Как пишется канеки кен на английском

«I’m not the protagonist of a novel or anything. I’m just a college student who likes to read, like you could find anywhere. But… if, for argument’s sake, you were to write a story with me in the lead role, it would certainly be… a tragedy.»— Ken Kaneki, Tokyo Ghoul Chapter 1

Ken Kaneki (金 (カネ)木 (キ) 研 (ケン), Kaneki Ken) is the main protagonist of the Tokyo Ghoul series. He is currently Touka Kirishima’s husband, and the father of Ichika Kaneki. Previously, he was a student who studied Japanese literature at Kamii University, living a relatively normal life. However, this quickly changed after Rize Kamishiro’s kakuhou was transplanted into him and transformed him into a one-eyed ghoul. Kaneki is the first known artificial one-eyed ghoul. His unique half ghoul state is what later inspires the idea of the Quinx. After joining Anteiku as a part-time waiter, he learns how to live as a ghoul and eventually becomes known as Eyepatch (眼帯, Gantai).

After being captured by Aogiri Tree, he underwent a drastic personality change and after escaping, formed a group with the goal of protecting those precious to him and exterminating individuals threatening his place of belonging. His kakuja form’s distinct appearance earned him the alias Centipede (ムカデ, Mukade).^[14]

Two years following his defeat against Kishou Arima, he lived under the identity of Haise Sasaki (佐々木 (ササキ) 琲 (ハイ)世 (セ), Sasaki Haise), a Rank 1 Ghoul Investigator who served as the mentor of the CCG’s Quinx Squad. His memories were initially lost to him, but regained during the Tsukiyama Family Extermination Operation. Six months after the operation, ghouls came to know him by the moniker of the Black Reaper (黒い死神, Kuroi Shinigami).

After defeating Arima and Eto, having unveiled their joint plan to raise a one-eyed ghoul who could stand as the hope for all ghouls, he calls himself the One-Eyed King (隻眼の王, Sekigan no Ō). Kaneki has since then formed the organization he named Goat.

As a result of a plan carried out by Kichimura Washuu, Kaneki morphed into the Dragon (竜, Ryū), a huge, uncontrollable kagune that destroyed large portions of Tokyo. He was later extracted from the monstrous appendage by a collaboration between the remaining members of Goat and the CCG. When the remnants of Dragon began releasing a toxin that threatened humans and ghouls alike, Kaneki ventured down into the depths of the oviduct and nullified the threat after a fierce battle with Kichimura Washuu and Dragon.

After the Defense of Tokyo, Kaneki and Touka currently live happily married, with a daughter and another child coming, with humans and ghouls finally united together.

Appearance

As a child, Kaneki had all the same features he has now as an adult with black hair. As a normal university student, Kaneki was a somewhat short and scrawny young man with little to no athletic background and preferred to read books. After the steel beam incident, Kaneki bears a scar from the transplant operation on the right side of his abdomen not far from his navel.^[15][16] In his free time, he wore casual clothes.

His casual outfit consists of a turquoise hoodie, light black pants, running shoes with a yellow toe and blue outlines reaching the middle of the black base of the soles.

At work, he wore the standard Anteiku waiter uniform, consisting of black trousers and a gray waistcoat over a white dress shirt and a black necktie (brown cravat in the anime). Because he could not yet properly control his single kakugan that manifests in his left eye, he wore a medical eye patch to cover it.

His ghoul mask resembles a leather gimp mask with an eye patch. It bears a lipless mouth with large, gnashing teeth, much like a restrained asylum monster. The bolts sticking out of his neck and the fact that he is an artificial ghoul invoke a Frankenstein-like theme.

After being tortured by Yamori, his appearance changed drastically. His hair became completely white, his nails were blackened, and he developed a more muscular physique. He began to favor monochrome clothing and wore a form-fitting black bodysuit with cutouts when going into battle. His attitude changed as well. He became more cold, and left his innocence behind as he fully embraced his inner ghoul.

In the years since adopting the identity of Haise Sasaki, his hair began to develop black streaks growing out from the crown. He wore the standard business attire of a ghoul investigator, favouring black dress shirts and pinstripe pants with a knee-length white trench coat. He also wears a pair of round eyeglasses when reading. After the events of the Auction Mopping-up Operation, his hair slowly began to revert back to its original color with almost no white remaining.

After the Tsukiyama Family Extermination Operation, his appearance changed drastically again. His hair had completely reverted to its original black colour, and he started wearing his glasses in most scenarios. He wore a black version of the Arima Squad uniform, pairing a black dress shirt with black slacks and a long, black trench coat. In contrast, he wore a pair of red gloves (black gloves in the anime) that disguised his right hand which was covered in reptilian scales. In his second battle with Arima, Sasaki wore a form-fitting black bodysuit underneath his uniform.

Upon regaining his identity as Ken Kaneki, his hair turned completely white again after having his limbs cut off repeatedly by Arima. Unable to heal properly from the incident, both of his arms are covered in reptile-like scales. As a result he continues to wear gloves to cover them with black turtleneck shirts with a pair of white pants. Around his neck, he keeps Touka’s parents’ ring on a chain, and after their marriage, the scar from her bite mark on his right shoulder. For a time, Kaneki wore a collared black coat over his new sleeveless battle suit with dark gloves reaching past his elbows.

After becoming immobilized inside Dragon, Kaneki took on the form of a beast big enough to wrap around skyscrapers, with many huge kakugan protruding from large, black limbs. Kaneki was uncontrollable in this state and kept expanding. He had already completely destroyed a large sector of the 23rd ward and presumably completely collapsed the 24th ward.

Upon being recovered from dragon by Touka Kirishima and the Q’s squad, Kaneki lost much of his muscular mass, and is confirmed to have gained new unidentified organs after his transformation. His entire body from the neck down was covered in kagune-like tissue, along with several black growths running down the front of his upper torso, and his hands possessed three misshapen fingers. His hair was lengthier and hung down below the chin. There appeared to be flesh patterns decorating his neck and lower eyelids. However, upon releasing his new kagune, his body appears to have returned to normal, with his hands once again possessing five fingers and being without the previous scales.

Following the six-year timeskip at the end of :re, Kaneki trimmed his hair back to its original length. The flesh patterns under his left eye changed, becoming two thick lines running diagonally from under his left eye all the way down the left side of his face.

Manga Depiction

Tokyo Ghoul

Tokyo Ghoul:re

Anime Depiction

Tokyo Ghoul

Tokyo Ghoul:re

Personality

Pre-Aogiri

Kaneki was a shy and reserved person, with Hide being his only close friend. He usually spent most of his time reading books, mostly novels. He was extremely gentle and appeared to be optimistic most of the time. Influenced by his mother and a true testament of modesty, he willingly took blame and punishment from others so that he can be someone who does not hurt people, but rather absorb the torment. However, this lack of assertiveness normally got him bullied and taken advantage of.^[18][19]

However, beneath his altruistic and gentle nature was an underlying fear of being alone that was aggravated by his mother’s death. He despised the idea of solitude, hence he tried to protect those dear to him so he would not have to face his fear of being alone in the world.

This was perhaps his greatest weakness. Since Kaneki was always trying to protect others, he was essentially trying to protect himself from ever being alone again. Therefore, to escape that scenario, he would shoulder the task of protecting others onto himself, without relying on anyone else. This was also why Kaneki rejected the notion of «living,» because watching others die reminded him of those lonely days without anyone beside him.

After he was turned into a half-ghoul, he clung to his human side. To keep living in the human world, he began to work at Anteiku and established relationships with the ghouls there. He started to develop an interest in becoming stronger and began reading martial art books so he could protect those closest to him. However, he was still troubled with the fact that he was a half-ghoul and wanted to search for a place where he could belong. As much as he treasured his life, if people close to him were threatened, he would not hesitate to put his life on the line.

Post-Aogiri

After being held captive and undergoing intense torture at the hands of Yamori, Kaneki’s personality changed drastically. He trashed his previous ideology of «being hurt rather than hurting others,» pledging to crush those who dared threaten his place of belonging. He adopted the habit of cracking his knuckles from his torturer, Yamori. In his subconscious, Kaneki ate «Rize,» the image of his ghoul self. This displayed that he accepted the «ghoul» within him; instead of being influenced by it, he appeared to have become the one to surpass it. Kaneki became ruthless, cruel, and brutal in order to protect his friends, yet he managed to maintain complete composure. He no longer feared his ghoul side and was more violent during battles, such as when he cannibalized Yamori’s kagune in order to strengthen himself, and mercilessly broke 103 of Ayato’s bones.^[20] By embracing his ghoul nature wholeheartedly, Kaneki gave up on being «human.»

Kaneki was still capable of showing his gentle nature in front of people he cared about, but instantly turned merciless against his enemies. He yearned for strength and power, therefore becoming more power-hungry and superficially arrogant. His new creed—that as «the strong» he had the right to «devour the weak»—was originally an ideology held by Yamori. Banjou assumed that Kaneki developed some form of mental instability during his torture in the 11th ward, and that this would gradually wear him down.

Whenever he was near starvation and losing control of his kagune (or half-kakuja), he behaved in a way that emulated another’s, such as Rize or Yamori. He would speak in a crazed disorganized manner, further implying his mental instability during these periods.

After raiding Kanou’s lab and attacking Banjou, Kaneki entered a period of soul-searching. He wished to reclaim his lost «human» side and became uncertain about the path he had taken to become stronger. He started to question and seek answers from individuals such as Uta, Yomo, and Yoshimura in order to understand the incidents that have happened around him since he turned into a ghoul.

Auction

While living under his new identity as Haise Sasaki, he was a self-contained and good-natured individual. He was loyal, devoted, and possessed a good work ethic. Sasaki was very cooperative, as he preferred working in a group rather than working alone. He also showed mercy, as he believed that an investigator should not annihilate ghouls unnecessarily. This was sometimes to the chagrin of his fellow ghoul investigators. Sasaki enjoyed reading books in his free time and had a habit of using puns, shown by his conversation with Akira Mado in the curry restaurant. He tended to scratch the back of his head when he was thinking hard or feeling uneasy. He still had his old habit of scratching or rubbing his chin whenever he was hiding something or lying from his days as Kaneki.

He showed appropriate respect and great concern for his colleagues, especially his underlings. He complied with orders assigned by his seniors and carried them out without hesitation. However, Sasaki’s gentle nature often led his subordinates to constantly disobey him, rendering him ineffective in controlling their actions; he was left to worry about their safety.

In contrast to before his memory loss, Sasaki rejected his ghoul side and was afraid of it. When analyzed by Arima after his capture, Sasaki appeared to retain his introverted nature and lack of assertiveness as Kaneki, along with his yearning for a motherly figure.

However, Sasaki was still prone to losing control, as shown when he fought the Serpent, where he also cracked his fingers during the fight—a habit that he had originally developed as Kaneki in the past. Donato Porpora noted that Sasaki was curious about his memories but also afraid of them, as he worried he could no longer keep his current life in the CCG should he ever recover his memories. Sasaki feared that relying on his ghoul side would make him disappear. After being rescued from Takizawa by Hinami, Sasaki’s perspective on his ghoul nature changed. He concluded that the Kaneki of the past must have been a good person because Hinami cared for him a lot, even though he did not remember. He eventually accepted this ghoul side in order to protect Hinami and Saiko, with the risk of his personality disappearing. He learned about Kaneki, who appeared in his subconscious as a mental construct where «Kaneki» admitted that he was also scared and asked Sasaki to not erase him.

After the auction, Sasaki was friendlier towards his ghoul side. However, «Kaneki» said the relationship could not last forever, as they were two beings fighting for one body. Sasaki was told to «not erase him» but misheard it as «disappear.» He then remained conflicted about his past, actively searching for information about himself.

Post-Rose Extermination

During the Tsukiyama Family Extermination Operation, Sasaki recalled a memory of his past as Ken Kaneki where he had been physically abused by his mother. He also realized that he unconsciously wished to die and had been glad to see Arima during the Owl Suppression Operation. However, that failed, so he believed that burying his past was his salvation, so he chose to forget and live as Haise Sasaki. Upon realizing this, Sasaki accepted his past, resolving to stop «dreaming.»

After regaining his memories, in sharp contrast to his previously gentle personality, Sasaki became colder and much more violent. He fought with more brutal force and was willing to put Tsukiyama’s life at risk, despite already remembering his old acquaintance. He did, however, ensure that Kanae would rescue Tsukiyama before throwing the ghoul off the building. He displayed his cold nature to Urie when the latter blamed him for Shirazu’s death, calmly telling him that it was his fault as he was the one fighting beside Shirazu. He then mourned together with Mutsuki and Saiko, showing that despite his cold demeanor, he still felt sad about Shirazu’s death.

Third Cochlea Raid

During the Cochlea attack, Sasaki displays his deep unhappiness for his own existence, constantly engaged in inner monologue. As he rescues Hinami from her cell, he reveals his own motives that have not changed since the Tsukiyama Investigation. That he wanted to «go out in style.» Meaning to act as a sacrificial pawn with no care for his own life, Sasaki displays regret when Touka tells him to see her later, stating that it is all so unfair and that Touka is a cruel one.

While being torn apart by Arima, Sasaki gives up on living altogether, stating his task was completed. He is interrupted by a projection of «Hide» who tells him to stop being a fool and to listen for once. Once Sasaki realizes what Hide actually meant back in V14, his hair turns white once more due to the stress of being ripped apart by Arima and rises with a newfound will to live wearing a smile on his face.

Goat Wipeout Operation

During his reign as king, Kaneki displays his growing maturity upon taking up the mantle of the «One Eyed King». When meeting with the soon-to-be members of Goat, he addresses all of their concerns, even persuading Naki to join him after a brief scuffle. When dealing with the Clown’s attack on the CCG, Kaneki shows his ability to direct his forces, doing so in a calm and orderly fashion, while at the same time, selecting members to join him in their attempt to obtain the RC suppressants needed to heal Akira. After Goat was forced to move underground as a result of Furuta’s oppressive plan to eradicate the population of ghouls in Tokyo, Kaneki has become more morose. He’s more driven and has a tunnel-vision mentality of wanting to protect the ghouls on his lonesome. This comes back to bite him as he returns to the base by himself in an effort to stop Furuta, only to be beaten in a fierce battle by Juuzou and Abara.

Dragon Arc

While trapped inside the massive appendage known as the Dragon, Kaneki experienced a mental simulation of himself trapped inside a temple, accompanied by an emulation of Rize. She taunted him for being responsible for the deaths of so many civilians, along with being so responsible for the hunting of so many ghouls. She mocks his idea of trying to get the CCG to cooperate, stating that people keep dying because Kaneki keeps doing things, despite him saying that he’s never able to do anything.

It became clear that while Kaneki convinced himself that he wanted to live for others, he only wanted to die a beautiful and fulfilled death. He stated that if he kept on fighting, he would feel needed, and yet never considered the death which would come from it. Upon recognizing these flaws, Kaneki states that despite all of the death that he’s caused, both directly and indirectly, he’ll continue on his path and try to bear the weight of them.

When he’s released from Dragon, Kaneki is regretful upon seeing the damage that he did to both Tokyo and Hide. Despite this, he remains determined to stop Furuta and save both ghouls and humans. However, after losing to Juuzou and Abara and being shown his flaws by Furuta, Kaneki has decided that he’ll do so with the help and support of his friends and family, rather than tackling the issue by himself.

During his final confrontation with Rize, Kaneki reflects on his life. He recognizes that everyone is their own protagonist, and that his tragedy doesn’t make him anymore special than anyone else. He knows that the world is a harsh and unforgiving place, but despite it all, people will still strive to be loved and chosen by those around them. As a result, he’ll carry on and choose and be chosen, nothing more, nothing less.

Psychological Issues

Kaneki’s mental state undergoes extreme changes over the course of the series. Before his torture, Kaneki would at times refer to his actions as «we» or «us,» albeit mostly while in a stressed state. Kaneki personifies his feelings to an extent that they take the form of people existing within his mind. When meeting these mental constructs, Kaneki enters a limbo-like state where he converses with them. Kaneki initially only entered this state when he was under extreme duress or near-death and later included during calm settings for conversation.

During his torture at the hands of Yamori, this construct takes the form of Rize Kamishiro. She taunts him for his weakness and shows memories from his past with his mother, forcing out his anger towards her for not being able to refuse her sister. Through these memories, she gradually convinces Kaneki to abandon his previous ideology of being the one who gets hurt instead of others. By accepting «Rize,» Kaneki embraces a more brutal view of the world and accepts his ghoul powers.

The next time he encounters this alternate self is at V14, after being mortally wounded by Arima. Within his mind, he encounters a child version of himself that he feels the desire to protect. As he comes to accept his failings and similarities to his mother, this self transforms into a version of Kaneki as he existed at the beginning of the series. This more innocent Kaneki accepts him and thanks him for all that he has done to protect them. The two vanish together, resolving to «sleep» for a while.

In Tokyo Ghoul:re, the mental construct took on the appearance of Kaneki, initially appearing as Yamori’s prisoner while donning his kakuja mask. This «Kaneki» torments him, demanding to be accepted and given back his body. Sasaki denied this being, which leads him to moments of instability whenever he uses his ghoul powers. When he is finally forced to accept his past and honor the request to «look» at «Kaneki,» the projection appears to him as a white-haired child who he feels the need to protect. In the months following, Sasaki and «Kaneki» regularly converse with each other. Unlike previous constructs, Sasaki often imagines the child in the real world, picturing the child going through normal activities such as reading. Though they have reached an understanding, the child «Kaneki» tells Sasaki that the two of them cannot continue to co-exist and one will eventually vanish.

During Sasaki’s fight with Karren, a heavily injured Sasaki once again retreats to his mind. The child then confronts him, taunting Sasaki for not being able to protect himself. Sasaki attacks the child, which prompts him to unsuppress his memories of being abused as Kaneki. As these memories came back to him, the child expressed that Kaneki was trying to die during the events at V14. He also desired to be loved by everyone that knows him, regardless of how his actions may obtain the desired result, be them with good or bad intentions, which the mental child Kaneki perceives as salvation. Sasaki regards himself as a «dream,» caused when he began to desire. After Sasaki accepted his past, he resolves to quit «dreaming.»^[21]

During Sasaki’s fight with Arima at Cochlea, the latter savagely beats him to the brink of death. As Sasaki was about to succumb to his injuries and die, his mental construct takes the form of Hide. «Hide» scolds him for his selfish excuses, deducing that Sasaki had heard the sound of the compactor and asked whether he was okay with seeing his friends dying and letting his efforts be in vain. «Hide» encouraged Sasaki to live, reminding that he sacrificed himself with the goal of «living together with him» and that living would allow Sasaki to find a purpose in life.^[22] Sasaki’s appearance begins to revert back to his post-Aogiri days, with his hair becoming white again.

«Hide’s» advice made Sasaki realize that his mental constructs of «Rize» and «Hide» were all just manifestations of his inner desires and thoughts. Sasaki believed that Hide would stop him if he went beyond his own boundaries, causing Sasaki to deduce that once he began to think this way, he began to desire to live again.

When reduced to only his body and head after being beaten by Juuzou and Abara, Kaneki once again retreats into the inner recesses of his mind. His different personalities convene and discuss what went wrong and what they should’ve done. Eventually, his many personalities begin to argue and the situation erupts into chaos before they all realize that they have one thing in common; they need to save Touka. Upon this realization, Kaneki asks himself under the guise of his various selves if he’s willing to cross the line of killing humans and children. In response, he declares that he will, and that he’ll «press forward, like a centipede».

While Dragon runs rampant throughout Tokyo, Kaneki remains comatose within its recesses. In his mind, he finds himself in a shrine surrounded by an endless ocean. Upon diving in, he finds the bodies of his victims drowning beneath the waves. As he surfaces, he’s greeted by «Rize», who asks him if he remembers the first time they met. While Kaneki doesn’t regret meeting Rize as he’s met many friends along the way, «Rize» states that she hates him as she’d never be reduced to her current state if she’d never met Kaneki at Anteiku. As he’s being pulled out of Dragon, his mental world begins to collapse, and Kaneki leaves declaring that he’ll try to bear the weight of his sins.

Plot

Main article: Ken Kaneki/Synopsis

Relationships

Hideyoshi Nagachika

Kaneki’s best friend, who he calls by his nickname, Hide, has been Kaneki’s closest friend since childhood. Although Kaneki would lack the assertiveness to speak to others, Hide would often speak in his place as his «voice.» Kaneki is willing to fight for his friend, and Hide is able to perceive Kaneki’s emotions. The strong connection between Kaneki and Hide earns Kaneki the capability to refrain from human meat even when driven by ghoul instincts. He cares for Kaneki immensely and did not hesitate to help him even after finding out about Kaneki’s transformation into a ghoul.

Before his first fight with Arima, Hide encouraged Kaneki to eat him for strength, showing how selfless he can be for his best friend. During his time as Scarecrow, he saved Sasaki’s life by activating a microphone which broadcasted Sasaki’s near death at the hands of Takizawa, so that aid could be sent to him.

