Magic Kaito Volume 1 was released on May 15, 1988 in Japan.
It's just another average day in Ekoda High School Class 2-B as childhood friends Kaito Kuroba and Aoko Nakamori chase each other around the classroom after Kaito peeks at Aoko's underwear. Kaito seems pleased with himself until Aoko says that even Kaito couldn't beat Kaitou Kid, a thief known for using magic. Kaito takes Aoko up on this challenge and says he'll catch Kaitou Kid himself and disappears from the classroom. Meanwhile, Aoko's father, Inspector Ginzo Nakamori sees a news report that Kaitou Kid plans on stealing a gem called the Eye of the Moon.
Sitting in his room after school Kaito sees the news report on TV as well. Hearing that Kaitou Kid has reappeared after he suddenly vanished eight years ago reminds Kaito of his father, the famous magician Toichi Kuroba, who passed away eight years ago in a stage accident. While thinking about Toichi, Kaito puts his hand on the portrait of his father hanging in his bedroom and suddenly falls through the wall as the painting flips around. Kaito finds himself in a hidden room and a recorded message on a tape recorder left behind by his father. Unfortunately the tape is old and breaks but then Kaito discovers an unusual outfit. At the same time, Aoko is visiting the Kuroba household and speaks with Kaito's mother Chikage Kuroba in an effort to find out Kaito's weakness. Curious about his father, Kaito puts on the white cape and hat and decides he'll go to the Kid heist to meet him and get some answers.
Princess Anne arrives in one of Japan's airports, bringing along several national treasures, including Europe's largest diamond, "Lots of Sunshine over Paris". Her siamese kitten and constant companion, Belmonde, runs off, only to pinned by several bullets shot by Europe's top detective, Delon. Delon has a reputation for being ruthless and deadly, shooting criminals that try to run. Inspector Nakamori, who is part of Princess Anne's police guard while she's in Japan, arrives intent on finding the shooter, only to be put down by Delon for allowing Kaitou Kid to escape so many times. Delon issues a challenge to Kid to come after the diamond.
In class the next day, Kaito reads an article about the challenge and temporarily disrupts math class with his enraged reaction. Aoko thinks he's looking at Princess Anne's picture rather than the challenge, and he teases her for being jealous. She denies it, claiming she's worried for Nakamori, who thinks he might be removed from the Task Force if Kid gets away from him again. Kaito childishly insults Nakamori's competency, and he and Aoko exchange insults.
After school, as Kaito walks home without Aoko's company, he notices Nakamori sitting just off the path on the grassy embankment, looking depressed. Kaito asks what's wrong and Nakamori explains about the Task Force, Delon's interference, and his inability to predict Kaitou Kid. He apologizes for complaining, then asks Kaito to show him a magic trick, since Aoko always talks about Kaito's skills. Kaito gives a brief show and lesson on sleight of hand, and the hint that Kid's tricks are no more inexplicable than Kaito's.
At the heist that night, Delon guards Princess Anne with an even greater number of the police than the Task Force would. Kaito sneaks in under the disguise of "Count Groper", garnering Delon's suspicion. Outside, Nakamori has realized that more officers is exactly what Kid wants, because it makes it harder to see through his tricks.
The Clockwork Heart
Heist info
Chapter 3
In a crowded laboratory, an eccentric inventor berates his creation for acting on its own initiative, only to be defied and gruesomely killed by what looks like the Kaitou Kid. At Ekoda High, Aoko asks why Kaito wasn't at school the previous day, only for Kaito to recoil and ponder aloud his own reaction to her, tentatively concluding that it might be because he loves her. The entire classroom is knocked speechless, and Kaito leaves to return to the isolated Ogami Electronics Laboratory, where the real Kaito has been restrained and connected to some equipment.
The robot asks Kaito why he has to pretend to be Kaito, but insists he's human when Kaito calls him out as a robot. Kaito asks after the scientist, and is horrified to learn that the robot doesn't understand even the concept of human death, thinking he merely "broke" the scientist. The robot also doesn't understand why he was reprimanded for acting according to his parameters -- the scientist didn't realize the robot has Kid as well as Kaito programmed into his operating program. The robot decides to download the rest of Kaito's memories to try to understand, not realizing that it takes more than memories to make a human.
The robot even phones Inspector Nakamori with another heist notice, and sets a timed explosion to destroy the isolated laboratory with Kaito still inside. The robot truly believes that he is Kaito Kuroba, and plans to "take over the world" as Kaitou Kid. At the heist that night, the robot uses extendable arms to steal the gem and escapes to the next building, proclaiming himself to be Kaitou Kid.
