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Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser (2009) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser (2009) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2009 · 111 mins · Japanese
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Directed by
Yasuichiro Yamamoto
Starring
Minami Takayama, Megumi Hayashibara, Daigo, Mami Koyama, Nana Mizuki, Ami Koshimizu

A newly recruited Black Organization operative, responsible for the drug that shrank Shinichi Kudo, discovers that the child‑detective Conan is actually Shinichi in disguise. This knowledge endangers everyone close to him, and Gin along with other Organization members move quickly to eliminate any threats and keep their secret hidden.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (9)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser
  8. 8 Every angle
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9 main characters · contains spoilers

Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser (2009), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Conan Edogawa (Shinichi Kudo)

    played by Minami Takayama

    A brilliant, perceptive teen detective trapped in a child's body, Conan relentlessly pursues the truth behind the Black Organization's crimes. He connects clues across prefectures, uses his wit to outsmart suspects, and coordinates with Heiji and others to prevent more deaths. His resolve to bring the Organization to justice drives the investigation forward.

    • 🧠 Intelligence
    • 🧭 Investigation
    • 🔎 Deduction
  • Vermouth

    played by Mami Koyama

    A cunning member of the Black Organization who toys with appearances and information. She uses disguises and calculated moves to manipulate events and test Conan's limits. Her presence underscores the persistent danger posed by the Organization.

    • 🎭 Disguise
    • 🗝️ Manipulation
    • 🕵️‍♀️ Cunning
  • Irish

    played by Yûji Mikimoto

    A high-level operative disguised as Matsumoto, he betrays the trust of colleagues to safeguard the Black Organization's secrets. He reveals himself in crucial moments, protecting Conan and pursuing the memory chip, and ultimately dies after a heroic act.

    • 🛡️ Disguise
    • 🧬 Memory-chip
    • 💔 Sacrifice
  • Nanako Honjou

    The young woman whose death two years earlier serves as a catalyst for the killer's plan. Her memory drives the investigation, as others become entangled in the motive of revenge surrounding her life and relationships.

    • 💔 Tragedy
    • 🪞 Memory
    • 🗺️ Backstory
  • Kazuki Honjou

    Nanako's killer, driven by an obsessive need to punish those he blames for taking her away. He engineers the murders by using Mizutani as a scapegoat, expertly masking his own role until the final reveal.

    • 🗝️ Motives
    • 🧭 Obsession
    • 🗡️ Revenge
  • Ran Mouri

    played by Wakana Yamazaki

    A brave ally to Conan who demonstrates toughness in dangerous moments on the case, including confronting threats at Tokyo Tower. Her involvement helps push Conan toward the truth and keeps the stakes personal.

    • ❤️ Loyalty
    • 🥊 Courage
    • 🧭 Investigation
  • Heiji Hattori

    played by Ryo Horikawa

    A sharp-witted friend of Conan who collaborates on the case, offering local insight and helping connect clues spread across different locations. He provides support and perspective amid escalating danger.

    • 🧠 Brainpower
    • 🤝 Partnership
    • 🗺️ Local insight
  • Gin

    played by Yukitoshi Hori

    A ruthless agent of the Black Organization who commands the operation with cold efficiency and a willingness to shoot to protect the plan. His actions escalate the danger when confronting Conan and Irish.

    • ⚔️ Power
    • 🧊 Cold-blooded
    • 🗺️ Organization
  • Kogoro Mouri

    played by Akira Kamiya

    A seasoned detective whose involvement provides a counterpoint to Conan's methods, often serving as comic relief while also playing a crucial role in pursuing the truth.

    • 🕵️ Detective
    • 🧩 Collaboration
    • 👨‍👦 Father figure

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:06

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Setting

Where and When Does Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser Take Place?

The setting of Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser (2009): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Location

Japan (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Nagano and other prefectures)

The story unfolds across multiple locations in Japan, from hillside roads and toll stations to Kyoto and Tokyo. It links murders across Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Nagano and other prefectures, requiring nationwide police coordination. The settings emphasize cross-prefectural investigation and tense encounters in both urban and remote sites.

