DC English translation with names changed

[Mario2000]

Just being curious: in that old translation with characters' names changed like Shinichi to Jimmy, Hattori Heiji to Harley Hartwell, Tsuburaya Mitsuhiko to Mitch Tennison etc, how did they explain the name change considering the fact that the events took place in Japan? Or did they change the country also, but to which one if that's the case? The USA maybe? But there was an episode where Shinichi travels to New York, how did they explain the travel then? I'm confused. Could somebody who had read or watched that translation please tell whether they did change Japan to another country?

[Jecka]

I'd assume they did change the country, at least in the early part of the anime. I mean, Heiji/Harley lives in Canada, so everyone else living in the US or Canada makes sense. I haven't read much of the manga, so I can't help with the NYC case.

[usotsuki]

Eventually, at least, Viz stopped hiding it, but they did keep the name changes.

Funimation made less changes to the dub over time, but they tried to imply Heiji was a Canadian in ep.118.

[MrDetective]

What i'd like to understand is why the ept the original names of the suspects

[usotsuki]

Probably because Shogakukan only required them change certain names for consistency with the names TMS made Funi make.