Shinya Kogami possesses an average height, a muscular build, gray eyes, short tousled dark brown hair, and pale skin. Born in Kanagawa Prefecture to Tomoyo Kogami, he graduated from Kanagawa Higashi Middle School in March 2100 and later earned his degree from the Nitto School of Social Sciences, Social Psychology Department in March 2104. During high school, he met Nobuchika Ginoza, forging a close friendship after stepping in when Ginoza faced bullying. Kogami majored in social science while pursuing kickboxing and wrestling as distinct hobbies, activities less common among students who typically studied them solely for stress relief. Entering the Public Safety Bureau (PSB) in April 2104 after scoring 721 points on the entry exam, Kogami underwent training at the Career Instruction Center. Assigned to Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Division 03 as an Inspector in October 2104, he transferred to Division 01 in May 2106. Designated "Shepherd 2," he supervised Enforcers, forming a strong bond with Enforcer Mitsuru Sasayama despite protocols demanding detachment. While investigating the "Specimen Case," where victims were dismembered and encased in synthetic material, Sasayama was murdered by Shogo Makishima. Discovering Sasayama's mutilated body inflicted severe psychological trauma on Kogami, spiking his Crime Coefficient. Refusing treatment, he obsessively pursued the case, leading to his demotion to Enforcer in April 2110. As "Hound 3" in Division 01, he operated under Inspector Akane Tsunemori's supervision. Kogami exhibits sharp detective skills, solving cases rapidly through calm analysis and an instinctive grasp of criminal psychology. His methods frequently involve high-risk tactics, drawing mixed reactions from colleagues. Typically serious and detached, he also displays a sense of humor, notably teasing Tsunemori about her initial mishap of shooting him with a Dominator. His motto, "Be gentle to others, but strict with oneself," reflects his disciplined approach. However, Sasayama's death fostered a growing skepticism toward the Sibyl System's infallibility. When Sibyl refused to prioritize Makishima's capture, Kogami abandoned the PSB in February 2113 to pursue Makishima independently. He ultimately killed Makishima using Tomomi Masaoka's firearm, violating Sibyl's directives, forcing him into exile from Japan. Roaming Southeast Asia as a mercenary after leaving Japan, Kogami was active in conflict zones like Shambala Float by 2116, assisting oppressed populations against military regimes. He wore olive-green military attire with a bulletproof vest and carried a traditional firearm. Operating in the Tibet-Himalaya region, he saved refugees from guerrilla attacks, including Tenzing Wangchuk, a half-Japanese girl whose parents were murdered. Tenzing requested combat training for revenge, prompting Kogami to mentor her while cautioning against the self-destructive path he once followed. He encountered Frederica Hanashiro of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who was repatriating stranded Japanese citizens. Collaborating to protect refugees, Kogami was wounded while hesitating to fire on a child soldier. Hallucinating Makishima during his recovery, he reflected on his past actions. Tenzing later identified her parents' killer as Garcia, a mercenary sabotaging peace negotiations. After Garcia stabbed her, she alerted Kogami to the betrayal. Kogami negotiated with Hanashiro: in exchange for assistance in eliminating Garcia, he would join the Ministry's Suppressing Action Department (SAD) as a Special Investigator. Following Garcia's death, Kogami returned to Japan in January 2118. His Special Investigator ID was 00542-AEDF-52510-4. By this time, he had reached his physical peak but remained wary of Sibyl and the PSB. His return facilitated a reunion with Tsunemori, whom he visited during her imprisonment. Their dynamic evolved into a partnership resembling "buddy cops," marked by mutual trust and straightforward communication during joint operations. Kogami's relationship with Tsunemori is defined by professional respect and personal trust. He once stated she is "a woman who deeply loves law and order, and is also deeply loved by it." Before his initial exile, he left her a letter apologizing for breaking promises and acknowledging her role in reaffirming his detective ideals. His friendship with Ginoza endured despite conflicts stemming from Kogami's renegade actions. Ginoza hesitated to shoot Kogami during his initial escape, and though their bond strained after Kogami became a mercenary, they reconciled following his return to Japan. Kogami also shared a positive rapport with Tomomi Masaoka, using Masaoka's safe house during his escape and later leaving a key at Masaoka's grave as a tribute. Licenses and qualifications earned by Kogami include a regular vehicle driver's license (August 2100), Level 1 Archaic Language certification (June 2102), large two-wheeled vehicle license (August 2102), Level 1 Speed Reading certification (October 2103), higher education-level social science teaching license (March 2104), and large special vehicle driver's license (July 2104).