The real Kaitou Kid managed to escape in time, and confronts the robot, who responds with firing guns built into his arms. Kid counters with the card gun, slicing away the robot's false face. A missile explodes part of the building, trapping Kid on the corner as the robot explains it can respond .4 seconds faster than any move Kid makes. Kid tests the announcement, only to be shot in the right arm. Picking the gun up in his left hand, rather than aim at the robot, he aims the card gun at his own head. The robot's automatic response is to blow out its head core, before Kid has to pull the trigger all the way.
The robot falls as Kid proclaims that the world needs only one Kaito Kuroba… and confirms the robot's question that it is going to "die". The robot repeats that for that, it really must human, and explodes as Kid turns away with his hat pulled low. Nakamori arrives to the ruins of the building to find a note that returns the gem and declares the night's heist to be an impostor's work. The next morning, Kaito greets Aoko at school, only for her to blush deeply and avoid him. Confused, Kaito doesn't even know how to react to the rest of the class celebrating their "wedding" with banners and confetti.
People
Kaitou Kid's Busy Day Off
Magic Kaito 1412 Episode 7:
Kaito Kuroba's Busy Holiday
Magic Kaito Special Episode 2:
Kaitou Kid's Busy Date
Heist Info
Chapter 4
Kid arrives for the Angel's Crown, only to be caught by a police spotlight that gives Inspector Nakamori a good view of his face. Kid escapes with a flashbomb but leaves a note that he'll return that Sunday evening. The next morning, Aoko asks Kaito out on a date, despite Kaito's automatic insults to cover his embarrassment. He relents at Aoko's teary-eyed begging, only for her to set the date as Sunday evening at Tropical Land. Aoko denies any true romantic feelings to her inquisitive classmates, privately recalling that in order to counter Nakamori's suspicions of Kaito's face and magical prowess, she swore that Kaito was going on the date she just finagled. She wonders, but doesn't want to believe Kaito could be Kid.
At Tropical Land, Kaito worries that Aoko or Nakamori suspect his identity, but to Aoko's delight, he does show up. Aoko tries too hard to play up the effects in the park and her "typical date" reaction to them, which Kaito foils every time in a deadpan lack of interest. Aoko finally loses her temper at his behavior, which cheers Kaito right up since she's finally acting like herself. They go on to enjoy the park together.
When the time of the Kid heist approaches, Kaito plans to use a 3D movie as a chance to slip away without Aoko noticing, until she handcuffs his arm to a chair. She asks him to stay just a little longer, confirming to Kaito that Nakamori suspects, and Aoko might too. However, he leaves the handcuffs attached to an inflatable dummy's wrist and sneaks out anyway.
At the heist site, as Kid tries to steal the crown, Nakamori manages to grab him and remove the hat and monocle, only to reveal Kid with Aoko's face. Kid boasts that he can become anyone, especially Nakamori's friends and family, including Kaito. Kid escapes, pursued by an enraged Nakamori and the police, and arrives at the park with little over a minute to reach Aoko. He hitches a ride on the outside of the park-encircling roller coaster as the movie reaches its climax, and falls through the roof of the tent into his seat just before the lights rise.
Aoko doesn't seem to notice anything is wrong, including the scrapes Kaito picked up in his desperate return, and sees Nakamori on television challenging Kid with a sense of relief. She declares that Kaito is just Kaito after all, and buys them both ice cream to celebrate.
The Underwater Pirate Ship
Chapter 5
Off the coast of Japan, Aoko scuba dives while Kaito worries about her air. When he berates her once she finally returns, she retaliates by showing off a fish she caught underwater. Kaito freaks out before the fish is suddenly speared by the boat captain, who says it was poisonous but insults Kaito for not being able to appreciate the beauty of the ocean. Aoko agrees, and mentions a beautiful, shining coral that she saw, which catches the captain's interest. He asks her to take him there, and she ignores Kaito's sudden bad feeling and returns to the water with the captain.
Left alone on the boat, Kaito discovers a time bomb and barely makes it off the boat with scuba gear before it explodes. He follows, narrowly avoiding schools of fish and a massive, sleeping shark along the way. In his surprise at seeing the shark and irritation with himself for freaking out, Kaito hits it with a flipper before following Aoko and the captain to what appears to be a submarine trapped in a jagged part of underwater cliff.
Aoko and the captain enter the boat. Unbeknownst to Aoko, the captain is already familiar with the sunken vessel. She explores eagerly until she finds a room full of skeletons and treasure, just before the captain knocks her out, apologizing that he has to kill her to protect the secret of his boat. Suddenly, Kaito appears as Kid, reading aloud from the ship's log. The captain is called Silver, and his father was captain of this pirate ship before mutiny occurred.
