Wataru Takagi
- This article is about the character Wataru Takagi. For the voice actor of the same name, see Wataru Takagi (voice actor).
| Wataru Takagi | |
|
| |
| Japanese name: | 高木 ワタル (Takagi Wataru) |
|---|---|
| English name: | Harry Wilder |
| Age: | 26[citation needed] |
| Gender: | Male |
| Nicknames: | Takagi-kun (Sato) Takagi-niisan (Ayumi) |
| First appearance: | Manga: File 171 Anime: Episode 21 |
| Appearances: | Chapters: 332 Episodes: 560 Movies: 20 OVAs: 5 Specials: 12 Openings: 39 Closings: 10 |
| Keyhole number: | Volume 20 |
| Japanese voice: | Wataru Takagi |
| English voice: | Doug Burks |
| Drama actor: | Yuichi Tsuchiya |
Wataru Takagi (高木 ワタル Takagi Wataru) is a police sergeant and detective from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police District's Criminal Investigation First Division.
Contents
Background
Wataru Takagi is a newcomer to the Tokyo Police Criminal Investigations Division 1, having transferred after the bomber case about three years ago but by the time Shinichi Kudo first established his reputation as a detective, about two years ago.[1] His mentor was a senior agent called Date, who died one year before the present timeline. He first met Shinichi's alter ego Conan during the investigation of the murder of actress Isami Nagakura, accompanying Inspector Megure and helping to expose the trick with the identical rooms.[2]
Ever since his joining the force, Takagi (like so many of his other colleagues) has harbored romantic feelings for Miwako Sato. While Sato appeared to have taken a liking to him as well, Takagi was easily discouraged by the way she dealt with other male colleagues, including their superior Inspector Megure (though in that case it was more a daughterly affection to a father figure, since Sato's father had died when she was very young).[3][4] In time, thanks to several severe incidents - and despite the interference of the other officers in the department, chiefly Ninzaburo Shiratori -, their professional relationship grew more personal,[5][6][7][8] and finally Sato and Takagi shared their first kiss after he had been hospitalized in the course of a difficult case[9] and kissed the second time in Chapter 808 when he almost died in a bomb accident.
Personality
While he is initially self-conscious and bumbling, Takagi is a dedicated member of the Tokyo Police Force and shows promise as a good officer as the series progresses. He is one of the few officers who trusts Conan's judgments the most, listening to him at case scenes to find important evidence and sometimes even letting Conan take the lead in their investigation (the case with Sato handcuffed to the wrong suspect in the bathroom being a good example).[10]
Takagi has a strong intuition and sense of justice, and is very honorable. He has a strong drive to protect others, partially based in his profession as an officer, and partially based on a self-sacrificing trait in his personality. He is always very polite, even when alarmed, and defers to the judgment of his partner Miwako Sato not only because she is his senior, but because he truly respects her.
His hobbies are playing the maracas[11] and following the international wrestling scene, being a fan of wrestlers such as Bruiser Brody and Keiji Mutoh, and recognizing a move that Ran does as the "Shining Wizard," a finishing move of Mutoh's.[12]
Plot overview
Relationships analysis
Family & Friends
Miwako Sato
His affection for Sato is a driving force of his character development. While his insecurity and comical outside interference regularly get in the way, he slowly manages to win her heart through his dedication, honesty and sincerity - traits Sato had also admired in her late colleague Jinpei Matsuda. Sato finally kisses Takagi after he has been severely wounded while protecting others.
Conan Edogawa
Takagi has come the closest of any of the Division One members to finding out Conan's true identity. In the Tokyo Tower Bomber Case, while they waited for the elevator bomb's clock to run down to give the final clue to stop the greater crime, Shinichi, as Conan, told Takagi that he would answer Takagi's questions about his real identity "on the other side." Takagi has also come to acknowledge Conan's sharp mind and intellect, taking Conan's observations seriously and even allowing him to accompany him to question suspects, most notably during the New Scar and the Whistling Man Case where he has the rest of the Detective Boys remain in the car.
Wataru Date
Date was Takagi's mentor and close friend. He passed away from a traffic accident. As the pronunciation of his name was the same as Wataru Takagi's, Date said they were "Wataru brothers" (ワタル・ブラザーズ).
Character popularity
- eBookJapan held a character popularity poll from April 12, 2011 to May 12, 2011 in which readers of Detective Conan (international included) could vote for their favorite character. Takagi placed 14th in the poll with 46 votes out of the 5,883 that were cast.[13]
- In honor of the release of the 15th movie, Quarter of Silence, the official Conan movie website held a popularity poll for the top 10 Detective Conan characters. Takagi placed 10th out of 10.[14]
- In honor of the release of the 800th manga chapter, Shonen Sunday held a popularity poll/contest containing 91 Detective Conan characters to choose from. Takagi placed 10th overall with 226 votes.[15]
Name origin
Takagi is named after his voice actor: he was originally a nameless character. In Episode 66, when Megure asks Takagi to check the bloodstains on the roof, his voice actor Chafurin adlibbed the name "Detective Takagi" during the recording session.
Different looks
Quotes
In other languages
| Language | Given Name | Family Name |
|---|---|---|
 Japanese |
ワタル Wataru | 高木 Takagi |
 English |
Harry | Wilder |
 French |
Wataru | Takagi |
 German |
Wataru | Takagi |
 Vietnamese |
Wataru | Takagi |
 Arabic |
Not given | تاكاجي Takaji |
  Korean |
형선 Hyung Sun | 신 Shin |
 Finnish |
Wataru | Takagi |
Trivia
- Despite debuting in On Location, TV Drama Murder Case it isn't until the Karaoke Box Murder Case that Takagi is credited and referred to by that name.
- Takagi's appearance seems to have changed. His old hairstyle included a spikier fringe compared to the current one as well as a darker skin tone.
See also
References
- ^ Manga Chapters 204-207: Shinichi's First Case, and Chapters 366-368: Parade Bomber Case
- ^ Manga Chapters 171-172: Actor's Appartment Case
- ^ Manga Chapter 233: Countdown
- ^ Manga Chapter 269: Time's Up
- ^ Manga Chapters 267-269: Sato's Father Case
- ^ Manga Chapters 366-368: Parade Bomber Case
- ^ Manga Chapters 369-373: Serial Bomber Case
- ^ Manga Chapters 404-406: Missing Ring Case
- ^ Manga Chapter 673: The Common Pattern
- ^ Manga Chapter 232: Finding Evidence
- ^ Manga Chapter 620: The Vanished Blunt Weapon
- ^ Manga Chapter 388: Wolf's Shadow
- ^ "『名探偵コナン』 人気投票結". eBookJapan. 2011-05-12. http://www.ebookjapan.jp/ebj/special/conan/vote_kekka2.asp. Retrieved on 2011-05-15.
- ^ "名探偵コナン「キャラクター人気投票」". www.conan-movie.jp. 2011. http://www.conan-movie.jp/camp_chara/camp15th_res.html. Retrieved on 2011-08-12.
- ^ "Shonen magazine detective conan official poll results published [magazine pic"]. eva. 2012-02-28. http://forum.dctp.ws/index.php?topic=8024.msg651566#msg651566. Retrieved on 2012-02-29.
