Kaito Kuroba

2014-07-06T09:14:39Z

104.34.122.69: /* Relationships analysis */

{{InfoBox Char
| name = Kaito Kuroba
| japanese-name = 黒羽快斗 (Kuroba Kaito)
| english-name =
| image = Kaito Kuroba Profile.jpg
| age = 16-17<ref>Kaito's age is never stated in the manga, but due to his high school grade he is between 16-17 and likely celebrated a birthday behind the scenes. The anime [[Episode 219]] places his age as 17, but the intro-box ages are in violation of manga canon (Shinichi is aged at 17 also, when he should be 16 due to the clock tower case occurring pre-canon).</ref>
| gender = Male
| date-of-birth = June 21
| relatives = [[Toichi Kuroba]] (father, deceased) [[Chikage Kuroba]] (mother)
| occupation = Ekoda High School Student
| nicknames =
| aliases = Kaitou Kid Phantom Thief Kid 1412 Kaitou 1412
| first-appearance = [[Magic Kaito]] Chapter 1 Manga: [[Volume 16#Kaitou Kid and the Black Star|File 159]] Anime: [[Conan vs. Kaitou Kid|Episode 76]]
| appearances = {{:Kaito Kuroba Appearances}}Magic Kaito: [[Kaito Kuroba Appearances|30]]
| cases-solved =
| japanese-voice = [[Kappei Yamaguchi]]
| english-voice = [[Jerry Jewell]]
| footnotes =
}}
'''{{nihongo|Kaito Kuroba|黒羽快斗|Kuroba Kaito}}''' is the main character in the manga franchise ''[[Magic Kaito]]'', and a recurring character in the manga and anime franchise ''[[Detective Conan]]''. He is the current '''[[Kaitou Kid]]''' and the childhood friend and the romantic interest of [[Aoko Nakamori]].

== Background ==
Kaito is a second-year student at Ekoda High School Class 2-B alongside his childhood friend [[Aoko Nakamori]], the witch [[Akako Koizumi]], and transfer student detective [[Saguru Hakuba]]. Kaito discovers [[Toichi Kuroba|his father]]'s identity as the original [[Kaitou Kid]] after eight years following his death thanks to a secret room inside his house as well as talking with his father's attendant and friend, [[Konosuke Jii]]. Wanting to pick up where Jii left off, Kaito continues to be Kaitou Kid in an effort to lure out [[Magic Kaito Organization|his father's murderers]] by making Kid a world-famous thief once again.

== Personality and Skills==
[[File:vlcsnap-2013-10-10-17h54m48s62.png|thumb|left|Kaito rejects Akako because of her arrogance.]]
According to Hakuba's analysis during his search for Kaitou Kid's identity, Kaito is 174 cm (5'8.5") tall, weighs 58 kg (128 lbs), has an IQ of 400, and is blood type 'B'.<ref>{{cite book |last=Aoyama |first=Gosho |title=Magic Kaito |volume=3 |publisher=Shogakukan |date=1994-10-15 |isbn=4-09-122093-5 |chapter=Akako's Delivery Service |language=Japanese |location=Tokyo |page=86-87 }}</ref>

Kaito as his normal self seems to be rather popular in school although he tends to get in trouble with the ladies, particularly Aoko, for flipping up their skirts or peeking on them in the locker room. He is a compulsive trickster who loves to demonstrate his magic tricks and share them with others, and hates to see people upset. Kaito seems to be quite good at many things, including skiing,<ref>{{cite book |last=Aoyama |first=Gosho |title=Magic Kaito |volume=2 |publisher=Shogakukan |date=1988-11-15 |isbn=4-09-122082-7 |chapter=Let Go of Him |language=Japanese |location=Tokyo |page= }}</ref> but (much to Aoko's amusement) cannot ice skate or play billiards.<ref>{{cite book |last=Aoyama |first=Gosho |title=Magic Kaito |volume=3 |publisher=Shogakukan |date=1994-10-15 |isbn=4-09-122093-5 |chapter=The Great Detective Appears!! |language=Japanese |location=Tokyo |page=36 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Aoyama |first=Gosho |title=Magic Kaito |volume=2 |publisher=Shogakukan |date=1988-11-15 |isbn=4-09-122082-7 |chapter=Hustler vs. Magician |language=Japanese |location=Tokyo |page= }}</ref>

