In one of the most protracted romantic subplots in manga and anime history, Detective Conan (Meitantei Conan) has finally brought high school detective Heiji Hattori and his childhood friend Kazuha Toyama together. Twenty-eight years after Kazuha first debuted in Gosho Aoyama's franchise in 1998, the long-standing "will-they-won't-they" dynamic concluded with a mutual confession, prompting unprecedented real-world celebrations across Osaka.
Osaka Celebrates
To mark the historic confession, promotional campaigns have taken over key districts in Osaka—the canonical hometown of both characters. According to reports from Livedoor News, customized advertising trucks playing franchise theme songs are touring Umeda, Shinsaibashi, and Namba. Concurrently, a commemorative cruise boat featuring visual art of the couple navigates the iconic Dotonbori River, passing beneath the famous Ebisubashi Bridge.
Beyond mobile advertising, fans can visit the Harukas 300 observation deck at Abeno Harukas, the real-world skyscraper that inspired the setting for the confession scene. Visitors can stand on designated footprint markers matching the characters' positions during the episode, complete with ambient voice tracks. Descending elevators feature exclusive, unreleased audio detailing the couple's immediate dialogue following the confession.
Cast Reactions
The veteran voice actors behind the iconic duo shared their thoughts on ending nearly three decades of romantic hesitation. Ryo Horikawa, who voices Heiji Hattori, reflected on the casual nature of the scene compared to his initial expectations:
At first, I imagined all sorts of ways he might confess. I wondered whether he would look Kazuha straight in the eyes and tell her he loved her. But after so many failed attempts, his feelings just slipped out, and Kazuha happened to overhear him. Take good care of Kazuha, Heiji!
Ryo Horikawa, Voice of Heiji Hattori
Yuko Miyamura, the voice of Kazuha Toyama, expressed relief at the resolution after years of near-misses:
Finally!! Heiji's confession was a success, and their feelings for each other have finally been confirmed! Everyone around them already knew they liked each other, but he kept looking for a spectacular spot to rival Big Ben. Honestly, it took so long!
Yuko Miyamura, Voice of Kazuha Toyama
With Heiji and Kazuha's relationship officially cemented in canon, long-time followers of Detective Conan now look toward the central pair, Shinichi Kudo and Ran Mori, as the franchise continues its legendary run.
