Detective Conan Scientific Investigation Exhibition
Have you heard about the Detective Conan Scientific Investigation Exhibition ( 名探偵コナン科学捜査展 ) ? It is an interactive exhibition that is fun for both adults and kids alike! I’m here to share with you some of the highlights of the exhibition and why, if you have a chance to visit it, you absolutely should! ^^
IMPORTANT: Please note that all upcoming 2020 exhibitions scheduled in Japan has been postponed indefinitely. This post will be updated when Japan resumes the exhibition. The only one that is still scheduled to continue in 2020 is the Kaoxiong (Taiwan) edition:「名偵探柯南 科學搜查展」高雄場 from June 16 to September 13 2020.
So back in 2019, I was fortunate enough to visit the Taipei version of the Detective Conan Scientific Investigation Exhibition.
I had an absolutely great time. It was pretty serendipitous, considering how I had planned to visit the same exhibition held in Tokyo back in 2018 but ended up missing it due to reasons. Who would have known that just a year later, I managed to visit the exhibition in Taiwan!
Somehow, 2019 turned out to be a Detective Conan year for me. It wasn’t planned or anything but things just fell into place during my travels and well … this happened in the year:
- Went to the Detective Conan Cafe in Tokyo
- Visited the Detective Conan Cafe in Taipei
- Chilled out at the Detective Conan x AniOn Station in Akihabara (Japan)
- Watched the Fist of the Blue Sapphire Movie (Movie #23) that was set in Singapore in Singapore
- Went for the Detective Conan Scientific Investigation Exhibition in Taipei
A pretty international experience for an international fan, if I may say so myself! ٩(｡•́‿•̀｡)۶ Do click on the links to find out more about my various Detective Conan Escapades.
Okay! Let’s now move on to the real reason why you are here: to learn more about this fun interactive exhibition. ^ ^
Page Contents
What is the Detective Conan Scientific Investigation Exhibition?
The Detective Conan Scientific Investigation Exhibition or「名探偵コナン 科学捜査展～真実への推理～」is an interactive exhibition where you will have to use logical deduction, as well as, the processes and tools of Scientific Investigation to solve a crime.
Basically, what that means is that you will be gathering clues and evidence to solve a crime that has happened, Detective Conan Style! ^ ^
Since its first successful run in Tokyo back in 2018, the exhibition has been held across cities such as Nagoya, Fukuoka, Osaka, Oita, Miyazaki and Hokkaido. In 2019, it was also held outside of Japan, first in Taipei (Taiwan) from June 2019 to September 2019 which was the one I went to, and Shanghai (China) from December 2019 – February 2020.
The next Detective Conan Scientific Investigation Exhibition will be held in Kaohsiung, Taiwan 「名偵探柯南 科學搜查展」高雄場 from 16 June 2020 to 13 September 2020!
For more information about the Detective Conan Scientific Exhibition, visit the official website (Japan): https://conan-kagaku.jp/
For more information about the upcoming Kaoshiung, Taiwan edition, please visit here. You can find updates on their official Facebook page too. Do note that the language is in Traditional Chinese.
What can you expect at the Exhibition?
The Detective Conan Scientific Investigation Exhibition features an original story (case file) not found in the manga or anime. The entire premise of the exhibition is that 毛利小五郎 (Kogoro Mouri) has been suspected of committing a murder and it is UP TO YOU to help clear his name and find the real killer! (o_O)
A) Investigation Courses
There are two investigation courses for this exhibition that you can choose to be on. Each course has its own dedicated Detective Booklet.
- Conan Edogawa & Amuro Tooru:
- Conan Edogawa & Ran Mouri:
The main difference between the two investigation courses (routes) is the level of implied difficulty and the way you collect and analyze the clues + evidence. Everything else is the same and regardless of the course you are on, the end result is the same. ^ ^
Here’s more information on the two courses:
Conan & Amuro
What the above means (loosely translated via google translation) :
A course that focuses on suspects and approaches the truth of the case while accumulating various evidence. Let’s use “inference” and “scientific investigation” to clarify the truth together with the two detectives: Conan and Amuro!
Conan & Ran
Using Google Translate, the above loosely means:
A course that attempts to clear the suspicions that Kogorou was the murderer by getting various clues. Together with Ran, let’s help by gathering information from everyone and think about what happened on the day of the incident!
The Conan & Amuro course is implied to be the more challenging route because it requires you to take on a more scientific analysis approach to find out the truth. For example, the finding and analyzing of potential murder weapons.
On the other hand, the Conan & Ran course is seen to be a much “easier” route. This is because it relies more on gathering information from witnesses and friends to deduce the truth.
