Ken Kaneki
佐々木 琲世 (ササキ ハイセ)
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Alias |
Eyepatch Centipede Black Reaper Number 240 One-Eyed King HS Nameless King Miracle Human K-eater Dragon |
Personal Description | |
Birthday | December 20 |
Age | 29 (:re Ch. 179) |
Gender | Male |
Height | 169.5 cm / 5’6″ |
Weight | 58 kg / 127 lbs |
Rc Type | Rinkaku |
Unique States | Kakuja |
Status | |
Status | Alive |
Family | Kaneki Family |
Affiliation | United Front – Member |
Debut | |
Episode | Chapter 1 Tokyo Ghoul Epilogue (As Haise Sasaki) |
Anime movie | Episode 1 :re Episode 1 (As Haise Sasaki) |
Ken Kaneki (金木 研, Kaneki Ken)stands as the central character inTokyo Ghoul, evolving from a reserved university student into one of the most complex and compelling figures in the ghoul world. His journey, which begins with a chance encounter, transforms him from an innocent victim to a powerful leader, symbolizing the struggle for coexistence between humans and ghouls.
Kaneki’s life takes an unexpected turn when a seemingly ordinary date withRize Kamishiro—who turns out to be a ghoul—leads to a near-fatal incident. A surgery to save his life results in her organs being transplanted into his body, making him the first artificial one-eyed ghoul. This rare transformation immediately places him between two worlds: neither fully human nor fully ghoul, a concept that later inspires the creation of theQuinx.
Struggling with his new identity, Kaneki begins working atAnteiku, a coffee shop run by ghouls who teach him how to navigate his new existence. Despite his inherent gentleness, he becomes haunted by his monstrous side, giving birth to his infamous alias,Eyepatch(眼帯,Gantai), as he dons a mask to hide his ghoul eye during battles. Kaneki’s evolution is driven by a deep-seated fear of loneliness and abandonment, stemming from his traumatic childhood and his mother’s death. This fear propels him into conflict, where he often shoulders the burden of protecting others to avoid the crushing weight of isolation.
His transformation reaches a psychological and emotional breaking point when he is captured and tortured byYamoriofAogiri Tree. This experience leads to the most drastic shift in his personality, embracing his ghoul side fully to survive and escape. Following his escape, he becomes colder and more determined, adopting a new persona with a ruthless goal: protect those he cares about, even if it means killing those who stand in his way. This darker side earns him the chilling nicknameCentipede(ムカデ,Mukade), a reference to the gruesome torture method used on him, and a symbol of the creeping violence within him.
As time goes on, Kaneki’s identity fractures, symbolized when he loses his memories after being defeated byKishou Arima, the legendary ghoul investigator. Under the new identity ofHaise Sasaki(佐々木 琲世,Sasaki Haise), he serves as a CCG investigator and mentors theQuinx Squad, unaware of his past. His kindness and patience as Haise starkly contrast the dark and violent tendencies of his former self. Yet, the lines between his past and present selves blur when his memories begin to resurface during theTsukiyama Family Extermination Operation. After regaining his memory, Haise transforms into a version of Kaneki more calculating and decisive, now dubbed theBlack Reaper(黒い死神,Kuroi Shinigami).
Kaneki’s growth climaxes with the revelation thatArimaandEto—his former enemies—had orchestrated events to raise him as theOne-Eyed King(隻眼の王,Sekigan no Ō), a symbol of hope for all ghouls. Accepting this mantle, Kaneki formsGoat, an organization meant to unite humans and ghouls and end their mutual destruction. However, just as he assumes this role,Kichimura Washuu‘s plot turns Kaneki into a massive, uncontrollable kakuja, known asDragon(竜,Ryū). In this monstrous form, Kaneki devastates Tokyo, losing all sense of self, until he is rescued by his allies and extracted from the beast. Even in the aftermath of this calamity, Kaneki continues to fight for peace, eventually defeating Kichimura and destroying the remnants of Dragon.
