The mayor of Hokuei is ready to meet Conan’s demands, but he has a few surprises up his sleeve for the talk show host as well.
American talk show host Conan O’Brien landed in Japan earlier this week, and he wasted no time in hanging with the cool kids in Harajuku and dining on sumptuous traditional Japanese cuisine with his comedy pal and associate producer Jordan Schlansky.
While he was having fun in Tokyo, though, there was another location not far from his mind: Conan Town, located in Hokuei in rural Tottori Prefecture. After all, Conan Town was the entire purpose for his visit, as he was coming to collect three trillion yen from its mayor, Mayor Maysumoto, as part of his lighthearted claim to the name Detective Conan and Conan Town.
However, Typhoon Jebi, the strongest to hit Japan in 25 years, was barrelling towards Conan Town when the talk show host arrived in Tokyo, and he made sure to let everyone know he was thinking of them as they battened down the hatches against the storm.
Thankfully, Conan Town wasn’t directly under the path of the typhoon, and now that the storm has passed, Conan’s visit is set to go ahead as planned. While the talk show host has been busy exploring the nation’s capital, Hokuei has been quietly preparing for his visit, with a number of interesting activities planned for him and the people of Conan Town.
According to their official Twitter account, Hokuei has been in touch with the U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Bill Hagerty, who offered to come and “negotiate a peaceful resolution” to the demands of Conan and Mayor Matsumoto.
Mayor Matsumoto, @conanobrien : This is US Amb to Japan Bill Hagerty. I offer my services to negotiate a peaceful resolution to your respective demands. We must ensure continued peace and tranquility between the people of Conan Town and Conan. 🙋♂️🇺🇸🇯🇵 @TeamCoco #ConanTown https://t.co/8CK2VQpYJB
— ラーム・エマニュエル駐日米国大使 (@USAmbJapan) August 31, 2018
With Conan demanding to have a laundromat named after him, a key to the city and residents’ homes, and his iconic hairdo on a Detective Conan statue in Conan Town, it might be a good idea to have the Ambassador on hand to help “ensure continued peace and tranquility between the people of Conan Town and Conan.”
In return, Mayor Matsumoto demanded to have his face on Mount Rushmore, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and 15,000 American hamburgers (one for every resident of Conan Town). Conan responded by saying he would parachute a steer into Conan Town so they can all have “perfect American hamburgers”.
▼ Hokuei then got in touch with the ambassador to request clearance for the steer to be parachuted into Japan.
Dear US Amb Hagerty: We appreciate your offer. Please come help us negotiate a peaceful resolution. Also, we could use your assistance receiving ATC clearance to parachute one goggled steer into Japan. How do you like your hamburger, medium rare or well-done? #Hokuei @TeamCoco https://t.co/9LKXjaFINN
— 北栄町 (Hokuei Town) (@koho_hokuei) September 2, 2018
This tweet, posted today, suggests that Ambassador Hagerty may in fact be visiting Conan Town tomorrow to assist with burger diplomacy.
Dear US Amb Hagerty: Thank you for introducing to the world one of Hokuei's specialty products. How about enjoying some hamburgers together and eating to the future of the USA and Japan? Let's bridge our counties together through burgers. https://t.co/03za5HYuKg
— 北栄町 (Hokuei Town) (@koho_hokuei) September 4, 2018
Not long after the above tweet was posted, Hokuei sent out another tweet, this time revealing Conan’s schedule for his visit to Conan Town tomorrow, beginning with his arrival at Tottori Airport at 10:55 a.m.
Conan O'Brien is coming to Hokuei on Thurs., Sep. 6:
— 北栄町 (Hokuei Town) (@koho_hokuei) September 5, 2018
★10:55AM: Arrival to Tottori Airport (All Welcome!)
★Afternoon: Filming on location in Hokuei.
★1:30PM: BBQ at Yura Conan Station.
(1,000 hamburgers available, first-come-first-serve)
PARKING: Town Office, JA ...
While it appears that Mayor Matsumoto’s demands for 15,000 burgers has now beeen reduced to 1,000 burgers, served on a first-come-first-served basis, it looks like there’s still a lot to look forward to when Conan comes to Conan Town tomorrow. And to let everyone know they’re ready for the big day, Hokuei sent out this tweet, showing that they’re ready to meet Conan’s demands to have his face put up on their laundromat…well, maybe.
