a beautiful body. Men would... No, even women would surely become enslaved by it.

• Fan Service: Early and often.
• Femme Fatale: Monkey Punch has stated that she was based on another famous femme fatale, Milady de Winter.
• Friends with Benefits: with Lupin, for the reason mentioned above. She also mentions this briefly, to Clarisse, in Cagliostro.
• Lovable Traitor: Generally, Lupin finds her treachery to be part of her charm, but not always.
• Loveable Rogue
• Master of Disguise: Hard to tell, but she does use some of the same tricks as Lupin, at least.
• Ms. Fanservice: To the audience and to Lupin.
• Omniglot: In A Woman Named Fujiko Mine.
• The Rival: To Lupin. In the TV series A Woman Named Fujiko Mine, Lupin specifically designates Fujiko to be his rival as a way to solve his boredom with being an unstoppable master thief.
• The Smurfette Principle: There have been plenty of female characters in Lupin III, but she's the only one to appear in every version of the franchise.

Interpol

Inspector Koichi Zenigata

Japanese Voice Actors: Goro Naya (1969-2010), Koichi Yamadera (2011-present) English Voice Actors: David Povall (Streamline), Dougary Grant (Manga Cagliostro), Phillip Wilburn (Funimation), Jake Martin (Geneon)

"Stop, Lupin! You're under arrest!"

The perpetual foil of the Lupin gang, Inspector Zenigata is the most dedicated cop you could ever find. He will bring Lupin and his cronies to justice... at least as soon as he figures out how to ensnare his rival once and for all. The problem isn't that Zenigata is a bad detective; he's actually quite intelligent and quick-thinking. It's just that Lupin is even better at outwitting the good inspector. Luckily, Lupin is kind enough to leave behind the real crooks in the whole affair for Zenigata to claim and turn in. With his amazing record of catches and closed cases, Interpol usually has little issue with letting Zenigata continue in the perpetual pursuit of his rival.

---

• Adaptational Nice Guy: In the manga, he was much more willing to use underhanded tactics and unquestioningly tries to kill Lupin a few times. In the beginning of Part 1, he's set on killing Lupin but respects his right to love Fujiko. When Miyazaki took over, as Lupin's personality mellows out, so does Zenigata's, and he becomes the tsundere and bruiser with a soft center we're all familiar with.
• Agent Scully: Like Jigen, he will believe in the supernatural if he sees it, but doesn't believe in curses.
• AM/FM Characterization: Mainly enka music.
• Ambiguously Brown: In the first TV series. He also had a ruddy complexion in The Castle of Cagliostro.
• Anguished Declaration of Love: In the English dub of Part 2 Episode 32. The problem is, when he made the declaration, Lupin was in a deep sleep, thanks to a special drug, and Zenigata thought he had been shot dead.
• Antagonist in Mourning: On the occasions where Lupin appears to be dead, Zenigata genuinely mourns him. In The Fuma Conspiracy, he actually becomes a Buddhist monk to pray for Lupin's soul.
  • Then again, in Mystery of Mamo, Lupin is hanged and Zenigata is about to gleefully put a stake through the heart of Lupin's corpse when it explodes, and it's revealed that the dead Lupin is a clone, much to Zenigata's chagrin.
    • The deleted opening of that film plays Zenigata's grief straight.
• Badass: Capable of chasing the world's greatest thief to the ends of the earth, as well as arresting anyone of lesser skill. Generally inversely proportional to his status as Butt Monkey.
• Bad Bad Acting: While chasing Lupin through the titular The Castleof Cagliostro, they discover that the Silver Branch of the Cagliostro family has been secretly manupulating global economics with massive amounts of perfectly counterfeited money for centuries. He brings armloads of evidence to his bosses at Interpol, but forgot until the last minute that those were the same people Cagliostro had been manipulating and that they weren't about to admit to it, especially since lots of them were actively playing Cagliostro against other nations. So with Fujiko's help, he takes a camera team (who are doing a live worldwide broadcast) into Castle Cagliostro supposedly to catch Lupin, but then makes a detour into the castle's basement printing area...

What Is This! Look At ALL This Mo-ney! These Are Yen! Could It Be COUNTERFEIT? Oh, No! I Came Here To Cap-Ture Lupin And Un-Covered A Crim-In-Al Plot! Oh, What To DO?

