Japp, while being a serviceable detective, is no match for Poirot; he frequently finds himself a step behind the great detective but has developed a grudging respect for the little man's abilities over their years together. Japp and Poirot's friend Arthur Hastings often commiserate on their confusion and inability to keep up with Poirot on cases.
Japp perhaps represents a more mainstream English citizen, decidely simpler and uneducated in his tastes and material desires (as opposed to Poirot's high-class gourmet palate).
See also: Hercule Poirot
wikipedia.org dumped 2003-03-17 with terodump