Although he hasn't demonstrated it while in full costume, Kaito has an extreme fear of fish (ichthyophobia) to the point where he freaks out upon seeing Aoko wear fish-print underwear one day.<ref>{{cite book |last=Aoyama |first=Gosho |title=Magic Kaito |volume=2 |publisher=Shogakukan |date=1988-11-15 |isbn=4-09-122082-7 |chapter=Hustler vs. Magician |language=Japanese |location=Tokyo |page=158 }}</ref> In OVA 10, while in the process of escaping Trap Island, a fish flops into his escape rowboat and he panics.<ref>OVA 10: Kid in Trap Island</ref>

In some episodes and chapters, it is shown that Kaito is ambidextrous. He is sometimes shown using his left hand, but his right hand is dominant for tricks that require one hand only.

==Appellations==
<tabs jsId="nicknames">
<tab title="Friends and relatives">
{| class="chartable cells-centered" style="margin: 0px;"
! style="width:60px;"|Picture !! style="width:125px;"|Name !! style="width:200px;"|What they call Kaito !! style="width:200px;"|What Kaito calls them
|-
| [[File:Aoko Nakamori 60px.jpg]] || [[Aoko Nakamori]] || Kaito Bakaito ''(insult)'' || Aoko Ahoko ''(insult)''
|-
| [[File:Ginzo Nakamori 60px.jpg]] || [[Ginzo Nakamori]] || Kaito-kun || Inspector Nakamori ''(Nakamori-keibu)''
|-
| [[File:Akako Koizumi 60px.jpg]] || [[Akako Koizumi]] || Kuroba-kun Kaito ''(inner thoughts)'' || Akako-chan ''(first appearance only)'' Akako
|-
| [[File:Saguru Hakuba 60px.jpg]] || [[Saguru Hakuba]] || Kuroba-kun || Hakuba
|-
| [[File:Konosuke Jii 60px.jpg]] || [[Konosuke Jii]] || Young Master Kaito ''(Kaito-bocchama)'' Young Master ''(Bocchama)'' || Jii-chan
|-
| [[File:Toichi Kuroba 60px.jpg]] || [[Toichi Kuroba]] || Kaito || Dad ''(Oyaji)''
|-
| [[File:Chikage Kuroba 60px.jpg]] || [[Chikage Kuroba]] || Kaito || Mom ''(Kaa-san)''
|-
| [[File:Keiko Momoi 60px.jpg]] || [[Keiko Momoi]] || Kaito-kun || ???
|}
</tab>
</tabs>

== Plot overview ==
{{main|Kaito Kuroba Appearances}}

===Magic Kaito===
The day after the Kaitou Kid makes his return after an eight-year hiatus, Kaito stumbles through a trap door in his room and discovers that his father, [[Toichi Kuroba]], was the original Kaitou Kid. Kaito dons his father's costume to discover the identity of the new Kaitou Kid, revealed to be his father's old assistant [[Konosuke Jii]]. Jii tells Kaito that Toichi had been murdered eight years ago, and that he had dressed as the Kid and staged the heist in order to lure Toichi's killers.

So Kaito adopts the mantle of the Kid, having proven that he is more skilled than the aging and serious Jii. As the Kaitou Kid, Kaito stages several high-profile jewel heists with the intention of smoking out his father's killers (although he seems to be enjoying himself in the process). It isn't until the ''Blue Birthday'' heist that the murderers appear and reveal that they are searching for the doublet red-coloured gem [[Pandora]], said to shed tears of immortality during the passing of a particular comet. Upon realizing [[Magic Kaito Organization|the organization's]] aim and that his father was killed for his refusal to aid them in retrieving Pandora, Kaito vows as Kaitou Kid to find the Pandora gem first and destroy it.<ref>{{cite book |last=Aoyama |first=Gosho |title=Magic Kaito |volume=3 |publisher=Shogakukan |date=1994-10-15 |isbn=4-09-122093-5 |chapter=Blue Birthday |language=Japanese |location=Tokyo |page=144 }}</ref>