Silver threatens Kid with a gun, and when Kid manages to steal it instead, Silver threatens Aoko with a knife. Their standoff is broken by the massive shark's reappearance outside, hunting them, which leaves them with two apparent options: stay until the already thin air inside the ship runs out, or become shark food. Silver seems to give up hope, but Kid tries to convince him that it is possible to surface the ship. They form a tentative alliance, with Kid trusting Silver despite the previous threats. They work to repair the ship, but soon Kid starts to grow faint from lack of oxygen. With one last, desperate attempt, and a heartfelt appeal to the ghost of his dead father, Silver manages to restart the ship. He torpedoes the rocks holding the propellers trapped and the ship rises to the surface while the shark is crushed by falling rock.
Silver and Kid celebrate in the fresh air, but then Silver tries to backstab Kid. Kid appeals to Silver to be an honorable sailor rather than a pirate, but Silver clings to his past. Suddenly, the ship's engines explode, which Silver privately takes to be a sign that his father is angry, confusing him. Kid remembers that he saw an aircraft hanger and get it onto the deck with Aoko sleeping inside. He yells at Silver to jump on as well to escape, but Silver chooses to die with the ship rather than give up what he dedicated his life to protect. He tells Kid to figure out was Kid has to protect, and goes back into the sinking ship.
Left with no choice, Kid leaves Silver behind and pilots the plane back toward land. As Aoko stirs groggily, Kid smiles faintly and ponders what he has to protect.
People
The Scarlet Temptress
Magic Kaito 1412 Episode 5:
A Temptation in Scarlet
Magic Kaito Special Episode 4:
A Witch Sheds No Tears
Characters introduced
Chapter 6
Using mirror-magic, the teenage witch Akako Koizumi discovers that one man is immune to her charms, and thus to her aspiration for all men to be her slaves, Kaitou Kid.
The next morning is Valentine’s Day, and Aoko shyly offers Kaito chocolate, though she tries to pass it off as feeling sorry for him. Kaito, initially oblivious to that fact that it is Valentine’s day, runs off before Aoko can finish her offer. Keiko teases Aoko for liking Kaito, though Aoko tries to deny it, and Keiko mentions that all the other boys only want chocolate from the new student, Akako Koizumi. Keiko dislikes how she’s acting like a queen, though Aoko admires her for being pretty and ladylike.
Kaito gleefully arrives with his arms full of chocolate from other girls at school, and asks Akako for one from her, as well. Akako slaps Kaito’s chocolate to the floor and demands he throw it all away before she'll give him any. To her absolute shock, Kaito refuses. As the teacher sends everyone to their seats, Akako remembers that only one man can refuse her, and swears she’ll unmask Kid.
Akako steals Kaito's handkerchief after school and uses it as part of a complicated spell. Meanwhile, Kid attends his latest announced heist and accidentally triggers a trap of anesthetic gas. He nearly succumbs to sleep before Akako uses the result of her spell, a voodoo doll of Kid, and the pain from her attack wakes Kid back up. Through the magic, she promises Kid that if he comes to her, she'll stop his pain. As Kid tries to figure out her identity, she wounds the Kid doll's head, and Kid's sudden scream and blood dripping down his face shocks the police enough that Kid manages to escape with a smoke bomb. Nakamori looks at the blood trail Kid left behind, and seems worried.
Kid stumbles through the forest, following Akako's siren call, only awake despite the anesthetic still in his system because of the pain. He arrives at Akako’s house, where she awaits him on a throne with the Kid doll in hand, and declares that she'll destroy his dignity by stealing his heart. Kid answers that she'll catch a cold in clothes like that, a midriff-baring top and leggings, a gentlemanly gesture that amuses Akako to no end that he still tries to play the “Kaitou” even in so much pain and when she already knows his identity.
Kid approaches, intent on taking the doll, and is trapped in a previously hidden magic circle. Akako declares that Kid will be her slave, and answers Kid’s comment about her spoiled behavior with a lightning bolt that sparks flames around the circle. With pain from the doll and heat from the magic pushing him to his limits, Kid considers eating the chocolate heart Akako offers him, even though the cost is losing his heart to her forever. However, at the last minute, snow begins to fall and cover the magic circle, nullifying its power. Shocked, Akako can only watch as Kid crushes the chocolate.
Akako rants at Kid's lucky escape, since Kid's magic is nothing but common trickery, while hers is the real thing. Kid agrees, but also explains, with the illustration of a trick, that his magic is in the audience enjoying it despite knowing it's not real. Kid pities Akako for trying to use magic this way, and says he believes she’s better than that. He escapes, leaving Akako to determinedly not cry, because a witch that cries will lose all her power.
Kaito cheerfully arrives at school the next day and asks for Aoko's chocolate. Aoko refuses, as unless it's on Valentine's it isn't special. Kaito appears confused, and reveals, to Aoko's shock, that even after yesterday at school he still doesn't know what Valentine's Day is.
Omake
In this volume, Aoyama includes "bloopers" of each chapter:
Characters introduced
The Revived Phantom Thief
- Kaito: "You mean dad was the Kaitou Kid!?"