Following these tumultuous events, Kaneki emerges not just as a symbol of hope but as a true leader. He now lives peacefully withTouka Kirishima, his wife, and their daughterIchika Kaneki, with a second child on the way. His journey from a timid student to the One-Eyed King reflects the complex themes of identity, sacrifice, and the search for belonging in a world divided by fear and hatred. Kaneki’s story is one of self-discovery, a testament to the strength found in vulnerability and the enduring hope for coexistence between two worlds that once seemed irreconcilable.
Émile Durkheim
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Born |
David Émile Durkheim
15 April 1858 Épinal, France
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Died | 15 November 1917(aged 59)
Paris,France
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Nationality | French |
Alma mater | École Normale Supérieure |
Known for | Sacred–profane dichotomy Collective consciousness Social fact Social integration Anomie Collective effervescence |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Philosophy, sociology, education, anthropology, religious studies |
Institutions | University of Paris, University of Bordeaux |
Influences | Immanuel Kant, René Descartes,Plato, Herbert Spencer,Aristotle, Montesquieu, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Auguste Comte. William James, John Dewey, Fustel de Coulanges, Jean-Marie Guyau, Charles Bernard Renouvier, John Stuart Mill |
Influenced | Marcel Mauss,Claude Lévi-Strauss, Talcott Parsons, Maurice Halbwachs, Jonathan Haidt, Lucien Lévy-Bruhl,Bronisław Malinowski, Fernand Braudel, Pierre Bourdieu, Charles Taylor, Henri Bergson, Emmanuel Levinas, Steven Lukes, Alfred Radcliffe-Brown, E. E. Evans-Pritchard, Mary Douglas, Paul Fauconnet, Robert N. Bellah, Ziya Gökalp, David Bloor, Randall Collins, Neil Smelser[1] |
Appearance
Pre-Ghoul (University Student)
Initially, Kaneki was a short, somewhat skinny young man, with soft black hair and large, expressive black eyes. He had no athletic background and his appearance reflected his introverted and bookish nature. His casual attire typically consisted of a turquoise hoodie, black pants, and running shoes. Following the life-saving surgery that implanted Rize Kamishiro’s kakuhou into his body, he gained a surgical scar on the right side of his abdomen.
At Anteiku, where he began working after turning into a half-ghoul, Kaneki wore a classic waiter uniform: black trousers, a gray waistcoat over a white shirt, and a black necktie. Since he struggled to control his single kakugan (ghoul eye), Kaneki wore a medical eye patch to hide it from public view.
Post-Yamori Torture (White-Haired Kaneki)
After being brutally tortured by Yamori, Kaneki underwent a major transformation both in appearance and personality. His hair turned stark white due to the psychological trauma, and his nails blackened. Physically, he became more muscular, showcasing his newfound strength. His attire changed as well, favoring a black bodysuit with cutouts for battle, symbolizing his deeper embrace of his ghoul side. This white-haired version of Kaneki is colder and more detached, embodying his struggle between his human and ghoul identities. His ghoul mask during this time was terrifying: a leather mask with a gnashing, lipless mouth, reminiscent of a restrained monster.
Haise Sasaki (Ghoul Investigator)
During the two-year time skip after his defeat by Kishou Arima, Kaneki lived under the name Haise Sasaki. In this persona, his black hair slowly began to reemerge, resulting in a mix of black and white. He wore the standard CCG investigator’s outfit—black dress shirts paired with a white trench coat. As a mentor to the Quinx Squad, Haise maintained a more controlled and calm demeanor, though his suppressed memories occasionally resurfaced. After the Auction Mopping-up Operation, his hair returned almost completely to black.
Black Reaper (Post-Memory Recovery)
After regaining his memories as Ken Kaneki, his appearance shifted yet again. His hair became fully black once more, and he adopted a darker aesthetic, wearing a black version of the CCG uniform with a long black trench coat and red gloves to hide his right hand, which was covered in reptilian scales due to an incomplete healing process from earlier injuries. This marked a significant turn in his character, representing a more calculating and ruthless version of Kaneki.
One-Eyed King (Post-Arima Battle)
During his second battle with Arima, Kaneki’s hair turned white again, a symbol of his full reclamation of his ghoul identity. He began to wear more practical combat gear, including sleeveless black outfits with dark gloves reaching past his elbows. At this time, his hands were permanently covered in scales, and he donned a black turtleneck to hide the scars and scales on his body.
