Takehiko Muto

Muto is independent, stubborn and deeply attached to the original Kitanosawa. He opposed the dam project that required the community to relocate and refuses to embrace the new settlement in the same way as many former residents.

His blunt exterior is balanced by strong loyalty toward the people he cares about. His feelings for Mizuki Tono have persisted despite the passage of years, and he is willing to wait for her rather than force her into a decision.

Muto's suspicion of the dam project and his isolated mountain life make him appear potentially threatening during the investigation, but much of his hostility is directed toward what he sees as the destruction of his hometown.

Muto is a skilled wood carver who earns his living through traditional craftwork. His profession requires manual precision and familiarity with woodworking tools.

Living in the mountains also makes him familiar with Kitanosawa's terrain and winter environment. He is physically capable and accustomed to conditions that are considerably harsher than those faced by the visiting characters.

Muto does not demonstrate extraordinary deductive or supernatural abilities. His practical skills and local knowledge are more important than formal investigative training.

Muto is one of the childhood friends encountered by Conan Edogawa and the others in Kitanosawa. He reunites with Mizuki Tono, Fuyumi Tachihara, Shogo Hikawa and Keisuke Yamao after years in which the group has largely gone separate ways.

His opposition to the dam becomes relevant because the new crimes appear increasingly connected to the submerged old village. When Hikawa is found dead, the complicated histories and tensions among the five friends place several of them under suspicion.

Muto is not responsible for Hikawa's murder or the attempt to destroy the dam. The investigation ultimately reveals Keisuke Yamao as the person behind the central crimes, while Muto's opposition to the dam serves as a misleading reason to suspect him.

Mizuki Tono is Muto's childhood friend and romantic interest. He considers her beautiful and remains devoted to her despite the emotional burden she carries from her sister's accident.

Fuyumi Tachihara, Shogo Hikawa and Keisuke Yamao are Muto's other childhood friends from Kitanosawa. The group reunites after eight years when Yamao returns.

Shogo Hikawa also has feelings for Mizuki Tono, creating tension around their shared history.

Conan Edogawa investigates Muto and the other members of the group while determining how the new crimes relate to Kitanosawa's past.