  • 🗺️ Japan-wide
  • 🏙️ Urban-rural mix

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:06

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3 major themes

Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser (2009) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Deduction

    Conan pieces together the crime from scattered clues—a dying message, Mahjong tiles, and star-pattern mappings—turning ambiguous events into a clear pattern. The investigation relies on careful observation, cross-checking alibis, and connecting disparate murders. The film builds tension as each clue narrows the suspect pool and reveals a larger conspiracy.

  • Undercover Organization

    The Black Organization operates from the shadows, disguising its members within police and official appearances. Irish is revealed to be a key undercover asset, having infiltrated the investigation as part of a larger plan to obtain a memory chip. The case highlights the danger of deception and the risks of crossing paths with a ruthless network. The pursuit exposes how trust can be weaponized.

  • Revenge

    Kazuki Honjou's actions stem from an obsessive need to punish those he blames for taking Nanako away. The murders are framed as personal vendettas rather than random violence, using Mizutani as a scapegoat. The tension culminates in a confrontation that reveals hidden motives and tragic consequences. The storyline shows how grief can fuel a calculated, deadly plan.

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:06

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Character & theme questions

Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser (2009): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser set?

The movie takes place across Japan, spanning multiple prefectures including Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, and Nagano. The investigation involves murders linked across different regions, requiring nationwide police coordination. Key locations include hillside roads, toll stations, Kyoto, and Tokyo Tower.

  • japan
  • tokyo
  • kyoto
  • setting
  • locations
  • prefectures
Q2

What is the Black Organization's role in this movie?

The Black Organization appears as the overarching threat, with members like Gin and Vermouth actively working to eliminate anyone who uncovers their secrets. A newly recruited operative who created the drug that shrank Shinichi discovers Conan's true identity, putting everyone close to him in grave danger. The Organization moves quickly to silence threats.

  • black organization
  • gin
  • vermouth
  • secret organization
  • threat
Q3

Who is Conan in Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser?

Conan Edogawa is actually Shinichi Kudo, a brilliant teen detective who was shrunk into a child's body by the Black Organization's drug. In this movie, he leads the investigation across prefectures, connecting clues and working with Heiji Hattori to solve the murder case while evading the Black Organization's attempts to eliminate him.

  • conan
  • shinichi kudo
  • detective
  • protagonist
Q4

Who is Irish in the movie?

Irish is a high-ranking Black Organization operative disguised as police officer Matsumoto. He infiltrates the investigation to obtain a memory chip but ultimately betrays the Organization to protect Conan. He reveals his true identity at crucial moments and dies heroically after saving Conan's life.

  • irish
  • undercover
  • police infiltrate
  • matsumoto
  • memory chip
Q5

What is the deduction theme in The Raven Chaser?

The movie centers on Conan piecing together clues including a dying message, Mahjong tiles, and star-pattern mappings to solve the case. Each clue narrows the suspect pool and reveals a larger conspiracy, with the investigation relying on careful observation and connecting disparate murders across prefectures.

  • deduction
  • investigation
  • clues
  • mystery solving
Q6

What is the revenge theme in The Raven Chaser?

The revenge theme centers on Kazuki Honjou, who murders people because he blames them for taking Nanako away. His killings are calculated vendettas rather than random violence, using Mizutani as a scapegoat. The storyline demonstrates how grief can fuel deadly, calculated plans.

  • revenge
  • Kazuki Honjou
  • Nanako Honjou
  • vendetta
  • motive
Q7

Who is Vermouth in Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser?

Vermouth is a cunning member of the Black Organization known for using disguises and manipulating information. She toys with appearances and tests Conan's limits throughout the movie, representing the persistent danger posed by the Organization.

  • vermouth
  • black organization
  • disguise
  • manipulation
Q8

Who is Gin in the movie?

Gin is a ruthless Black Organization agent who commands operations with cold efficiency. He is willing to shoot to protect the Organization's plans and escalates the danger when confronting Conan and Irish, embodying the Organization's deadly threat.

  • gin
  • black organization
  • villain
  • agent
Q9

Who is Heiji Hattori in The Raven Chaser?