As such, the Conan & Ran course is the recommended course for the younger children visiting the exhibition. They are likely to find that more enjoyable, especially if they are fans of the anime/manga.
In reality, I personally felt that both courses aren’t really that challenging. With a little help from their parents, I’m confident that the kids would enjoy the Conan & Amuro course too.
To be honest, I believe most fans would just choose the course based on the detective booklet design. ^ ^ Well, I did.
B) Inside the Detective Conan Scientific Investigation Exhibition
The entire exhibition area is separated into 8 areas. You are likely to spend most of your time at the exhibition in the following three areas:
Crime Scene Inspection Area 「現場を観察せよ！」where you will start to gather clues and evidence that will help you to solve the murder-mystery.
- Information Gathering Area 「自分の足で証拠に迫れ！」where you’ll get to “talk” to the various witnesses and informants for alibis and clues. This includes Conan’s friends and acquaintances all across the city.
- Lab area 「科学捜査で証拠をつかめ！」where you will use scientific tools and techniques to analyze all the gathered clues and evidences This area in particularly is both FUN & EDUCATIONAL!
I have to say that the interactive exhibition is pretty impressive. I definitely spent a lot of time taking photographs as well. Do check out the section on “My Detective Conan Scientific Investigation Exhibition Walk-through Experience” for these photos and some tips.
Note: There are no major spoilers to solving the case itself and the various clues, if any, has been blurred out accordingly, so no worries on checking out my photos!
Along the investigation route, there are several photo-spots and cut-outs of various Detective Conan characters. Therefore, do bring along a camera phone or a camera!(≧◡≦)! I actually spent more time taking photos than actually “solving” the crime. LOL
There are also various short video clips on large TV panels to help move the plot along as you are investigating. Do note that these videos are accessible to all visitors and you do not need the optional audio guide to view/hear them. The videos are in Japanese featuring the actual Japanese Seiyuus of the anime! For the Taipei edition, there were subtitles in Traditional Chinese. I’m not sure if there are English subtitles for the Japan exhibitions, so if there are any, please let me know in the comments.(´• ω •`)ﾉ
Oh, and it goes without saying that you can’t video-record these clips on the TV Panels. (´｡• ω •｡`) However, everything else in the Detective Conan Scientific Investigation Exhibition is photographable.
The next section is a little mini recollection of the fun and experience I had at the exhibition. I’ll include some useful information and tips as well.
My Detective Conan Scientific Investigation Exhibition Walk-through Experience
Trying a somewhat different style this time round while sharing about my experiences. Let’s see if it works ^ ^
Here’s a little photo-journey of my 2019 visit to the Detective Conan Scientific Investigation Exhibition in Taipei! ＼(≧▽≦)／
The Journey Begins …
The Journey begins on a sunny morning!
This was my very first visit to the National Taiwan Science Education Center so I was really hoping that I wouldn’t get lost (as usual). Thankfully, it was relatively easy to get to the place via public buses. I arrived at my destination without much difficulty. It certainly helped that there was a gigantic banner of the Detective Conan Scientific Investigation Exhibition hanging at the front of the building. ٩(｡•́‿•̀｡)۶
Queuing up and Getting way more excited than I should be (but I don’t care LOL) !
Collection of tickets were a breeze because I had followed the advice of many before me and bought my ticket online. I just had to show the QR code that was emailed to me at the exhibition’s entrance. (The exhibition was located on the 7th floor of the National Taiwan Science Education Center.) As such, I didn’t need to queue and buy tickets at a separate ticket counter. Please note that this might differ for the different exhibition held at different locations. Always check the official announcements.
Fun Fact: The crowd was significantly lesser because I went on a weekday morning and the exhibition was nearing its end of the run. (The trade-off was that a lot of goods were sold out. See the section “My Loot” for more information). Moreover, it was also the morning of my last day in Taipei, meaning that I had a plane to catch to fly back to my country in the late afternoon. ٩(｡•́‿•̀｡)۶
Before you enter the exhibition, you need to decide on three things:
- Which investigation course you want to go on? (Or which detective booklet you want?)
- If you want to rent the (optional) audio guide for a fee (It was NT $100 for the Taipei Exhibition)
- Do you want to buy the stamp book? (It was NT$100 for the Taipei Exhibition)
Naturally, I went with Ran & Conan for the investigation course. Admittedly, this was a tough decision but considering how Shinichi and Ran is my OTP in the series, there was only ever one conclusion. (≧◡≦) ♡ I rented the audio guide AND bought the stamp book too.
Tip: For the optional audio guide, my honest opinion is that you don’t really need it. However, the stamp book is worth buying.