- Director: "Cut!"
- Kaito: "What did I do wrong?!"
- Director: "The monocle's on the wrong eye, idiot."
- Kaito: "Whoops..."
Filled With Policemen
- Director: "Princess Anne is up!"
- Aoko: "Okay! I can't believe I have to play two parts because of our tight budget. Oh my!"
- Director: "Cut! Does the princess wear a school dress!?"
- Aoko: "Oopsie..."
The Clockwork Heart
- Kaito: "That's because I l-l-l..."
- Director: "Cut!"
- Aoko: "Love you?"
- Kaito: "In your dreams!"
Kaitou Kid's Busy Weekend
- Kaito: "Ah! Ow...."
- Director: "What?! The cameras didn't get it!? Alright, people, let's take it from the top!"
- Kaito: "What?!"
The Underwater Pirate Ship
- Director: "Cut! Who put that goldfish there!?"
The Scarlet Temptress
- Akako: "Director, I can't wear this costume!"
- Director: "Just wear it!"
- Aoko: "How cruel! Who do you think you are?!"
- Director: "But I'm the director! So just go!"
- Akako: "Okay then. Now, become my slave!"
- Director: "Cut! I need more feeling!"
- Akako: "But that was so cruel to say..."
- Aoko: "NOW, BECOME MY SLAVE!"
- Akako: "Aoko-chan!?"
- Aoko: "Just like that! It's easy!"
- Director: "I should have cast her..."
Trivia
Locations
Settings introduced in this volume:
Models
Crossing in the fourth block of Ginza
The crossroads the helicopters pass close to the end of the first chapter to catch Kaitou Kid is a real crossing in the fourth block of Ginza (Chūō Ward, Tokyo), especially identifiable by the Fujiya Store to the left.
The view would thus be to the southeast, with the helicopters in consequence flying to the northeast to reach Ono Bank (which probably was a nod to the Tokyo Bank, which indeed was located in the Nihonbashi District, to the northeast of Ginza, back then (before merging with Mitsubishi Bank and moving to Chiyoda Ward), which is supported by the fact that "Ono" was a generic placeholder word for terms with "Tokyo" and "Japan" in it, used by Gosho in the same vein as "Tohto" nowadays). Interestingly, this intersection is right next to another famous crossroads in Ginza, the one Kid did his midair walk over in Detective Conan later on.
Fourth block Ginza crossing in real life.
Fourth block Ginza crossing in chapter 1.
Ekoda High School
Ekoda High School, in this incarnation of the story is very probably based on the main building (#3) on the Ekoda Campus of Musashi University, right next to the Ekoda Campus (fine arts) of Nihon University, where Gosho Aoyama and Yutaka Abe (a past mentor and current assistant of his) studied and lived, also not far away from Ekoda Station, which was close to Gosho's apartment.
Interestingly enough, building #3 was a high school once and what is the Ekoda Campus of Nihon today once housed another high school associated with the university, called Ekoda High School(jp) (also shortened as 江古田高校 (Ekoda kōkō), like the school in the manga), which closed in 1976 and is also used as a university building today. All of the mentioned campuses and buildings are located in the adjacent neighbourhoods of Asahigaoka(jp) and Toyotamakami(jp) in Nerima Ward, right at a quadripoint it shares with the wards of Toshima, Nakano (where the actual Ekoda District is located at the border with Nerima) and Shinjuku. Ekoda High School was first used by Yutaka Abe in 100% Tantei Monogatari in 1986 (set in the same universe as Magic Kaito and made with the assistance of Gosho).
Ekoda Campus of Musashi University
Hotel New Otani
During Kaito Kuroba's and Konosuke Jii's fateful encounter, a night-time view of Hotel New Otani Tokyo and its surroundings in the Kioi District of Chiyoda Ward can be seen.
Hotel New Otani in real life.
Hotel New Otani (right) in chapter 1.
Railroad bridge
Kaito Kuroba's route from school leads him along a river, which, based on the surroundings, looks a lot like the Arakawa or Edo Rivers and one of their Warren truss steel railway bridges, like this one, this one or this one, for example. In Chapter 2 he meets the depressed inspector Ginzo Nakamori sitting at the riverbank and cheers him up and in chapter 19 he briefly passes the same spot again.
Gosho Aoyama lived in the Adachi Ward of Tokyo for a while[2], through which the Arakawa flows and several of these bridges spanning it exist - so it maybe served as the inspiration for these moments.
Warren truss steel railway bridge spanning the Arakawa in real life.
Warren truss steel railway bridge spanning a river in chapter 2.
Cameos
Momoko Aoyama in
Magic Kaito
Crossover
100% Tantei Monogatari
Treasured Edition gallery
Cover in other countries
See also
References