..:WHY I LOVE HIM:..

His Personality! - Koichi is a fun character on the surface, but one that's complex the more you get to know him. I love his dedication to his work and how he cares about the safety of the public. His passion to arrest Lupin regularly encourages me to continue pursuing my dreams. His stubborness is likely his best known trait, and while it has caused a lot of problems, I don't think being stubborn is entirely a bad thing -- it means you won't give up when the going gets rough! There are other elements of his personality that I love, such as...

His Sense of Justice! - I love how Koichi always tries to do the right thing. There are so many problems in our world, and him trying his best to improve it is such an admirable trait. I know he doesn't always succeed and has made mistakes, but to me, that makes him all the more human. His heart is truly in the right place.

His Soft Side! - Koichi's hidden sweetness was the trait that drew me to him. Koichi is a great example of a 'tsundere' -- a Japanese term for a character who is cranky but is actually very loving when you get to know them. I love how shy and blushy he gets around his past love interests, which is such an adorable contrast from his usual professional, serious self. Even with all the problems Lupin and his gang have caused for him, he doesn't want anything bad to happen to them (to the extent of occasionally being a little protective over the troublemakers), and believes they can start a law-abiding life. I think it is so sweet that he wants the best for his enemies.

His Silliness! - With the protagonists of Lupin III being criminals and thieves, Koichi is not only there to give them trouble, but also something else very important to the franchise -- to be comedic relief! This can be a difficult element about him to write, because there are some depictions of Koichi where they have written him too silly (to the extent I wonder how much the writers even like him!), but nonetheless, it is an important part of his identity. He can be awkward, clumsy and bullheaded, which these traits loan themselves very well to comedy. Out of everyone in the cast, he's the one that's had the most misadventures, which makes him all the more lovable and relatable in my opinion. Humor surrounds Koichi, with the best being the ones where he accidentally stumbles into or finds himself in a comedic situation. Though I do wish they were nicer to him...

His design! - In my opinion, Koichi has one of the most unique designs in the anime medium. I also believe that his design compliments his personality perfectly. How? When you first look at him, you notice his outfit -- fedora, trenchcoat, and a nice suit, all in complimentary but safe colors. It's how most imagine what a 'detective' character would be wearing. It's a big contrast from his archnemesis Lupin, who is always wearing something loud and colorful! Koichi's physical appearance also compliments the concept, with his strong chin and boxy build. It's his eyes are where he really starts to stand out. His eyes are big and round with long eyelashes embellishing them -- this design choice shows, despite what his appearance might initially lead you to believe, that there is a sweet and lovable man underneath his strict professionalism. If you have noticed that I write about his eyes a lot, this is some of the reason! (Outside of me finding them absolutely adorable, hehe) His bushy eyebrows and his large mouth also compliment his hot-headed nature. Additionally, his long sideburns are an indicator of the era Lupin III first came out in -- the late 1960s, baby! Everything about his design I absolutely ADORE and everyone who has ever been attached to the Lupin franchise has done such a wonderful job of drawing and animating him.

His voice! - Koichi's original voice actor, Goro Naya, is such an underrated talent in the world of voice acting. I love his performance as Koichi, as he can play him in any way the director(s) of the production needs: friendly, silly, awkward, tough, serious, intimidating... And he always manages to make his voice still sound like 'Koichi', regardless of interpretation! Koichi's voice is gruff, with many of his comments being followed by a low grumble (especially when Lupin's causing trouble). There's also a unique raspiness in it too -- I notice it the most when he's surprised or feeling shy. It's super cute! Koichi's modern voice actor, Koichi Yamadera, does a wonderful job too. Though, it took a very long time to get used to his performance, as his interpretation is deeper and angrier-sounding (in my opinion). Goro Naya will always be my favorite!