The main videos which help move the “plot” along are free to watch inside the exhibition. As such, the audio guide doesn’t have any content necessary to the solving of the case and are just some bonus side conversations between the characters.
Another point to note is that the audio guide is specific to the investigation route you chose. You can’t switch between the audio content. This means that if you have selected the Conan & Amuro Course, you can’t access audio content for the Conan & Ran course and vice-versa.
For the Japanese exhibitions, the audio content is naturally only in Japanese. At the Taipei edition, the audio content was in Chinese voiced by the voice-actors for the Taiwanese dub version of the anime series. I believe if there are more global editions of the exhibition, the audio guide will correspond to the main spoken language of the country.
Hence, armed with my stamp book, investigation booklet & audio guide… my journey to find out the truth begins!＼(≧▽≦)／
The Investigation Starts…Sneak Peek!
Entering the exhibition, I was greeted by several large panels. The most prominent one is the [ 14:00 毛利 小五郎 ] that introduces the premise of the “case” —
The famed detective, Kougoro Mouri, has become the primary suspect in the murder of a novelist. The novelist had written a novel with Kogorou as the main protagonist and the completed novel was due to be published soon. The estimated time of his death was 14:00 hours (2 pm). Police found his schedule calendar (at the crime scene) with the words [ 14:00 毛利 小五郎 ], suggesting that he had a meeting scheduled with Kougorou at 2pm.
Looks like Kougoro really is in a lot of trouble! (o_O) With the evidence clearly stacked against Kougoro, he needs ALL THE HELP he can get! Fortunately there’s Conan, Amuro, Ran and Moi to the rescue. ^ ^
Crime Scene Inspection Area
The Crime Scene Inspection Area takes you to where the murder victim was found. This is where you will start to gather clues and note down anything that might be of interest to the case. I have blurred out most of the items and their descriptions in my photos to avoid spoilers.
I really love how they set up the “crime scene” just like how you see it in the TV dramas, anime and manga! It really adds to the whole experience. By the way, the “keep out” tape? You can a buy a Detective Conan version at the merchandise shop. ٩(｡•́‿•̀｡)۶
There are questions and hints in the Detective Booklet to help guide your investigation of the crime scene. To accommodate those who might not understand Mandarin, there were English translations for several of the items in the exhibition that were relevant to the investigation. That’s so thoughtful!
Gathering Information
The Mouri Detective Agency 毛利探偵事務所
After taking lots of photos gathering the clues from the crime scene, it’s time to start checking out alibis and talking to potential witnesses! Perhaps not a surprise to any fan of the series, the first stop is none other than the famous Mouri Detective Agency!
Admit it! How many of you had secretly wished that you could visit the Mouri Detective Agency? Well at the Detective Conan Scientific Investigation Exhibition, you can! ^ ^ Look at the level of detail in this replica of the agency! They even had Ran’s Gi and handphone too. I also saw a lot of fans sitting at Kougoro’s desk doing photo-ops.
Amuro is here to caution you about the importance of IT Security!
Next, do you remember how I said that the exhibition was both fun and educational? There were many useful posters scattered around the exhibition with information on security and scientific techniques used in criminal investigations for visitors. What a great way to have kids learn about these topics in a fun manner. o(≧▽≦)o
Apollo Coffee – Cafe Poirot
Speaking of iconic places, the next stop in my quest to finding the truth was at the Cafe Poirot!! How neat is that?
So I kind of, sort-of, gave a little squeal when I saw the cafe. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting it even though it was actually mentioned on the official website (oops).
Look at the level of detail they had in recreating the cafe! Isn’t it amazing? For instance, they even included a coffee grinder machine and some food such as sandwiches and apple pie on the tables!
Above all else, this was actually the place where many of the visitors lingered around the longest. I too decided to take a short break from all my photo-taking investigation at the cafe, using the time to take more photos go through all the clues I had gathered. ^ ^
Science and Analysis
Lab Area
As the name suggests, the Lab Area is where you’ll start to analyze all the clues and evidence that was gathered. There’s a bunch of interesting activities and machines that I got to play use. One of the more interesting ones was the Fingerprint Analysis Station.
The other special “machine” in the Lab Area would have to be the Voice Changer. Yes, THAT voice changer bow-tie!
What happens is that the Professor would like to update the voice changer database with your voice patterns. As such, he’s inviting all the visitors to the exhibition to help with his upgrading of Conan’s voice changer!
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I just have to say it again. I truly enjoyed the Lab area at the exhibition. What I especially appreciated was that the organizers had opted to include useful trivia and actual information about real-life scientific investigation techniques. This makes the experience so much more educational and it’s a great way to spark interests among kids (and adults) in this topic.
Revealing the Truth!