===Detective Conan===
Since then, he has appeared in several Detective Conan cases. [[File:Vlcsnap-2013-12-08-20h39m58s203.png|200px|thumb|right| A young Kaito Kuroba offers Yukiko Kudo a flower.]]If his target is a gem, he always holds it up to the moonlight, presumably to check if it's the Pandora gem, before returning it, even if Conan seemingly has him cornered.

In other instances, Kid has staged heists when people such as [[Jirokichi Suzuki]] have called him out, or when criminals have used the Kaitou Kid's name to deflect blame from themselves, as in the Sunset Mansion case or the Seiran case. He also appeared in the Ryoma case to expose several counterfeiters who were pretending to possess items that another thief called the Phantom Lady had stolen years ago. At that time, Kid implied that he may be a family relation of the 'Phantom Lady'.<ref>{{cite book |last=Aoyama |first=Gosho |title=Detective Conan |volume=70 |chapter=74 |language=Japanese |location=Tokyo }}</ref>

A young Kaito also appeared in a flashback during which Conan recalled a riddle that he and Ran had tried to solve when they were in first grade. It turned out that the 'riddler' had been the original Kaitou Kid, [[Toichi Kuroba]], who seemed to be a friend of [[Yusaku Kudo]].

In chapter 824, Kid had played a significant role in main Detective Conan plot by disguising as Sherry under Conan's request. Their plan successfully tricked the Black Organization into believing she is dead.

In [[The Lost Ship in the Sky]], it's revealed that Kaito knew Conan's real identity of Shinichi Kudo. He helped Conan who was thrown out of the airship and they worked together to get back. Kaito has disguised himself as Shinichi three times, in [[The Last Wizard of the Century]], in [[Magician of the Silver Sky]], and in [[The Lost Ship in the Sky]] which led Sato and Takagi to suspect that Shinichi was Kaitou Kid. The two later share their suspicion with Heiji to which he responded with an 'Are you kidding me?' face.

== Relationships analysis ==
=== Family & Friends ===
[[Image:vlcsnap-2013-09-21-03h04m55s93.png|250px|thumb|right|Kaito and Aoko.]]
==== Aoko Nakamori ====
{{main|Kaito Kuroba and Aoko Nakamori}}
Kaito and [[Aoko Nakamori]] have been best friends since they were little and first met at the clock tower.<ref>[http://www.detectiveconanworld.com/wiki/The_Gathering_of_the_Detectives!_Shinichi_Kudo_vs._Kaitou_Kid "Episode 219: The Gathering of the Detectives! Shinichi Kudo vs. Kaitou Kid"]</ref> They are portrayed as a similar pairing to [[Shinichi Kudo]] and [[Ran Mouri]] (including how the characters are drawn), except much sillier. Kaito often teases Aoko by flipping her skirt. However, it has been seen that Kaito is quite protective of Aoko and doesn't appear to want her to go on a date with [[Saguru Hakuba]]. Aoko was somewhat suspicious that Kaito was actually Kaitou Kid, and in order to prove his innocence, she brought him along to a movie when a heist had been scheduled. She handcuffed him to the seat, but Kaito managed to escape and pull off the heist, thus veering Aoko's suspicions away from him. The two appear to have feelings for each other, but neither has admitted it as of yet.
{{clear}}

