According to Monkey Punch, Jigen was created as a New York raised American gangster based on actor James Coburn, especially his role in The Magnificent Seven.

In an interview with Mainichi Shimbun, he stated the name is a corruption of the Japanese phrase "jigen daisuki" (次元大好き, "I love dimensions").

Known by his trademark broad-brimmed fedora pulled over his eyes and short chin curtain beard, Jigen's favorite ploy is the trick shot.

Jolting a large object into the air with gunfire and using it to clobber an enemy or shooting overhanging deco such as a chandelier to drop and encumber a group are just two of his many non-lethal tactics.

His preferred carry-around is a Smith & Wesson Model 19 combat revolver usually tucked in the back of his pants or housed in a fabric belt holster.

Jigen is noted for his quick temper; enemy and friend alike have been victim to his need to repay violence for insult.

He is, by far, the more pragmatic of the group, with a cynical streak founded in failed romances (his luck with women runs from bad to worse, with love interests often betraying him or dying).

While he considers killing women and children taboo, he is willing to put down any age or gender who offers a life threat, such as Linda in Part 2 Episode 26.

During the third anime series, Jigen's outfit is more light colored and his hatband has a cross-hatched or grid pattern design (similar to the original manga interpretation of the character); however the black look is most applied for OVA productions and TV specials.

When he does go out, he usually attends target practice, visits a favorite bar, plays poker, enjoys a boxing match or eats at a chop house-style restaurant.

As well, Jigen enjoys drinking scotch, bourbon, vodka, beer and occasionally fine wines; he has a "heavyweight's" resistance to intoxication.

In a television documentary celebrating the manga's history, Monkey Punch stated he based the Jigen/Lupin relationship on Alain Delon and Charles Bronson's teaming in the 1968 film Adieu l'ami.

Jigen first appeared in chapter 7 of the manga "Magician" (魔術師, Majutsushi) in which he and his partner Lupin encounter a man named Pycal of whom they must defeat.

[8] The character was portrayed by Kunie Tanaka in the 1974 Japanese live-action film Lupin III: Strange Psychokinetic Strategy.

Daisuke Jigen's English voice actor in the 1979 Toho dub of The Mystery of Mamo (in which the character was renamed "Dan Dunn") was not credited but is typically identified as Cliff Harrington.