Shinya Kogami (狡噛 慎也 Kougami Shinya) is a Special Investigator within the Suppressing Action Department (SAD) of the Foreign Affairs Operations Department. Prior to this, he roams Southeast Asia serving as a mercenary in foreign countries, like Shambala Float, helping oppressed populations gain autonomy. Prior to his sojourn, he is an Inspector within Division 01 of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Public Safety Bureau until the Specimen Case, then an Enforcer before his illegal actions against Shogo Makishima and his escape from the PSB force him into exile.
He is the main protagonist in Psycho-Pass (the first season) and returns in Psycho-Pass 3 as a supporting character.
Appearance
Kogami is a male of average height and a muscular build in his 30's. He has gray eyes, short tousled dark brown hair and pale skin. As a member of the CID, he is seen wearing a black suit, white dress shirt and black tie. He wears a gray coat over his suit when on a mission. In 2116, he wears an olive green, military-style shirt and pants with a bulletproof vest and brown combat boots. He also carries a traditional gun in a light brown holster.[1] In Psycho-Pass 3, he wears civilian clothing.
Personality
He is a skilled detective, his ability to solve cases quickly making him a valuable asset to Division 01. As an Enforcer, he is subordinate to his childhood best friend, Nobuchika Ginoza, who is an Inspector and lead officer. Although the two often seem at odds, they respect one another's judgment regarding police work. Kogami is cool-headed and detached while working a case with sharp instincts and insight into the criminal mind. The way he deals with investigations leaves even the best Enforcers impressed and appalled, as he usually uses risky methods to solve them. However, despite his mostly serious personality, Kogami has a sense of humor and finds it amusing to tease rookie Inspector, Akane Tsunemori, especially about how she once shot him with a Dominator during her first assignment with Division 01.[2]
In the past and while still an Inspector, he develops strong bonds with his Enforcers, one of whom is
Mitsuru Sasayama. When Sasayama dies a horrible death while on the job, Kogami's emotions spiral out of control and his crime coefficient rises, leading to his demotion to Enforcer rank.[3] He also has some less disciplined tendencies, as seen in his deliberate provocation of Yuji Kanehara.[4]
As time progresses, Kogami begins to suspect the weaknesses of the Sibyl System. When Sibyl refuses to help him get revenge for Sasayama's death, he turns against the PSB, then finds and kills Makishima on his own. Eventually, he leaves Japan altogether and becomes a leading force in the conflict in Shambala Float involving Colonel Nicholas Wong's army and a guerrilla group.
His experiences abroad and his subsequent joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs's SAD sees Kogami in Psycho-Pass 3 at the height of his physical prowess, yet still wary of the Sibyl System and the PSB, though he chooses to return to Japan rather than continuing a nomadic lifestyle.
Personal Background
Kogami is born in Kanagawa to Tomoyo Kogami and her unnamed husband. In high school he meets Ginoza and they become close friends after Kogami saves Ginoza from bullies. While there, he majors in social science and takes up kickboxing and wrestling as hobbies, rarities since students only study these arts as a means of stress reduction. When Ginoza tells Kogami his future plans of becoming an Inspector, Kogami decides to do the same, graduating at the top of his class and scoring 721 points on the entry exam. He later follows Ginoza in becoming an Inspector and entering Division 03.
Three years before Tsunemori enters the Public Safety Bureau, Kogami is an Inspector transferred to Division 01 and given the task of watching over his own Enforcers, one of which is Mitsuru Sasayama. Though warned to stay detached, Kogami and Sasayama become friends.
They are given a case they nickname the "Specimen Case" because the victims' bodies are dismembered, then encased in synthetic material and displayed in public, much like an insect specimen in amber. Sasayama is on the verge of finding the murderer when he is brutally dismembered and displayed in the same manner as the other victims.