After you have analyzed all the evidence and clues, you’ll find yourself at the “Revealing Truth Area” to present your findings.
So did I solve the case?
You bet I did! Hahaha. Just look at the smiles on Amuro and Ran’s faces. All’s well that ends well. The truth is revealed and Kogoro is declared to be innocent.
Merchandise Shop
Any visit to an anime event and/or exhibition is never complete without buying some of its merchandises! The quality and selection of exclusive Detective Conan goods at this exhibition is really high and wide. If you are not careful, you’ll probably end up buying a lot of stuff. Here are just some of the highlights.
I really, really wanted the T-shirts!! Alas, by the time I was there, most of the sizes were sold out. I was also really tempted to get the Shinichi and Ran tote bag but I ended up getting one with all the Conan Character prints. (See the section on “My Loot” for it).
I really liked how cute the badges looked so I bought a few as gifts for my friends and myself. (Okay, mainly for myself LOL)
Apart from the exclusive exhibition goods, visitors were able to purchase /pre-order some of the limited Detective Conan Collaboration goods from Japan. This includes the Detective Conan backpacks; watches; bracelets and wallets. The “Kid & Conan watch” looks really nice. I was soooo tempted to buy it. However, I had to refrain as it was my last day in Taipei and I was on a budget.
I wouldn’t mind it as a gift though. Just saying. ^^
Other Interesting & Exclusive Stuff
Pleasantly surprised at several “unexpected” finds at the Detective Conan Scientific Investigation Exhibition. Because sharing is caring, here are some of the things that I was particularly impressed by or enjoyed:
I just had to get these the moment I saw it. ^ ^ Aren’t these mini pancakes just the cutest thing ever? These are actually 鸡蛋糕. (Think mini egg sponge cakes). It was NT $100 for 5 pieces. Oishii!!
Remember the Stamp Book that you had the option to buy at the start of the exhibition? Well, there were stamp stations scattered throughout the exhibition for you to stamp inside the book. Don’t forget to find them all if you have bought the stamp book! I do recommend you to buy the stamp book as it has some character stickers inside too
Name Tag/label machines! I always made it a point to try to do some whenever I see an anime themed version. I made one for myself and a couple of others for my friends. If you are looking for unique and interesting gifts for (anime fan) friends, I do recommend doing a customize anime themed name label for them.
Memorial coins. How nostalgic! I gave this a pass but my choice would have been Shinichi and Ran’s coin design.
I was seriously tempted to take some photos at the photo booth. As someone who tends to go a little crazy at anime photo-booths *cough Yowamushi Pedal cough* , I ended up having to give this a pass too. The machine only accepted certain type of coins which I didn’t have enough of. Oh well~
My Loot!
If you have been following my blog, you might have realized that I tend to go a little overboard with buying goods whenever I attend such anime events. (Oops). Well, for this exhibition, it would have been the same IF not for one important fact. I was mindful of the fact that I had a plane to catch in the afternoon so I needed to keep things light.
As a result, I only bought a tote bag, badges and the “keep-out”tape. I also bought the stamp book with the character stickers. Technically, the bookmarks were free. ^ ^ For every NT$400 spent at the merchandise shop, a free set of bookmarks would be given. I actually bought more badges than it was shown in the photo below as gifts for my friends. I did the name tags for myself and my friends as well.
And that’s the end of my mini recollection and sharing of my fun experience at the Detective Conan Scientific Investigation Exhibition! Thank you for reading!
I highly recommend all fans of the series to go for the exhibition if you have a chance to do so. There were many more interesting features and activities that I did not cover in this post. I’m pretty confident that most Detective Conan fans will enjoy the exhibition as much as I did.
If you have visited or plan to visit the exhibition, do let me know in the comments!
Check out my other escapades!
How about checking out some of my other Detective Conan Escapades, Guides and Tips on Anime Events?
- Detective Conan Cafe 2019
- Anion Station x Detective Conan
- Detective Conan Cafe 2017
- My Detective Conan Fangirl Geekout: Meeting Aoyama Gosho Sensei! (Coming Soon!)
- Mister Donut: Pokemon
- Attack on Titan x Aniplus Cafe
- Mob Psycho 100 Anime Review & Thoughts
- Pikachu Sweets by Pokemon Cafe
- Genshin Impact x Aniplus Cafe
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Detective Conan Scientific Investigation Exhibition Information
名探偵コナン科学捜査展
Official website (Japan):
https://conan-kagaku.jp/
Twitter Account (Japan):
https://twitter.com/conan_kagaku
For more information about the Kaoshiung, Taiwan edition, please visit here. You can find updates on their official Facebook page too. Do note that the language is in Traditional Chinese.
