Shinko Kuroyanagi
Shinko Kuroyanagi is a character in The 25th Ward: The Silver Case. She is a member of the 25th Ward Heinous Crimes Unit known for her incredibly vulgar and aggressive personality. This has earned her the nickname "The Japanese Dirty Harry".
Appearance and Personality
Kuroyanagi is a woman of average height and build with black shoulder length hair. She wears red lipstick, a leather coat, tall boots and dark pants, and a bustier-like white top.
Aggressive, bull-headed, and vulgar, Kuroyanagi is a confident and commanding woman. Despite her brash attitude and cavalier attitude towards rules, she is a competent investigator. She also holds multiple part-time jobs outside of the HCU for fun, and, as a bouncer, for the ability to hold an HCU-prohibited revolver. Kuroyanagi swears openly, often criticizing her partner Mokutaro Shiroyabu harshly. In stark contrast to the partners seen in The Silver Case's Transmitter, Kuroyanagi harbors little warmth for Shiroyabu, even offering to kill him herself when the time comes. She does, however, have a soft spot for her superior Hatoba-- the only person on the HCU capable of reining Kuroyanagi in. She proposes that they run away together, and later fights to defend him in #07 black out. She seems to treat women with more affection than she does men, admitting to a liking for "cute girls".
History
Backstory
Kuroyanagi mentions during the #02 good looking guy investigation that she grew up in the shelter, implying that she is part of the Ayame Maspro line of the Shelter Kids Policy. At one point she joined the 25th Ward Heinous Crimes Unit, while also working a series of other jobs. In 2003, at the end of #06 white out, she was made to take Mokutaro Shiroyabu on as her partner.
Correctness
Kuroyanagi first appears in #01 new world order, investigating the death of Milu Yuzuki at the Bayside Towerland apartment complex. On October 3rd, 2005, she waited at the crime scene, immediately scolding Shiroyabu and Sakaki once they arrived with Uehara, who was posing as the building manager. The group discovered small holes in the ceiling with beams of light coming through them. Kuroyanagi warned everyone to stay away, after which Sakaki was killed by a delivery man's pin stick. Kuro ordered Shiroyabu to run to the elevator to lure the enemy out while she provided backup. After Shiro was confronted by a delivery man in the elevator, Kuro approached and executed him from behind. She told Shiro not to hesitate in the future. Coming out of the elevator on the 76th floor, they encountered a large group of delivery men. Kuro and Shiro prepared themselves, and proceeded to kill all of them.
In #02 good looking guy, Kuro participated in the investigation into the death of Yasushi Kamijo. On October 11th, she appeared at Kamijo's residence with Shiroyabu and Uehara, as Shiro read aloud Kamijo's will, stating a key was hidden in his stomach. She lashed out at Shiro, telling him to make the coroner bring the key to them. In the backyard, she noticed that Uehara had a response to the word "Shelter", calling him irritating. The bike courier Takahashi arrived to deliver the key, who annoyed Kuro by asking for payment. After opening the shelter, they discovered a mountain of keys inside. Back at the HCU Office, she discussed the case with Hatoba, Aoyama, and Akama. She said that she believed the postal service was behind all of the recent events. Hatoba ordered Kuro and Shiro to search for the key. As Uehara left to meet Hirooka, Kuro made Shiroyabu wait while she went to the salon for a facial, saying the inside of the shelter was dirty. She arrived at the Central Station coin lockers, where they found another key with a photo of a woman. Shiro told her she was late, causing Kuro to explode at him. Kuro points out that Kamijo was a master of rules, and has set up rules for them to follow to learn the truth.
She brought the two to a manga cafe which doubled as a sex chatroom. She introduced them to Fukamichi, who told them the key was for Kamijo's room, where he used the handle "Good Looking Guy". Kuro accesses GLG's chat, and finds a video feed of another key. She ordered Shiroyabu to send Takahashi to find the key, and later spoke to her over the chat, first acting her to strip and then asking where she is. Takahashi revealed that she was in the next building over, where Kamijo was to be watched from to fulfill is exhibitionism. Kuro sent Shiro to meet Takahashi and retrieve the key. After Shiroyabu has the key appraised, they arrive at an apartment, where they find another key and photo. Kuro matches the key to a car in the parking lot, which automatically drives them to a house on the coast. Inside, they met Machiko, Kamijo's contract lodger. Kuro told Machiko that Kamijo was dead, and wasn't coming back. She told Kuro that she was connected to Kamijo, explained his past of as a diver, and told her that Kamijo was going to meet with the building administrator. She told Machiko not to give up hope, and took her gun from her. Later, Kuro told Shiro that Kamijo was trying to bring his past crimes to light, and said that finding the missing administrator was the final piece of the case.