Kogami is the first one to find Sasayama's dismembered and deformed body. The horror causes a sharp rise in Kogami's crime coefficient and, refusing to take treatment, he continues to work on the case and is eventually deemed a latent criminal and demoted to Enforcer.[5][6]
Residence
Tokyo Prefecture, Chiyoda Ward, 2nd Street 1-8
Ministry of Welfare Public Safety Bureau Building, Criminal Investigation Department First Division
Emergency Contact Information
Kanagawa Prefecture, Sagamihara City, Midori Ward, 5-21-B
Tomoyo Kogami (relation: mother)
Education
- March 2100 ‒ Graduates from Kanagawa Prefecture Kanagawa Higashi Middle School, General Education
- April 2100 ‒ Enters Nitto School of Social Sciences, Social Psychology Department
- March 2104 ‒ Graduates from Nitto School of Social Sciences, Social Psychology Department
Work History
- April 2104 ‒ Enters PSB; then the Public Safety Bureau's Career Instruction Center
- September 2104 ‒ Finishes Public Safety Bureau's Career Instruction Center
- October 2104 ‒ Assigned to CID Division 03 as an Inspector
- May 2106 ‒ Transferred to CID Division 01
- February 2110 ‒ Resigns due to Psycho-Pass deterioration
- April 2110 ‒ Reassigned to CID Division 01 as an Enforcer
- February 2113 ‒ Leaves Japan[7]
- July 2116 ‒ Is located during the investigation of illegal immigrants terrorism attempts case; subsequently flees yet again[1]
- January 2118 ‒ Is seen as a Special Investigator for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' SAD[8]
Licenses/Qualifications
- August 2100 ‒ Earns a regular vehicle Driver's License (i.e. cars)
- June 2102 ‒ Achieves Archaic Language Level 1 certification
- August 2102 ‒ Earns a large two-wheeled vehicle Driver's License (i.e. motorcycles)
- October 2103 ‒ Achieves Speed Reading Level 1 certification
- March 2104 ‒ Achieves a higher education-level social science Teaching License
- July ‒ Earns a large special vehicle Driver's License (i.e. construction vehicles)
Relationships
Akane Tsunemori
Kogami and Tsunemori are colleagues in Division 01 - she as a rookie Inspector and he as an Enforcer under her supervision. Their work dynamic reminds Kogami that justice comes before duty and helps him rediscover what being a detective is truly about. He reconsiders his opinions and decides that her way of living is the correct one and thereafter holds great respect towards her. He once says of her, "She's a woman who deeply loves law and order, and is also deeply loved by it."[9] While working, Tsunemori gives him the latitude to work in his own way as she learns from his experience. Tomomi Masaoka states that they have a connection destined by fate.[10] As friends, they mutually comfort and cheer one another. Before leaving Japan, Kogami leaves her a letter apologizing for breaking his promise and that he won't ask her forgiveness but, should they meet again, she should judge him as necessary. He also expresses his appreciation for the chance to work with her.[11] At the conclusion of Psycho-Pass 3, Kogami visits Akane while she is imprisoned at the Tokorozawa Correction Center and they make amends and at the conclusion of First Inspector, he is ordered to pick her up upon her release from imprisonment. Their reunion is both friendly and humorous.
Nobuchika Ginoza
Ginoza and Kogami have known one another since high school, where they become best friends after Kogami defends Ginoza from bullying taunts about Masaoka's latent criminal status. Despite possessing different demeanors, they are very close. Even after Kogami is demoted to the rank of Enforcer, Ginoza holds Kogami in high regard, as seen when he hesitates to fire his Dominator at him despite a direct order from Sibyl to kill the fleeing Enforcer.[11] It is only after Kogami becomes a mercenary rebel on Shambala Float that Ginoza sees how different his old friend has become. Even so, he administers personal justice with a one-two punch but allows Kogami to escape with a stern warning to stay away from Tsunemori. Following Kogami's draft into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ginoza and he seem to come to terms with their past actions and their friendship endures, though it is not known if it is as close as it used to be.
