Kogorō Akechi (明智 小五郎, Akechi Kogorō) is a fictional private detective created by Japanese mystery writer Edogawa Ranpo. Initially an eccentric, disheveled amateur, Akechi evolved into a sophisticated sleuth known for solving "impossible" crimes using psychology. Akechi first appeared in the story "The Case of the Murder on D. Hill" (D坂の殺人事件, D-zaka no satsujin jiken) in January 1925 and continued to appear in stories for a quarter of a century. Edogawa Ranpo (a pseudonym for Tarō Hirai) is considered the father of the Japanese detective story and was a great admirer of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Akechi is the first recurring detective character in Japanese fiction and is clearly inspired by Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. The character has been adapted into numerous films, television shows, and anime, remaining a staple of Japanese pop culture for generations.