In #03 boys don't cry, Kuroyanagi and Shiroyabu begin their investigation into the building administrator, Kosuke Kurumizawa. On October 31st, they discovered a dead body at Gigazel Intersection, which had been dropped from the top of a building in a plastic bucket. Kuro deduces that it was done by Kurumizawa, to prove that he wasn't dead. She scolded Shiro for his lack of experience as an investigator, and told him that they have to handle the crimes that nobody will touch. The two separated while Shiro went after Kurumizawa. She met with Hatoba, and asked if he was leaving Shiro out to dry, and agrees with him putting his abilities to the test. Hatoba told her that the divers were working to assassinate Shiroyabu. Hatoba said he was worried about her, and she told him to stop talking. Kuro theorizes that the diver saw something he shouldn't have, and says she'll continue her investigation. She told him that Kurumizawa and Kamijo were alive, with Kamijo having eloped with Machiko. She asked Hatoba if he wanted to elope with her, which he brushes off. At the end of the chapter, Kuro met with Sumio Kodai at the Harakiri Batting Center to discus Kurumizawa. Their full meeting is shown in #04 digital man, where Sumio told her Kurumizawa is an observer with no physical body, and is just a harbinger of Kamui Uehara's spread through the 25th Ward.
In #05 electride, Kuro is briefed by Hatoba on the death of Yuki Ishimura, which she is told is connected to Shiroyabu's disappearance. She and Uehara were ordered to go after the perpetrator. They arrived at the high-rise apartment where Ishimura lived. They split up, and she told Uehara to check every apartment in the building. During her investigation, Kuro found a postman attempting to enter an apartment to adjust the resident, who she killed by shooting in the head. She contacted Uehara over the radio, who had been killed by the recently death-filed Shiroyabu. Shiro told her that he met with Kurumizawa, and could sense that Uehara was Kamui. He tried to tell her something, before the radio went dead. Kuro spoke to Hatoba, who said that Shiro doesn't seem human anymore after having made contact with Kurumizawa, and left him to her. Finally, Kuroyanagi appeared before Shiroyabu at Ward 25 City Hall, after Kurumizawa disappeared. She told him to think for himself, and that he is not like Kurumizawa. Kuro reminded Shiro that he is a detective, whose duty is to investigate in the name of justice. The two left to go back into the field.
black out
In #07 black out, Kuroyanagi is the first to interrupt the standoff between Akama, Aoyama and Hatoba. She seemingly allies herself with Hatoba, threatening both of her former colleagues without mercy before the arrival of Uehara. Alongside Hatoba she urges Uehara and by extension the player to select one of the 100 Endings. Kuroyanagi herself is featured prominently in these various endings, mercilessly and violently killing Uehara in many of them.
- No. 1, "Kill Hatoba": Kuroyanagi kills Uehara, Aoyama, and Akama.
- No. 2, "Kill Akama": Kuro kills Aoyama, and then kidnaps Uehara to act as matchmaker for Shiroyabu's final battle.
- No. 3, "Kill Aoyama": Kuro shoots Akama, but he is wearing a bulletproof vest and fights her off. She leaves the fight and disappears.
- No. 4, "Kill Akama and Aoyama": Kuro misses her shot and hits Uehara.
- No. 5, "Try to kill Kuroyanagi, but...": Kuro instantly kills Uehara.
- No. 7, "Hold your breath": Kuro kills Uehara after Akama and Aoyama.
- No. 8, "Kill yourself with a necktie": Kuro shoots Uehara after his failed suicide.
- No. 9, "Kill yourself with a knife": Stomps on Uehara's head after he dies.
- No. 11, "Kill everyone (excluding yourself)": Kuro returns to life and rips out Uehara's heart. Uehara wakes up and finds her dead.
- No. 12, "Kill everyone (including yourself)": Killed by Uehara, and then guided by Shiro to the observation room.
- No. 13, "Cut off Hatoba's arm and kill Akama": Kuro kills Aoyama, and cuts off Uehara's arms with a machete.
- No. 14, "Cut off Hatoba's head and crush Kuroyanagi's heart": Killed by Uehara.
- No. 15, "Shoot out Hatoba's kneecaps and stomp his immobile ass": Kuro kills Akama and Aoyama after a gunfight. She confirms Hatoba's body, and then leaves in her car. She eventually arrives at an airport and takes a trip to Italy.