• Big Eater: Certainly justified in that you must eat metric ton-loads of food to have the energy to chase Lupin. In one episode, he ate twenty hamburgers in one sitting!
• Bruiser with a Soft Center: He's a tough fighter and a competent cop, but he's very sensitive and prone to tears.
• Butt Monkey: Often in the goofier entries of the Lupin franchise (notably the second and third TV series). In the manga, he would be frequently humiliated by Lupin, and sometimes bring pratfalls on himself, such as getting his hand stuck in a jar.
• Chained Heat: Zenigata's favorite weapon? Thrown handcuffs.
• Character Development: He starts off wanting Lupin sentenced to death, until episode 4, where he realizes that because he has pursued Lupin his whole life, he will lose his purpose with the thief executed and barely hides his ecstasy when it seems he has escaped. Since then, he keeps hoping Lupin will escape whenever he's caught, and secretly wants to be the thief's friend.
  • In the manga, he starts realizing what he has before it's gone much later than in the anime.
• Characterization Marches On: Under Masaaki Osumi he was a brooding, angry, hardboiled type with a nasty sense of humor, even as his tsundere tendencies were emerging. On top of that, he was corrupt and didn't question aiding gangsters or making deals with Fujiko. Under Miyazaki, he mellowed out into a hardworking, honest police officer who is resourceful if impulsive and overly emotional.
• Charles Atlas Superpower: Seriously, Zenigata is in incredible physical shape for his age, and is probably the most skilled and tough hand-to-hand combatant in the series. He can, subconsciously, perform physical feats that border on superhuman, and can dispatch multiple attackers without breaking a sweat.
• Cool Old Guy: Zenigata is roughly twice the age of Lupin. So the idea that he can't catch Lupin seems justified, which would avert this trope. Then you realize that people younger than Lupin aren't able to keep up with him, but Zenigata is. Even at his worst, he's a man old enough to be Lupin's father, who manages to follow him around the world!
• Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: Quite simply, Zenigata is THE WORLD'S GREATEST COP. Not only has he actually managed to arrest Lupin from time to time, he's also a formidable fighter, investigator, and most important, a truly fair and good cop.
• Depending on the Artist: How handsome or weird-looking he is depends on the character designer.
• Depending on the Writer: Zenigata's competency is the main variable. Is he a bumbling idiot, or a worthy rival to Lupin? The series will often play around with this, in that he is capable of capturing Lupin but is secretly reluctant to have him executed. Whether his pursuit of Lupin is professional or personal depends on the writer, as is his level of focus on the job; in The Mystery of Mamo his pursuit of Lupin is personal, while in The Castle of Cagliostro he enjoys the chase but will set it aside for more important cases. Is his relationship with Lupin animosity, friendship or, taken to an extreme, an unrequired crush? The latter angle has been leant into in recent installments.
• The Determinator: Zenigata has, from the perspective of other characters and on more than one occasion, come back from the dead because they mentioned Lupin's name.
• Disproportionate Retribution: In Part 2 Episode 139, he attempts to arrest Lupin with a giant plunger from a motorcycle sidecar, and ends up getting kidnapped and having his body swapped with a dying old rich guy.
• Dub Name Change: In France, he's Inspector Gaston Lacogne. In Latin America, he's cleverly renamed Zuñiga.
• Due to the Dead: On the occasions Zenigata has apparently died, he has received full honors from Interpol.
• Enemy Mine: Mainly with Lupin, although a couple of times he has cooperated with other gang members (such as Fujiko).
• Exhausted Eye Bags: Has these in early Part 2.
• Failure Is the Only Option: Unless Lupin wants to be captured, Zenigata can't bring him in. Played with in that, after the events of Part 1 Episode 4, he doesn't want Lupin executed and so often secretly wishes for him to escape.
• Famous Ancestor: Zenigata is descended from Heiji Zenigata, an Edo-era detective featured in a popular Japanese novel, film, and TV series. His ancestor was known for throwing coins, but the modern Zenigata throws handcuffs instead.
• Foe Yay: Other characters have Lampshaded how sexual some of Zenigata's comments get. Some installations in the franchise imply that he does have feelings for Lupin. Often he will complain about the relationships he has forsaken in order to be Lupin's sworn rival; in Part 3 Episode 32 Lupin reminds him that he has no-one to blame but himself. In Legend of the Gold of Babylon he demands that Lupin kiss him, although he didn't really know what he was saying in the moment. In one scene from Seven Days Rhapsody he acted very deredere, nuzzling Lupin's face and looking like he was about to smooch him. The German dub of Part 1 leans heavily into the gay subtext.
