Daisuke Jigen Twin Keyholder from Lupin the 3rd — 2004 Banpresto Japan Release
What’s Inside the Package
This item is a Lupin the 3rd Twin Keyholder produced by Banpresto in 2004, still sealed in its original blister pack — the classic cardboard-backed, clear plastic clamshell format common to Japanese character goods of that era. The set consists of a metal keyring with a metal chain connecting two plastic charms: a figure-style charm of Daisuke Jigen, Lupin’s sharpshooting partner, and a charm modeled after the iconic yellow Fiat 500 (Cinquecento) that appears throughout the series. The Jigen charm captures his signature look — black suit, light blue shirt, white tie, and the deep-brimmed fedora he’s almost never seen without. The card backing displays the “LUPIN THE 3RD Twin Keyholder” title in both English and Japanese, the Banpresto logo, and small illustrations of other entries in what appears to be the same lineup, suggesting this was part of a series — possibly named “Lupin Family Twin Keyholder,” though the notes confirm that name only partially and don’t make it definitive. The distribution channel isn’t certain either: Banpresto supplied both general retail (anime shops, variety stores) and arcade prize machines like UFO Catchers, so this style of packaged goods could have moved through either channel.
The Series and the Characters Behind It
Lupin the 3rd began as a manga by Monkey Punch (Kazuhiko Kato) in 1967, serialized in Weekly Manga Action. It follows the adventures of gentleman thief Arsene Lupin III and his crew in a freewheeling action-comedy style that blends crime capers with slapstick and sharp wit. The anime adaptation launched in 1971 on Nippon Television and has never really stopped — TV series, theatrical films, TV specials, and OVAs have been produced across more than five decades, with new entries still appearing as recently as 2024. The 1979 theatrical film The Castle of Cagliostro, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, is among the most internationally celebrated entries in the franchise.
Daisuke Jigen is Lupin’s most constant companion across the entire run of the series — a cold-eyed, cigarette-smoking gunman known for a 0.3-second quick draw, typically using a Smith & Wesson M19 revolver. He’s been voiced by Kobayashi Kiyoshi for most of the franchise’s history, a casting so definitive it became inseparable from the character’s identity. The yellow Fiat 500 is no less iconic: introduced in the first TV series, the lemon-yellow Cinquecento became a visual shorthand for the whole franchise and appears on merchandise as readily as any of the main characters themselves.
Where This Fits in Lupin Collecting
By 2004, Banpresto was one of Japan’s most active producers of anime character goods, running a high-volume output of keychains, figures, and accessories tied to long-running IP like Lupin the 3rd. That year also saw the broadcast of the 17th Lupin TV special in July, keeping the franchise visible to domestic audiences. Lupin has maintained a genuine international following since its North American broadcasts and home video releases in the 1970s and 1980s, and streaming availability in recent years has brought in new fans globally. A Jigen-focused item paired with the yellow Fiat — two of the most recognizable symbols in the franchise — is the kind of combination that appeals both to character-specific collectors and to fans drawn to the series’ visual identity as a whole. The sealed blister pack means the item has remained in its original display condition for over two decades.
Price: $13.76 | View on eBay