- No. 16, "Bite off all of Hatoba's fingers and kill Aoyama": Killed by Akama.
- No. 17, "Grab Hatoba by the throat and knee him into a KO": Shoots at Uehara as he kills Akama and Aoyama. Kuro hulks out and chases Uehara to the sea, where he is pulled underwater by Hatoba.
- No. 18, "Explode": Saved by the explosion by Shiroyabu, who overtakes her. Uehara wakes up in a waiting room, meeting an elderly Shiro and Kuro, who leave ahead of him.
- No. 22, "Catch on fire": Kills Uehara after he returns to their world.
- No. 25, "Face off against Aoyama": Kuro watches over Hatoba and Akama's fight.
- No. 26, "Face off against Akama": Kuro kills Aoyama, and leaves with Hatoba.
- No. 27, "Face off against Kuroyanagi": Kuro instantly kills Uehara.
- No. 28, "Find Shiroyabu in hiding": Kuro targets Uehara after he shoots Shiro. She instantly kills him.
- No. 32, "Wonder whether Shiroyabu is alive or dead and fire one shot to check": Kuro shoots at Red Shiroyabu, who dodges her gunfire and disappears.
- No. 33, "Shiroyabu executes Blue and Red": Kuroyanagi kills Shiroyabu, who asks her to go see his mother. She goes to see the mother, who is a young woman. She gives her a key, and Kuro unlocks a room and finds a sleeping Shiroyabu, who wakes up.
- No. 41, "Kosaka lives": Kuro is frozen by Kosaka's presence. She enters a stand-off, and kills Uehara once he moves.
- No. 45, "Sakaki looks cheerfully in your direction": Kuro tries to hold Shiro back, but he is swallowed by Sakaki's body and mind and disappears.
- No. 52, "Target Kuroyanagi's head": Kills Uehara.
- No. 53, "Target Kuroyanagi's heart": Kills Uehara.
- No. 54, "Target Kuroyanagi's neck": Kills Uehara.
- No. 55, "Target Kuroyanagi's jaw": Kills Uehara.
- No. 56, "Target Kuroyanagi's right arm": Kills Uehara.
- No. 57, "Target Kuroyanagi's left arm": Kills Uehara.
- No. 58, "Target Kuroyanagi's right leg": Blows up Uehara.
- No. 59, "Target Kuroyanagi's left leg": Blows up Uehara.
- No. 60, "Target Kuroyanagi's stomach": Kills Uehara.
- No. 61, "Target Kuroyanagi's ears": Uehara dodges Kuro's attack, and draws a katana. Kuro is stabbed through the heart and dies.
- No. 83, "Kurumizawa appears in an illustration": Everyone is turned 2D by Kurumizawa. Kuro willingly turns into a pure-hearted 2D heroine. The group engage in a pay-to-win battle which destroys the 25th Ward.
- No. 85, "Kurumizawa appears in a polygonal body": Everyone is killed by Kurumizawa's overpowering presence.
- No. 89, "Patricia appears": A woman named Patricia appears and convinces everyone to stop fighting.
Official profiles
| Shiroyabu's superior, and member of the same HC Unit. Her tough and imposing attitude and volatile behavior have earned her the nickname "Japanese Dirty Harry." (25th Ward site description) |
| Shiroyabu's senior investigator in the Heinous Crimes Unit. Her arrogant personality and unconventional behavior have earned her the nickname "Japanese Dirty Harry" as well as the fear of her colleagues. Although a civil servant, she also dabbles in several side jobs as well, such as sex chat administrator and race queen. (25th Ward artbook description) |
Trivia
- Kuroyanagi's dialogue features references to Gundam. In the English translation, these are omitted.
- During a conversation about GLG, it is revealed that her English is bad enough that she cannot translate the words "GOOD LOOKING GUY". She then admits she skipped all her English classes in school.
- Karafuto-kuroyanagi is a type of black willow tree.
Gallery
The 25th Ward
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Portrait -
Shooting a delivery man -
With Mokutaro Shiroyabu -
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Investigating Kamijo's bunker -
With the 25th Ward Heinous Crimes Unit -
On sex chat -
Driving to Kamijo's house -
At the end of #02 good looking guy -
With Sumio Kodai -
With Hatoba -
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Executing a postman -
Final meeting with Shiroyabu -
black out -
Bring out the commands! -
The Silver Case 2425 art
