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23rd Detective Conan Film is Now 4th Highest-Earning Japanese Film in China

Meitantei Conan: Konjō no Fist (Detective Conan: Fist of Blue Sapphire), the 23rd Detective Conan anime film, has earned a cumulative total of 210 million yuan (about US$29.49 million or 3.2 billion yen) as of its second weekend in China, surpassing the earnings of Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Treasure Island and My Neighbor Totoro (both of which opened in China last year) and becoming the all-time fourth-highest earning Japanese film in China behind your name., Stand By Me Doraemon, and Spirited Away.

The film opened in China on September 13 and earned 131 million yuan (about US$18.52 million or 2 billion yen) in its first three days. The film's opening weekend gross in China surpassed the total Chinese gross earnings of last year's Detective Conan: Zero the Enforcer film, which earned 130 million yuan (about US$18.3 million or 1.9 million yen). That film opened in November in China.

Detective Conan: Fist of Blue Sapphire is the second-highest grossing Japanese film in China so far this year, behind Spirited Away, which opened in China in June and earned 195 million yuan (about 3 billion yen or US$28.36 million) in its first three days.

Detective Conan: Fist of Blue Sapphire opened in Japan on April 12, and sold 1,458,263 tickets to earn 1,886,292,700 yen (about US$16.85 million) in its first three days. The film had sold 7,164,729 tickets to earn a total of 9,182,702,500 yen (about US$86.6 million) as of August 25. The film is the seventh consecutive Detective Conan film to become the highest-grossing film in the franchise.

Detective Conan: Fist of Blue Sapphire is set in Singapore, and is the first Detective Conan film set outside of Japan. Singapore's famous Marina Bay Sands is the site of a murder case in the film. The plot involves a large gem known as the "Blue Sapphire," which sank to the bottom of the ocean at the end of the 19th century. The film centers on Kaitō Kid, Makoto Kyōgoku, and Conan Edogawa. Makoto, an undefeated karate master with 400 wins, confronts Kid as Kid tries to steal the Blue Sapphire. Meanwhile, Kaitō Kid brings Conan to Singapore against his will.

Tomoka Nagaoka (assistant director on Detective Conan: The Crimson Love Letter) directed the film. Takahiro Ōkura (Detective Conan: The Crimson Love Letter) penned the script. Katsuo Ono returned to compose the music. Hiroomi Tosaka, the vocalist for Sandaime J Soul Brothers from Exile Tribe, performed the film's theme song "Blue Sapphire."

A 24th film in the franchise has been confirmed for 2020.

Source: Animation Business Journal (Tadashi Sudo)