Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback continues its reign at the top of the Japanese box office, while the live-action Ya Boy Kongming! film debuts strongly. Let’s dive into the details of these box office hits.
Detective Conan Extends Box Office Domination
The 28th film in the Detective Conan franchise, Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback, has maintained its number-one position in the Japanese box office for a second consecutive weekend. In the April 25-27 weekend, the film raked in 1.669 billion yen (approximately $11.74 million USD) with 1.136 million admissions. While this represents a 51.5% drop from its record-breaking opening weekend, its performance remains strong.
A Record-Breaking Start
One-Eyed Flashback initially opened on April 18, 2025, across a record-breaking 522 theaters in Japan, including IMAX, MX4D, 4DX, and Dolby Cinema screenings. During its opening weekend (April 18-20), the film achieved unprecedented success, earning 3,438,626,700 yen (about US$24.15 million) and selling 2,314,690 tickets. This marked the best opening weekend in the Detective Conan franchise, surpassing the previous record held by Detective Conan: The Million-Dollar Pentagram, which earned 3.352 billion yen in its opening weekend in April 2024.
Comparing to Past Success
The film’s two-week cumulative total has reached 6.3 billion yen (about $44.33 million USD) with 4.31 million tickets sold. While impressive, it’s slightly behind The Million-Dollar Pentagram by 200 million yen at the same point in its release. However, The Million-Dollar Pentagram ultimately became the highest-grossing film in the franchise, so One-Eyed Flashback still has a chance to break that record.
What Makes One-Eyed Flashback Special?
One-Eyed Flashback features a storyline set in Nagano Prefecture, revolving around mysterious events and murders. The film incorporates real-life locations, a common trait in Conan films that draws tourists to these spots. Katsuya Shigehara, who previously worked as a unit director and key animator on other Conan films, directed the film. The theme song, “Twilight!!!” is performed by King Gnu.
Other Films in the Top Rankings
Before One-Eyed Flashback‘s release, Doraemon the Movie: Nobita’s Art World Tales held the top spot as the highest-grossing film in Japan for 2025, earning $30 million (¥4.2 billion). It was then relegated to second place after the release of Detective Conan. Other notable films include Wicked, which has earned $21.4 million (¥3 billion), making it the highest-grossing non-domestic film of the year to date. Me & Roboco: The Movie, an anime film, initially debuted at #4 but quickly fell out of the top 10 in its second weekend.
Ya Boy Kongming! Live-Action Film Debuts
The live-action film adaptation of Ya Boy Kongming!, also known as Paripi Koumei in Japan, made its debut on April 25, 2025.
From Manga to Live-Action
Ya Boy Kongming! began as a manga series written by Yuto Yotsuba and illustrated by Ryo Ogawa. It was first serialized on Kodansha’s Comic Days website from December 2019 to November 2021 and then moved to Weekly Young Magazine. The series follows Zhuge Kongming, the legendary Chinese strategist from the Three Kingdoms period, who is reincarnated in modern-day Shibuya. He meets Eiko Tsukimi, an aspiring singer, and uses his strategic genius to help her achieve her musical dreams.
The manga’s popularity led to a live-action TV drama adaptation that aired for 10 episodes on Fuji TV from September to November 2023. The live-action movie serves as a direct sequel to this drama.
Movie Details
The Ya Boy Kongming! movie features the return of the main cast from the TV drama, including Osamu Mukai as Kongming and Moka Kamishiraishi as Eiko Tsukimi. Yuhei Shibue, a director from the drama series, directs the film. The movie centers around the MUSIC BATTLE AWARDS 2025 competition.
Several musical artists contributed to the film’s soundtrack. Soshi Sakiyama, known for Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2’s “Akari,” and Lilas Ikuta from YOASOBI wrote songs for the film, titled “again and again” and “Sing along!!!,” respectively. Shinya Ishihara, the vocalist of Saucy Dog, wrote “Count on me,” which is performed by EIKO (Moka Kamishiraishi) and serves as the film’s theme song. The CD single of “Count on me” and the “Ya Boy Kongming! THE MOVIE Original Music Collection” album were released on April 23, 2025.
Additional cast members include Avu-chan (Queen Bee) as Maria Diesel, a world-famous singer, Masaya Kamei as himself, Rinko Kikuchi as Avil Suzuki, Soko Wada as Hisahiko Karasawa, Cookie! as Kisuku Jonouchi, Daichi Kodama as Date, DJ KOO (TRF DJ) as Hirose, and SAM (TRF performer) as Urama.
Plot Overview
The movie follows Kongming’s journey as he uses his strategic skills to guide Eiko Tsukimi in the music industry. Kongming, now in modern Shibuya, is captivated by Eiko’s singing and aims to bring “Peace reigns in the land” through her music. The film involves Eiko competing in a major music battle festival, with Kongming’s support and strategies playing a crucial role in her journey.
Box Office Impact and Reception
While Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback continues its dominance, the Ya Boy Kongming! live-action film has made a notable debut, securing the #2 spot in its opening weekend. The film’s release was accompanied by significant promotion, including trailers, posters, and music releases, generating buzz among fans of the manga and drama series.
Kongming’s Enduring Appeal
The Ya Boy Kongming! series has captured the hearts of many with its unique blend of historical strategy and modern-day music. The reincarnation of Zhuge Kongming in Shibuya brings a fresh and comedic perspective to the world of J-pop. The live-action film is expected to further expand the series’ fanbase and showcase the charm of its characters and music.
What’s Next?
As Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback continues its successful run and Ya Boy Kongming! makes its debut, the Japanese box office remains dynamic. The performance of these films will be closely watched in the coming weeks, and it remains to be seen whether One-Eyed Flashback can surpass The Million-Dollar Pentagram‘s record and whether Ya Boy Kongming! can maintain its momentum. Both films contribute to the vibrant landscape of Japanese cinema, offering unique stories and entertainment for audiences.
