A Murder Behind the Locked Doors of a Celebrity's Apartment
Title A Murder Behind the Locked Doors of a Celebrity's Apartment Other Title An Idol's Locked Room Murder Case Japanese Title アイドル密室殺人事件 (Aidoru Misshitsu Satsujin Jiken) Episode Original Airdate January 22, 1996 Broadcast Rating 11.4% Manga Source Volume 1: Files 6-9 English Dub Title Beware of Idols English Airdate May 26, 2004 Netflix Release Date March 1, 2021 (Japan)
April 25, 2025 (International)Previous Episode The Kidnapping of the Company President's Daughter Next Episode The Case of the Coded City Map
The third episode of the Detective Conan anime series, A Murder Behind the Locked Doors of a Celebrity's Apartment (アイドル密室殺人事件, Aidoru Misshitsu Satsujin Jiken), takes viewers into the glamorous yet perilous world of pop idols.
When famed singer Yoko Okino enlists the help of private detective Kogoro Mouri to investigate a mysterious stalker, what begins as a routine inquiry quickly spirals into a complex and chilling locked-room mystery.
Joined by Conan, Ran, and the Detective Boys, the group’s visit to Yoko’s apartment uncovers a shocking crime that puts everyone on edge and challenges their investigative skills.
Cast
Characters
- Conan Edogawa
- Kogoro Mouri
- Ran Mouri
- Hiroshi Agasa
- Gin (background)
- Vodka (background)
- Ayumi Yoshida
- Mitsuhiko Tsuburaya
- Genta Kojima
- Juzo Megure
- Shinichi Kudo (voice)
Characters Introduced
- Yoko Okino — A 22-year-old pop idol and the client
- Eiichi Yamagishi — Yoko’s dedicated manager
- Officer Tome — Crime scene investigator with Tokyo Police
Gadgets Introduced
-
Voice-Changing Bowtie — A device that allows the wearer to perfectly mimic other people’s voices
Case
Situation
Conan opts not to walk home with his classmates Ayumi, Genta, and Mitsuhiko after school. Instead, he heads to the Mouri Detective Agency, where he finds Kogoro indulging in beer and watching a broadcast featuring Yoko Okino, his favorite pop star. Unexpectedly, Yoko herself arrives as a client, bringing along her manager to seek Kogoro’s assistance regarding a stalker threatening her safety.
Accompanied by Ran and Conan, the team heads to Yoko’s apartment to investigate. The Detective Boys, curious and concerned, trail them. Upon entering, the group is stunned to discover a lifeless body inside the supposedly secure residence.
People
| Name | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Yoko Okino | Idol/Pop star | The client seeking protection |
| Yuko Ikezawa | Idol/Pop star | Yoko’s professional rival |
| Eiichi Yamagishi | Manager | Yoko’s trusted aide |
| Akiyoshi Fujie | Victim | 22-year-old ex-boyfriend and company employee; cause of death: stabbing |
Case Resolution
Critical Evidence:
- Conan uncovers a hoop earring beneath a couch, identified as belonging to Yuko Ikezawa.
- Yuko’s detailed knowledge of Yoko’s apartment — such as the bathroom’s location and a Statue of Liberty figurine that’s actually a lighter — contradicts her claim of never having been there.
- Manager Yamagishi reveals the apartment’s spare key has been missing for some time.
- He also admits to removing a strand of hair from the victim’s hand, which Conan retrieves and suspects Yamagishi believes it belongs to Yoko.
- Conan notes an unusual indentation on the floor and spots of water, with only a single chair upright amid the disorder.
- Inspector Megure observes that the apartment’s temperature is unusually high.
Revelation:
Conan uses the voice-changing bowtie to impersonate Kogoro and unveils the truth behind the peculiar circumstances:
- Yuko Ikezawa orchestrated the missing key situation and the threatening phone calls, explaining her inside knowledge of the apartment.
- The stabbing death was actually a suicide: Fujie had embedded a knife in a block of ice and, in a tragic accident, fell backward onto the weapon from a chair.
- The floor’s indentation was caused by the knife upon impact, and the water stains resulted from the melting ice.
- Fujie increased the apartment’s heating before his death to hasten the ice’s melting and obscure evidence.
Motivations:
- Yuko’s actions were driven by jealousy and a desire to unsettle Yoko to gain leverage through scandal.
- Fujie’s suicide was a response to emotional turmoil after being forced to end his relationship with Yoko. Mistaking Yuko for Yoko during a confrontation, he misread her reaction as rejection, leading to his despair-fueled death.
Staff & Production Details
-
Director: Kenji Kodama
-
Screenplay: Junichi Miyashita
-
Storyboard: Masato Sato
-
Episode Director: Masato Sato
-
Animation Director: Akio Kawamura
-
Character Design: Masatomo Sudo
-
Opening Theme: "Mune ga Dokidoki"
-
Closing Theme: "STEP BY STEP"
Voice Cast
- Minami Takayama as Conan Edogawa
- Kappei Yamaguchi as Shinichi Kudo
- Wakana Yamazaki as Ran Mouri
- Akira Kamiya as Kogoro Mouri
- Kenichi Ogata as Hiroshi Agasa
- Chafurin as Juzo Megure
- Wataru Takagi as Genta Kojima, Next Conan's Hint
- Ikue Otani as Mitsuhiko Tsuburaya
- Yukiko Iwai as Ayumi Yoshida
- Yuri Amano as Yoko Okino
- Asako Dodo as Yuko Ikezawa
- Kazuya Ichijo as Eiichi Yamagishi
- Hitoshi Horimoto as Forensics officer
- Isshin Chiba as Police officer
Manga to Anime Changes
- The Detective Boys actively follow Conan during this case in the anime, whereas in the manga, they only appear starting with the next case.
- Ran’s suspicion of Shinichi’s absence ties to “men in black” in the manga but is omitted in the anime adaptation.
Trivia
- The song Utakata no Yume by Tomoko Shinohara features prominently as Yoko Okino’s performance number in this episode.
- This episode is set canonically one week after Shinichi shrinks into Conan.
- A London cityscape painting, showcasing Big Ben as seen from a bridge, decorates Yoko’s apartment and appears in the closing scenes.
See Also
- Detective Conan Collection 1 Episode Guide
- Conan Edogawa Character Profile
- Detective Conan Manga to Anime Differences
- Detective Conan TV Specials
- Detective Conan Voice Cast
Company President's Daughter Kidnapping Case marks a pivotal moment in the Detective Conan series as it unveils Shinichi Kudo's new identity and the challenges that come with it. The episode combines suspense, mystery, and character development, setting the stage for the thrilling adventures to come. Whether you are a longtime fan or new to the series, this episode is essential to understanding the world of Conan Edogawa.