Dragon Form
As part of the plan carried out by Kichimura Washuu, Kaneki was transformed into a massive, uncontrollable kakuja known as Dragon. In this monstrous form, Kaneki was barely recognizable, taking on the appearance of a grotesque creature with kakugan eyes protruding from his enormous, blackened body. He caused widespread destruction in Tokyo in this state, his humanity almost entirely consumed by his transformation.
Post-Dragon Recovery
After being freed from Dragon, Kaneki’s body became frail, losing much of his previous muscular mass. His body was covered in kagune-like tissue, and his hands were deformed, with three misshapen fingers on each hand. His hair had grown long and his appearance was far more ghastly, with flesh-like patterns appearing around his neck and eyelids. However, once he regained control over his kagune, his body returned to a more normal state, with his hands and other features becoming more human-like once again.
Post-Timeskip
Following the six-year time skip after the events of , Kaneki’s appearance became more settled. He trimmed his hair back to its original length, and his facial scars took on a new form—two thick lines running diagonally under his left eye. These scars, combined with his slightly more mature appearance, symbolize the balance he finally achieved between his human and ghoul sides.
Ken Kaneki, the protagonist of Tokyo Ghoul, experiencing inner turmoil and confusion as he grapples with his identity and the duality of his existence as both human and ghoul.
Powers and Abilities
Ken Kaneki wearing his iconic mask, symbolizing his transformation and the struggle between his human nature and ghoul identity.
Ghoul Physiology
After receiving Rize Kamishiro’s kakuhou, Kaneki became a one-eyed ghoul, displaying extraordinary regenerative abilities, heightened physical strength, and access to a rinkaku kagune. His hybrid nature, being half-human and half-ghoul, made his abilities more potent than those of natural-born ghouls, enabling him to surpass most ghouls in strength and versatility.
Rinkaku Kagune
Rinkaku Kagune
Kaneki’s kagune is a defining aspect of his combat style. Initially, it took the form of three crimson tentacles, which became more powerful after his torture, growing to four tentacles that he used to overwhelm his enemies. After further development, he could produce up to eight tentacles, using them with precision, versatility, and immense destructive power. He could manipulate the shape of his kagune at will, forming intricate structures and even using it for multiple tasks simultaneously. As Haise Sasaki, his control over his kagune became significantly more refined, allowing him to form more advanced and strategic shapes during battle.
Rinkaku Kakuja
Kaneki’s kakuja form resulted from continuous cannibalism, leading to several transformations that increased his strength and endurance. His incomplete kakuja initially featured centipede-like tentacles and a beak-like mask, later evolving into a more complex and monstrous form with carapace armor, large claws, and dragon-like features. His kakuja made him extremely powerful, able to fight seasoned investigators such as Koutarou Amon and Kishou Arima. Over time, he gained control over his kakuja, no longer losing his personality and sanity in battle, though his fighting style became even more aggressive and brutal. His later kakuja forms incorporated intricate body armor, wing-like structures, and massive cross-shaped blades, which he could wield both defensively and offensively.
Swordsmanship
As Haise Sasaki, Kaneki wielded a koukaku quinque called Yukimura 1/3, passed down from Arima. His swordsmanship was swift and precise, allowing him to slice through enemies’ kagune with ease. During his battle with Kichimura Washuu, he demonstrated exceptional skill in using his quinque, often combining it with his kagune for devastating attacks.
Keen Intellect
Kaneki is highly intelligent, using his wit and strategic mind to analyze and defeat opponents. His ability to quickly adapt to new situations, combined with his vast knowledge of literature and martial arts, made him a formidable opponent who could outthink even the most cunning enemies.
Relationships
Hideyoshi Nagachika
Hide is Kaneki’s best and closest friend since childhood, often acting as Kaneki’s “voice” due to his shy and reserved nature. Hide is always perceptive of Kaneki’s emotions, and their bond is strong enough to help Kaneki refrain from indulging in ghoul instincts, such as eating human flesh. Even after learning about Kaneki’s transformation into a ghoul, Hide’s affection and loyalty toward his friend never waver. He even went as far as offering himself as food to Kaneki when the latter needed strength before his battle with Arima.