==== Akako Koizumi ====
[[File:Displeased_with_Akako.png|thumb|right|250px|Kaito wishes he was with Aoko instead.]]
Since [[Akako Koizumi|Akako]]'s first appearance in Volume 1, she's attempted to get Kaito to fall head over heels for her using whatever means necessary, including using a voodoo doll and hurting him in the process. Akako's obsession with Kaito comes from Kaitou Kid, whom she realizes is Kaito, being the only man on Earth able to resist her. Despite Akako injuring Kaito during their first confrontation, Kaito as Kid behaves like a complete gentleman and encourages Akako to be herself in order to get someone to like her instead of forcing them through witchcraft.<ref>{{cite book |last=Aoyama |first=Gosho |title=Magic Kaito |volume=1 |publisher=Shogakukan |date=1988-05-15 |isbn=4-09-122081-9 |chapter=The Scarlet Temptress |language=Japanese |location=Tokyo |page= 180}}</ref> Akako grows to have great concern for Kaito as evidenced by her warning Kaito<ref>{{cite book |last=Aoyama |first=Gosho |title=Magic Kaito |volume=3 |publisher=Shogakukan |date=1994-10-15 |isbn=4-09-122083-5 |chapter=Akako's Delivery Service |language=Japanese |location=Tokyo |page= 93-95}}</ref> against going to a heist and later assisting Kaitou Kid to escape safely from the heist that she had foreseen him being captured at.<ref>{{cite book |last=Aoyama |first=Gosho |title=Magic Kaito |volume=3 |publisher=Shogakukan |date=1994-10-15 |isbn=4-09-122083-5 |chapter=Akako's Delivery Service |language=Japanese |location=Tokyo |page= 100-103}}</ref> In Volume 2, Akako openly states she likes Kaito in front of Aoko.<ref>{{cite book |last=Aoyama |first=Gosho |title=Magic Kaito |volume=2 |publisher=Shogakukan |date=1988-11-15 |isbn=4-09-122082-7 |chapter=Let Go of Him |language=Japanese |location=Tokyo |page= 11}}</ref>
{{clear}}

==== Saguru Hakuba ====
[[File:2013_7_6_19_58_14.png|thumb|right]]
The relationship between [[Saguru Hakuba|Hakuba]] and Kaito is a rather tense one; since Hakuba convinced himself early on that Kaito was instead Kid, and during the first few volumes he's constantly throwing out offhand comments that show his suspicion. However, later on in the manga, we have a small scene where Hakuba calls Kaito from Paris in order to give him some information on 'Chat Noir', a dangerous, fellow gem thief trying to outshine Kid.<ref>{{cite book |last=Aoyama |first=Gosho |title=Magic Kaito |volume=4 |publisher=Shogakukan |date=1994-10-15 |isbn=4-09-122093-5 |chapter=Golden Eye Part 1 |language=Japanese |location=Tokyo |page= 18}}</ref> Though Kaito continues to vehemently deny being Kid, Hakuba gives him the information anyways, ending the conversation with, "Do your best at least. I don't want to see you lose to anyone before I capture you myself". Whether or not that was his actual motive, or if he was merely concerned for Kaito's well being, is unknown.
{{clear}}

=== Others ===
==== Conan Edogawa ====
{{Main|Shinichi Kudo and Kaito Kuroba}}
[[File:名侦探柯南-515-DVD003348.jpg|thumb|right]]
In the manga, Kid and [[Conan Edogawa|Conan]] are rivals. Ever since Kaito met Conan, Kaito always seems to be anticipating Conan's appearance at his heists. Conan makes the heists more interesting for Kaito, while Conan views Kaito's heists as entertainment.

Before being shrunk, Shinichi had encountered Kaitou Kid once during the Clock Tower heist, though they did not meet face-to-face. In their next encounter, however, after Shinichi had become Conan, Kid disguised himself as Ran in order to steal the Suzuki Black Star pearl. When Conan cornered him on the Suzuki cruise ship, Kid suggested that he'd stolen all of Ran's clothes to impersonate her, and left her naked on the deck. While this ended up being a bluff, Conan was shocked and infuriated. In subsequent encounters between Kid and Conan, Conan displays a much more intense desire to capture Kid.

