Koichi Zenigata, commonly referred to as Inspector Zenigata, is a member of the ICPO Special Police Force and the archnemesis of the master thief Lupin III. In the anime special Lupin III vs. Detective Conan, he is sent to the kingdom of Vespania to assist in protecting the royal crown jewels from Lupin, a task that quickly expands into a deeper investigation of the suspicious deaths of the queen and crown prince. A descendant of the legendary Edo-period detective Heiji Zenigata, he has dedicated his entire career to capturing Lupin, whom he considers the only criminal he has never been able to arrest. Though his single-minded pursuit sometimes makes him appear bumbling or overzealous, Zenigata is a highly competent detective and martial artist, skilled in judo, karate, and a distinctive handcuff technique that allows him to apprehend targets from a distance using a length of rope. He also occasionally carries a jitte or a Colt M1911 pistol. His stubbornness and obsessive focus on Lupin have granted him extraordinary physical endurance; in the special, he recovers from a stun gun blast that would have incapacitated an elephant for half an hour in mere seconds, a feat that impresses even Conan Edogawa. Zenigata’s motivation is rooted in a deep personal conviction that only he has the right and the ability to bring Lupin to justice. This rivalry is tempered by a grudging respect for Lupin’s genius, and on rare occasions the two have been known to cooperate when facing a greater threat. In this crossover, he is also revealed to have attended the same police academy as Inspector Juzo Megure of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, establishing a former classmate bond. Zenigata’s role in the story is to provide law enforcement presence and investigative insight, and he ultimately helps uncover the truth behind the royal murders while remaining ever vigilant for Lupin’s schemes. His personality is defined by a mix of tenacious energy, emotional sensitivity (he is known to weep when moved or when Lupin seems to be in mortal danger), and an unshakable sense of duty that makes him a persistent and memorable figure. Although the chase continues beyond the events of the special, his participation in Vespania deepens his appreciation for unusual allies and reaffirms his lifelong obsession with capturing the world’s greatest thief.