Heiji Hattori is Conan sharp-witted friend who collaborates on the case, offering local insight and helping connect clues spread across different prefectures. He provides crucial support and perspective as the danger escalates throughout the investigation.

  • heiji hattori
  • friend
  • ally
  • investigator
  • support
Q10

Who is Ran Mouri in Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser?

Ran Mouri is Conan's brave ally who demonstrates toughness in dangerous moments, including confronting threats at Tokyo Tower. Her involvement keeps the stakes personal for Conan and helps push him toward the truth.

  • ran mouri
  • ally
  • support
  • tokyo tower
  • courage
Q11

Who is Nanako Honjou and why is she important?

Nanako Honjou is the young woman whose death two years prior serves as the catalyst for the killer's revenge plot. Her memory drives the investigation, as others become entangled in the motive of vengeance surrounding her life and relationships.

  • nanako honjou
  • death
  • revenge motive
  • catalyst
Q12

Who is Kazuki Honjou in The Raven Chaser?

Kazuki Honjou is Nanako's killer, driven by an obsessive need to punish those he blames for taking her away. He engineers the murders by using Mizutani as a scapegoat, expertly masking his own role until the final reveal.

  • kazuki honjou
  • killer
  • murderer
  • revenge
  • culprit
Q13

What is the memory chip storyline in The Raven Chaser?

The memory chip is a key plot element that the Black Organization seeks to obtain. Irish, as an undercover operative, infiltrates the investigation partly to secure this chip, making it a central point of conflict between the Organization's members and the heroes.

  • memory chip
  • black organization
  • conspiracy
  • objective
Q14

What is the tone and emotional weight of The Raven Chaser?

The movie has a tense, high-stakes tone sustained by the concealed enemy within police ranks and the Black Organization's constant threat. It carries heavy emotional weight due to themes of vengeance for a lost loved one and the sacrificial death of Irish, resulting in a bittersweet ending.

  • tone
  • emotional weight
  • tension
  • bittersweet
  • themes

Movie threads

More Movies Like Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Conspiracy Thrillers like Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser

Characters race against a hidden enemy to expose a dangerous conspiracy. If you enjoyed the high-tension cat-and-mouse game in Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser, you'll find similar movies here. These stories feature protagonists uncovering dangerous secrets while being hunted by a hidden enemy, blending methodical investigation with intense, fast-paced action.

  • suspenseful
  • urgent
  • methodical
  • dangerous
  • paranoid
  • atmospheric
  • Tone: tense, paranoid, dangerous
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a protagonist, often an investigator or an ordinary person in over their head, who uncovers a conspiracy that puts them in immediate danger. The plot is driven by a tense cat-and-mouse dynamic, where the hero must use deduction and resourcefulness to expose the truth while evading a ruthless and well-organized antagonist.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared structure of a deadly cat-and-mouse chase, a pervasive sense of paranoia, and the high-stakes goal of exposing a hidden truth against overwhelming odds. The combination of intellectual puzzle-solving and visceral threat creates a uniquely gripping experience.

Emotionally Heavy Thrillers like Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser

High-action stories where victory comes at a profound personal cost. Find movies similar to Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser that blend intense thriller action with heavy emotional weight. These films feature bittersweet endings where the resolution of the central conflict is tempered by personal loss and sacrifice, creating a powerful and memorable experience.

  • tragic
  • determined
  • anxious
  • suspenseful
  • solemn
  • heavy
  • Tone: tense, tragic, determined
  • Pacing: fast, emotional
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The story builds through a high-stakes conflict, but the emotional core is driven by themes of vengeance, loyalty, or protection. The narrative journey culminates in a resolution that secures a victory or safety, but at the cost of a major character's life or well-being, emphasizing the tragic weight of the struggle.

Why they belong together: This thread connects movies that share a specific emotional trajectory: combining the relentless pace and danger of a thriller with a narrative that isn't afraid to explore tragic themes and conclude with a somber, bittersweet feeling. The emotional impact is as significant as the action.

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Every angle

Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser (2009) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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