Upon revealing himself to the CCG, Hide worked closely with Investigator Marude in order to try and free Kaneki from his Dragon form. After Kaneki was rescued from the body of Dragon, Hide and Kaneki reunited and expressed their thankfulness to each other and remained best friends for the rest of their lives.

Touka Kirishima

Initially, the two maintained a neutral relationship between that of waitress and customer until his transformation into a ghoul. Kaneki had at first gone to her for help when his hunger was becoming increasingly worse, but Touka harshly rejected him after he stated he was different from «monsters» like her. She refused to show any compassion and beat him up, telling him to go and die on his own. She thought of him as a fool for his refusal to eat human meat despite being aware he was formerly human. When Kaneki joined Anteiku, Touka had little patience for his mistakes and lack of knowledge of ghoul-related affairs, much to his dismay, causing him to think of her as scary. Despite her constant annoyance with him, Touka agreed to teach him more of what living as a ghoul meant. Later, Uta told Kaneki how hard a worker Touka was and he began to think of her as less frightening.

The two then found middle ground in their care for Hinami after her mother’s death. The event had triggered a desire in Kaneki to become stronger. Thereafter, she agreed to train and instruct him on how to use his kagune, slowly becoming one of the closest people to him. During this time, Kaneki developed his concern for her due to her impulsiveness and a fear that she would die without his knowing. After assisting her in avenging Ryouko’s death, their relationship improved and the two began to care for Hinami together. Although Touka maintained her tough attitude towards him, she became friendlier towards him, and often worried for his safety due to his inexperience and on more than one occasion risked her own life to save him. Kaneki in turn viewed her as someone important to him and tried to put her out of harm’s way. He responded aggressively to anyone who had hurt her, shown when he broke half of Ayato’s bones for hurting Touka and held back from killing him as it would only hurt her more.

Upon leaving Anteiku, Kaneki stayed true to his intent to preserve her safety and protect her, shown when he refused to allow her to come with him and avoided her during the months he was away. This caused Touka to often wonder of his whereabouts and wanted to meet him again, as observed by Hinami. Their first reunion when he returned to the 20th ward concluded in an argument and Touka beating him up.

Years later as Sasaki, he visited :re and experienced a sense of déjà vu. He subconsciously remembered her, the taste of her coffee had brought him to tears and he thought she was very beautiful. From then, Sasaki developed an infatuation for Touka — he often thought of her and visited :re on multiple occasions. She noted that at the time, he looked at her with the same gaze he looked at Rize with in the past. Nonetheless, Touka believed it was best for Sasaki to not remember who he was, but she agreed that if his memories returned, he was welcome in :re.

After regaining his memories, Kaneki met Touka in Cochlea during the Kirishima’s fight with Arima. He originally planned to die at the hands of Arima, however he was brought to tears once again when she told him she would see him later, a cruel act in his mind. After the Cochlea raid, Kaneki initially reverted back to his post-Aogiri treatment towards her, continuing his distance from her. After a month, they finally conversed in a friendly manner in :re, though not ending well, they agreed to have the same ideals towards ghouls and humans’ interactions. After Goat was formed, he repeatedly excluded her from combat and operations of the organization, much to her disappointment and confusion. Following the Clown Siege, during another private talk, she asked about this and his virginity — causing him some obvious nervousness and discomfort. Together, they discovered their fears of losing the other were mutual. And in the conversation she mentioned the look he gave her as Sasaki, a look that embarrassed Kaneki but one that Touka admitted made her happy, indicating her romantic feelings for him. Afterward, he acknowledged her by asking her to go with him to a Goat meeting.

Successfully escaping an ambush, Kaneki and Touka took shelter in an abandoned building and consummated their relationship after a kiss, officially becoming lovers. As a memento of her, he received her parent’s ring, one that served as a source of strength for her during difficult times. Realizing he truly loved Touka the two became more and more intimate. Kaneki then asked her to marry him in a ghoul ceremony after she revealed she was pregnant with his child.

After being dismembered by Suzuya and Hanbee and cornered by the Oggai, Kaneki started to hallucinate — the multiple personalities of him clashing over the various choices that caused his defeat and he was close to completely giving up. However, when one of them pointed out that they would never see Touka again, all of them came into an agreement to continue to fight for survival in order to see her again, showing how important Touka had become in Kaneki’s mind.

Touka, after Kaneki’s position in the Dragon was revealed, risked her life by clawing into the surface of Dragon, and after an intense struggle, recovered him from Dragon’s body. The two embraced after Kaneki awoke in a hospital. During the epilogue, both happily continue their marriage, taking care of their daughter Ichika, with another child on the way.

Shuu Tsukiyama

When they meet at Anteiku, Kaneki’s first impression of Tsukiyama is that he looks like a model. Even though the others try to convince him that Tsukiyama is bad news, Kaneki still thinks that he seems like a person who he can trust. He goes along with him to have coffee, then plays a game of squash with him without realizing that Tsukiyama is priming him as a meal. After Tsukiyama’s plot is exposed, he feels betrayed by him and becomes wary of him.

After escaping from the Aogiri hideout, Kaneki accepts him into his group, believing that Tsukiyama would make for a powerful ally. His advanced strength makes him stronger than Tsukiyama, so he uses that to threaten him into knowing his place. He is still aware that Tsukiyama wishes to eat him even if he tries to hide it, but Kaneki never shows concern for his own safety, trusting that his strength will intimidate Tsukiyama and keep him in check. In order to prepare himself for upcoming confrontations, he asks Tsukiyama to help him train and develops a tentatively friendly relationship with him, though he is always careful to maintain his distance. He would later see Tsukiyama as a friend, recognizing the latter’s attempt to kill him during the Owl Suppression Operation was Tsukiyama trying to protect him.

In :re as Haise, he meets Tsukiyama in a fragile and sickly state, as he has starved and isolated himself after Kaneki’s disappearance. He does not remember him, although meeting him a few times. Later he asks Tsukiyama to tell him everything about his past as he could not stand avoiding «fate» anymore, having figured that he was one of Kaneki’s friends. During the Tsukiyama Operation, he was reluctant to fight Tsukiyama and hesitated killing him when his inner «Kaneki» repeatedly yells at him not to do it. Shortly after his reawakening, he stabs Tsukiyama in the chest, in order for him to appear seriously wounded and in danger of dying. When Ui arrives at the scene, he decides to give Shuu a chance to escape or die by hurling him off the building, glancing at Kanae in order for her to go save him. Through this, it can be assumed he still holds some regard for Tsukiyama as an individual, but not enough as to actually care about what happens to him ultimately. It is implied further by Chie Hori that Kaneki does seem to still care about him, as she stated that if he really wanted to kill Tsukiyama, he would have done it already.

When Kaneki defects from the CCG and forms Goat, Tsukiyama joins him at his side as his best friend and right-hand man. Tsukiyama is both the financial benefactor of Goat as well as one of Kaneki’s most trusted advisors. He was responsible for helping Goat defend Tokyo from the Clowns as well as providing the materials necessary to rescue Kaneki from Dragon. He was one of the only individuals who cared about Kaneki’s happiness in the vast organization of Goat, him bringing up how unhappy Kaneki must have been as Dragon, as he was unable to read, enjoy coffee, or hold his child in that state.

Yoshimura

Kaneki looks up to Yoshimura, and is grateful to him helping him survive being a ghoul. Yoshimura acts as a mentor to Kaneki. He would often provide Kaneki with information regarding the ghoul world and assists in his development. In turn, Kaneki diligently serves and runs errands for him at Anteiku. He provides advice to Kaneki when the latter faces a crisis, and told Kaneki the truth about the One-Eyed Owl when Kaneki inquired him about it. He believes in Kaneki to the extent that he entrusted Kaneki with saving his daughter. When Kaneki heard that the CCG was going to attack Anteiku he immediately decided to go despite the overwhelming number of CCG forces. Even while he was critically wounded by Amon, Kaneki forced himself to go save the manager.

Four years later, Kaneki still has not forgotten his last meeting and talk with the manager, hinting at the importance Yoshimura held for him as an individual. He even remembers Yoshimura’s last wish, even though he sees no reason to fulfill it whatsoever.

Renji Yomo

Initially, Yomo is distant and indifferent towards him when Kaneki first cooperates with him in a body scavenging mission. However, he grew interested in Kaneki’s development after Kaneki’s fight with the Doves. He provides guidance to Kaneki, teaching him how to fight and offers him advice in times where he is conflicted. Yomo played a crucial role in Kaneki’s decision to return to Anteiku, reassuring the latter of his own strength. Yomo trusted him enough to detail some events of Yoshimura’s past to him.

Enji Koma

Kaneki has a relationship with Koma as colleagues, with Koma ocassionally mentoring him in making coffee and parts of the ghoul world. Kaneki also feels most relaxed working with Koma than working with any other members from Anteiku. When leaving on an expedition, Kaneki trusts him and Irimi to defend the last remaining base of Goat.

Nishiki Nishio

At the beginning, Nishiki starts enmity toward Kaneki just because he thought that Kaneki was invading his feeding ground, and as the way he shows his strength to weaker ghouls.

After helping him rescue his girlfriend in the Gourmet Arc, he became more of a close friend to Kaneki. When he was taken by Aogiri, Nishiki showed concern for his well-being and wanted to rescue him.

When they met again as enemies in :re, Haise subconsciously recognized him when his mask fell off, triggering an outburst as he temporarily lost control of his kagune, indicating that Nishio was an acquaintance of his former self. Their encounter sparked the mental struggle for dominance between Sasaki and his former self and has caused Sasaki to reflect on his position at the CCG.

Upon Kaneki’s defection from the CCG, Nishiki joins him in forming Goat and acts as one of his closest friends and allies. Kaneki trusted him enough to bring him along on a scavenging expedition that was supposed to provide food for all of Goat for a long duration of time.

Hinami Fueguchi

Hinami looks up to Kaneki as a big brother. She is aware and interested in his half-human nature as she had few or no interactions with human society. They both share a passion for reading, especially Sen Takatsuki’s works, and he often tutors her in new vocabulary to learn. After her mother’s death, both Touka and Kaneki have been very protective of her and treat each other like family.

Alongside Banjou and Tsukiyama, she joins Kaneki’s group of ghouls. While he often goes on his missions, he still manages to smile and be there for her when he is around, even accompanying her to places such as Sen Takatsuki’s book signing.

As Sasaki, he showed concern for Hinami’s safety when he learned she was acquainted with his past, and he asked her to leave while she was protecting him to prevent her from being hurt any further by Takizawa. Haise also managed to convince Arima to let her be taken captive instead of eliminated on the spot, showing that he still cares for Hinami. After her capture, he shows her the same kindness he did in the past by bringing her books and asking about her condition. While he tells her that he is not the same man she knew in the past, he admits to himself that he is growing attached to her, which troubles him greatly.

After the Tsukiyama Family Extermination Operation, Sasaki seems to have become distant towards Hinami as he has not visited nor talked to her during the six months since the end of the operation. This leaves Hinami in a depressed state as her execution is coming close.^[23] However, this was a ruse as later he betrays the CCG in order to save her.^[24]

Kazuichi Banjou

Banjou considered Kaneki as a close fellow during their attempt to escape the Aogiri hideout. After Kaneki defeats Yamori and makes his resolve to protect everyone, Banjou gratefully, and grasped by Kaneki’s strength, decides to become his follower.^[25] They become close friends during their time together, often sparring with each other^[16] and going together on trips and missions. Kaneki also helps Banjou improve his reading comprehension. When Kaneki decides to return to Anteiku he states that he hopes Banjou will come with him.

Rize Kamishiro

Rize was attracted to Kaneki because of his delicious appearance and himself. Both of them shared many interests. After their date, Rize tried to hunt him down, but failed. At the end, she supposedly died and he, heavily injured, was taken to a hospital, where Dr. Kanou decided to transplant her organs into him.

In Kaneki’s mind, during his time locked in Yamori’s hobby room, she appeared before him. They had a sensitive conversation about his past and personality.^[19] He attributes her to his ghoul side, as she was the cause of him. Although she was a figment of Kaneki’s imagination, she supported him and strengthened his resolve.

A hallucination of Rize appears to Kaneki earlier in the anime, representing the subconsciousness of Kaneki’s ghoul half. She usually haunts Kaneki when he is hungry and needs to eat human meat.

Kaneki was shocked to learn Rize was still alive in Kanou’s lab as an experiment during the lab raid. Later, while contemplating his previous ideals, he visits Rize in Yomo’s place. Seeing the once strong ghoul in a starving weakened state made him question his own motives for gaining more power.

The two met again during Kaneki’s fight with Nimura Furuta, as the latter called her «his precious dragon». After Kaneki defeated Furuta, he climbed the body of the Dragon until he reached its core, fighting off huge mouthed kagune with hair that resembles Rize’s. It’s revealed that Rize has somehow merged with the Dragon, and appears in front of him with white hair. With a tear rolling down his cheek, Kaneki kills Rize to end the Dragon’s rampage.

Koutarou Amon

Their initial meeting left a strong impression on both, and they serve as foils to each other in the story. It was because of Amon’s passionate speech that Kaneki first began to realize the futility of the endless cycle of revenge trapping humans and ghouls, and determined that his half-breed nature gave him unique insight into both points of view. He has great respect for Amon, and in their final meeting he asked the investigator to allow him to pass — something he knew would not happen. Before they fought, he asked for his long-time rival’s name and wished for him to survive the battle. Amon shared this sentiment, desperate to learn the story of the strange ghoul that spared his life.

Years after the Owl Suppression Operation, Sasaki, after finding Amon reports about his past self, sees «Kaneki» in his mind weeping because of the belief that he killed Amon. Later, however, they meet again in the CCG Laboratory. Of all the investigators he fought before becoming Sasaki, Kaneki believes Amon to be the only one who actually acknowledged him as a person rather than a ghoul, and was angry at what the CCG had done to the former ghoul investigator.

Upon their reunion after Amon’s rescue from the CCG, Kaneki and Amon share an amicable relationship, the two being kindred spirits.

Yakumo Oomori

Yamori saw Kaneki as a good «toy» for his hobby of torturing.^[18] He saw him as a weak morally-guided boy and made use of his powerful regenerative ability to satisfy his sadistic pleasures. Ironically, Yamori, who initially believed he had weakened Kaneki, was then overpowered and defeated by him, being the catalyst for his transformation.

Yamori became a figment that constantly harassed Kaneki in his own mind. In :re, Kaneki admits to Naki that he views Yamori as a symbol of his own strength and, in a way, is thankful for having the encounter he did with him.

Mrs. Kaneki

Kaneki initially looked up to his mother, believing she was a hard worker who never failed to help others. He always tried to be a kind person like her, even after her death from overwork. After being tortured by Yamori and influenced by Rize’s manifestation, Kaneki blamed his mother for choosing to financially support her sister — resulting in her death from overwork. He viewed this action as abandoning him, choosing his aunt rather than himself. Kaneki also saw his mother’s actions as those of selfishness and cowardice. He realized that both of them tried to help and protect others just because they both did not want to be alone.

In :re, the truth was that Kaneki’s mother had physically abused him. The trauma caused him to warp his memory so he believed her to be nothing but a gentle woman, whom in reality, never did love and he viewed her as a «maggot.»

Uta

Uta helped him in making his mask. Seeing Kaneki as one of his valued customers, Uta aided Anteiku in rescuing Kaneki from Aogiri Tree. He is fond of Kaneki, and shares both advice and stories of his past with him. Despite Uta’s hedonistic nature, along with implications that he enjoyed Kaneki’s suffering, he does care about Kaneki. Uta mentions that during their «encounter» in the Auction Raid, he noticed that he has not changed and that he is still a valued customer of his.

Chie Hori

In Tokyo Ghoul, though their interactions were minimal, Hori will always bring information to him at Tsukiyama’s request. He described her as a reliable person.

In Photography, Hori negotiated with Kaneki that she would work for his team as an informant provided that Kaneki makes all his requests through Tsukiyama. She is fully aware of Tsukiyama’s obsession with Kaneki and therefore utilizes her connection with his group to protect herself from being eaten and influence Tsukiyama to listen to any of her requests.

Kishou Arima

During their initial encounter, Kaneki was both frightened by and fascinated by the legendary investigator. He suffered a brutal defeat, resulting in his subsequent capture by the CCG and loss of identity. Arima was given «ownership rights» over him and was allowed to select a new identity.

As Haise Sasaki, they had a close bond as teacher and student. Haise highly respected and admired Arima to the point he felt that it would be impossible for him to ever surpass his teacher. Akira suggested that Arima had a parental love for him, indicating the especially strong bond between them. This was later confirmed, with Sasaki even referring to Arima as his «father» — the person who saved him and helped him create a new life. They shared a love of reading, resulting in their loaning books between each other. Sasaki also inherited a quinque which Arima used as a teenager, Yukimura 1/3.

Even after regaining his memories and eventually facing Arima in battle, Kaneki still thought of Arima as his father. He mourned the older investigator’s death in anguish as Arima died in his arms. Eto later told him that she and Arima had been purposely «raising» Kaneki, in the hopes they would create a ghoul that would be able to kill him, and become the hope of the ghouls.

Akira Mado

Akira served as his mentor, responsible for training him in the field and helping shape him as an investigator. He has great respect for her, and over the years of working together they have established a strong friendship. When out of the office, he enjoys teasing her with his puns and she responds to them with playful annoyance. However, as his superior she can be harsh to the point of giving him a «Mado Punch» to the stomach to correct his behavior. She warns him that he is too naive, and that his showing mercy towards ghouls will result in his downfall. As her subordinate, he works hard to meet her expectations and describes her as an excellent superior. She is also shown to be someone charged with keeping him under control, as he requests that she be notified prior to using his powers. Because of this, he jokingly refers to her as his «mother,» something she does not seem to appreciate much.

After Sasaki left the Q-squad, it is unknown whether he and Akira had kept in touch. He does however, still care for her. While she was recuperating he was deeply hurt to see her in her grave state, and contacted an unknown organization to put her under normal medical care at the risk of revealing their location or ambushed.

Upon Akira’s recovery, their relationship is strained when she learns that not only did Kaneki defect, but he was also responsible for Arima’s death.

Tooru Mutsuki

Among the Quinx, they have the closest bond and work together on the Torso case after the team becomes splintered. He treats Mutsuki with respect, but also behaves in a somewhat motherly fashion towards him. After Dr. Shiba expressed concern over the young investigator’s health, Sasaki made a point to cook him dinner with plenty of meat and lectured him about needing to strengthen his body. In turn, Mutsuki has great admiration for his mentor and is quick to offer praise or reassurances. If the Quinx team is a family, it could be said that Mutsuki is the good child that always respects and listens to Sasaki.

When Mutsuki goes missing, the colder, merciless Sasaki asks Urie to save him, showing that he still cares about him.

Even after Mutsuki ambushes Kaneki at :re, assists Furuta in destroying Goat, and attacks Touka while she’s pregnant, Kaneki still cares for Mutsuki, displaying no hatred for him.

Kuki Urie

During Urie’s time as the squad leader, their professional and personal relationship is tense, as Urie is prone to challenging Sasaki’s leadership on all fronts. He frequently acts on his own without bothering to consult the rest of the team, leaving Sasaki in the dark about things and deeply frustrated as a result. When the team becomes fractured as a result of Urie’s manipulation, Sasaki calls him a brat and swears to teach him a lesson. Even so, he acknowledges that his troublesome subordinate is highly-skilled with exceptional intuition. That he refuses to cooperate with others, and so frequently criticizes him in front of others, is a great source of frustration for Sasaki. After the Auction Raid, their relationship seems to have improved. Urie shows more trust in Sasaki’s decisions and even comes to him to train. However, during the Tsukiyama Operation, he was about to tell him off for not being there for Shirazu, only for Sasaki to immediately lash out and turn the blame on him for not being strong enough.

Even after he left the Q-squad, Sasaki still cares for Urie as the latter was the only one he met and personally requests him to save Mutsuki, while showing a kind smile. It is also noted that Urie was the only one of the first Q-squad who Sasaki conversed with before defecting from the CCG.

When Kaneki was trapped within Dragon, Urie was among those who were responsible for digging him out of Dragon’s body. Later, when Kaneki asks to see the havoc he’s wrought, Urie volunteers to accompany him under the pretense of making sure he doesn’t go on another rampage. As they are walking, Urie and Kaneki openly talk to one another, signifying that there’s no bad blood between them. When they are cornered by some of Dragon’s golems, Urie is the first to offer himself as a decoy while Kaneki and Saiko retreat.

Ginshi Shirazu

Like Urie, Shirazu was prone to disregarding orders and doing whatever he wanted. Sasaki was frustrated by this inability to control his team, and confused when Shirazu argued with him before storming out. He remained unaware of Shirazu being poisoned against him, but this did not last long. After saving his team from Serpent, their relationship vastly improved. He recognized Shirazu’s ability to consider his surroundings and prioritize his comrades, having faith in his potential as a leader. To this end, he made Shirazu the new squad leader and encouraged him to excel. He also helped Shirazu in dealing with his guilt over killing Nutcracker. After his death, Sasaki mourned him together with his remaining squad mates.

Saiko Yonebayashi

They have a very close, familial sort of relationship. He feels great sympathy for her situation and admits to going easy on her as a result even when her actions cause problems for the team. He acts as a surrogate parent to her, affectionately referred to as «Maman.» (French for «mom») They have a warm and intimate bond, as evidenced by her cuddling with him and asking him to clean her ears. Sasaki is protective of her and often tries to keep her out of battles despite their jobs as ghoul investigators. However, he is aware of her destructive power in battle and brings her along on missions where it is needed.

After Sasaki regained his memories and left the Q-squad, their relationship is now implied to be distant. However, it is also implied he still cares for her. When Kaneki defects from the CCG and is declared a terrorist, Saiko states that she’d rather defect as well than hunt him down.

Saiko is among those who first volunteer to collaborate with the ghouls in freeing Kaneki. She assists Touka and the rest of the Q’s in fighting off Dragon’s defenses while Touka rescues Kaneki. As he lays in a coma, Saiko stays at his side, staying there until she eventually falls asleep. Upon his awakening, she cries tears of joy and the two embrace.

Nobu Shimoguchi

Their professional relationship was strained, with the other investigator not even bothering to hide his disdain for Sasaki. Though well aware of how Shimoguchi looked down on him, Sasaki treated him with politeness and professionalism. Shimoguchi however, did not hesitate to humiliate Sasaki when he got the chance. Sasaki took these actions with minimal response, doing his best to remain professional and courteous. However, when at home he expressed annoyance at the other man and looked forward to the chance to show him up. After Shimoguchi lost his squad however, Sasaki was quick to offer condolences to the man.

Donato Porpora

Donato serves as an informant and adviser, offering insight on investigations and personal advice to Sasaki. He uses the investigator’s personal name, a sign of the close and cordial relationship between them. Donato even refers to him as his «friend,» speaking kindly to him and wishing him well during moments of doubt. Though imprisoned for many years, Donato seems to know many secrets about his past and offers hints about Kaneki’s lost memories and possible future.

Juuzou Suzuya

As Ken Kaneki, Kaneki does not know of Juuzou. Juuzou however, apparently knew by instinct that the Eyepatch ghoul was the same person as Kaneki even though by that time Kaneki’s hair had already turned white, along with the fact that he was donning his mask and Juuzou was observing him on ground running whilst on top of an Aogiri building. This is evidenced by when Juuzou sees him and attempts to remember his name (failing to do so though, as he only remembers that the name starts with a «K») while dragging Yamori’s body around.

As ghoul investigators, both of them are considered unusual in their own ways, and became friendly through prior collaborations. Juuzou considers him as a friend, referring to him by his first name, and is still aware of Sasaki’s true identity, as he repaid the money stolen from Kaneki’s wallet long ago. Sasaki always prepares for meetings with Juuzou by hiding treats in his pockets, letting the other man frisk him as a greeting.

Even during the Goat Extermination Operation, Kaneki and Juuzou display no hate towards each other, only fighting as a result of knowing what needs to be done.

Kurona Yasuhisa

They had a hostile relationship in the past due to Kurona and Nashiro’s devotion to Kanou, and had clashed on several occasions. However, they formed a team after Rushima’s Operation, with Kurona following Kaneki as her leader. Kaneki did show a certain amount of affection for Kurona while they were infiltrating one of CCG’s labs to save Akira.^[26]

Seidou Takizawa

Takizawa learns about Sasaki through Kanou and Eto, as he is «modeled» after him. As a result of being modeled after a mere test subject, which Kanou refers to as his masterpiece, he wishes to surpass Sasaki, still possessing feelings of inferiority as he did with Akira, who was ranked first, and him second. Takizawa is also aware of Sasaki’s true self, even calling him by name when he hesitates. He does however, show Sasaki a little bit of acknowledgement as a leader, even stating Sasaki is a better leader than his own boss. He appeared to be willing to cooperate with Kaneki as seen with his affiliation to Goat.

Koori Ui

Koori and Sasaki appear to have a professional relationship, knowing each other from their days in S3 squad. Ui however secretly distrusts Sasaki and is wary of both his mental state and his abilities as a ghoul.

Rio

In Tokyo Ghoul: Jail, Kaneki encounters Rio as he is searching for the ghoul called Jail, who Kaneki is also searching for. The two meet while Rio is following a lead on Jail, believing the area Kaneki is in to be his turf. Rio comes across Kaneki while he is devouring powerful ghouls in order to become stronger. Seeing that they share a common goal, Kaneki and Rio work together to find Jail. It is through Kaneki that Rio is also introduced to Anteiku.

Hairu Ihei

Sasaki and Hairu used to be in the 0 Squad under Arima together. They get along as co-workers, but Sasaki did not like her violent methods on handling ghouls.

Eto Yoshimura

Even before becoming a ghoul, Kaneki admires Sen Takatsuki greatly, as she is his favorite horror novelist and relates himself to her works, unaware of her true identity. As Haise Sasaki, he still considers her his favorite author, but speculates she is a woman filled with despair and hatred towards the world and has completely abandoned hope long ago.^[27]

After regaining his memories, he becomes one of the few aware of her true identity and considers her as an enemy that needs to be eliminated, and seriously wounds her during the Tsukiyama Family Extermination Operation. In the following months, he is pursuing and investigating her to bring her down. They share a cordial relationship, even after he arrested her, and she willingly shared with him information about V, even suggesting that he record Furuta’s conversation with her and later requesting that Sasaki should kill the One-Eyed King.

After meeting with Eto in Cochlea, She told Sasaki that both she and Arima had been raising him in hopes they could create a ghoul strong enough to kill Kishou Arima.

Nimura Furuta

When Kaneki was hallucinating after his defeat at the hands of Arima, he remembered seeing Souta as he and Rize were being crushed by the steel beams.

They share a casual and relaxed partnership after a six month time skip, as seen when he entrusted Furuta to search for Takatsuki’s house, praising his skill in organizing documents, and later requested him to play the «good cop» role. Sasaki often chimes in Furuta’s joke about his boss and seems to not mind. It is unknown what he thinks of Furuta having discovered his involvement with the accident that caused him to become a ghoul or his affiliation with V or the Clowns.

After speaking to Furuta when the two both take their mantles as «Kings,» Kaneki seems to have deduced more about Furuta, even concluding it was most likely beneficial for Furuta to hold power. He does however, not want him to continue having it once things have settled.

Upon being released from Dragon and confronting Furuta in the sewers, Kaneki bears him no ill will and even states that Furuta bests him in intellect and cunning. However, knowing that Furuta stands between him and protecting everyone, Kaneki declares that he’ll defeat Furuta.

At the end of their final battle, Kaneki and Furuta display no animosity towards each other. When asked by Furuta if he’d laugh if Furuta told him all he wanted was to live a normal life, Kaneki smiled and said no.

Take Hirako

As Investigators they were not seen interacting much except for a recollection where Sasaki questioned Hirako about who Arima truly was as a person. Hirako declined to answer.

After Kaneki falsified his killing of Arima, Hirako confronted him and revealed he knew that the young Ghoul had recovered his memories but he informs him that in accordance with Arima’s last wishes he and Squad Zero will aid him in escaping the Cochlea and inciting a revolution. Kaneki seems to respect Hirako as he calls him a friend during the meeting before Goat’s founding.

Powers and Abilities

Ghoul Physiology: After inheriting Rize Kamishiro’s kakuhou, Kaneki has displayed a unique healing factor, as well as a rinkaku kagune consisting of tentacles and increased physical power. Due to the hybrid vigor, Kaneki’s abilities are said to be more potent than those of a natural-born ghoul.

• Rinkaku Kagune: Kaneki’s kagune is portrayed in the anime as bright red, becoming a darker shade as it neared the tips. In the Tokyo Ghoul:re anime, it has changed to a red-violet color. Kaneki initially displayed his kagune in his fight against Nishiki Nishio, possessing three tails which repeatedly impaled Nishiki before throwing him, saving him and Hide while having little control over them.^[28] After his torture, Kaneki was able to produce four tentacles in his battle with Yamori, which were capable of pinning down and overwhelming an incomplete kakuja.^[28] During the raid on Kanou’s lab, Kaneki’s kagune further developed into six tentacles, albeit in an unstable mental state,^[14] and while he fought Kishou Arima, Kaneki was able to manifest eight tentacles which are able to be shaped into small hands, which have an enormous range and destructive force enough to damage V14’s pillars.^[29] As Haise Sasaki, he is able to control and manipulate the shape of his kagune at will, and command the tentacles to process different tasks at once.^[12] He is also noted to have a better control over his kagune than natural-born ghouls.^[30] In his fight with Karren von Rosewald and Eto Yoshimura, Sasaki was able to shape his kagune into more intricate forms,^[31] and his kagune is greatly larger, with the potency of neutralizing Owl’s kakuja.^[32] After devouring Eto’s kakuja, his kagune is able to form multiple eyes and mouths. Even while exhausted, he was able to manifest it fast enough that Hajime and the rest of the Oggai could not react, and was able to quickly devastate the vast majority of them. By the time of his final confrontation with Furuta, Kaneki’s kagune had grown to a massive size, it’s thickness dwarfing that of a human being, in addition to it’s length growing as well.
• Rinkaku Kakuja: After constant cannibalization, Kaneki has developed into an incomplete kakuja. In this form, Kaneki was able to easily overwhelm Yukinori Shinohara, who wielded the Arata armor,^[33] and to fight on par with Koutarou Amon while the latter was armed with Arata proto, as well as fatally injure him by ripping his arm off.^[34] While using his kakuja, Kaneki goes into a mindless state, losing all aspects of his personality.^[35] His fighting style becomes that of a berserker, fighting without any regards to personal injury. In his last confrontation with Kishou Arima, Sasaki’s kakuja was capable of completely destroying IXA and Owl, while maintaining his personality and sanity.^[36] In the fight against Suzuya and Abara both clad with Arata armors, he was still able to inflict extensive damage on both investigators, requiring Abara to execute a suicide attack in order to create an opening against Kaneki. When fighting Furuta, Kaneki’s kakuja is able to turn the fight on its head and overwhelm Furuta, who only a few moments before, was beating him in a one-sided brawl, forcing him to activate his own kakuja. Kaneki’s first kakuja takes the form of two large tentacles resembling centipedes and a beak-like structure on his head. His second kakuja forms a carapace covering on his whole face, and a kagune-like claw where his hand is. His third kakuja encases his upper half and forms a koukaku-like blade. The fourth version of his kakuja manifests as bulkier body armor with claws, and the carapace covering his face becomes similar to a one-eyed dragon with a fully fanged jaw. Upon being rescued from Dragon, Kaneki’s kakuja takes the form of a more form-fitting body armor, with intricate designs decorating it, in addition wing-like structures on his back. He also has massive cross-shaped blades attached to them that he can swing around as close range weapons or extend long distances. In addition, he can use these as shields, their defensive power being great enough to withstand attacks from Kichimura Washuu and Dragon.
  • Dragon Form: After consuming the entire Oggai squad and the nucleus embedded in Furuta’s body, Kaneki undergoes a large-scale transformation where his body expands into a ever growing mass of flesh, teeth and eyes that consumes everything in its path. Eventually this mass grows to such an extent that it erupts from the underground 24th ward and overflows into the streets of Tokyo, where it consumes scores of people and destroys everything in its path. Eventually the mass assumes a centipede-like shape with an armored shell, multiple eyes and a head that vaguely resembles a dragon. At this point, its size is big enough to coil around a skyscraper. In this form, Kaneki can generate kagune tentacles that can cut through tanks and upturn portions of concrete. Its armored shell is durable enough to resist artillery fire. It can also generate lifeless husks from its body, which is apparently a trait shared with the King of the Underground at the height of his power. Among other countermeasures, Kaneki can produce golems out of his body in order to defend himself against foes while he is stationary. These golems are capable of killing investigators and ghouls alike, as well as pressure even the most experienced fighters with their large numbers.
• Superhuman Strength: As Banjou paid a visit to Anteiku, Kaneki accidentally knocked him unconscious with an elbow strike.^[37] Kaneki was able to rip a lamp post from asphalt and strike one of the Bin brothers with it.^[38] When fighting Ayato Kirishima, Kaneki forcibly smashed Ayato through multiple floors of the 11th ward building.^[39] During his sparring sessions with Banjou, Kaneki threw the ghoul around without much effort.^[16]
• Superhuman Speed: Kaneki was capable of evading Narukami’s condensed projectiles, while assaulting Arima.^[29] While he engaged Yukinori Shinohara in a fight, Kaneki was traveling at immense speed, quick enough for Shinohara not being able to track his location. In his fight with Karren, Sasaki was able to maneuver and dodge her rapid kagune attacks, swiftly approaching her from behind towards the end of the motion.^[31] Sasaki has also shown the ability to parry Arima’s numerous Owl attacks while facing him in Cochlea.^[40][41] On his way to meet with Takizawa, Ayato, and Kurona for their infiltration of the CCG laboratory, Kaneki was pursued by V agents and he managed to dodge their attacks while making his escape at the same time. In his conflict with Naki, Kaneki effortlessly dodged Naki’s attempts to assault him.
• Superhuman Endurance: During his second encounter with Nishiki, Kaneki was able to endure multiple blows from the ghoul in his weakened, starving state.^[42] When he was fighting Shachi, Kaneki maintained consciousness after being smashed through the floor and walls of Kanou’s Underground Laboratory.^[43] After being pierced through the abdomen by Amon, Kaneki was still able to survive and recover from his injuries, albeit through consuming parts of Hide.^[44] During his encounter with Arima at V14, Kaneki continued fighting despite his critical head injures, which would be fatal even to a ghoul.^[29] As Sasaki, he survived being pierced by Serpent’s kagune, and eventually overpowered the ghoul despite being grievously wounded.^[12] Sasaki overpowered Karren von Rosewald and Eto with a severed hand, gradually using his kagune as replacement. He seemed unfazed when Kishou Arima stabbed him multiple times through the abdomen, as he also took countless severe cuts to his body in his fight with Owl and was still able to keep fighting.^[45][32] Even after prolonged fight against Suzuya and Abara which saw Kaneki taking critical damage, getting dismembered and losing his healing factor, he was still able to manifest his kagune and killing Hajime Hazuki and after that, slaughter the rest of the Oggai squad. Later on, Kaneki was able to withstand the onslaught of Furuta and Rize in two consecutive fights.
• Superhuman Regeneration: During his torture at the hands of Yakumo Oomori, he continously regenerated his fingers and toes for ten days.^[18] He easily recuperated from the injuries inflicted by Shachi,^[43] and recovered from a hole he received upon fighting Amon through consuming the flesh of Hide. He survives his fight with Arima, and heals his injuries, albeit with the cost of losing his memory.^[8] In :re, he recovers from being consecutively pierced by Nishiki’s kagune,^[9] as well as surviving an attack from Takizawa.^[46] In his final battle with Arima, he had rapidly regenerated his many fatal wounds whilst fighting the investigator. By the end of the Dragon Arc, Kaneki was able to regenerate wounds from Furuta’s kakuja, and later on heal his wounds from Dragon in rapid succession, allowing him to continue on fighting.
• Kagune Manipulation: After his confrontation with Eto, Sasaki is able to manifest his kagune as the form of his hand, controlling it willingly.^[47] During his fight with Arima, Kaneki was using his kagune as replacements for his arms and legs in order to recover more quickly to counter the investigator. He also can create complex structures involving traps and nets. He was also able to command his kagune to speak, using it to great effect against Arima as a distraction which then allowed him to shatter his quinque. He was also able to form a quinque from his kagune and use it to fight against Kichimura Washuu .^[48] In addition to forming a Rinkaku kagune, he has also been seen using his kagune to mimic the characteristics and abilities of an ukaku, bikaku, and koukaku in his fight against Dragon.
• Immense Pain Tolerance: Kaneki has always shown strong tolerance to pain, being able to continue fighting after withstanding multiple blows from Nishiki. This was heightened tremendously after Kaneki’s torture at the hands of Yamori, where he managed to withstand twisting and breaking his own leg in order to land a blow on him. He later demonstrated this again against Naki, his only reaction being a faint smile.^[49] He is even able to power on through losing all of his limbs and devour the Oggai. When fighting Dragon, despite his prior battle to the death with Furuta, as well as being overwhelmed by Dragon’s defenses and nearly dying, Kaneki was able to push through the pain and end the threat of Dragon.
• Expert Hand to Hand Combat: Kaneki is extremely skilled in close combat. With his four-tailed Kagune, he can easily match Yamori’s attacks but soon overpowers them. This is also proven when Kaneki twists and breaks his own left leg after Yamori grabbed it to land a hard right knee strike from his right leg to knock him back. As Haise Sasaki, he was able to fight the entire Quinx squad with the exception of Urie at once during a sparring session, and later during a sparring session with Urie he proved to be heavily superior.
• Ghoulification Toxin Immunity: After being extracted from Dragon’s body, Kaneki has shown an extreme resistance, if not outright immunity, to the ghoulifying toxin carried by the creatures spawned from Dragon’s oviducts. It is theorized by Kimi Nishino that this is a result of the multiple new organs Kaneki has displayed since his rescue.

Swordsmanship: Using his quinque, Sasaki has been described to have movements as swift as water, being able slice through a ghoul’s kagune and also use it efficiently with his own kagune.^[12][50] He was also able to keep up with Kichimura Washuu at the end of the dragon arc through the use of a quinque formed from his Kagune.

• Yukimura 1/3: A B-rate koukaku quinque passed down from Arima to Sasaki, having a considerably long blade which can easily slice through objects. It was shown to be able to damage Seidou Takizawa despite him being an SS+ rate ghoul.

Keen Intellect: When facing adversaries, Kaneki often used his intellect and careful planning to quickly and efficiently take out his foe. Kaneki comprehends Takatsuki’s in-depth work, and also understands martial arts moves and styles just by reading about them in a book, to the point where he is able to implement them in his fights not long afterwards.

Manga Depiction

Anime Depiction

Etymology

• His biological surname, Kaneki, literally reads «gold/money tree«, containing the kanji for «gold, money«(金)(kane) and «tree«(木)(ki).
• His real given name, Ken, uses the same kanji for «to sharpen«(研ぐ)(togu), although it could also mean «research«(研)(ken).
• His other surname, Sasaki, translates to «helpful wood/tree«, containing the kanji for «help, aid«(佐)(sa), with (々) being an iteration mark, and «tree«(木)(ki).
• His other name, Haise, contains the kanji for «coffee«(琲)(hai) and «world«(世)(se).

Trivia

• The name «Haise» was created by combining the kanji from «coffee» and «world». The kanji used for «Ken» is the same one used for «to sharpen» i.e. sharpen one’s fangs.
• «Kaneki» translates as «gold tree» while «Sasaki» translates to «Helpful Wood».
• Kaneki has a habit of touching his chin with his left hand when he is hiding something. This habit appears to be subconscious, as he still does it even after his memory loss.^[51]
• In the first character popularity poll, Kaneki was ranked first. In the latest, he was second while Haise Sasaki came third.
• Kaneki shares the same birthday with Kishou Arima.
• Kaneki likes reading, beautiful language, intellectual women, and hamburgers.^[6]
• Beginning with the Aogiri arc, Kaneki has been repeatedly associated with the number «12» in panels.^[20][52] This is a reference to the tarot card The Hanged Man (XII).
• Right before fighting Arima for the first time, the number seven can just be seen on his forehead meaning the chariot card which is about moving forward, determination and strength which is a theme of Kaneki moving forward despite everything(also possibly the line one thousand minus seven also ties into this). There are likely other numbers, but the one he is mostly associated with and seen the most is twelve as previoiusly mentioned, but seven seems to be the second most associated number with him.
• His quinque, Yukimura 1/3, has been used by both Kishou Arima, as a teenager, and Take Hirako, when he was partnered with Arima.
• Kaneki compares himself to Gregor Samsa, the unfortunate protagonist of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis. In the sequel, he briefly discusses Kafka’s A Crossbreed with Arima — another story with strong parallels to his situation.
• The sudden color changes in Kaneki’s hair are caused by the suppression of his Rc cell activity which has caused temporary melanin production that causes his hair color to change.^[53]
• His surname is a reference to novelist Osamu Dazai, who was born in Kanagi (金木) and most famous for his novel No Longer Human. When they meet at the book signing, Eto briefly discusses this with him.^[54]
• The relationship between Sasaki and his mental projection of «Kaneki» is akin to his relationship with his projection of «Rize» in the past as Kaneki. «Rize» would often tempt Kaneki to give in to his ghoul self, while «Kaneki» tried to have Sasaki accept him. Both projections represent the ghoul side of himself.
• Both Kaneki and Yamori went through similar torture methods and were both completely changed from their previous selves. Yamori turned into psychotic killer who killed more for fun than to eat, while Kaneki became cold and ruthless, but retained his desire to protect his friends.
• In Tokyo Ghoul Trump, Kaneki and Sasaki are each featured as the «Ace of Hearts» and Kaneki is also featured on the «Queen of Hearts» card alongside Rize. In a redistributed version, he is also featured as a «White Joker.»
• In the anime, Kaneki joined Aogiri at the beginning of the second season, which differs greatly from the manga in which Kaneki forms a group with Banjou, Hinami and some other ghouls.
• In Tokyo Ghoul √A, according to Sui Ishida’s rough drafts, Tatara insisted that Kaneki eat Taguchi to prove his loyalty to Aogiri Tree. However, Noro ate her before Kaneki and Tatara had finished arguing. This scene was cut out from the finalized work.
• Because of Tooru Mutsuki, Ishida has stated that he often forgets over which eye he needs to put the eyepatch on Kaneki.^[55]
• In the official English translation of :re Volume 1, Haise Sasaki’s birthday is incorrectly given as April 22nd.
• Kaneki joined Aogiri because they were the only group who posed a threat to Anteiku.
• Kaneki never actually ate Yamori. He only ate his Kagune and left him for dead, thus allowing Juuzou Suzuya to recover the dying body of Yamori and to make a Quinque of it.
• Kaneki’s hair being white may be based on the Japanese trope in media that half demons have white hair.
• Kaneki’s appearance resembles the character Hiroto from Sui Ishida’s previous work from the Penisman manga. He has black hair which then became white and an eyepatch.
• Kaneki, like Eto, resembles a character from the Japanese horror visual novel Saya No Uta. Fuminori and Kaneki both have had their sense of taste altered by an accident and eventually change to begin eating humans. The hair colour(black) and the fact that his black reaper persona somewhat visually and emotionally resemble him. It is a likely inspiration considering said horror constantly deals with flesh a lot(also both Fuminori and Kaneki are both main characters).
• Fans tend to compare him to Alex Mercer a lot, considering his flesh tendril based abilities, black hair and hoodie are all possible inspirations.
• People also compare him to Parasyte’s protagonist Shinichi due to his black hair and becoming less human, as it is also a dark story that questions humanity also another likely inspiration.

Quotes

Tokyo Ghoul

• To himself: «I’m not the protagonist of a novel or anything. I’m just a college student who likes to read, like you could find anywhere. But… if, for argument’s sake, you were to write a story with me in the lead role, it would certainly be… a tragedy.»^[7]
• To Touka (desperately clinging to his human self): «Why… Why am I doing this? I-I was wrong to eat that meat after all. That was what I thought, and I desperately looked for another way. Even so, this is not what I want. This is not the way! H-Human meat… there is no way I can eat it. How can I possibly eat it, because, I’m human! I’m different from you monsters!»^[56]
• To himself: «In exchange for the pleasure of living as a person that ghouls can have… we receive this instead. We’re overwhelmed by our appetites. I understand the feeling of sinking into pleasure. In some ways, it’s only natural that… some ghouls like Rize-san exist. However… I’m not going to lose sight of myself. That’s my way of fighting.»^[28]
• To Nishiki (about human and ghoul relations): «I know… there are ghouls who only see humans as targets to be preyed upon — and on the other hand, there are humans who have decided that ghouls are only inhuman monsters… But I don’t think either of those are correct. I think what’s necessary is the ‘right distance.’ Instead of mutually tramping on each others’ existence we should just respect each other a little more.»^[57]
• To Rize (in his hallucination): «I won’t let that happen. Not just Aogiri, anyone who dares to take away my place to be. I won’t forgive anyone who threatens the peace in my life. It’s just like hand-picking coffee beans. For the sake of a good cup of coffee, we pluck out the ones that are trash.»^[20]
• To himself (while cannibalizing Kanou’s failed experiments): «In this world, the strong devour the weak. Who are the strong? I am. I fucking am!»^[14]
• To himself: «Mother, mother, heey~ I’m distorted. Me? Me? Mememe. Because I’m going to protect everyone…»^[58]
• To himself in a lucid state in Tokyo Ghoul √A: «M-my fingers… on the plier… C-centipedes… i-in my ears… [laughs] A thousand minus… A-A thousand minus… s-seven… seven is what…?»^[59]

Tokyo Ghoul: Days

• To Hide: «Cain used to be seen as evil, you know. Well, I mean, he can be understood as being ‘evil’ now, too. But if you just think about Cain, you can kind of see that he had to do what he did to be able to carry on, I think. It would’ve been unbearable for him, you know?»^[60]
• To himself (internally): «I want to be a bridge, telling ghouls how people feel and letting people know what ghouls think and feel. Because there’s nothing but hatred between the two groups now, but if each had an understanding of the other, I think that could change. Even if my presence is unwanted, I still want to be involved with both humans and ghouls.»^[61]
• To Touka: «Fiction books give the reader a chance to step away from their own reality and into the shoes of the characters, and they show you a world that isn’t the one you already know. And sometimes the story’s not so different from you own, and it lets you get closer to your own feelings. So when you close a book you’ve just finished reading and return to reality, all the pain and sadness you couldn’t put into words before are still there on those pages. And that can be comforting.»^[61]
• To himself (internally): «Sometimes you’re confronted with the ugly parts of yourself that you don’t want to see, but books can also tell you a lot about the things you didn’t notice when you’re just trying to get through somehow.»^[61]

Tokyo Ghoul:re

• To Haise (in a dream): «That excellence right now is a nuisance. That’s right. Donato has to keep proving himself. He wants to prove just how valuable he is. Isn’t that the case with you as well? Because you are the same as Donato. All you’re doing is indulging in this twisted self-value that you have to yourself. And if you don’t, you won’t last. Eventually, you will break and become useless. Once that happens, you’ll break and become discarded. Right, Haise?»^[62]
• To himself: «I… might die today. No… to be correct… it’s either I die, or I disappear. There’s only two options. The power I need to deal with him… is way too much… if I have to resort to him… I will… disappear.»^[63]
• To Akira: «Why, why are you hiding it?! Is… Is it because I’m the Eyepatch ghoul? Is it because I was the one who killed Amon Koutarou? The fear of waking up and knowing nothing. Do you know what that’s like? How I can only cling onto what’s given to me… How I don’t even know my own parents… Where did I even come from…? I… I… Who am I? I’m not Haise!! I am… I am…»^[64]
• To Eto: «Actually, I wonder… Why do I have to save trash like you?»
• To Urie: «All losses in this world are due to a lack of ability. If you want to curse something, curse your own weakness.»^[65]
• To Hide in his thoughts: «…Hide. I… just like you, I want to give my life for someone else (I want to die in style).»^[24]
• To Hide (in his mind): «Hide… You know… I… I’m so lonely without you…»^[22]
• To himself (accepting himself): «Black and blue, turning and over-turning the things I’d chosen countless times, forever repeating the same actions… Ungainly. Awkward. Indecisive. Weak. Endlessly useless. That is what I am.»^[41]
• To himself: «At Death’s door, I finally stumbled upon the twisted truth. Rize, Hide, it was always all inside me, after all. They were nothing but an extension of myself. The people I want to meet. The things I want to be told. ‘Hide’ll stop me for sure.’ As soon as I began to think that somewhere inside me, I myself began wishing for it. Wishing that I’d live.»^[41]
• To Kiyoko and Mougan: «I am the One-Eyed King.»^[1]
• To the ghouls: «I will carry on the last wish of the previous King, and create a world where ghouls and humans can understand each other.»^[53]
• To the ghouls: «‘Ghouls are to be exterminated.’ ‘In order to live, we must kill and eat humans.’ The reason our mutually destructive relationship has never changed is because we have never, together, made an attempt to [make] even the smallest step forward. Ghouls and humans can understand each other… The fact that I, who was once a human, stand here before you is proof enough.»^[53]
• To Amon: «It’s because we’re the same. Isolated from society, able to consume a few specific things… They remind me of myself. I really believed I was a kind hearted human, but… I was mistaken. There were a few humans that were important to me, but I couldn’t care less about the majority of them. I don’t care about taking the side of those I cannot see. I fight for those close to me. And it just so happens that they’re mostly ghouls.»^[66]
• To Shinsanpei: I’m not that much of a pushover, greenhorn.»^[67]
• To himself: «I won’t pull back, I will press forward, like a centipede.»^[4]
• To Furuta: «Furuta, I was the sort of human you’d find anywhere. The kind that just loves reading. But on that fateful day with Rize, I was sundered from the human world. And everything began to change. My life was threatened. I was horrifically tortured, unable to achieve what I wanted, I even lost. But I found a new place I belonged. Allies. Friends. People I could call my teachers. People I love. and even though I have erred so much, and hurt so many, I simply don’t believe that it was all for naught. And that’s why even if I were to know everything that’d happen after, I still would have gone to meet Rize that day. To me, all of it was necessary. This world… This world isn’t wrong. It just is. And even if «eventually» everything will come to naught, I’ll still strive like I did today, Furuta.»^[68]
• To himself: «If, lets say, you were to write a story with me as the main character, it would certainly be a tragedy. No. Everyone’s the same, in fact. He’s the main character of his novel, and she’s the main character of her movie. All those that walk this earth are the main characters of their own tragedies. All steal, and from all, something is stolen. We can’t help it. That’s who we are. Steal, and be stolen. Imprison, and be imprisoned. Follow, and be followed. Do, and be done. Affirm and negate over and over. We fight ceaselessly to save ourselves from loss. And yet the people and places we love will one day surely be lost. We will all surely be forgotten. Life is sad. Empty. But, despite knowing we will one day be bereft, despite knowing we will one day disappear, we still strive in wretched ways. We still wish to be beautiful. And I consider. “Which one?” I choose. “This one.” Forever choosing, forever being chosen. Nothing more. Nothing less.»^[69]

References

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The following article is a list of characters from the manga series Tokyo Ghoul.

Main charactersEdit

Ken Kaneki (金木 研, Kaneki Ken)

Voiced by: Natsuki Hanae^[1][2] (Japanese); Austin Tindle^[3] (English)

Played by: Masataka Kubota

The main protagonist of the story, Ken Kaneki (金木 研, Kaneki Ken) is a nineteen-year-old black haired university freshman that receives an organ transplant from Rize, who was trying to kill him before she was struck by a fallen I-beam and seemingly killed. After the operation Kaneki develops ghoul-like tendencies and characteristics, and his rationality begins to wane. As one that now doesn’t belong to humans or ghouls he struggles to keep his ghoul identity secret, always fighting against his ghoul side while trying to continue to live like a normal human. He later works as a waiter for Anteiku under Yoshimura’s guidance. After his fight with a CCG investigator named Amon he gains the name Eye Patch (眼帯) because of his mask’s design and becomes somewhat famous after a ghoul saw him defeating the investigator. He loves to read and is normally quiet and reserved but can also be calculating when fighting. He has a bad trait of easily trusting strangers which sometimes puts him in life-threatening situations. After being kidnapped by the ghoul run organization known as Aogiri Tree, he is mercilessly tortured by a sadistic ghoul named Yakumo Ōmori (Yamori), and later develops similar traits to his torturer. While being tortured he has hallucinations of Rize in which she mocks him about his mother, leading to him finally embracing his inner ghoul. In the manga at chapter 61, Kaneki’s hair slowly changes color from black to white. In the anime, Tokyo ghoul, his hair changes instantly after eating Rize and accepting his ghoul side. He then goes on and eats his torturer, Yakumo Ōmori. His view on strength changes and he goes on a power hungry path by cannibalizing other ghouls in order to get stronger. The continued cannibalization led him to become a half kakuja, where he develops a centipede shaped kagune and gains the alias Centipede (百足). After the incident at Kanō’s Lab, Kaneki begins to regret this path and begins reflecting on his actions and motives.

After being defeated and captured by Arima, Ken loses his memories and is given the new identity of Haise Sasaki (佐々木 琲世, Sasaki Haise), member and ace of the Mado Squad, and mentor of the Quinx Squad, a special unit composed of artificial ghouls. Despite having a new identity, Haise still retains some traits from his former self, like the love for reading and the determination to protect his companions with his life. When pressured to the limit, Haise has glimpses of his former self and unlocks his powers as a ghoul, forcing the CCG to strike him with RC suppressors to calm him down. Haise usually has an internal conflict with his past self, fearing that one day he would lose his current life with all his new friends and personality, which intensifies as he obtains more information about his former life until the raid at the Tsukiyama Headquarters, when he finally regains his memories and accepts his identity as Kaneki, not only showing a ruthless demeanor when facing his enemies, but a cold attitude toward his current and former allies as well. Haise’s achievements allow him to quickly climb among the CCG’s ranks, being promoted to First Class after the raid at the human auction and receiving a special promotion to Associate Special Class after single-handedly driving away the One-Eyed Owl during the raid at the Tsukiyama Headquarters, becoming known as the Black Reaper (黒の死神, Kuro no Shinigami), until he betrays the CCG to help Tōka rescue Hinami from the Cochlea, releasing the other ghouls imprisoned there in the occasion. After Kaneki defeats Arima, he claims for himself the title of One-Eyed King (隻眼の王, Sekigan no Ō), who according to Eto, has the potential to break the current status quo between ghouls and humans. For that purpose, he assembles the surviving members of Aogiri, the inmates from Cochlea rescued by him, several rogue CCG Investigators, and his old friends from Anteiku into a new organization called «Goat» which hopes to bring peace between humans and ghouls. After his fight with Juzo, he lost all his limbs and after all of his personalities argue about what to do, he consumes all the oggai squad (a new group of artificial ghouls made by Kano) and becomes a giant mass of kagune. He was later rescued by Tōka and the members of the Quinx squad. After regaining consciousness, he reunited with his best friend, Hideyoshi, whom he thought was dead.

Touka Kirishima (霧嶋 董香, Kirishima Touka)

Voiced by: Sora Amamiya^[1][2] (Japanese); Brina Palencia^[3] (English)

Played by: Fumika Shimizu; Maika Yamamoto

An eighteen-year-old ghoul of the 20th ward, Touka works part-time as a waitress in Anteiku and attends high school. She blends in well with human society and believes that keeping one’s ghoul identity is of top most priority. She normally has a calm demeanor, but can be rash and somewhat aggressive, stemming from the fugitive life she had to live after CCG killed her father when she was very young. She is a powerful fighter who is more than a match for either Shū Tsukiyama or Nishiki Nishio on even grounds, though not nearly as strong as Renji. She becomes Kaneki’s guide to the ghoul world as well as his training partner. She also takes up the role as Hinami’s guardian after her parents are killed by investigators and is very protective of her. She later comes to be known as Rabbit (ラビット, Rabitto) after attacking some investigators as revenge for what happened to Hinami’s mother, killing one of them in the process. Touka is also shown to be self-aware, as after she killed an investigator that was involved in the murder of Hinami’s mother, she admits that a murderer such as herself deserved to die because killing for revenge is wrong. Despite her overall rash personality, she is a naturally kind girl who takes her job as a part of the Anteiku stability team very seriously. She also has a younger brother; Ayato, whom she raised before they both started to live in the 20th ward. Her brother would later join Aogiri Tree because he did not like the fact that she enjoys living among the humans. This is made very apparent after she starts attending high school and talks fondly about Yoriko to him. Later on, Touka has revealed to Yoshimura that she has an interest in biology, particularly where humans and ghouls are concerned, and expressed that she would want to be a teacher in the future. After the time-skip, she is seen running a new coffee shop called «:re» with Renji. Touka also appears to have matured some in that she is calmer and has a less aggressive demeanor than in her teenage years. She is fully aware of Kaneki’s new identity, but is unwilling to force him to remember his past, although she admits that she is ready to support him should it happens and he decides to reunite with her, which he does once he defects from the CCG, mending their relationship and later becoming lovers. After consummating their relationship, it is later revealed that Touka is pregnant with their child and they got married. Like Yoma an her mother Touka can produce lighting from her Kagune though this was done accidentally in her fight with Special Class Kiyoko Aura and Mougan Tanakamaru during the Third Cochlea Raid.

Supporting charactersEdit

Rize Kamishiro (神代 利世, Kamishiro Rize)

Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa^[1][2] (Japanese); Monica Rial^[3] (English)

Played by Yū Aoi

Rize was a girl with glasses that Ken encountered who tried to eat him after luring him out on a date with her. Parts of her body are transplanted into Ken after she is struck by fallen iron construction parts. Before the construction incident, Rize was a member of V, assigned to breed with the members of the Washū family, but escaped with Furuta’s help. She was a very powerful, fearless and merciless ghoul, often preventing other ghouls from hunting in areas which she stole from them. She came to the 20th ward after wreaking havoc in the 11th ward, attracting the CCG Investigators to it. Before leaving, she killed the ghouls that were in charge and caused a shift in power. She is known as the «Binge Eater» by investigators and like Ken, she was very fond of reading. Originally believed to be killed during her encounter with Ken, it is later revealed that she is still alive and her body was used to produce materials for Ghoul/Human experiments by Dr. Kanō, with Ken’s transformation into a ghoul being the result of one of them. She is later rescued by Yomo. However, she is captured by Nimura Furuta and subsequently merged with the Dragon. She is eventually killed by Kaneki in his attempt to put an end to the Dragon’s rampage over Tokyo.

Shū Tsukiyama (月山 習, Tsukiyama Shū)

Voiced by: Mamoru Miyano^[1][2] (Japanese); J. Michael Tatum^[3] (English)

Played by: Shota Matsuda

A troublesome ghoul of the 20th ward with a well-known reputation: ghouls wouldn’t even get involved with him. He is known as the «Gourmet» by investigators and is one of the most difficult ghouls to capture, especially because he hails from a powerful and rich family of ghouls with connections in the government. He is a part of the «Ghoul Restaurant» under the alias MM. He is a very powerful, cunning, smug, and fashionable ghoul and was also an acquaintance of Rize. Like both Ken and Rize, he is an avid reader. He sometimes says words or phrases in either English, Spanish, French or Italian, and develops an obsession for Ken because of his seemingly unique quality of being human and ghoul. He is very athletic and proficient in martial arts. After being a part of Kaneki’s team post-Aogiri he considers himself Kaneki’s best friend; at this point it was never clear if he had truly seen Kaneki as more than just food. After the time-skip, Shū gets devastated with Kaneki’s disappearance until he is informed of his new identity as Haise and starts conspiring to have him remember his past, until his family’s secret is exposed and his entire clan is put on the CCG’s hit list. He is cornered by Kaneki, who apparently attacks him without mercy, but does not give him a fatal blow, allowing him to escape and be rescued by Chie, Yomo, and Tōka. He later helps out Naki and Miza Kusakari as they are being attacked by investigators.

Yoshimura (芳村)

Voiced by: Takayuki Sugō^[1][2] (Japanese); Sean Hennigan^[4] (English)

Played by: Kunio Murai

The manager of Anteiku, also known as the Non-Killing Owl. The name came from him pretending to be the One-Eyed Owl to cover up her behavior and refusing to kill Ghoul Investigators. He is a very kind and reasonable ghoul that provides aid and food to ghouls that are incapable of hunting on their own, such as Hinami. He takes Ken in after he becomes a half-ghoul and teaches him the ways in which ghouls can blend in with humans. He has shown to be able to reform ghouls from their violent ways, like helping both Koma and Kaya find peace among themselves when the two were leading large and hostile ghoul gangs against each other. He has also helped Yomo to let go of his hate and vengeful attitude towards ghoul investigators and is a father figure to Tōka. He has a mysterious past related to Aogiri and an elusive organization known as V. After Anteiku’s secret is exposed and the place is raided by the CCG, he is captured by his daughter, Eto, and given to Kanō for his experiments. He used to go by the name Kuzen (功善).

Hinami Fueguchi (笛口 雛実, Fueguchi Hinami)

Voiced by: Sumire Morohoshi^[1][2] (Japanese); Lara Woodhull^[3] (English)

Played by: Hiyori Sakurada

Hinami is a 13 to 14-year-old ghoul that came to the 20th ward with her mother after her father was killed by ghoul investigators. She is very shy and quiet, yearning for knowledge as she isn’t allowed to go to school. She meets Ken in Anteiku and becomes attached to him after he helps her with reading and the pronunciation of certain kanji characters. She begins living with Tōka after her mother is killed by Kureo Mado but later goes with Kaneki post Aogiri though she would still visit Tōka. This is changed in the anime as she does not go with Kaneki and stays with Tōka instead. She enjoys books from one of Ken’s favorite authors, Sen Takatsuki (Eto Yoshimura) and loves learning new things. She is shown to have a heightened sense of smell, even more powerful than regular ghouls. In the sequel she reappears as part of Aogiri Tree known as Yotsume (ヨツメ, Yotsume), and once captured by the CCG, she is put under Haise’s care by his request, which is a temporary situation, as Akira intends to have Hinami executed to enact revenge for her father’s death. However, a restored Kaneki betrays the CCG in order to rescue her. Her kagune is special among ghouls; unlike most who only have one type, Hinami has two, one from each of her parents. Her kagune include two wing-like growths used as shields from her mother, and two bladed whips from her father.

Nishiki Nishio (西尾 錦, Nishio Nishiki)

Voiced by: Shintarō Asanuma^[1][2] (Japanese); Eric Vale^[3] (English)

Played by: Shunya Shiraishi

A ghoul who is a second year student who attends the same university as Ken. He is arrogant and hates it whenever his juniors talk back to him. He is very territorial and is hostile to other ghouls that invade his space. His hunting grounds were stolen from him by Rize after a fight which he lost and he tries to reclaim it after her death, but is stopped by Tōka. He is a loner and fairly good fighter that even small groups of ghouls tend to avoid. Like Tōka, he blends in well with human society, he even has a human girlfriend Nishino Kimi (voiced by Yurie Kobori in Japanese and Caitlin Glass in English) who is aware of his ghoul identity, and is well known at the university. After the time skip, he becomes a powerful S~rank ghoul known as Serpent (オロチ, Orochi), and goes around hunting down and killing CCG investigators as well as other ghouls. He seems to have a great dislike towards both CCG and Aogiri Tree commenting that they are the same and disgusting for creating «fake» ghouls. He reappears on Rushima Island to confront Kanō but fails to capture him. His kagune is a tail-like formation that wraps around his leg and enhances the strength of his kicks beyond those of his rank. In later chapters, this formation has grown in size and can be used as a separate weapon resembling a bident.

Hideyoshi Nagachika (永近 英良, Nagachika Hideyoshi)

Voiced by: Toshiyuki Toyonaga^[1][2] (Japanese); Clifford Chapin^[3] (English)

Played by: Kai Ogasawara

Hideyoshi is Ken’s best friend, nicknamed «Hide». He has a sharp intuition, so much so that while Ken tried to keep his ghoul identity hidden from him, Hideyoshi seemed to know something is weird about his best friend. Hide has proven to be intelligent and very observant, even figuring out that Rabbit (Tōka) was not Hinami like what CCG had first thought. He will also go to extreme lengths for those he cares about, like venturing to Aogiri’s hideout and putting a tracking device on the torturous Yamori. After Ken disappeared, Hideyoshi joined the Anti-Ghoul forces in order to learn about his whereabouts, eventually being promoted to Rookie Investigator and partnered with Kōtarō and Akira. He eventually reunites with Ken and reveals to him that he knows he is Eye Patch, getting himself seriously injured during the raid of Anteiku in the anime and reported to be missing in the manga after speaking to Kaneki, with his fate unknown since then, though it is implied in Tokyo Ghoul: Re that he allowed himself to be consumed by Kaneki in order to have his friend recover for his fight against Arima. He later reappears in some form within Kaneki’s mind as a confidant and a physical representation of his compassion. Much later in the sequel, he is revealed to be a misidentified ghoul known as Scarecrow by the CCG. He appears to be leading or at least apart of a terrorist organization whose only goal so far has been to re-take the CCG from Furuta.

GhoulsEdit

Anteiku/Black GoatEdit

A small neighbourhood café in Tokyo’s 20th district, Anteiku is run by Ghouls who intend to blend into society. Providing aid and food for ghouls in need, managing the feeding grounds of the ghouls in the 20th Ward, and collecting food for ghouls by searching for the bodies of humans who committed suicide. It becomes Kaneki’s home until the place is raided by the CCG in the end of the original series. Almost all of its original staff become core members of Kaneki’s Ghoul coalition «Black Goat», after he assumes the title of One Eyed King.

Renji Yomo (四方 蓮示, Yomo Renji)

Voiced by: Yūichi Nakamura^[1] (Japanese); Phil Parsons^[5] (English)

Played by: Shuntaro Yanagi

Renji is a quiet and reserved ghoul. He is an expert coffee brewer, although he does not work for the shop anymore as his customer service was lackluster, with most describing him as intense. He then began to procure suicide victims for consumption for ghouls who were either too weak or did not wish to hunt for human prey. Before working for Anteiku he used to be violent and temperamental, much like Tōka from the first series, and would often fight with Uta making the 4th ward uninhabitable. They realized that a battle between them would lead to mutual death, and have been friends since. He also swore revenge on the CCG for killing his older sister but later sees the errors of his ways due to Yoshimura’s guidance. He is known to CCG as Raven due to his mask resembling the bird as well as his kagune’s pitch black color. Regardless of his cold demeanor he does genuinely care about those around him. He is later seen again with Tōka, working at the «:re» coffee shop. It’s later revealed that he is Tōka and Ayato’s uncle, who kept his identity a secret from them after their parents’ deaths, despite watching over them closely since then. His kagune are two massive pitch black wings with a typical ukaku function in firing projectiles. However, he has an extra special ability to fire lightning-like bolts and also conduct electricity.

Enji Koma (古間 円児, Koma Enji)

Voiced by: Anri Katsu (Japanese); Tyson Rinehart (English)

Played by: Kenta Hamano

An experienced and humorous waiter at Anteiku, frequently acting as manager when Yoshimura is not in. Though he looks harmless, in truth he was once the leader of a violent gang and was called the Devil Ape. He, as well as his friend Kaya, was once a violent and destructive ghoul, and he renounced these ways after Yoshimura’s guidance. He emerged from retirement to defend Anteiku as The Devil Ape, leading his old gang of monkey masked ghouls, who once occupied the 20th Ward. The fight leaves him severely wounded and at the Investigator’s mercy until he is saved by Kaneki. He escapes through Route V14 with Kaya, and manages to pass by Arima while he was busy fighting Kaneki. His kagune resembles that of a monkey’s tail, and is completely prehensile. He uses it not for combat, but rather for repositioning quickly. He is also humorously drawn with a large, bulbous nose.

Kaya Irimi (入見 カヤ, Irimi Kaya)

Voiced by: Fuyuka Ōura (Japanese); Morgan Mabry (English)

Played by: Nozomi Sasaki

One of the waitresses at Anteiku, she is a quiet and reserved woman. She was formerly the leader of the dog masked gang Black Dobers and nicknamed the Black Dog prior to encountering Yoshimura, and was rehabilitated by him. Like Enji, she and her old gang come out of retirement, and follow her into battle knowing they will die when CCG raids Anteiku. Presumed to be killed in the occasion, she reappears in the battle of Rushima Island, assisting the ghouls against the CCG. Her kagune resembles dual beetle-like wings with typical ukaku function: firing projectiles. However, her greatest strength lies in her hearing, which she can use to detect location and movement through different sound waves. This ability works without visual aids, and gives Irimi a kind of sixth sense where she can predict attacks as they begin, giving her ample time to counter.

ClownsEdit

The Clowns is a mysterious group responsible for the accident that led to Kaneki receiving Rize’s organs. They later appear in the sequel as the proprietors of an auction for wealthy Ghouls to buy humans which is later broken up by the CCG. After Furuta kills his father, their members start attacks around Tokyo to put the CCG in state of alert, in a plot to have the organization fall into Furuta’s hands.

Uta (ウタ)

Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai^[1] (Japanese); Aaron Roberts^[5] (English)

Played by: Minosuke Bando

A ghoul that owns Hysy ArtMask Studio, in the 4th ward, he makes masks for both ghoul and human customers alike. He looks very different from the other ghouls in the series, featuring tattoos spanning his body, multiple piercings, a strange haircut and fashion choices. His eyes are his most striking feature, as his irises are permanently red and his sclera permanently black, he has tattooed his eyes to look this way, it’s later revealed that he has had ink injected into his sclera. Despite his appearance he is a very calm ghoul, and speaks very kindly and amusingly, with a rather aloof personality. He is known to CCG as «No Face», because of his mask’s design. In the past he would often get into fights with Yomo and this caused the 4th ward to become uninhabitable. They realized they would not survive if they fought to death, and have been friends since. He did not reveal his kagune for an exceptionally long time, which was revealed to be duplicating tails. In addition, he possesses a level of regeneration beyond nearly any other ghoul revealed in the series, as well as a unique shapeshifting power that allows him to change his facial features and his voice with near perfect accuracy. He was designed after the Japanese rockstar MIYAVI.

Nico (ニコ, Niko)

Voiced by: Kenjirō Tsuda (Japanese); Christopher Bevins (English)

A feminine and flamboyant ghoul and a member of the Clowns and was affiliated with Aogiri Tree while Yamori was alive. He later makes an appearance in Tokyo Ghoul:re sometime after Kaneki leaves the CCG. He is one of the few Clowns who does not side with Furuta’s plot to take over the CCG.

Itori (イトリ)

Voiced by: Ayahi Takagaki (Japanese); Jamie Marchi (English)

Played by: Kang Ji-young

A playful woman that runs a bar in the 14th District. She is old friends with Yomo and Uta, and has an extensive information network. Like Uta, she’s revealed to be a member of the Clowns and like them she thrives on creating chaos and destruction. She is fond of drinking blood, possibly hinting at her being a connoisseur like Tsukiyama.

Roma Hoito (帆糸 ロマ, Hoito Roma)

Voiced by: Suzuko Mimori (Japanese); Tia Ballard (English)

A Ghoul that becomes a waitress at Anteiku, fascinated by the stories of Kaneki. She comes across as a cute and shy girl, treated like a little sister by others. However, she is much older than she appears, and has multiple aliases, including that of the SSS rate ghoul «The Dodgy Mother». She’s also revealed to be the founder of the Clowns and adores the idea of Kaneki as a tragic hero, and wants to see him suffer more because it «makes him beautiful». In the past she was defeated by Tsuneyoshi Washuu, and was later imprisoned in Cochlea’s SS level under the alias «Gypsy» until she was freed during Aogiri’s attack on the prison. She is later killed when Urie decapitates her in a fight.

Donato Porpora (ドナート ・ ポルポラ, Donāto Porupora)

Voiced by: Kazuhiko Inoue (Japanese); Greg Dulcie (English)

A powerful Russian Ghoul captured by Urie’s father and imprisoned by CCG, who once posed as a Catholic priest and raised Kōtarō Amon. He is considered a valuable source of information on other Ghouls, due to having no loyalty to others. His favorite victims were the orphans he raised. Strangely, he spared Amon after the boy caught him butchering another child. This fact continues to haunt Amon. Once the Cochlea is breached after Haise’s betrayal, he manages to escape and rejoin his fellow Clowns. During the Dragon Crisis, Donato is defeated and killed by Amon.

Aogiri TreeEdit

The Aogiri Tree (青霧の木, Ao kiri no ki), are a group of rogue Ghouls destined to usurp the power from the CCG. Their main objective is to have control over Tokyo’s Ghoul wards, whether by infiltration or all-out war. Most of the Ghouls part of the organization are S-rated, such that they are formidable to the CCG.

LeaderEdit

Eto Yoshimura (芳村 愛支, Yoshimura Eto)

Voiced by: Maaya Sakamoto (Japanese); Lindsay Seidel (English)

The founder and leader of Aogiri, she is the half-human daughter of Yoshimura, and the infamous Ghoul known as the One-Eyed Owl (隻眼の梟, Sekigan no Fukurō) and the main antagonist of the original Tokyo Ghoul. When she is not working with Aogiri, she lives under the human identity of Sen Takatsuki (高槻 泉, Takatsuki Sen), the author of Kaneki’s favorite horror novels. As an Aogiri executive, she goes under the name Eto (エト). She enjoys breaking people by picking on their insecurities and according to Sasaki, she lost all hope long ago. She becomes obsessed with Kaneki since she sees their circumstances very similar. Not only is her scent neither human nor Ghoul, but she appears to be fully capable of consuming human foods without issue. Her massive kakuja is a mask like-head with four horns and a single eye in the center of the mask with a huge smiling mouth. She is, however, able to alter its appearance, spawning extra appendages, such as eyes, mouths, and limbs if she wills it. She revealed to her subordinates that she isn’t the One-Eyed King. After she is defeated by Kaneki during the Tsukiyama family Extermination, she voluntarily turns herself into the CCG where Kaneki is tasked with overseeing her. In a press conference, she reveals to the world her identity as a Ghoul. She also warns Kaneki about an organization named V, that has ties to both humans and Ghouls. During the breach of Cochlea, Eto manages to escape but is defeated by Furuta, who reveals that he had Kanō perform the ghoul operation on him, and has a final meeting with Kaneki before supposedly dying, satisfied that he has defeated Arima and had become strong enough to become the new One-Eyed King. She is later captured and used as the main body for the Taxidermied Owl. She manages to retrieve herself from the kakuja and returns to life, although her final fate is unknown.

Direct SubordinatesEdit

Tatara (タタラ)

Voiced by: Koji Yusa (Japanese); Christopher Wehkamp (English)

The Second-in-Command of Aogiri, a cunning Ghoul with former ties to a group of ghouls known as Chi She Lian, originating in mainland China. He typically does not fight, and mirrors Renji Yomo on Anteiku as he follows his leader (Eto) around as Yomo follows Yoshimura. He never shows emotion and treats all of his subordinates as expendable, unless Ghoul Investigator Kōsuke Hōji appears or is even mentioned. This is because Chi She Lian was destroyed in part by Hōji, who personally killed Tatara’s brother and one of his good friends. He first reveals his kagune to be a massive growth with a special pyrokinetic ability. He gravely wounds Seidō Takizawa (Hōji’s partner) in this fight, who is later experimented on and is turned into a psychotic ghoul. In his final appearance, he and Takizawa prepare to fight Hōji and his fellow investigators. However, Takizawa betrays Tatara and kills him with ease in Tatara’s surprise. Seeking validation from his former superior, Hōji tearfully orders Takizawa’s death. However, Takizawa furiously slaughters Hōji’s squad.

Noro (ノロ)

A strange Ghoul noted for his enormous appetite and complete silence, he is almost always with Tatara. He possesses an unusual level of regeneration, allowing him to reattach his upper body when sliced in half. He is finally destroyed by a suicide attack from Shirazu during the raid on the Tsukiyama Headquarters, just to be revealed as nothing but a corpse, belonging to the former surrogate parent of Eto, under the control of her detachable kagune, which is retrieved by the CCG and converted into Urie’s new Quinque.

ExecutivesEdit

Ayato Kirishima (霧嶋 絢都, Kirishima Ayato)

Voiced by: Yūki Kaji (Japanese); Todd Haberkorn (English)

The youngest Executive of Aogiri, and Tōka’s younger brother. He is a troubled and rebellious teenager, and resents his sister’s choice to live among humans. However, Kaneki suggests that his true reason for joining Aogiri is to protect his sister from afar. Later in the series, he adopts the identity of Black Rabbit and takes credit for his sister’s crimes. He also becomes Hinami’s partner after she joins the organization and cares deeply for her, to the point of staging an invasion of Cochlea in order to save her from being executed.

Yakumo Ōmori (大守 八雲, Ōmori Yakumo)

Voiced by: Rintaro Nishi (Japanese); Christopher Sabat (English)

A deranged Executive of Aogiri, he was nicknamed «Jason» due to his brutality and habit of wearing a hockey mask and went by the alias Yamori (ヤモリ, lit. Gecko). While imprisoned by CCG in the past, he was tortured by the point of insanity and developed a love of torturing others. He was known as a serial cannibal, and targeted other Ghouls to torture and devour. Yamori tricked Kaneki into surrendering to him in exchange for sparing hostages, and tortured him for 10 days straight. After breaking free, Kaneki defeated him and devoured his kagune before leaving him to die. He was found and killed by Juuzo Suzuya, and turned into Juuzo’s Quinque, «Juuzo’s Jason».

Naki (ナキ)

Voiced by: Hiro Shimono (Japanese); Josh Grelle (English)

A member of Aogiri that served as Yamori’s right-hand man. He is emotionally unstable and extremely childlike, with complete devotion to his late boss. In the sequel, after Yamori has been killed, he has become an Executive of Aogiri. After Kaneki becomes the One Eyed King, he confronts him in order to avenge his former boss, but is defeated, and swears allegiance to him instead.

Miza Kusakari (草刈 ミザ, Kusakari Miza)

Voiced by: Yumiri Hanamori (Japanese); Brittany Lauda (English)

An Executive member of Aogiri whose alias is Three Blades (三枚刃, Sanmaiba). She is the leader of the Blades, a gang in control of the 18th Ward. Miza comes from a clan of inbred Bikaku ghouls that hid underground. Their history of incest has resulted in poor health and dwarfism being common. While seemingly killed by Abara from Suzuya’s squad during the raid on Rushima island, she survives alongside Naki and joins Black Goat.

Bin Brothers (瓶兄弟, Bin kyōdai)

Voiced by: Yuki Fujiwara (Japanese); Sonny Strait (English) (Older brother) Voiced by: Sōta Arai (Japanese); Jean-Luc Hester (English) (Younger brother)

Two brothers that were executives at Aogiri Tree. They were referred to as the Tail Brothers by the CCG and were killed by Amon. Their step-sister is Hakatori.

Other SubordinatesEdit

Akihiro Kanō (嘉納 明博, Kanō Akihiro)

Voiced by: Kenji Nomura^[2] (Japanese); Mark Stoddard (English)

Played by: Ryo Iwamatsu

The only human among the Aogiri’s top members, Akihiro was the surgeon who transformed Kaneki into a half-ghoul. He used to perform illegal experiments with humans and ghouls in secret using Rize’s body as a source of material until drawing the attention of Aogiri. Since then he continues his research, now sponsored by the organization with a yet unknown objective.

With the CCG closing in on him and Kurona moments away from taking her revenge for experimenting and discard her and her sister, Kanou casually takes out a pistol and shoots himself in the head. The prolonged, painful death of his mother before he entered college emotionally twisted him into the cruel, amoral man he became.

Karao Saeki (冴木 空男, Saeki Karao)

Voiced by: Hiromichi Tezuka (Japanese); David Matranga (English)

Also known as Torso (トルソー, Torusō), he is a ghoul serial killer who is known for dismembering, then decapitating his victims by only taking their torso, although he only targets females. He was investigated by the CCG’s Mado and Shimoguchi Squads. He also develops a sadistic obsession with Mutsuki upon discovering that he is a female in body. He later manages to capture Mutsuki, but is easily killed after the investigator regains his darkest memories from the past.

Shikorae (死堪, Shikoarae)

Voiced by: Kenshō Ono (Japanese)

Formerly known as Rio (凛央, Rio) and Jail (ジェイル, Jeiru), he was captured by Shiki Kijima and imprisoned in the SS level of Cochlea, where he became insane after learning about the death of his older brother. He was found and freed by Eto from the Cochlea during Aogiri’s attack on it, and has been seen around the Clown Roma since Aogiri’s defeat. He has 4 RC types and has Rinkaku, Bikaku, Koukaku and Ukaku kagune. He’s prone to attacking by biting off chunks of flesh from his opponents. He is the protagonist of the game Tokyo Ghoul Jail.

Yumitsu Tomoe (巴 ユミツ, Tomoe Yumitsu)

Voiced by: Nozomi Nishida

Known as Hakatori (墓盗り, Lit. Grave Robber) she is the step-sister of the Bin Brothers and a direct subordinate of Tatara in Aogiri Tree. Her alias is Quinque Hunter (クインケ狩り, Kuinke Gari) and is referred to by Hōguro as Litte Bin. After the destruction of Aogiri Tree, she chooses to go on her own rather than join Goat.

Tsukiyama FamilyEdit

Mirumo Tsukiyama (月山 観母, Tsukiyama Mirumo)

Voiced by: Mitsuru Miyamoto (Japanese); Garrett Schenck (English)

A wealthy and highly-eccentric Ghoul, well-known within Ghoul society for his extravagance. He is the father of Shū Tsukiyama, the once-infamous Gourmet. He deeply loved his wife, who died while their son was still very young. He describes their relationship as having been a passionate romance, and still keeps a place at the table for her. His kindness to his servants and subordinates has earned him their undying loyalty. When his manor is surrounded by Investigators, he calmly surrenders hoping to live as a human until the end, but the moment he overhears that his son is still endangered, he slaughters his captors and escapes, then alongside Chie, Yomo, and Tōka, arrives to save Shū.

Kanae von Rosewald (カナエ＝フォン・ロゼヴァルト, Kanae fon Rozevaruto)

Voiced by: Yuu Kobayashi (Japanese); Jeannie Tirado (English)

A young, eccentric Ghoul and the last survivor of the German branch of the Tsukiyama family, the Rosewalds. After being orphaned, he became a servant to the main Tsukiyama household, and has an unhealthy devotion to his cousin, Shū. He originally worked tirelessly to find some way to save his master from his deep depression, but has been slowly consumed by feelings of jealousy towards Sasaki. It is later revealed that Kanae is actually a woman Karen von Rosewald (カレン＝フォン・ロゼヴァルト, Karen fon Rozevaruto), who took on a male identity in order to carry on the legacy and name of the Rosewald clan. Tortured by Eto, she ends up sacrificing herself to save Shū from the collapsing of the Lunar Eclipse building. As she falls to her death Shū calls her by her real name and says he doesn’t blame her for falling in love with him.

Matsumae (松前)

Voiced by: Chie Nakamura (Japanese); Julie Shields (English)

A serious and efficient woman that has served the Tsukiyama family for a long time. She has spent her life watching over her young master, as both a nanny and a teacher at his school. Officially, she is the General Manager of the Tsukiyama Group. Matsumae can wrap her kagune around her arms, forming a sword and shield pair and seems to be quite adept at using the shield both offensively and defensively. She’s killed by Nimura Furuta after the latter shows his true power.

Mairo (マイロ)

Voiced by: Hinata Tadokoro (Japanese); Nazeeh Tarsha (English)

A servant of the Tsukiyama household, often working alongside Matsumae. During the fight between Hairu and Matsumae, he takes a blow meant for Matsumae, being split in half, but is still able to use the momentum to decapitate Ihei as his upper body falls to the ground. Barely alive, he impales Kijima through the shoulder with his kagune and distracts him long enough for Matsumae to finish the investigator off.

OthersEdit

Kazuichi Banjō (万丈 数壱, Banjō Kazuichi)

Voiced by: Kentarō Itō (Japanese); Ian Sinclair (English)

A ghoul from the 11th Ward, and former associate of Rize. Though a pacifist, he has a strong sense of duty and becomes one of Kaneki’s allies. Unlike most Ghouls, his Kagune seems to be used exclusively to heal his injuries. He eventually becomes the leader of the 6th Ward succeeding Rize’s adopted father, with a large number of Ghouls that follow him. He agrees to help Ayato attack Cochlea to rescue Hinami, in spite of their bitter history.

Matasaka Kamishiro (神代 叉栄, Kamishiro Matasaka)

Voiced by: Kiyoyuki Yanada (Japanese); Andrew T. Chandler (English)

The former leader of the 6th Ward, a powerful Ghoul trained in the martial arts. He was freed from Cochlea during Aogiri’s raid and spent time with them, but seems to have broken ties with them in the passing years. He took a young Rize under his wing, adopting her and raising her as his own daughter. He has a reputation among Ghouls for being both a powerful opponent and a moderate that dislikes unnecessary killing. This caused friction with Rize as she became more active as a Binge Eater. He was once pursued by Kaneki for his connection to Rize and has become a target of V. Months after the raid at the Tsukiyama Headquarters, Masataka is confronted and captured by Arima.

Kurona and Nashiro Yasuhisa (安久 黒奈, 安久 奈白, Yasuhisa Kurona, Yasuhisa Nashiro)

Voiced by: Aoi Yuuki (Japanese); Michelle Lee (English) (Kurona)

Voiced by: Haruka Tomatsu (Japanese); Michelle Rojas (English) (Nashiro)

Twin sisters that, like Kaneki, became One-Eyed Ghouls due to the manipulations of Dr. Kanō. Formerly CCG trainees in the same class as Kōtarō Amon whose parents were murdered, they were believed killed in a CCG operation. They were abandoned by Kanou and labeled as failures after being defeated by their former classmate Jūzō Suzuya. Kurona manages to survive by having parts of her sister’s body implanted into her, including her head, which lies at her stomach, and since then she has two kagunes and two ghoul eyes. Kurona eventually joins Black Goat but fails to obtain her revenge on Akihiro Kanou when he takes his own life.

Mayu (痲ユ)

Voiced by: Nozomi Mikajiri (Japanese); Emily Neves (English)

A female ghoul known as Nutcracker (ナッツクラッカー, Nattsukurakkā), with a distinctly violent tendency towards male victims, under investigation by the combined efforts of the Suzuya Squad and the Quinx. She is part of a larger human trafficking ring and obtains «ingredients» for her high-class clients. She turns out to be far more dangerous than CCG assumed, and violently kills her enemies. She’s killed during the auction when Shirazu uses one of her own kagune traps to defeat her.

Big Madam (ビッグマダム, Biggu Madamu)

Voiced by: Kimiko Saito (Japanese); Nancy Sherrard (English)

An influential Ghoul involved in the underground society of Ghoul Restaurants and human trafficking. Though considered a major target, she has eluded numerous extermination attempts and uses Nutcracker to obtain «ingredients» for her organization. She is the Ghoul that raised Jūzō Suzuya, using him as a Scrapper and her personal plaything. In spite of her large size, Big Madam is a skilled and deadly opponent. Her appearance belies great agility and incredible strength, allowing her to crawl along walls and dodge attacks from swift opponents. She is defeated by Jūzō and killed by the members of his squad during the raid at the auction. After her death, Big Madam’s birth sex is revealed to be male and she is referred to by Jūzō as «Father».

Uruka Minami (三波 麗花, Minami Uruka)

Voiced by: Saori Hayami

A beautiful classmate of Kishou Arima and Taishi Fura who, in secret, was the ghoul serial killer Lantern. Taishi felt attraction towards her and believed she was interested in Arima. She tried to get close to Arima in order to kill him, only for the future CCG investigator to outsmart and defeat her and was finished by Fura, who pitied her after talking to her in her final moments. She seemed to envy the lives of humans and killed Taishi’s friends because they apparently annoyed her at school. Her Bikaku Kagune was used to make Taishi’s Quinque Lantern, and he admits he has mixed feelings about it.

Commission of Counter Ghoul (CCG)Edit

The Commission of Counter Ghoul (喰種対策局, Gūru Taisaku Kyoku, «Ghoul Countermeasures Bureau»), usually abbreviated as CCG, is a federal agency that serves as a criminal investigative body in cases connected to ghouls, as well as to hunt down and imprison or kill any runaway ghouls. The investigators regardless of class or grade are referred to as Doves (ハト, Hato). In secret, the CCG is run by a family of ghouls disguised as humans. After the Dragon Crisis, the CCG is disbanded and replaced by the Tokyo Security Committee, or TSC, composed of former members of the CCG and ghouls who joined their ranks in their mission to maintain security in the city and develop policies to allow humans and ghouls to coexist.

HeadEdit

Tsuneyoshi Washū (和修 常吉, Washū Tsuneyoshi)

Voiced by: Katsunosuke Hori (Japanese); Dan Caskey (English)

The current Chairman of the CCG and the father of Yoshitoki Washū , and the grandfather of Matsuri Washū. Like all members of the Washū Clan, he is later revealed to be a ghoul disguised as a human and also fathered other children include Rize, Arima and Furuta. He is killed by Furuta with Donato’s help.

Yoshitoki Washū (和修 吉時, Washū Yoshitoki)

Voiced by: Shunsuke Sakuya (Japanese); Kent Williams (English)

The Bureau Director of the CCG, and the son of Chairman Tsuneyoshi Washū. He is the father of Matsuri Washū, and the mastermind behind the Quinx Project. Unlike his relatives, he is noted to have an amiable personality and is often at odds with his eldest son. Like all members of the Washū Clan, he is later revealed to be a ghoul disguised as a human. Following the revelation from Marude’s exposure, Yoshitoki is killed in the battle.

Kichimura Washū (和修 吉福, Washū Kichimura)

Voiced by: Ōki Sugiyama (Sōta), Daisuke Kishio (Nimura) (Japanese); David Trosko (English)

The main antagonist of Tokyo Ghoul:re. He was originally Sōta Washū-Furuta (和修旧多 宗太, Washū-Furuta Sōta), and later known as Nimura Furuta (旧多 二福, Furuta Nimura) when he is introduced, was originally a Rank 1 Ghoul Investigator who becomes Haise’s subordinate after he leaves Kijima Squad. While at first seems harmless, the moment his first partner Shiki Kijima was killed, he revealed his true self and killed Matsumae. He is an alumnus of the Sunlit Garden, an agent of V, and originally was a half-human, but he had Rize’s kagune implanted into him in secret with Kanō’s help, transforming him into a half-ghoul strong enough to defeat SSS level ghouls like Eto, although if the other agents of V discover his Kagune he could be labeled as a possible target for execution as he performed the procedure in secret. He infiltrated the Clowns under the name Sōta (宗太), the Ghoul that provoked Rize’s accident and collaborated with Dr. Kanō, thus collaborating with Kaneki’s transformation into a half-ghoul. His talk with Eto revealed he’s also an outcast of the Washū Clan, something that angers him greatly. Once all other members of the Washū family are killed, Nimura is instated as the new Bureau Director of the CCG and begins an aggressive campaign to wipe out all Ghouls not affiliated with him in the city, which is a ruse for his true objective, which is to capture Kaneki and use his body to create a massive creature known as the Dragon, which ravages the city of Tokyo, in order to revive Rize. He is ultimately defeated and killed by Kaneki inside the Dragon.

Special Class InvestigatorsEdit

Kishō Arima (有馬 貴将, Arima Kishō)

Voiced by: Daisuke Namikawa^[2] (Japanese); Alex Organ (English)

The protagonist of Tokyo Ghoul: JACK and supporting character in Tokyo Ghoul and Tokyo Ghoul:re, he is a famed Special Class Ghoul Investigator known as the CCG Reaper (CCGの死神, CCG no Shinigami). He is always seen wearing his glasses, with his face kept in an apathetic expression, rarely showing any emotion if not at all. Arima was hailed as a genius within the CCG, stemming from his affiliation with the organization since his teens and quickly rising to the top. Fighting with multiple quinques, he is strong enough to defeat Ghouls that are too strong to be defeated by anyone else in the force. After defeating Ken, he takes him under his guard while he’s under the new identity of Haise Sasaki and becomes his mentor, with orders to kill him should he go out of control. After Kaneki regains his memories and betrays the CCG, Arima confronts him once more, just to be defeated. Kaneki spares his life, but Arima opts to commit suicide instead. Before dying, Arima reveals that he, and all alumni from the Sunlit Garden are half-humans. He also reveals that his life was about to end nonetheless, as his left eye was almost blind due to glaucoma, and asks Kaneki to make it look like he was killed by him, to which he complies. After his death, it is revealed that Arima was the one called by Eto as the One-Eyed King (隻眼の王, Sekigan no Ō), who was conspiring with her all along, waiting for a ghoul strong enough to break the current status-quo imposed by the Washū Clan to appear, and both died believing that Kaneki had become suited for such role, inheriting both his will to change the world, as well as his title.

Kōtarō Amon (亜門 鋼太朗, Amon Kōtarō)

Voiced by: Katsuyuki Konishi^[1][2] (Japanese); Mike McFarland^[3] (English)

Played by: Nobuyuki Suzuki

Amon is a Rank 1 Anti-Ghoul Investigator and was a partner of Kureo Mado up until his death which was when his partner was switched to Akira Mado up until he disappeared. When he was a little boy he used to live in an orphanage managed by the priest, Donato Porpora, until he found out that he was a ghoul killing his friends. He has a very strong sense of justice and believes that he must make this ‘Wrong World’ right by killing the ghouls whose murders create orphans, he is very dedicated to his job and begins to work even harder after Kureo is killed. He fought Ken but he lost; however, Ken let him go during their first encounter. During his time as an investigator he would sometimes be playfully teased by his late partner Mado, Shinohara and later by Akira after she became his subordinate. As a human he was extremely fond of sweet food but hated anything that was spicy. Despite his initial hatred towards ghouls Amon has shown to be interested in Kaneki’s story and even after getting badly injured and losing his arm to Kaneki when they last meet, he refuses to die, so that Kaneki would not be prosecuted. After the events of the first manga, he was declared KIA after facing Tatara in battle when the Aogiri Tree came while the CCG fought against the One Eyed Owl and was posthumously given a double promotion to the rank of Special Class Investigator, but reappears, transformed into a half-ghoul, to protect Akira from Takizawa when he attacks her. He helps Takizawa come back to his senses through their fight, however is captured by the CCG and held in a test tube. He is rescued by Takizawa and later joins Black Goat along with him. For a long while he avoided talking to Akira because he felt guilty about avoiding her for all the years he was listed as MIA, and whenever he did try to talk with Akira, she would shut him down. He does however get the courage he needs to confront her from Touka and they eventually make up. The two have not been seen since Akira decided to leave Black Goat.

He returns during the Dragon Crisis, where he faces against his paternal figure Donato Popora, and despite everything he did to him, Amon still feels saddened after killing him.

Jūzō Suzuya (鈴屋 什造, Suzuya Jūzō)

Voiced by: Rie Kugimiya (Japanese); Maxey Whitehead (English)

A young boy with an androgynous appearance. He was raised by a ghoul called Big Madam until he was taken in by the CCG. He was promoted to a ranked 2 investigator within a year, indicating that he’s very capable of exterminating ghouls. Jūzō is very independent and tends to not cooperate with his fellow comrades and superiors. His profiles says he likes candy, his Mama (the ghoul that raised him) and ghoul hunting. His behavior is very childish and carefree and he his often seen talking with himself; he calls his other self Rei (his former name). In Tokyo Ghoul:re, Jūzō rises further in the CCG’s ranks and becomes leader of his own squad, having matured more thanks to Shinohara and become a responsible, if eccentric, adult. Jūzō is promoted to Special Class at the age of 22, the first to reach the rank that young since Arima.

Kiyoko Aura (安浦 清子, Aura Kiyoko)

Voiced by: Chinatsu Akasaki (Japanese); Mallorie Rodak (English)

A Special Class Investigator, and Division 1 Commander of the 1st Ward. She is the first female Special Class, and has many female admirers as a result. Unlike the other Special Class Investigators, she remains cool and professional during meetings. While remaining single, she gets along quite well with her nephew Shinsanpei, the son of her younger sister. Her Quinque, «Zebez», is as Ukaku-type that can launch homing, explosive projectiles. One month after the raid of Cochlea she is seen in a hospital bed still recovering from wounds inflicted by Kaneki, she tells her nephew to not get caught up in revenge for her.

Yukinori Shinohara (篠原 幸紀, Shinohara Yukinori)

Voiced by: Yutaka Nakano^[2] (Japanese); Brandon Potter (English)

A Special Class Ghoul Investigator. He takes in Juzo after he was found by investigators during a raid of one Big Madam’s restaurants. He becomes like a father figure to Juzo constantly looking out for him and trying to get him out of trouble. One of the more light hearted investigators, he is also well respected and after Akira becomes a subordinate to Amon, the young investigator seeks advice from him. His quinque is a large butcher knife called the Demon Yamada 1. He survives the fight with The Owl and Eto, but his injuries are so severe that he ends up in a vegetative state.

He finally recovers from his vegetative state after eight years thanks to the discoveries made during the Dragon Crisis.

Kōsuke Hōji (法寺 項介, Hōji Kōsuke)

Voiced by: Shō Hayami (Japanese); Wyn Delano (English)

An Associate Special Class Investigator, and partner of Takizawa. He gained considerable fame for his exploits against the Clown Gang, and was recruited to work in China for some time. During this time, he eliminated a major Chinese gang and gained the hatred of Tatara. In the sequel it is shown he’s now a Special Class Investigator. After Takizawa eliminates Tatara, Hōji sends his squad to kill him, but is slaughtered by the half-ghoul, along with all of his men, except for Akira.

Kōri Ui (宇井 郡, Ui Kōri)

Voiced by: Yoshinori Fujita (Japanese); Chris Burnett (English)

A Special Class Investigator, and member of the S3 Squad. He is a protege of Kishō Arima, and took part in the battle against the Owl two years ago as the Vice-Commander of Squad Zero. His Quinque’s unique properties allow it to be used as a whip or a spear.

Iwao Kuroiwa (黒磐 巌, Kuroiwa Iwao)

Voiced by: Ryūzaburō Ōtomo (Japanese); R. Bruce Elliot (English)

A Special Class Investigator involved in the Owl Incident ten years prior, and Vice-Commander of the 11th Ward Special Countermeasures Unit. He is an old friend of Shinohara, and the two use the same prototype armor. He loses his arm below the elbow in the battle with Owl, but continues serving as Investigator alongside his son Takeomi. While apparently killed by Nimura Furuta after confronting him alongside Urie, he barely manages to survive and recovers by the time of the birth of his first grandchild.

Mōgan Tanakamaru (田中丸 望元, Tanakamaru Mōgan)

Voiced by: Tsuyoshi Koyama (Japanese); Barry Yandell (English)

A Special Class Investigator, assigned as the captain of Squad 2 during major operations. He is highly emotional and prone to eccentric behavior. He wears his hair in a Pompadour style, and has a neat moustache. His Quinque, «Higher Mind», is an Ukaku-type that can fire a long range, energy blast.

Matsuri Washū (和修 政, Washū Matsuri)

Voiced by: Yoshihisa Kawahara (Japanese); Bryan Massey (English)

The son of Yoshitoki Washū, a Special Class Investigator and a commander in Division II. He distinguished himself while serving in Germany, eliminating the Rosewald Family and rapidly climbing the ranks. He opposes the existence of the Quinx, and treats Sasaki with disrespect. He’s also known for his callous attitude, and his teams taking heavy losses to get the maximum results, seeing them as expendable. Like all members of the Washū Clan, he is later revealed to be a ghoul disguised as a human. When Matsuri discovers his father’s corpse, he vows revenge against Marude, but is attacked by V’s assassins, who swore allegeance to Furuta. He is later revealed to have survived the attack, appearing alongside Marude and several other investigators as they manage to oust Furuta from his office.

Itsuki Marude (丸手 斎, Marude Itsuki)

Voiced by: Yūji Ueda (Japanese); Philip Weber (English)

A Special Class Investigator who is known for his abrasive personality to his subordinates. He is the commander of the 11th Ward Special Countermeasures Unit and Chief of Division II. During the battle against Aogiri Tree on Rushima, Marude exposes the Washū’s secrets of them being ghoul co-conspirators and ghouls.

Associate Special Class InvestigatorsEdit

Akira Mado (真戸 暁, Mado Akira)

Voiced by: Asami Seto (Japanese); Morgan Garrett (English)

Kureo’s daughter and a Ghoul Investigator like him, she became Kōtarō’s partner after her father’s death. She is an intelligent woman and seems to be always serious about work and her daily routine in general. Like her father, she has deep insight and intuition that helps her in investigation and determining what is going on around her while on the field. After Kōtarō was declared KIA, she became Haise’s team leader and the overseer of the Quinx Squad. Haise has said that she was like a mother to him and Shirazu describes her as the «Holy Mother of CCG». Despite having high regards for Haise, she is wary of his closeness with Hinami, as she is eager to kill her to enact revenge for her father. Akira is very weak to alcohol and can get drunk after drinking only one glass of it. During the battle on Rushima Island, Akira gets herself gravely injured after shielding Takizawa with her body during his fight with Amon and the Quinx Squad and is taken under care of Kaneki and his allies. After a month of being in a coma, through a combined effort of Banjou and the members of the Great Wheel Act, she finally regained consciousness. However, the reality of her situation has weighted heavily on her mind and she had for a very long time refused to speak with anyone including both Amon; (who had avoided her for all the years he was alive making her believe he was dead) and Kaneki for killing Arima. Eventually due to Touka patching up her relationship with herself, Akira and Hinami, Akira breaks out of her depression though a bit confused and apprehensive and was able to finally speak with the others. She was last seen going off with Amon after deciding to leave Black Goat.

She and Amon eventually return to aid the CCG and Black Goat during the Dragon crisis.

Chū Hachikawa (鉢川 忠, Hachikawa Chū)

Voiced by: Kenta Miyake (Japanese); Scott Freeman (English)

An Associate Special Class Investigator, assigned as the captain of Squad 3 during major operations. He is a deranged individual with little regard for life, whether ghoul or human. Heavily scarred and holding a deeper hatred for Ghouls that is abnormal even for Investigators, his hatred of ghouls comes from Irimi killing many of his allies and scarring him. In the battle against Aogiri, he is assigned as Tōru Mutsuki’s new superior. He ends up sacrificing himself to allow Tōru and Ayumu escape while he tries to hold off Shikorae and Takizawa.

Shiki Kijima (キジマ 式, Kijima Shiki)

Voiced by: Nobuo Tobita (Japanese); Randy Pearlman (English)

An Associate Special Class Investigator heavily covered in scars obtained when he was attacked by the ghoul nicknamed Jail. He is a sadistic former Interrogator, willing to push the boundaries in pursuit of his prey. His Quinque, «Rotten Follow», is a chainsaw powered by a Kakuhou harvested from Jail’s older brother. During the Tsukiyama Extermination, he taunts Matsumae about how he killed her associates Yuuma and Aliza, in response, Matsumae cuts off his arm and causes the chainsaw to come down on his head. He is the main antagonist of Tokyo Ghoul: Jail.

First-Class InvestigatorsEdit

Taishi Fura (富良 太志, Fura Taishi)

Voiced by: Ryōhei Kimura (Japanese); Duncan Brannan (English)

The other protagonist of Tokyo Ghoul: JACK, Taishi is a First Class Ghoul Investigator. Fura, as a teenager, attended Seishin Senior Highschool along with Arima. Though he never liked school, he usually went shopping and did all the housework, since his mother never did. He had two childhood friends; Ryō, with whom he played baseball and Aki, a girl whom he had a crush on. When Ryō associated himself with a gang of bikers, this led to his death, as he was stabbed by the Kagune of a killer ghoul, «Lantern,» whom Arima was currently investigating. Witnessing his friend’s tragic death, Fura grew heated for vengeance, and pleaded with Arima to help with his investigation, wanting to know about ghouls right away. Thus, he eventually undertook the career of Ghoul Investigation. Fura had a minor appearance in Tokyo Ghoul and has appeared in Tokyo Ghoul:re.

Kureo Mado (真戸 呉緒, Mado Kureo)

Voiced by: Tōru Ōkawa^[2] (Japanese); Kenny Green (English)

Played by: Yo Oizumi

He was a First-Class Investigator and was Kōtarō Amon’s partner and mentor. A very experienced and ruthless fighter, he was more than a challenge even for the physically superior ghoul and always trusted his intuition, which was never wrong. His ultimate downfall came from the fact that he was obsessed with quinques (weapons made from the ghouls’ kagune) and while fighting Tōka and Hinami, he let his guard down by his fascination with the latter, being killed by them. His daughter, Akira, worked with his partner Kōtarō Amon after his death. His goal was to get revenge on the One-Eyed Owl for killing his wife. Despite his mercilessness towards ghouls, he was a very loving and devoted father, seen when he could have gotten promoted beyond First-Class but decides to decline the promotion because it would mean he would have to face more dangerous adversaries which would increase his chances of dying and leaving his daughter behind, even though such a promotion would have also increased his chances for an encounter with his wife’s killer.

Take Hirako (平子 丈, Hirako Take)

Voiced by: Takayuki Kondō (Japanese); Joel McDonald (English)

A First-Class Investigator, and former partner to Arima. He is in command of the 21st Ward, and an exceptionally skilled fighter. In the sequel his squad is working on the Orochi Case, and is responsible for handling Sasaki should he lose control. He gets transferred to the S3 Squad after the Auction, leaving his squad in the hands of Kuramoto. After Arima’s death, he decides to follow his former mentor’s last wish by breaking all ties with the CCG in order to help Kaneki escape Cochlea.

Kuramoto Itō (伊東 倉元, Itō Kuramoto)

Voiced by: Shinya Takahashi (Japanese); Dallas Reid (English)

A First-Class Investigator, and member of Hirako’s team. He is easy-going and cheerful, slowly becoming a good friend to Sasaki and the Quinx. After the Auction, he finds himself suddenly given command of the squad and has misgivings about it.

Ayumu Hogi (穂木 あゆむ, Hogi Ayumu)

Voiced by: Rui Tanabe (Japanese); Morgan Berry (English)

The junior partner of Hachikawa, and a veteran of the battle in the 20th Ward. She is a small and curious young woman, with her face always hidden by her hair. She turns out to have a very young, freckle-covered face, which embarrasses her. She gets promoted to First-Class Investigator.

Hairu Ihei (伊丙 入, Ihei Hairu)

Voiced by: Akira Sekine (Japanese); Jill Harris (English)

A First Class Investigator, alumni of the Sunlit Garden, and partner to Kōri Ui. At 20 years old, she is much younger than her peers and became an Investigator as a teenager. She is a member of the mysterious Squad Zero, commanded by Arima, and took part in the battle in the 20th Ward. She’s killed during the fight with Mairo and Matsumae, when she slips on her own blood, which allows Matsumae to impale her and is then decapitated by Mairo. As later revealed by Arima, Hairu, like all alumni of the Sunlit Garden, is a half-human.

Rank 1 InvestigatorsEdit

Takeomi Kuroiwa (黒磐 武臣, Kuroiwa Takeomi)

Voiced by: Haruki Ishiya (Japanese); Alejandro Saab (English)

A 20-year old Rank 2 Investigator, and member of Team Hirako. He is the son of Special Class Kuroiwa, and considered to be an exceptionally gifted young Investigator. Kuramoto notes that he is among the 0.01% of humans that possesses physical strength above normal human limitations, and can therefore actually fight Ghouls unarmed. He gets promoted to Rank 1 Investigator. He is a friend of Yoriko Kosaka, unaware of her connection with Touka, and later becomes her husband.

Hanbē Abara (黒磐 武臣, Abara Hanbē)

Voiced by: Masakazu Nishida (Japanese); Brad Kurtz (English)

A Rank 1 Investigator and a member of Suzuya Squad.

Rank 2 InvestigatorsEdit

Seidō Takizawa (滝澤 政道, Takizawa Seidō)

Voiced by: Shinnosuke Tachibana^[2] (Japanese); Micah Solusod (English)

A Rank 2 Ghoul Investigator that was Akira’s classmate and rival at the Academy. Deeply insecure, he had a tendency to bicker with Akira or Jūzō because of their superior abilities. He deeply admired Amon and defied orders out of concern for his safety, leading him into an ambush by members of Aogiri. He was mortally wounded by Noro, and declared KIA. In Tokyo Ghoul:re, he returns as a major antagonist after being turned into an insane One-Eyed Ghoul by Aogiri. Takizawa’s deranged appearance and mindset are made to mirror Ken’s, and have made him a manifestation of Haise’s fears of what he could one day become should he ever regain his memories. Takizawa turned on the Aogiri by killing Tatara, hoping to be praised as the hero of CCG. Instead, Houji ordered his squad to eliminate him which sent Takizawa into a blind rage, slaughtering all of them. As Takizawa attempts to finish off Akira, Amon appears to stop him. During the fight, Takizawa regains his sanity and ultimately decides to join Black Goat, though the tortures that Aogiri put him through have left him deeply scarred.

Misato Gori (五里 美郷, Gori Misato)

Voiced by: Reina Ueda (Japanese); Trina Nishimura (English)

A skilled Rank 2 Investigator from the 13th Ward. She comes across as harsh, but in truth has a deep admiration for Amon. Despite trying to get Amon’s attention by cooking, her food causes everyone that eats them to suffer food poisoning, though she remains oblivious to being responsible. She refuses to believe Amon is dead because of his missing body.

Quinx SquadEdit

Introduced in Tokyo Ghoul:re, the Quinx Squad are a special group of young investigators mentored by Haise Sasaki. They are essentially «human ghouls» such that they are transplanted with ghoul Kakuhos, allowing the user to form their own kagunes and do replenish their power from feeding on bodies like normal ghouls.

Kuki Urie (瓜江 久生, Urie Kuki)

Voiced by: Kaito Ishikawa (Japanese); Adam Gibbs (English)

A Rank 2 Ghoul Investigator who was the Squad Leader of the Quinx Squad until he was replaced with Ginshi, but he regains the post after Ginshi’s death. Kuki often displays himself as a cool-headed individual, but is reckless and vicious when confronting Ghouls, as he hates them with a passion, as his father was a special class investigator in charge of the S3 squad, who ordered his team members to retreat while he stayed to fight the One-Eyed Owl to the death. This hate also extended to Haise after he discovered that he is a half-ghoul instead of just a Quinx. He constantly acts reckless when facing ghouls to gain credit from his superiors; he wishes to be the best ghoul investigator ever. After the battle at the auction, he is promoted to Rank 1, and after the battle with Donato, he is promoted to First Class. Initially he was cold toward his comrades and did not care for them, seeing them as a nuisance and as tools for him to use to gain promotion. His obsession with promotion drives him throughout earlier parts of :Re. However after going berserk and nearly killing Mutsuki, he slowly becomes less obsessed and starts to care more about his comrades, especially after Shirazu’s death.

Ginshi Shirazu (不知 吟士, Shirazu Ginshi)

Voiced by: Yūma Uchida (Japanese); Daman Mills^[6] (English)

A Rank 3 Ghoul Investigator and the Squad Leader of the Quinx Squad. Like most of his teammates, Ginshi is shown to have great respect for Haise. However, this doesn’t stop him from going out of his way to execute missions without Sasaki’s permission, and so he is constantly seen accompanying Urie on dangerous assignments without support. His primary motive for joining the Quinx Squad is to get fast money to treat his sister, who is ill with a rare disease, but his determination to help others earns him Haise’s respect, to the point of nominating him as the new leader. After the battle at the auction, he is promoted to Rank 2, but during the ambush at the Tsukiyama Headquarters, he dies from his wounds after confronting and killing Noro from the Aogiri Tree. His body is later stolen by the Aogiri Tree and given to Dr. Kanō for the sake of his research.

Tōru Mutsuki (六月 透, Mutsuki Tōru)

Voiced by: Natsumi Fujiwara (Japanese); Mikaela Krantz (English)

A Rank 3 Ghoul Investigator, Tōru joined the CCG at a young age, the circumstances of which are said to be very mysterious, thus it is unknown if Tōru is his birth name or a chosen one. Tōru struggles to keep his one eyed kakugan under control, much like Kaneki did in the past; he suffers from anemia, and also wears an eye patch similar to Kaneki. Ironically, he feels repulsed when he comes in contact with blood. After the battle at the auction, Tōru receives a double promotion to Rank 1, for putting himself in dire risk in order to grant the success of the operation. After Shirazu’s death, Tōru leaves the Quinx squad and puts his ghoul-like superhuman sense of smell to use in investigations. After being captured and dismembered by Torso on Rue Island, Tōru regains his memories and finally consciously accepts that he held responsibility (not the ghouls) for the slaughter of her family. She remembers that she is actually a woman and not a man. Because of this incident, she was taken into the CCG and given the option of undergoing the Quinx operation. She accepts, but requests to live under the identity of a man because she has developed insecurities because of the childhood sexual abuse she suffered. It is revealed that she has a habit of torturing animals and collects tongues in a jar. It is also revealed that during the Auction operation, she had devoured the deceased CCG agents to replenish herself. After this sudden revelation on Rue Island, she brutally butchers and dismembers Torso and escapes. During her work at the CCG, Mutsuki’s psychopathic behavior resurfaces; not only because of the torment she suffered, but out of an obsession with Kaneki, for whom she had become in love with. Tōru slowly slips further and further into madness, and decides to hunt Haise down to exterminate him.

Saiko Yonebayashi (米林 才子, Yonebayashi Saiko)

Voiced by: Ayane Sakura (Japanese); Sarah Wiedenheft (English)

A Rank 3 Ghoul Investigator, Saiko dislikes having to work, as she prefers having a lazy and carefree life, playing video games and eating junk food excessively. She often oversleeps, which earns her the absence from most missions. She has an extremely impressive kagune manipulation ability among the Quinx, but rarely puts it to use because it is exhausting; thus, Haise uses her abilities to strike decisive blows after the rest of the squad have weakened the enemy. After the Auction Operation, she is promoted to Rank 2, and after Shirazu’s death, becomes vice-captain of the Quinx squad, assuming a more responsible demeanor, leaving behind her NEET lifestyle, and becoming more professional.

Shinsanpei Aura (安浦 晋三平, Aura Shinsanpei)

He is the nephew of Kiyoko Aura and part of the second batch of Quinx Squad. He is a shy and nervous person and, despite having no special achievements while at the Academy, is expected to have a high potential to be a great investigator.

Tōma Higemaru (髯丸 トウマ, Higemaru Tōma)

Tōma came from a wealthy family as is part of the second batch. He is energetic and admires Saiko.

Ching-Li Hsiao (小 静麗, Shao Jinrī)

A Taiwanese investigator and part of the second batch. She is also an alumnus of the Sunlit Garden and goes by the name of Genie Hsiao (ジーニーシャオ, Jīnī Shao).

Other charactersEdit

Chie Hori (掘 ちえ (ほり ちえ), Hori Chie)

Voiced by: Megumi Han (Japanese); Madeleine Morris (English)

A human photographer and information broker. She is a long-time friend of Shū Tsukiyama, aware of his secret but uninterested in exposing him as a Ghoul. At his request, she serves as an informant to Kaneki’s group. She seeks out the members of the Quinx Squad, and offers to sell them information pertaining to Torso. This is because she has an unusual interest in their leader, Sasaki. Despite being the same age as Shuu, she looks like an elementary school student. She has an oddly unique way of seeing the world, always looking for a good picture; she sees things rather impartially and she almost never shows fear.

Shuu (シュウ, Shū)

Voiced by: Kouhei Aoyama (Japanese); Orion Pitts (English)

A ghoul and a resident of the 11th Ward. He is a member of Kazuichi Banjou’s group when he is still the leader of the 11th Ward. He deeply loves Haru and wants to protect her from every trouble.

Haru (ハル, Haru)

Voiced by: Yurie Kobori (Japanese); Felecia Angelle (English)

A ghoul and lives at the 11th ward and a member of Kazuichi Banjou’s group when he is still the leader of the 11th ward. She and Shuu are lovers and deeply care about each other. She worries about Shuu all the time.

Yoriko Kosaka (小坂 依子, Kosaka Yoriko)

Voiced by: Chinatsu Akasaki (Japanese); Jad Saxton (English)

Played by: Seika Furuhata; Nana Mori

A human who was Tōka’s best friend when they attended Kiyomi High School together. She was a very sweet, kind and friendly girl and she cared for her friend deeply. She loves to cook and hopes to become a chef someday. She is now working as a waitress in a bakery, and is an acquaintance of Takeomi Kuroiwa and starts a relationship with him, later becoming his wife. However, when her friendship with Tōka is known by Furuta, he decides to order her execution as a means to lure Kaneki to a trap as well kill her. However, Takeomi aware Furuta bloodlust plan in order eating Yoriko, he was able freeing her just in time. She and her husband witness dragon is born. Several years later, Yoriko and Takeomi later visit Tōka’s place with her newborn son.

Yoshiki Ookura (大倉 ヨシキ, Ōkura Yoshiki)

Voiced by: (Japanese); Orion Pitts (English)

A human and famous actor and was known for starring in the drama Brainball. He was captured and presented at a Auction with many other victims presented during the Auction event. He was eventually sold off to the highest bidder Mirumo Tsukiyama.

Ichika Kaneki (金木 一花, Kaneki Ichika)

The daughter of Ken Kaneki and Touka Kirishima and a one-eyed ghoul. She appears in the epilogue, 6 years after Kaneki defeats Furuta.

ReferencesEdit

External linksEdit

• Tokyo Ghoul official manga website at Weekly Young Jump (in Japanese)

«Don’t let your kids watch this!» — Robbie Rotten This article contains potentially sensitive content that may be discomforting or upsetting to certain users. Reader discretion is advised! Reason: Gratuitous violence.

WARNING! Spoilers ahead! This article may reveal some pointers such as ones from the Manga or Light Novel of certain anime.‎

Ken Kaneki
«I’ve… To you, been nothing but a plaything. And you’ve toyed with me for a while. I’m not as adroit as you, I’m not smart, and I’m not particularly strong. Forget the world, I can’t even protect a small country. I’ve lost every single time I’ve faced you till now. So… Despite all that, this time for sure… I will do this. I will defeat you, defeat you, and protect everyone! People, AND GHOULS, TOO!«
Gender: Male Type: Tragic Protagonist Age: 17-18 22-27 (Tokyo Ghoul:re) Species: Human (Formerly) Artificial One-Eyed Ghoul Portrayed by: Natsuki Hanae (Japanese) Austin Tindle (English) Adrien Solis (French) Ricardo Richter (German) Manuel Meli (Italian) David Jenner (European Spanish) Status: Alive Media of origin: Tokyo Ghoul

«If, lets say, you were to write a story with me as the main character, it would certainly be a tragedy. No. Everyone’s the same, in fact. He’s the main character of his novel, and she’s the main character of her movie. All those that walk this earth are the main characters of their own tragedies. All steal, and from all, something is stolen. We can’t help it. That’s who we are. Steal, and be stolen. Imprison, and be imprisoned. Follow, and be followed. Do, and be done. Affirm and negate over and over. We fight ceaselessly to save ourselves from loss. And yet the people and places we love will one day surely be lost. We will all surely be forgotten. Life is sad. Empty. But, despite knowing we will one day be bereft, despite knowing we will one day disappear, we still strive in wretched ways. We still wish to be beautiful. And I consider. “Which one?” I choose. “This one.” Forever choosing, forever being chosen. Nothing more. Nothing less. I’m sorry, Rize… that I have to kill you…»

— Ken Kaneki in :re Chapter 177.

«Yeah… That’s right. Now would you shut the hell up?!»

— Kaneki’s first words after regaining his memories.

Ken Kaneki is the main protagonist of the dark manga series Tokyo Ghoul, and its sequel, Tokyo Ghoul:re. He is currently the husband of Touka Kirishima, the father of Ichika Kaneki, and the best friend of Hide Nagachika. Previously, he was a student who studied Japanese literature at Kamii University, living a relatively normal life. However, this quickly changed after Rize Kamishiro’s kakuhou was transplanted into him and transformed him into a one-eyed ghoul. Kaneki is the first known artificial one-eyed ghoul. His unique half ghoul state is what later inspires the idea of the Quinx. After joining Anteiku as a part-time waiter, he learns how to live as a ghoul and eventually becomes known as Eyepatch (眼帯, Gantai).

Why He is The King

«Black and blue, turning and over-turning the things I’d chosen countless times, forever repeating the same actions… Ungainly. Awkward. Indecisive. Weak. Endlessly useless. That is what I am.»

1. The way Kaneki lived through with his upside down life painfully, is how he accepted his own tragedy. Making viewers sympathize and feel along with him. His personality changes after being haunted and traumatized, Kaneki’s mental state undergoes extreme changes over the course of the series, and each transformation is subtle writing and made sense:
   • Human Kaneki: A shy college student who just want to read books. Upon meeting with Rize, he almost gets eaten, then gets Rize’s organs transplanted inside of him, and becomes a ghoul. After knowing that he can no longer eat normal food and live as a human being, Kaneki must overcome his conflict and learn how hard it is for a ghoul to live in society.
   • White hair Kaneki: After being tortured by the infamous Jason, he accepts his ghoul side and became cold hearted. He (manga only) forms a group of ghouls to stop Aogiri Tree from commiting acts of terrorism.
   • Haise Sasaki: After his encounter with the CCG’s white reaper, Kishou Arima, and gets his head impaled and both of his eyes gouged out, Kaneki survives, but suffered from amnesia and lived under a new name: Haise Sasaki, and he is working with the enemy of ghouls. Haise may have his dorky side, but he is actually a reliable mentor. While funny, yet he is haunted by his former self.
   • Black Reaper: Sasaki has regained his old memories and turned back into Kaneki. In sharp contrast and a much more opposite compared to Sasaki’s previously gentle personality, Kaneki became colder and much more violent. He fought with more brutal force and was willing to put Tsukiyama’s life at risk, despite already remembering his old acquaintance. And after meeting Touka, Yomo, and Ayato again, he makes a vow where he is going to sacrifice himself as his final mission and for his old friends to escape Cochlea.
   • One Eyed King: He gained a new personality where he will stay alive to protect his friends and loved ones. After Arima had committed suicide, Kaneki makes a promise to be king for Arima in order to make peace between humans and ghouls.
   • Post Dragon: While this version of Kaneki acts like a less suicidal Black Reaper, he became very pessimistic. Kaneki reflects on his life, finds his own redemption, as he recognizes that everyone is their own protagonist, and that his tragedy doesn’t make him anymore special than anyone else. He knows that the world is a harsh and unforgiving place, knowing he and his friends will eventually die and be forgotten, but despite it all, people will still strive to be loved and chosen by those around them.
2. What makes Kaneki a character that audiences can sympathize with is he was abused by his mother most of his life, was treated like crap by his aunt for having better grades than her son, was almost killed, gutted, and eaten, penetrated through the skull, dismembered, became a victim to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, guilt, and Multiple Personality Disorder to cope the tragedy he’s been through.
   • Kaneki went through the same experiences as Eren Yeager, it gets much sadder that both characters were once nice individuals that was forced to do terrible, horrible things in order to succeed and have both opposing sides to co-exist together. The only difference is Kaneki had his character arc ended happily, alive and well, while Eren ended his the opposite.
3. All his voice actors — Natsuki Hanae (Japanese), Austin Tindle (English), Adrien Solis (French), Ricardo Richter (German), Manuel Meli (Italian), and David Jenner (European Spanish) — did an amazing performance voicing him.
4. His character design may start out simple at first, based from his human state, but it gets better as story progresses. Going from having white hair and monochrome clothing from Jason’s torture, back to black hair, dons glasses and trench coat as the Black Reaper, then finally, back to white hair, which is longer in length and dragon marks on the eyes to the neck, and a large scar on the left side of his face.
5. Ever since he obtained Rize’s organs, Kaneki had to go through hell to keep himself and hunger for human flesh in control, while having to defend himself in using tentacle-like Kagune from the CCG.
6. Kaneki has great reflexes, skill in martial arts, leadership and swordsmanship.
7. He happens to get along well with other characters:
   • When Kaneki first interacted with Touka, Kaneki had at first gone to her for help when his hunger was becoming increasingly worse, but Touka harshly rejected him after he stated he was different from «monsters» like her. Touka does try to train Kaneki to become stronger in order to avenge Hinami’s mother, and then later on, she became morally concerned about Kaneki when he was abducted by Aogiri.
     • Upon leaving Anteiku, Kaneki stayed true to his intent to preserve her safety and protect her, shown when he refused to allow her to come with him and avoided her during the months he was away. This caused Touka to often wonder of his whereabouts and wanted to meet him again, as observed by Hinami.
   • Hideyoshi «Hide» Nagachika was his first and only childhood friend. Kaneki tried really hard not to expose himself as a ghoul, so he wouldn’t have his ties cut with Hide, but Hide already knew from the start that he trusted him to eat his mouth to survive.
   • He acts as a big brother figure to Hinami by teaching her how to read books.
   • As Haise Sasaki, he is a great teacher to the Quinx Squad, and acts like a father to them.
   • He has shown respect to his superiors Kishou Arima and Akira Madō.
     • Even with his second battle with Arima, Kaneki still remains loyal to him, and stated that even if one continues while the other knows he’s/she’s stronger but refuses to battle, it will remain meaningless in the end.
8. Just by listening to the openings just describe his perspective and state:
   • Unravel is about Kaneki overcoming his suffering as a ghoul.
   • munou means Kaneki’s acceptance.
   • Asphyxia meant Haise’s happiness is nothing but a dream.
   • Katharsis goes by the meaning of Kaneki’s reality and redemption.
9. His Post Dragon Kagune in the final battle against Furuta looks awesome. He also has massive cross-shaped blades attached to them that he can swing around as close range weapons or extend long distances. In addition, he can use these as shields to defend against even the strongest of attacks. Their defensive power are great enough to withstand an attack from Dragon with Kaneki sustaining little to no damage.
10. «I won’t pull back. I will press forward. Like a centipede.»
    • «It’s not like I’m the protagonist or anything. But if you were to write a story about me as the main character, then it will be… A tragedy…«
    • «You think something like that… will hurt me?«
    • «That actually hurts… Now… …It’s my turn.«
    • «What’s 1000 minus 7?«
    • «I am… a ghoul…«
    • «In this world, the strong devour the weak. Who is the strongest? I am. I fucking am.«
    • YOU’RE A FUCKING PSYCHO!
    • «You’re the pathetic one. Go to hell.«
    • «Why would I save trash like you?«
    • «You’re the cruel one, Touka…«
    • «Don’t care.«
    • «I’ve… To you, been nothing but a plaything. And you’ve toyed with me for a while. I’m not as adroit as you, I’m not smart, and I’m not particularly strong. Forget the world, I can’t even protect a small country. I’ve lost every single time I’ve faced you till now. So… Despite all that, this time for sure… I will do this. I will defeat you, defeat you, and protect everyone! People, (grows crossblade Kagune) AND GHOULS, TOO!«

Bad Qualities

1. While likable, he isn’t properly protrayed in the anime. In the manga, he is traumatized, yet he is living happily with Hinami, Tsukiyama, and Banjou. However in season 2, he is nothing but a sad, yet vengeful young man. Not helping the fact that he almost has the same personality as Jotaro Kujo from JoJo’s Bizzare Adventure.
   • Speaking of the anime, he joined Aogiri, the same cult that kidnapped and tortured him into insanity. This made the efforts of Touka, Nishiki, Hinami, and the rest of Anteiku of going to rescue Kaneki pointless.
2. It still wasn’t explained how he’s managed to eat human food again as Haise. Although it’s highly likely that the author Sui Ishida did not want to give the mystery of Kaneki’s identity as Haise away at the time.
3. Kaneki is still placed guilty after the atrocities he had done:
   • Contradictory: He trashed his previous ideology of «It’s better to be hurt rather than hurting others.» pledging to crush and murder those who dared come in his way.
     • As iconic as the scene is, him breaking half of Ayato’s endoskeleton for torture. And take note Kaneki was a 19 year-old man crushing and destroying the skeleton of a 15 year-old teenager.
     • Has threatened and scarred Madam A, when she hasn’t done anything wrong.
   • has gotten power hungry during and after his fight with Shachi.
   • acted really cold to Urie after the death of Ginshi Shirazu.
   • Turned into a dragon that killed and infected millions, but to be fair, it was beyond his control that Furuta and the CCG were planning to wipe his people out.

Trivia

• The term «Kaneki» translates as «gold tree» while «Sasaki» translates to «Helpful Wood».
  • The name «Haise» was created by combining the kanji from «coffee» and «world». The kanji used for «Ken» is the same one used for «to sharpen» i.e. sharpen one’s fangs.
• Kaneki has a habit of touching his chin with his left hand when he is hiding something. This habit appears to be subconscious, as he still does it even after his memory loss.
• In the Tokyo Ghoul popularity poll, he was ranked 2nd, then Touka was ranked 1st, while Haise Sasaki was ranked 3rd.
• Kaneki likes reading, beautiful language, intellectual women, and hamburgers.
• His Japanese voice actor Natsuki Hanae, also voiced Kousei Arima from Your Lie in April, and Tanjirou Kamado from Demon Slayer: Kimitsu no Yaiba. His English voice actor Austin Tindle, also voiced Vali Lucifer from the High School DXD series, Ayumu Aikawa from Is This a Zombie?, and Marco Bodt from Attack on Titan. Both have also voiced Kuzan Montoban in Code Geass: Akito the Exiled.
• Kaneki bear many similarities with Riku Dola from the No Game No Life: Zero:
  • Both have white hair (Riku’s hair is natural, while Kaneki had his from being tortured by Jason), split personalities, and (formerly) lifeless, emotionless eyes.
  • Both have lovers with dark colored hair, with Kaneki having Touka, and Riku having Schwi.
    • Speaking of Touka and Schwi, both characters have purple colored hair, specified wings, and are non-human.
    • Both Schwi and Touka happen to be complex characters, sometimes wanting learn what it’s like to be human, and warms ups to the protagonist. The main differences is Schwi is a kuudere (meaning cold and emotionless), and Touka on the other hand is a tsundere (meaning hotheaded or harsh).
  • Both had suffered too much, gone mentally insane, and lost people they cared about:
    • With Riku, he had his home destroyed by an army of ex-machina, sacrificed his allies only to survive only to feel regret, lost his wife Schwi in the war, and destroyed everything in his sight only for him to die in the end.
    • As for Kaneki, he lost his mother from overworking herself, had to move in with his abusive aunt, watch his close friends die in front of him, and suffers from PTSD, identity crisis, and memory loss.

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“	I’m not the protagonist of a novel or anything. I’m just a college student who likes to read, like you could find anywhere. But… if, for argument’s sake, you were to write a story with me in the lead role, it would certainly be… a tragedy.	”
–Ken Kaneki

Ken Kaneki (金木 研 Kaneki Ken^?)
is the main protagonist of Tokyo Ghoul. Formerly, he was a human studying Japanese Literature at Kamii University, living a relatively normal life. However, this soon changed after Rize Kamishiro’s kakuhou was transplanted into him, transforming him into a one-eyed ghoul. After joining Anteiku as a part-time waiter, he learned how to live as a ghoul and eventually became known as Eyepatch (眼帯, Gantai).

After being captured by Aogiri Tree, he underwent a drastic personality change and after escaping, formed a group with the goal of protecting those precious to him and exterminating individuals threatening his place of belonging. His kakuja’s distinct appearance earned him the alias Centipede (百足, Mukade)

Personality[]

Notes[]

Trivia[]

Comic Con Appearances[]

November 4th, 2017[]

Characters

April 15th Character Debut

Batman • The Joker • Harley Quinn • Catwoman • Poison Ivy • Sailor Cosmos • Kylo Ren • Wasteland • Spider-Man • Eren Yeager • Baxter • Gunther • Ron Weasley • Hermione Granger • Zora • Deadpool • Mercy • Tommy Cooper • Steven Universe • Natsu Dragneel • Pearl • Joseph Joestar • Steve • Skull Kid • Link • Mable Pines • Damian Wayne • Eric Cartman • Azura • Mavis Dracula • Dr. Horrible • Captain America • Red Hood • Draco Malfoy • Star Butterfly • Skull Grunt • Princess Mononoke • Negan • Super Saiyan • She Bot 3825141 • Aqua • Winston Zeddemore • Terra

November 4th Character Debut

Ken Kaneki • Emerald Pioneer • Gambit • Domino • Storm • Black Widow • Caliborn • Eyeless Jack • Rorschach • Kiki • Wolverine • Dipper Pines • Batgirl • Henry Jones, Sr. • D.Va • Han Solo • Chewbacca • Princess Leia • Mario • Luigi • Pac-Man • GLaDOS • Koichi Hirose • Raphael • Cat Noir • Green Arrow • Black Canary • Engineer • Sebastian Michaelis • Wirt • Ghost Face • Jason Voorhees • Fionna The Human • Deadshot • Enchantress • Deathstroke • Lucy Heartfilia • Hawk Girl • Raven • Supergirl • Black Solider • Zero • Steampunk • Scorpion • Sub-Zero • Pikachu • Team Rocket • Static Shock • Carl Grimes • Edward Elric • Roy Mustang • Bendy • The Mad Hatter • The Flash • Rey • Dudley

May 26th Character Debut

Zoomerman • Red Noir • Baxter Ewers • Iron Man • Abrasax • Aerith Gainsborough • Captain Marvel • Star-Lord • Anakin Skywalker • Obi Wan Kenobi • Bulma • Frisk • Mei • Genji • Reaper • L • Buzz Lightyear • Roman Torchwick • Jinx • Louise Belcher • Rocket Raccoon • Groot • Lara Croft • General Grievous • Darth Vader • Inkling Girl

October 13th Character Debut

“	I’m not the protagonist of a novel or anything. I’m just a college student who likes to read, like you could find anywhere. But… if, for argument’s sake, you were to write a story with me in the lead role, it would certainly be… a tragedy.	”
–Ken Kaneki

Ken Kaneki (金木 研 Kaneki Ken^?)
is the main protagonist of Tokyo Ghoul. Formerly, he was a human studying Japanese Literature at Kamii University, living a relatively normal life. However, this soon changed after Rize Kamishiro’s kakuhou was transplanted into him, transforming him into a one-eyed ghoul. After joining Anteiku as a part-time waiter, he learned how to live as a ghoul and eventually became known as Eyepatch (眼帯, Gantai).

After being captured by Aogiri Tree, he underwent a drastic personality change and after escaping, formed a group with the goal of protecting those precious to him and exterminating individuals threatening his place of belonging. His kakuja’s distinct appearance earned him the alias Centipede (百足, Mukade)

Personality[]

Notes[]

Trivia[]

Comic Con Appearances[]

November 4th, 2017[]

Characters

April 15th Character Debut

Batman • The Joker • Harley Quinn • Catwoman • Poison Ivy • Sailor Cosmos • Kylo Ren • Wasteland • Spider-Man • Eren Yeager • Baxter • Gunther • Ron Weasley • Hermione Granger • Zora • Deadpool • Mercy • Tommy Cooper • Steven Universe • Natsu Dragneel • Pearl • Joseph Joestar • Steve • Skull Kid • Link • Mable Pines • Damian Wayne • Eric Cartman • Azura • Mavis Dracula • Dr. Horrible • Captain America • Red Hood • Draco Malfoy • Star Butterfly • Skull Grunt • Princess Mononoke • Negan • Super Saiyan • She Bot 3825141 • Aqua • Winston Zeddemore • Terra

November 4th Character Debut

Ken Kaneki • Emerald Pioneer • Gambit • Domino • Storm • Black Widow • Caliborn • Eyeless Jack • Rorschach • Kiki • Wolverine • Dipper Pines • Batgirl • Henry Jones, Sr. • D.Va • Han Solo • Chewbacca • Princess Leia • Mario • Luigi • Pac-Man • GLaDOS • Koichi Hirose • Raphael • Cat Noir • Green Arrow • Black Canary • Engineer • Sebastian Michaelis • Wirt • Ghost Face • Jason Voorhees • Fionna The Human • Deadshot • Enchantress • Deathstroke • Lucy Heartfilia • Hawk Girl • Raven • Supergirl • Black Solider • Zero • Steampunk • Scorpion • Sub-Zero • Pikachu • Team Rocket • Static Shock • Carl Grimes • Edward Elric • Roy Mustang • Bendy • The Mad Hatter • The Flash • Rey • Dudley

May 26th Character Debut

Zoomerman • Red Noir • Baxter Ewers • Iron Man • Abrasax • Aerith Gainsborough • Captain Marvel • Star-Lord • Anakin Skywalker • Obi Wan Kenobi • Bulma • Frisk • Mei • Genji • Reaper • L • Buzz Lightyear • Roman Torchwick • Jinx • Louise Belcher • Rocket Raccoon • Groot • Lara Croft • General Grievous • Darth Vader • Inkling Girl

October 13th Character Debut

Характеристика

Полное имя

Кен Канеки

Хайсе Сасаки

Японское написание

金木 研（かねき けん）

佐々木 琲世 （ささき はいせ）

Ромадзи

Kaneki Ken

Sasaki Haise

Прозвища

Глазная Повязка

Сколопендра

[1]

Сассан

Маман

K-eater

№240

Черный Бог Смерти

Одноглазый Король

HS

Дракон

[2]

Прототип персонажа

Кен Канеки

Профиль

Вид

Человек

Искусственный одноглазый гуль

Статус

Жив

Возраст

Tokyo Ghoul:

18

[3]

19

[4]

Tokyo Ghoul:re:

21

[5]

22

[6]

23

[7]

Пол

Мужской

День рождения

20 декабря

2 апреля

Рост

Tokyo Ghoul:

169 см

[3]

169.5 см

[8]

Tokyo Ghoul:re:

170

[5]

Вес

55 кг

[3]

58 кг

[8]

Группа крови

AB

Лояльность

Антейку

Анти-Аогири

Группа Канеки

Древо Аогири (только в √A)

CCG

Чёрная Коза (лидер)

Родственники

Мать Кена Канеки †

Отец Кена Канеки †

Тетя Кена Канеки

Юичи Асаока (двоюродный брат)

Муж его тети

Тоука Киришима (жена)

[9]

Аято Киришима (шурин)

[9]

Район

20-ый район

6-ой район

1-ый район

Досье CCG

Звание в CCG

Следователь третьего класса

[10]

Следователь первого класса

[5]

Следователь старшего класса

[6]

Кандидат в особый класс

[11]

Отряд

Отряд Мадо

Отряд Куинксов (наставник)

Отряд Аримы

Отряд S3 (секретарь)

[12]

Куинке

Юкимура 1/3 (Коукаку)

Награды

Награда Белого Крыла

Золотой Знак Османтуса

Параметры гуля

Тип RC

Ринкаку

[13]

Уникальные состояния

Какуджа

Отделяемый кагуне

Формирование независимой формы жизни

[14]

Неопознанная анатомия

[15]

RC-фактор

170

911

2753

?

Ранг

SS

[16]

Первое появление

В манге

Глава 1

В аниме

Эпизод 1

Re: Эпизод 1 (как Хайсе Сасаки)

В новеллах

Tokyo Ghoul: Hibi

Tokyo Ghoul: Kuuhaku

Tokyo Ghoul: Sekijitsu

В играх

Tokyo Ghoul: Carnaval

Tokyo Ghoul: Jail

В ролях

Сэйю

Нацуки Ханаэ

Юриэ Кобори (в детстве)

Актёр

Юки Огоэ

Галерея

Кен Канеки: Если бы кто-то по какой-то причине написал историю со мной в главной роли, то это непременно была бы трагедия.

Tokyo Ghoul, глава 1.

Кен Канеки (金木かねき研けん, Kaneki Ken) — протагонист манги и аниме «Tokyo Ghoul». До начала событий серии Канеки был самым обыкновенным студентом-первокурсником, учившимся в университете Камии на литературном факультете. В результате трагедии на стройке, в которую Кен оказывался вовлечён, он попадает в госпиталь, где его спасают от смерти путём трансплантации органов погибшей Ризе Камиширо. Однако операция повлекла за собой неожиданные для Канеки ужасающие последствия: он становится гибридом человека и гуля.

Внимание! Данный раздел содержит сюжетные спойлеры!

Неспособный выжить в одиночку Кен обращается за помощью в кофейню «Антейку», персонал которой состоит из гулей. Управляющий заведения — пожилой гуль, известный как Йошимура — принимает протагониста на работу в качестве официанта на полставки. С этого момента Канеки начинает познавать уклады и быт жизни гулей, в процессе чего благодаря своей специфической маске становится известен как «Глазная Повязка» (眼帯, Gantai).

После похищения Древом Аогири переживший 10 суток изощрённых пыток Канеки отказывается от унаследованной от матери идеологии и принимает в себе сторону гуля, чтобы защитить своих близких и заранее уничтожить всё, что может представлять им угрозу («выбросить плохие зёрна»). Ради этого он формирует свою группировку, в большинстве своём состоящую из бывших членов Анти-Аогири. Питаясь враждебными гулями, Канеки развивает какуджа-кагуне, благодаря внешнему виду которого получает новое прозвище — «Сколопендра» (百足, Mukade).

После поражения в дуэли с Кишо Аримой во время штурма Антейку Канеки попадает в Кокурию, где его противник, получив над ним право собственности, приручает Кена и делает из него следователя по гулям, обучая обращению с куинке и навыкам ведения боя. С того момента Канеки, чтобы сохранить рассудок, отгораживается от воспоминаний о прошлом и в результате реабилитации становится следователем третьего класса Хайсе Сасаки (佐々木ささき琲はい世せ, Sasaki Haise) под началом Акиры Мадо. В Tokyo Ghoul:re Хайсе сразу появляется в качестве следователя первого класса и наставника отряда куинксов.

Персонаж обладает прототипом, который появлялся в «Tokyo Ghoul: Oneshot»

Personality

At the beginning of the story Ken Kaneki is a kind, sweetheart-ed and at times naive person. Even after the horrific incident with Rize and being a ghoul Kaneki still manages to hold those same traits. This all begins to change after his torture at Yamori’s hands. Kaneki becomes ruthless and cold-hearted towards his enemies. He even kills another ghoul for the first time in is life. He is still shown as kind and caring towards his friend but, can change in a heartbeat to those he doesn’t trust.

Appearance

Even as an adult Kaneki keeps the traits he had as a child up until he was tortured. After being tortured by the brutal ghoul Yamori, Kaneki’s hair turns white and his nails turn the color black as the result of heavy mental stress and forced regeneration.

Past

He lost his father when he was four years old. He barely remembered his face and was awfully curious as to what sort of person he was. He knew that his father was an avid reader and had loads of books, so when he followed the sentences in the book his father had been reading, he felt like he was having a conversation with his dead father which calmed him down, strangely.

His mother later died overworking herself when he was ten, simply by all the work that she had to deal with, especially with his aunt, who was tight on money and hounded his mother for cash. He was then adopted by his aunt’s family, the Asaoka family, after his mother passed away.

His aunt’s son, Yuuichi, who she always compares with him since Yuuichi didn’t do well at school;this fact made her angry. When comparing her son with Kaneki, she also compared Kaneki with his late mother, saying how alike they were. Her feelings of inferiority regarding Kaneki’s mother were turned on him as spite. As time passed, the family became a place that didn’t give Kaneki any comfort for long because nobody in the family would look after or cared for him.

He barely had any friends during elementary school. During that time, Hide approached Kaneki, most likely because he noticed that Kaneki had trouble dealing with his classmates. Since then, Hide and Kaneki have been best friends. Hide was his only support during the time the Asaokas began to ostracize him, which really saved him from loneliness.

He later works as a waiter for Anteiku under Yoshimura’s guidance. After his fight with Amon he gains the name «Eyepatch» because of his mask’s design and becomes somewhat famous after a ghoul saw him defeating Amon. He loves to read and is normally quiet and reserved. He has a bad trait of easily trusting strangers which sometimes puts him in life threatening situation.

Powers and Abilities

Kaneki starts off as weak and not used to fights, with a feeble body that has neither muscles nor flexibility. He has poor reflexes, reflecting his terrible athletic skills when he was previously human. Despite this, he is shown to be very adaptive and a quick learner. He is highly intelligent having the ability of learning martial arts in a short period of time through martial arts books and strict training from Touka and Yomo, making him a competent fighter above the average level.

After being tortured by Yakumo Oomori and accepting his ghoul side all the knowledge and skills he learnt are put to use, he became capable of easily dodging quick attacks, his reflexes and strength were greatly enhance becoming capable of defeating Yakumo with ease. Kaneki is also a tactical combatant, his intelligence and improvisational abilities allow him to challenge foes far more powerful than himself.

• Rinkaku Kagune: After the organ transplant, Kaneki also inherited Rize’s kagune. Rize’s kagune is special because it has an abnormal regenerating factor even among the Rinkaku types. While his body is soft and fragile, his kagune focuses on providing enough brute force to take down even the toughest enemies. So far, his kagune can produce four tentacle claws that provide him with muscular blades to cut or pierce foes.

Despite the surgery, Kaneki seems to lack the sense of smell other ghouls have that can differentiate between humans and ghouls, although he is shown to be unaffected by Ghoul-Detecting machines.