Mitsuru Sasayama
Sasayama is Kogami's colleague and friend until his murder in the Specimen Case, the very case which causes Kogami's crime coefficient to rise. After being demoted, Kogami becomes obsessed with finding Sasayama's killer, who is revealed to be Makishima.
Tomomi Masaoka
Masaoka and Kogami have a positive relationship due to Kogami's friendship with Ginoza. They are also professional colleagues whose style of detective work is different, but equally effective. Masaoka has a safe house and it is there where Kogami hides out following his escape from the PSB, prior to leaving Japan.[11]
Trivia
- His ID as a Special Investigator is 00542-AEDF-52510-4.[8]
- In Providence, when detained under PSB custody, his ID is 00475-AEDF-52510-5 (cf file).
- His ID as an Enforcer is 00475-AEDF-52510-2.[12]
- He is designated Hound 3 as an Enforcer[2] and Shepherd 2 as an Inspector.[6]
- He is seen smoking the cigarette brand Spinel.[12][4]
- He drinks the brand of bottled water "Anterctic Dorops".[13]
- His motto is "Be gentle to others, but strict with oneself."
- His favorite saying is "Believe in your own power; don't always rely on others."
- While being depicted as someone who rarely shows emotions, Kogami's smile while with Joji Saiga is sincere.[14]
- The suits he wears as an Inspector are tailored to accommodate his body build.
- The key placed in front of Masaoka's grave is the one Masaoka gave to Kogami and is likely to have been placed there by Kogami himself.[7]
- Before his departure from Japan, he calls Tsunemori with a non-trackable device. He tells her that whether dead or alive, it will be his last time seeing her. Tsunemori smiles and replies that she believes they will be able to be together again, as normal humans, like in the good old times, instead of Inspector and Enforcer where their positions are unequal.[15]
- After leaving Japan, Kogami starts to hallucinate about Makishima.
- He believes that the essential things he needs for living abroad are knowledge, wisdom and physical strength.
- What he wants to do from now on is to think and practice daily.
- He bears a resemblance to Kyoya Hibari and Takeshi Yamamoto from the manga/anime Katekyo Hitman REBORN!, which is unsurprising since they share the same character designer.
- From the Official Profiling Book:
- Kogami smokes 30 cigarettes daily.
- His fighting style is Silat, introduced to him by Sasayama, but he also excels at kickboxing and wrestling.
- On average, he sleeps only four hours per day, taking catnaps during the day.
- His favorite food is hamburgers and his least favorite food is synthetic fish.
- He keeps a self-crafted human-shaped punching bag in his room for bodybuilding.
- His desired item is a new training machine.
- His strengths are flashes of genius backed up with intelligence while his weakness is kindness.
- His hobbies are training, reading, and sometimes playing games with Shusei Kagari.
- His favorite authors include Stephen King, James Ellroy, Ernest Hemingway, Mangetsu Hanamura, Seishi Yokomizo and Juko Nishimura.
- His favorite books are The Long Walk by Stephen King and The Running Man because, after becoming an Enforcer, he relates to the respective protagonists.
- From the Official Profiling Book 2:
- He now smokes about 20 cigarettes daily.
- His current desired item is a new paper book.
- His usual hobbies now consist of making maintenance of equipment, reading, training and rope work.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Psycho-Pass: The Movie
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 0101 Crime Coefficient
- ↑ Psycho-Pass Extended Edition ‒ Episode 3
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 0103 Rearing Conventions
- ↑ 0105 Nobody Knows Your Face
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 0106 Return of the Lunatic Prince
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 0122 Perfect World
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Psycho-Pass: Providence
- ↑ Psycho-Pass: The Novel
- ↑ 0104 Nobody Knows Your Mask
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 0118 Promises Written in Water
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 0102 Those Capable
- ↑ 0108 And Then, Silence
- ↑ 0119 Transparent Shadow
- ↑ Audio Drama – "After Stories"