We're ready for you, but are you ready for us?
— 北栄町 (Hokuei Town) (@koho_hokuei) September 5, 2018
こちらは準備万端だよ。コナン・オブライエンさん、そっちの準備はOK? pic.twitter.com/z25QxViMgP
As another teaser, Hokuei retweeted this tweet sent out by X-Japan legend Yoshiki on his official account.
Marc! Thanx for the tweet! I'm back in LA. Wow,I found this,#名探偵コナン vs #ConanOBrien.
— Yoshiki (@YoshikiOfficial) September 4, 2018
PEACE!! #MemoryMonday https://t.co/nrocGygJOf
RT@Benioff I’m really hoping that @ConanOBrien gets to meet the one and only @YoshikiOfficial on his trip to #ConanJapan.Match made in heaven pic.twitter.com/P7nJLBxRjQ
While Yoshiki appears to be overseas at the moment, we don’t want to rule out the possibility that he might make an appearance at Conan Town tomorrow. Whatever happens, we’ve got our eyes set on the sleepy seaside town and we’ll be bringing you all the updates as soon as they happen!
Source: Twitter/@koho_hokuei
Featured image: Twitter/@koho_hokuei

Conan O’Brien visits Conan Town in Japan…but things don’t go entirely as planned
Conan O’Brien announces trip to Japan in negotiation over rural Tottori Prefecture’s Conan Town
Mayor of Japan’s Conan Town to Conan O’Brien “If you want the money, come visit”【Video】
Conan O’Brien in Japan episode features Toto toilets, Harajuku, a rented family and Conan Town
Conan O’Brien asks Hideo Kojima for a job, sings Live Band Karaoke, and says sayonara to Japan
Downloads of 39-year-old Guns N’ Roses song increase 12,166 percent thanks to Gundam
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
Three beautiful places to see Japan’s plum blossoms after starting your day in downtown Tokyo
Survey finds more than half of Japanese women’s nieces don’t call them “aunt”
Pikachu/Game Boy manhole cover installed at Nintendo Museum, not viewable by general public
1,200 Japanese workers convert above-ground train to subway line in a matter of hours
Foreign tourist in Japan arrested for having sex on shrine grounds in broad daylight
Act of Japanese kindness touches one man’s heart, provides hope for elevator etiquette
Tokyo Disneyland’s Space Mountain is now closed
New Evangelion short anime, written by Hideaki Anno, to have world premiere early next year
Yokai are descending upon Tokyo this spring in the latest immersive art experience
New Studio Ghibli stamps leave an impression on your stationery…and your heart
Cherry blossom forecasts map shows Japan’s OTHER sakura season is starting right now
Japanese women sound off on their minimum height requirements for a husband【Survey】
Japanese man gets drunk and falls asleep on Tokyo streets, then gets robbed by foreign national
Japan has a new bar just for people thinking about quitting their jobs, and the drinks are free
420 million yen in cash-filled suitcases stolen on Tokyo streets, incidents at Haneda and Hong Kong follow
Japan’s suicides fall to lowest recorded number ever, but one demographic hits all-time high
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Japan releases first official sakura cherry blossom forecast for 2026
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Archfiend Hello Kitty appears as Sanrio launches new team-up with Yu-Gi-Oh【Pics】
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning looks to be affecting tourist crowds on Miyajima
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Studio Ghibli releases new “komorebi” plush toys from Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Conan O’Brien sits down for a traditional kaiseki meal with Jordan Schlansky in Japan 【Video】
Conan O’Brien arrives in Japan, dresses up as a Harajuku girl in Tokyo 【Pics & Videos】
Conan O’Brien lays out his case that anime’s Detective Conan is just a copy of him【Video】
What happened when Conan O’Brien visited the Toto Japanese toilet showroom in Tokyo 【Video】
Conan O’Brien turns into a goldfish for a surprise Korean drama cameo
Hideo Kojima gives Conan O’Brien a job in Death Stranding in Japan【Video】
Conan O’Brien is taking South Korea by storm all thanks to some Korean snacks【Videos】
Case Closed: Detective Conan passenger trains in Tottori are about to get a fresh new look
Leave a Reply