Since then, Conan is usually a serious threat to Kid's plans and stops Kid often enough from escaping with the jewel that Conan has gained reputation in the press as Kid's "natural enemy". In several instances Conan appears to be able to 'sense' Kid's presence; knowing Kid is close by often causes Conan to behave far more frenetically. Appropriately, Kid seems to find Conan dangerous enough to warrant specific measures to keep the boy distracted. Conan does not seem to like Kid, saying once "He's only a thief that uses magic".<ref>Anime Episode 515: Kaitou Kid's Teleportation Magic</ref> However, if necessary, the two can put their rivalry aside (for a little while) and work together.<ref>[[Kaitou Kid and the Four Masterpieces]]</ref> Conan has something of a gentleman's agreement with Kaitou Kid that he won't look for the thief outside of heists. In several instances, beginning with the "Big Adventure in the Eccentric Residence" case, when Kid does Conan/Shinichi a favor, such as saving Genta's life in the aforementioned case, Conan reciprocates by halting his investigation just shy of capturing Kid, thereby allowing him to escape mostly unhindered. This exchange of favors can sometimes become a bit unbalanced; Conan was perfectly willing to force Kaitou Kid against his will into facing a member of the [[Black Organization]] at gunpoint in a carriage filled with explosives.<ref>Manga [[Volume 78]], File 7 (824): "Mystery Train (Final Destination)"</ref>

In the movies, Kid becomes aware that Conan is Shinichi after he once overheard Conan talking to [[Hiroshi Agasa|Professor Agasa]] and displaying too much criminal knowledge for a 7-year-old.<ref>Movie 03: ''[[The Last Wizard of the Century]]''</ref> As a result, he ends up using Shinichi's identity to either further his own goals and challenge Conan at the same time, or to pay back a favor Conan has done him. Since movies cannot be considered [[canon]], it's unclear whether Kid knows Conan is Shinichi in the official manga. There is also some speculations on Conan figuring out that Kid isn't just stealing randomly. At the end of the OVA 4: Conan, Kid, and the Crystal Mother, Conan had turned with a serious face when he remembered a phrase that Kid had said, "Next time, I'll help myself to the Jewel of Destiny." In movie 14, Conan asked for Kid to disguise as him for a while.
{{clear}}

==== Heiji Hattori ====
Kaito and Heiji Hattori have never canonically met, although Heiji faced up against the Kid in Movie 3, and interacted with a disguised Kaito during Movie 10. They were also involved in the same cases in OVA 6 and Movie 14, but never directly interacted.

==== Lupin III ====
In Lupin the 3rd vs. Detective Conan: The Movie, while they never directly meet face-to-face with each other, Kaitou Kid and Lupin III had made their first encounter in the beginning of the film. Kaito Kuroba, while being in his citizen guise, was among the many people present to see the heists of Lupin, who was masquerading as Kaitou Kid, with a valuable diamond. Fujiko Mine claimed if Lupin was unable to save her, by stealing the Cherry Sapphire, she can always ask Kaitou Kid for help. By the end of the film where Lupin was in Japan, in contrary to how Conan had thought he had left, Lupin had tried to steal another valuable jewel only to find it already to be stolen and replaced by a small note left by Kaitou Kid; the act was most likely to return the favor for Lupin’s temporary identity theft, for using Kid’s identity, with the diamond heist. As Lupin was being chased, by Koichi Zenigata who didn’t believe Lupin didn’t steal the jewel, he had declared his rivalry with Kaitou Kid.

== People who know Kaitou Kid's real identity ==
{{main|List of characters who know Kaitou Kid's identity}}

The peoples who knew Kaitou Kid's real identity are Konusuke Jii, Koizumi Akako, Kuroba Chikage, Furuta Megumi(manga only), Prince Phillip and Ruby Jones.

==Name origin==
The characters in Kuroba (黒羽) mean "black feather". Kaito's given name (快斗) has different kanji than the word 'kaitou' (怪盗), which means 'phantom thief,' although they intentionally sound alike.

