Inspector Zenigata, a Japanese law enforcement officer, relentlessly pursues master thief Lupin III across the globe. Beginning as a Tokyo Metropolitan Police inspector targeting Fujiko Mine, his mission escalates after confronting Lupin in New York, propelling him into Interpol to broaden his chase. Despite repeated failures, collateral arrests preserve his professional standing, though his singular obsession eclipses other cases. Zenigata’s persona merges unyielding resolve with raw emotional undercurrents. He frames Lupin as both nemesis and existential anchor, fiercely opposing rivals who threaten the thief’s capture. This tension births an uneasy alliance, where Zenigata grudgingly partners with Lupin to counter graver dangers—while rejecting notions of mutual respect. Moments like his brief monastic retreat in *The Fuma Conspiracy*, triggered by grief over Lupin’s presumed death, underscore his reliance on their rivalry. Believing Lupin perished in *Missed by a Dollar*, Zenigata abandons Interpol, his resignation mirroring prior collapses of purpose. Lupin’s inevitable reappearance reignites their duel, restoring Zenigata’s drive. A formidable combatant, Zenigata wields judo, karate, and a Colt M1911 with lethal precision. His trademark tactic—hurling handcuffs in a spinning arc to immobilize targets—complements bursts of superhuman agility during pursuits, fueled by adrenaline and fixation. Fleeting allusions to a daughter in *The Mystery of Mamo* hint at a shrouded personal life, later media leaving his familial ties ambiguous. Prioritizing his hunt over connections, Zenigata remains isolated, romantic flickers extinguished by obsession. Evolving from early manga’s corrupt brutality to anime’s comedic yet earnest inspector, Zenigata straddles slapstick and solemnity. Moments of vulnerability—mourning Lupin or conceding reluctant admiration—anchor his role as a foil, embodying the series’ moral complexity through his duality.