Detective Conan mangaka Gosho Aoyama has revealed that he has already written the name, or storyboard, for the manga’s final chapter.
The surprising revelation came during an interview with Aoyama on Nippon TV’s 24 Hour Television Latest Information SP, where he spoke about the incredible longevity of Detective Conan and how he originally never expected the series to become the phenomenon it is today.
Aoyama even teased fans about what is waiting at the very end.
“I’ve Written the Name for the Final Chapter”
During the interview, singer Chanmina, who is a huge Detective Conan fan, asked Aoyama about how he thinks about the ending of his work.
Chanmina explained that she is the type of person who thinks about things from the ending and even considers retirement while planning her future. She then asked Aoyama if he had similarly thought about the conclusion of Detective Conan.
Aoyama’s answer was probably the last thing Conan fans expected.
“I’ve written the name for the final chapter. Want to see it? (laughs)”
In Japanese manga production, a “name” refers to a rough storyboard or draft used to plan the manga’s panels, dialogue, and overall progression. So Aoyama’s comment confirms that the creator has already prepared a version of the manga’s final chapter.
Naturally, Chanmina immediately leaned forward and asked if she could actually see it.
That’s when Taiga Kyomoto, another passionate Detective Conan fan who joined the interview, jokingly interrupted:
“You normally don’t just go along with that!”
Aoyama simply smiled and added:
“It’s interesting. (laughs)”
So… apparently, somewhere in Aoyama’s workplace, the ending of one of Japan’s longest-running manga already exists.
Unfortunately for fans, he didn’t actually show it during the interview.
Before anyone starts preparing their farewell posts, Aoyama’s comment does not mean that Detective Conan is about to end.
The creator simply confirmed that he has already prepared the storyboard for the final chapter.
That’s an important distinction.
Aoyama has been working on Detective Conan for decades, and having an idea or even a prepared draft for the eventual ending does not mean the manga is immediately approaching its conclusion.
In fact, Aoyama’s casual attitude toward the reveal almost makes the situation even more interesting.
The creator knows how the story will ultimately end, while millions of readers around the world are still trying to figure out the identity of the series’ biggest mysteries.
And now we know that the final chapter isn’t just some distant idea in Aoyama’s head. A version of it has already been put onto paper.
Aoyama Never Expected Conan to Become This Big
During the same interview, Aoyama looked back at the early days of Detective Conan and admitted that he never expected the series to become as successful as it eventually did.
When Chanmina asked whether he knew from the beginning that Detective Conan would become so beloved, Aoyama gave a surprisingly honest answer.
“I didn’t think so. Not at all. I thought it would end quickly.”
The creator said that he first truly realized how much people loved Detective Conan when the manga received its first theatrical anime movie.
That was apparently the moment when Aoyama began to understand just how large the series had become.
Fast-forward to today, and Detective Conan has been running for decades, with its anime still airing regularly and its theatrical films becoming major annual events.
Aoyama even joked about the unusual experience he shares with One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda.
“When I talked with Eiichiro Oda, we said, ‘We’re the only ones whose manga becomes anime every week, right?'”
It’s a pretty wild thing to be able to say about your career.
Two Conan Superfans Finally Meet Aoyama
The interview was conducted as part of 24 Hour Television, for which Aoyama also designed the program’s charity T-shirt.
Chanmina and Taiga Kyomoto of SixTONES, both massive Detective Conan fans, visited Aoyama’s workplace and got the opportunity to interview the legendary manga creator.
Chanmina revealed that she discovered Detective Conan when she was a teenager and has remained a huge fan ever since. She even described the series as something that is essentially built into her DNA.
Kyomoto is equally serious about his Conan fandom. He holds a Level 1 Detective Conan Certification, one of the most difficult levels of the official Detective Conan knowledge test.
So when the two finally got the chance to sit down with Aoyama, they were essentially living out a dream.
And somehow, during that dream interview, they got the creator to casually reveal that he has already written the final chapter.
What Is Actually in the Final Chapter?
Of course, Aoyama didn’t reveal what happens. The creator’s comment that the final chapter’s name is already written doesn’t tell us whether the manuscript is complete, how much of the story has been planned around it, or when readers will actually reach that point.
And considering how secretive Detective Conan has been with its major mysteries, Aoyama isn’t exactly going to hand over the ending during a television interview.
But his little tease does give fans something fascinating to think about.
After years of following Conan Edogawa’s journey, Aoyama already knows where the story is ultimately heading.
We just don’t.
And judging by his “It’s interesting” comment, whatever he has prepared appears to be something he’s quite confident about.
For now, Detective Conan continues its long-running journey, while the final chapter quietly waits somewhere in Aoyama’s files.
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About Detective Conan
Detective Conan, also known internationally as Case Closed, is a Japanese mystery manga written and illustrated by Gosho Aoyama. The series follows high school detective Shinichi Kudo, who is transformed into a child after being poisoned by a mysterious criminal organization and adopts the identity of Conan Edogawa while secretly investigating the organization and solving cases.
The manga has become one of Japan’s most successful and longest-running franchises, spawning a television anime, numerous theatrical films, games, merchandise, and other adaptations. Despite running for decades, the story’s central mysteries and Conan’s ultimate confrontation with the Black Organization continue to keep fans waiting for the eventual conclusion.
Source: Oricon News