• Friendly Enemy:
  • When he was pulled off the Lupin case during Voyage to Danger, his first action was to find Lupin's hideout (which he did in less than an hour) and warn them of the plan to execute the Lupin gang.
  • The feeling's mutual; while they may be on opposite sides of the law and he may bust his balls on occasion, Lupin genuinely respects Zenigata and has actual friendly affection for him. So much so that, on occasions where a villain actually hurts Zenigata in any way, Lupin will make sure the villain pays a thousandfold. He wouldn't have anyone else chasing him.
  • Lupin has gone on record stating that although Zenigata has thus far failed to (permanently) capture him he's certainly the best there is and probably will succeed... eventually.
• Hero Antagonist
• Hunk: Is a muscular, square-jawed man who's built like a jock, although sometimes he's drawn as having a fairly skinny neck.
• Idiot Ball: He's a great detective, and gets far closer to catching Lupin than anyone else. But when the plot (or at least the Rule of Funny) requires it, his competence can plummet quickly.
• Iron Butt Monkey: Endures no end of pain and humiliation, but hardly anything can keep him down for long.
• Large Ham: "Luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup-onnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!"
• Last-Name Basis: His first name is rarely mentioned (it's "Koichi"). Everybody usually refers to him as Zenigagta-keibu ("Inspector Zenigata"), except for Lupin who refers to him as tottsan ("Pops" or "Old Man").
• Lima Syndrome: Starts developing a soft spot for Lupin while the thief is in captivity.
• Limited Wardrobe: His trenchcoat and hat are constants.
• Married To The Job: His whole life is dedicated to his work.
  • Played for tragedy in the manga when he finally kills Lupin, though not before offering a premature eulogy.
• Meaningful Name : "Koichi", the way the kanji is written, means "One happiness", which befits his singular goal in life of pursuing Lupin.
• Nice Hat
• Spotting the Thread: Lupin calling him "Tott-san" ("Pops" or "Old Man") usually gives the thief away.
• The Only One Allowed to Defeat You: He's helped Lupin escape from other cops for this reason.
• Overshadowed by Awesome: His constant failures catching Lupin tend to have fans wondering how he keeps his job. The answer is all of the other criminals he manages to put away while chasing the master thief around. Any normal detective would never get within 500 feet of Lupin. Justified in that Zenigata knows how awesome Lupin is and often wants him to escape because he loves the thrill of chasing him.
• Progressively Prettier: Pretty is a stretch, but because of the character design changes, he's much more handsome at the end of Part 2 than he is at the beginning.
• Prone to Tears: He is the most emotional of the main characters and will break down in tears if Lupin is in mortal danger, or if his career is either in jeopardy or vindicated.
• Sympathetic Inspector Antagonist: the former Trope Namer.
• Tsundere: Classic under Osumi, Modern from Part 2 onwards. He starts off wanting Lupin dead and soon develops a soft spot for him. The rest of the series has him denying to officers that he likes Lupin while also being unable to come up with a reason why he always lets him escape arrest.
• Trademark Favorite Food: Zenigata's diet leaves a lot to be desired: it basically consists of boiled ramen noodles and black coffee. Probably justified in that his constant pursuit of Lupin doesn't allow him much time to have a decent meal. When he DOES have time to eat more than usual, he's a Big Eater. He loves ramen so much that a real-life ramen restaurant in Milan was named after him.
• Uncertain Doom: Downplayed, since there are moments where he has emerged from perilous situations alive (such as in The Mystery of Mamo and Part 3 Episode 46). However, some episodes end with him in a situation he seemingly has no chance of surviving, such as going down in a submarine in Episode 105 of Part 2, or being left behind in a dying old man's body in Episode 139.
• Undying Loyalty:
  • Zenigata's subordinates from the Japanese police force are the most loyal, dedicated group of police officers ever, and will ALWAYS follow Zenigata's hunches. They're so loyal, if Zenigata defies orders from Interpol, they WILL follow him, consequences be damned.
  • Not only the Japanese ones, as shown in Voyage to Danger: when Zenigata was pulled from the case and told this to the by-the-book Italian cops at his orders, they packed and returned home, letting a trapped and desperate Lupin go because that would have meant that Zenigata wasn't the one catching him.
• Worthy Opponent: Part of Zenigata's fascination with Lupin. Towards the end of the second manga he admits that Lupin is one of the few people he would call a genius.