== Character popularity ==
*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. Kaito/Kaitou Kid placed 2nd out of 10 with 18.99% of the votes cast.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.conan-movie.jp/camp_chara/camp15th_res.html|title=名探偵コナン「キャラクター人気投票」|date=2011|publisher=www.conan-movie.jp|accessdate=2011-08-12}}</ref>

*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. Kaitou Kid/Kaito Kuroba placed 2nd overall with 1,696 votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forum.dctp.ws/index.php?topic=8024.msg651566#msg651566|title=Shonen magazine detective conan official poll results published [magazine pic]|date=2012-02-28|publisher=eva|accessdate=2012-02-29}}</ref>

== Different looks ==
{|
| style="vertical-align: top" | [[File:vlcsnap-2013-11-02-20h53m04s237.png|thumb|left|x175px|Kaito's first appearance in Detective Conan.<ref>[[Conan vs. Kaitou Kid]]</ref>]]
| style="vertical-align: top" | [[File:Vlcsnap-2013-09-17-01h27m23s176.png|thumb|left|x175px|Kaito's latest appearance in the movie [[The Lost Ship in the Sky]].]]
|}
{|
| style="vertical-align: top" | [[File:vlcsnap-2013-11-05-18h09m59s176.png|thumb|left|x175px|Kaito's first [[Magic Kaito]] appearance.<ref>[[The Revived Phantom Thief]]</ref>]]
| style="vertical-align: top" | [[File:vlcsnap-2013-11-02-21h00m37s127.png|thumb|left|x175px|Kaito's latest [[Magic Kaito]] appearance.<ref>[[Tears of Love for the Dark Knight]]</ref>]]
|}

== Trivia ==
[[image:Kaito Lupin.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Kaito Lupin]]
* A prototype version of Kaito appears in Aoyama's "{{nihongo|Nonchalant Lupin|さりげなくルパン|Sarigenaku Rupan}}" short story. In this version, Kaito is named {{nihongo|Kaito Lupin|流犯快斗|Rupan Kaito}}.
* The name 'Kuroba' is a transliteration of 'clover.' A four-leaf clover also appears on the tag of Kid's monocle.
* Kaito, along with [[Shinichi Kudo]], [[Heiji Hattori]], and [[Saguru Hakuba]], are sometimes referred to as 'The Four Geniuses' or 'The Gosho Boys' by fans.
* In both the Japanese and English dub, Kaito shares the same voice actor as that of Shinichi Kudo. Kaito and Shinichi already resemble each other so closely that in the Black Star case, Ran sees Kaito in the street and mistakes him for Shinichi. In Movie 8, Kaito disguises himself as Shinichi and without the use of a mask succeeds in completely fooling everyone except for Ran.
* In Spanish, he doesn't share his voice with Shinichi, but with Hattori. However, this isn't much of a problem since he can perfectly mimic voices.
* Although Kaito's and Shinichi's teenaged-selves share the same voice actor, Kappei Yamaguchi, two different voice actors for Kaito and Shinichi when they are portrayed as children (or Conan, in Shinichi's case). A young Kaito was seen in flashbacks in Episode 473, "The Adventure of Young Shinichi Kudo," and in the first episode of the Magic Kaito anime adaptation.{{clear}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery widths=200px perrow=5>
File:Vlcsnap-2013-11-04-20h32m55s176.png|Kaito uses a simple dark clothing scheme before heists to avoid calling attention to himself. Pursuers expecting the dramatic white of Kid's uniform are thrown off when Kaito switches to black.<ref>[[Kaitou Kid's Teleportation Magic]]</ref> <ref>[[Conan & Kid's Battle For Ryoma's Treasure]]</ref>
File:Untitled.png|Kaito 10 years ago.<ref>[[Shinichi Kudo's Childhood Adventure]]</ref>
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Characters]]
* [[Kaitou Kid]]
* [[Kaito Kuroba Appearances]]
* [[Kaitou Kid Appearances]]
* [[Kuroba family]]
* This fan-made [http://www.mischif.net/1412/kid.htm Kaitou Kid reference page].

== References ==
<references/>
{{Magic Kaito}}
{{Characters}}

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:High school students]]
[[Category:Magic Kaito characters]]
[[Category:Male characters]]
[[Category:Magic Kaito]]
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