Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea

Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea

Year: 2013

Runtime: 110 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Kobun Shizuno

DramaActionAnimation

A state-of-the-art Aegis vessel, in collaboration with Japan’s Ministry of Defense and Maritime Self-Defense Force, becomes the scene of a baffling mystery. A Self-Defense Force member is found dead, missing his left arm, and a spy known only as "X" has infiltrated the ship. With the heroine Ran in danger, young detective Conan must confront the perilous situation and uncover the spy’s motives before it’s too late.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea (2013) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea (2013), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

At Maizuru Bay, coast guard Masaaki Kurata spots a suspicious boat during a routine patrol. A careful inspection uncovers explosives hidden aboard, triggering an urgent report to the Wakasa Coast Guard. The incident quickly becomes news, with authorities noting that the vessel likely crossed into Japanese waters and carried components not manufactured in Japan, hinting at a broader threat.

Later that morning, Conan Edogawa, Ran Mouri and Kogoro Mori, along with Sonoko Suzuki and the Detective Boys, board the Atago-class destroyer to witness public military exercises after winning tickets. They are invited into the ship’s Combat Information Center (CIC), where a simulated air-to-air engagement is run. After the two prepared targets are “shot down,” alarms sound as a real sonar contact closes in on the vessel, prompting the captain to order a full search of the area.

Conan, joined by Ai Haibara who is in Osaka, suspects that a spy, codenamed X, may be among the passengers aboard. While the crew scans the waters, Conan also notices a sick boy known to a nearby man as “Yuki-kun,” hinting at a missing guardian and adding a personal thread to the mystery. Nanami Fuji, a crew member wearing the captain’s insignia, catches Conan’s attention as well.

In Osaka, Heiji Hattori receives a call from Conan and heads to Maizuru with Kazuha Toyama to dig deeper. They locate the body of a lieutenant whose hand had been severed; Heiji notices a red stain on the neck and deduces the body drifted to Osaka after the arm was separated at Maizuru.

On the ship, investigators from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police and Wakasa arrive with an autopsy report stating the victim died by drowning between 4 AM and 6 AM. A phone recovered from the body reveals a last email after 9 PM and a final call at 5:30 AM, while an empty microSD slot hints at a missing data card that could be the target of the leak. Conan deduces that the man seen with Yuki Harbor was the killer’s target, and that Nanami Fuji is connected to the ship’s security apparatus and the intelligence unit.

Conan spots Nanami Fuji attempting to monitor the investigation and quietly engineers a ruse to coax her into revealing herself, then compels her to disclose what she knows about the microSD card. The Intelligence Security Command is soon drawn into the case, confirming that X is suspected of targeting restricted information about the Aegis-class Destroyers.

Further investigations reveal that in the morning the victim waved a Japanese flag at Maizuru Harbour, and confidential destroyer data had been leaked to a shell company connected to a spy named Takekawa, who was spotted in Kyoto. Heiji and Kazuha track Takekawa to a warehouse in Osaka; Takekawa shoots Kazuha, but Heiji dives in and takes the bullet for her. Osaka Police quickly arrest Takekawa on the spot.

Back on the ship, Conan deduces that the man who claimed to be Yuki’s father is actually X, and urges Yuki to hide. X attempts to silence Conan but flees as there are too many civilians nearby. Yuki stops Conan from pursuing, fearing for his real father’s safety. X destroys the footage and takes Yuki hostage, but Ran spots him and leads the police to a crew member who is being held. Yuki identifies X’s real identity as a spy, and Ran fights X but is knocked overboard. Yuki then guides the police to X, who takes another crew member hostage. Conan kicks a soccer ball from his belt and knocks out X.

Conan stuns Kogoro with a device on his wrist and explains the truth about the body. He reveals that [Masaaki Kurata] had killed Sasaura, with an audio file of metallic clinking sounds matching the moment when Kurata’s baton struck his gun used as evidence. Kurata is arrested for obstructing the investigation.

Shortly after, the Detective Boys, Yuki, and Sonoko inform the larger group that Ran has disappeared. The police disclose that X admitted throwing a high-school aged girl with karate skills overboard during the fight. Realizing that Ran was the one thrown overboard, the destroyer turns around to search the last known location. A helicopter is dispatched to locate her, but initially cannot find her. Remembering Mori’s golden business cards she had kept, Conan directs the helicopter to follow the glittering trail—scattered cards floating on the sea—and Ran is eventually rescued alive.

As Conan prepares to leave, Nanami Fuji asks who he really is. Conan replies, in his characteristic, understated manner, that he’s just a typical elementary school student, and dashes off, leaving Nanami to wonder about the enigmatic boy she just met.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 10:35

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies like Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea set on confined vessels

Thrillers where heroes must outsmart a hidden enemy in a claustrophobic, high-stakes environment.If you enjoyed the claustrophobic tension of Detective Conan's warship mystery, you'll like these similar thrillers. Discover films where the suspense comes from being trapped in an isolated location, racing against time to uncover a traitor or survive a deadly threat.

claustrophobicsuspensefulurgentdangerousmethodicalanxioushigh-stakes

Narrative Summary

These narratives typically involve a contained, high-tech environment like a ship or base that becomes a trap. A disruptive event, such as a murder or sabotage, reveals a hidden enemy within the group. The protagonist must investigate under extreme pressure, facing limited resources and the constant threat of escalating danger to expose the truth before it's too late.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared reliance on a confined setting to generate relentless tension, a fast-paced plot driven by a central mystery or threat, and the intellectual challenge of a protagonist solving a high-stakes puzzle while physically trapped.

Movies with young detective protagonists like in Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea

Stories where an unexpectedly sharp young mind tackles a dangerous adult conspiracy.Fans of Conan Edogawa's clever investigations will enjoy these movies featuring young, brilliant minds solving complex crimes. Explore stories where youthful protagonists use their intellect and courage to uncover conspiracies and bring criminals to justice, often against great odds.

methodicalhopefuldangeroussuspensefulcleverurgentyoung hero

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a pattern where a serious adult crime or conspiracy occurs, and conventional authorities are stumped or compromised. The young protagonist, often underestimated, applies their superior intellect and attention to detail to piece together clues, frequently placing themselves in physical danger before achieving a clever, satisfying resolution that saves the day.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by the central archetype of the young detective, the high-stakes nature of the mysteries they solve, the thematic tension of a child operating in a dangerous adult world, and the blend of methodical investigation with moments of intense action and peril.

Unlock the Full Story of Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea

Don't stop at just watching — explore Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea Timeline

Track the full timeline of Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea

Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea