User:Micase/sandbox

Historical and Cultural Significance
Case Closed began its publication during the "Lost Decade," which was a long period of economic recession in Japan during the 1990s after the economic bubble of the 1980s burst. During this period, Japan also saw an increase in violent crimes committed by teenagers which was a growing cause for concern. The political and cultural turmoil of this period contributed to the widespread popularity of Case Closed in Japan, where audiences wished to escape from these crises. The "boy detective" trope made a resurgence in this decade and has remained popular since. The story of Case Closed is often read as an optimistic view of the capacity of children to improve society and to inspire hope for the future. The adult detectives and police officers in Case Closed are shown to be inept at solving crimes and it is ultimately Conan and the Junior Detective Club who solve cases and inspire the child audience to do the same. This can have negative consequences by influencing children and young adults' perception of the police and other authorities. It can also generate a positive view of vigilante justice and anti-police sentiments in children that can undermine authoritative figures .Case Closed has clear influences from western and eastern cultures and it attempts to unite the two and show a modernized Japan. The designs of the characters in Case Closed are inspired by western styles, such as Conan and Richard's suits or Rachel's hairstyle, while the backgrounds show a modern, urbanized Japanese landscape. At the same time, characters also take part in traditional Japanese customs such as using chopsticks when eating or using traditional greetings when characters return to their homes. These practices demonstrate to the audience that modernity and tradition can function together.

Case Closed uses Japanese pop music (J-pop) in its opening and ending songs. Prior to the mid 1990s, anime music was considered its own genre and was separate from J-pop. Case Closed was one of the first anime programs to include J-pop specifically in the program. As a result, today J-pop is much more commonly used in anime and J-pop artists frequently use anime as a promotional platform for their work.

Case Closed features Japanese landmarks throughout the show as the setting for many episodes. The characters visit religious temples, beaches , mountain ranges and many other real and fictionalized locations in Japan that demonstrate the country's natural beauty and historical landmarks. Case Closed episodes also include elements of Japanese folklore such as the Tengu and the Shinigami, as well as more globally recognizable figures like aliens and vampires. However, the existence of these creatures is always debunked as part of the criminal's plan in an episode.