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In criminal proceedings, the ‘fruit of the poisonous tree’ theory emphasizes that if evidence is obtained through illegal means, then that evidence and its derivative evidence cannot be used in court. However, in detective novels and detective works, creators often face the challenge of balancing the legal constraints of reality with the tension of the plot.
Recently, Japanese light novel author Keisuke Iwaki shared that he often worries about whether detectives or police officers have used illegal methods in their detective works. He even admitted that it was the bold and unconventional detective characters in Detective Conan that gave him the courage to create.
The Conflict between Reality and Creation: Legal Limitations of Reasoning Stories
In his article, Shimizu Keisuke mentioned that whenever he writes detective mystery novels, he is concerned about the laws that detectives and police may violate during the investigation process.
The representative work of Keisuke Shimizu, “My Stepmother’s Oil Bottle is My Ex Girlfriend,” has been adapted into a manga and anime
He pointed out that the laws in modern society have strict restrictions on the behavior of detectives and police. For example, trespassing, illegal wiretapping, or using improper means to obtain evidence not only renders the evidence invalid, but may even lead to legal accountability for detectives or police.
Recently, Kagekatsu Iwaki has been writing a detective detective mystery work called “Sherlock+Academy”
This limitation forces creators of detective stories to handle their characters’ investigative methods with caution, in order to avoid appearing too unreasonable or untenable. However, Kajisuke Iwaki also stated that whenever he falls into this kind of thinking, he thinks of characters such as Conan and Azuchi in Detective Conan, and it is their “recklessness” that gives him the confidence to continue creating.
Unscrupulous in Detective Conan: The Source of Courage
Detective Conan, as a classic detective work, often depicts the protagonist Conan and other detective characters using illegal means during the investigation process. For example, Conan used a tranquilizer gun to make Kogoro Mouri unconscious, while he disguised himself as Mouri to reason; He also frequently uses listening devices or other high-tech equipment to obtain information. These behaviors obviously raise legal issues in reality, but in the plot, they become important means to drive the development of the story.
Zhicheng Jingjie mentioned that it was these bold actions that made him feel relieved, believing that in the process of reasoning and creation, certain unrealistic operations can be accepted and even become part of the story. He is not advocating ignoring the law, but occasionally surpassing the limitations of the law in pursuit of narrative tension, in order to bring greater emotional impact and drama to readers.
Netizens‘ response: The ambiguous zone between law and creativity
The speech of Paper City Jingjie has sparked widespread discussion on social media. Many netizens have started discussing illegal activities in detective novels and police and gangster films, as well as legal constraints in reality. Some netizens pointed out that classic detectives like Sherlock Holmes often engage in illegal investigations, which seems to have become an indispensable element in detective novels.
Someone joked that Conan not only frequently used listening devices, but also used tranquilizers, which clearly exceeded the bottom line of real law.
In addition, some people have mentioned that the handling techniques used in police and gangster films can also trigger similar legal controversies. The police in the drama often resort to unconventional methods, making it difficult for them to successfully prosecute suspects in reality.
Some people even joked that Mika cho, where Conan is located, is simply an “extraterritoriality area” where the handling of cases is completely unrestricted by law.
The gap between creative flexibility and reality
Although there are strict regulations on the behavior of detectives and police in reality, the creation of detective stories requires a certain degree of flexibility. Being too fixated on real-life laws may weaken the dramatic tension and storytelling of the work. Works like Detective Conan may have unconventional investigative techniques, but it is precisely these exaggerated plots that make them full of suspense and entertainment.
The core of deductive creation lies in how to arouse readers’ interest and thinking, rather than necessarily following the legal framework of reality. Therefore, writers can relax their requirements for legitimacy to a certain extent to ensure the brilliance and appeal of the story. As stated by Keisuke Iwaki, seeing Conan and Azuchi’s “do whatever you want” style of handling cases in the drama actually gave him the courage to create.
Detectives or police officers in detective stories often involve illegal means when handling cases, which may raise legal issues in reality. However, creation requires finding a balance between reality and artistic expression. Works like Detective Conan bring more drama and fun to detective stories through exaggerated plots and illogical operations. For writers, although legal limitations need to be considered, breaking through them when necessary may add more tension and appeal to their works.