Hide later resurfaced as Scarecrow, secretly helping Kaneki during critical moments, such as saving him from a near-death encounter with Takizawa. After Kaneki was rescued from his Dragon form, Hide and Kaneki reunited, expressing gratitude and continuing their lifelong friendship.
Touka Kirishima
Initially, Touka viewed Kaneki with disdain after his transformation into a ghoul, rejecting his pleas for help and accusing him of being different from “monsters” like her. Despite her harsh treatment, their relationship evolved over time. As they both shared a care forHinami, Kaneki and Touka found common ground, and she began training him in the ways of the ghouls. Although she was tough on him, her concern for his well-being grew, and she risked her life to protect him on numerous occasions.
Kaneki, in turn, grew protective of Touka, willing to defend her at all costs. This bond deepened over time, eventually leading to a romantic relationship. After a reunion filled with tension and unresolved emotions, Kaneki and Touka confessed their mutual fears of losing one another. Their love culminated in marriage, and they later had a daughter named Ichika and another child on the way.Hinami, Kaneki and Touka found common ground, and she began training him in the ways of the ghouls. Although she was tough on him, her concern for his well-being grew, and she risked her life to protect him on numerous occasions.
Shuu Tsukiyama
At first, Kaneki was naive and unaware of Tsukiyama’s intentions, thinking he could be a trustworthy friend. However, he soon learned that Tsukiyama intended to eat him, which led to Kaneki feeling betrayed. Despite this, Kaneki recognized Tsukiyama’s value as an ally and allowed him into his group for his strength. Their relationship grew tentatively friendly, though Kaneki always kept his guard up. Eventually, Kaneki saw Tsukiyama as a friend, especially when Tsukiyama tried to protect him during the Owl Suppression Operation.
Yoshimura
Yoshimura served as a mentor and father figure to Kaneki, helping him navigate life as a ghoul while working at Anteiku. He taught Kaneki about the complexities of the ghoul world and provided guidance during moments of doubt. Kaneki deeply respected Yoshimura, often seeking his advice. Yoshimura trusted Kaneki enough to entrust him with the task of saving his daughter, and Kaneki, in turn, was willing to risk his life to protect him during the CCG’s raid on Anteiku. Even after Yoshimura’s death, Kaneki never forgot the manager’s final words, which stayed with him as a source of strength and reflection.
Renji Yomo
Yomo was initially indifferent towards Kaneki, but as time passed, he became more invested in Kaneki’s growth, particularly after witnessing his fight against the Doves. Yomo helped train Kaneki, teaching him valuable combat skills and offering advice during Kaneki’s moments of self-doubt. Their relationship grew stronger, and Yomo played a significant role in helping Kaneki return to Anteiku. He also shared parts ofYoshimura’spast with Kaneki, showing a deeper level of trust between them.
Nishiki Nishio
Initially, Nishio saw Kaneki as a threat to his feeding ground, leading to hostility between them. However, after Kaneki helped rescue his girlfriend, Nishio softened and became more of a close ally. Their relationship continued to develop, and when they crossed paths inTokyo Ghoul
, Kaneki’s recognition of Nishio triggered a battle for dominance within himself. This encounter played a pivotal role in Kaneki’s eventual return to his former self, and Nishio later joinedGoat, becoming one of Kaneki’s most trusted comrades.
Hinami Fueguchi
Hinami views Kaneki as a big brother figure, and the two share a strong bond due to their mutual love for literature. After losing her mother, Kaneki and Touka took on the responsibility of caring for her. Kaneki remained protective of Hinami, always trying to shield her from danger. As Haise Sasaki, Kaneki showed a deep concern for Hinami’s safety when she was captured, eventually betraying the CCG to save her. Their bond remained strong throughout the series, and Hinami was a key part of Kaneki’s life.
Rize Kamishiro
Rize was the catalyst for Kaneki’s transformation into a ghoul, and her presence haunted him throughout his journey. In his mind, Rize often appeared during moments of crisis, representing the darker aspects of his ghoul identity. Kaneki struggled with his feelings towards her—both resenting and relying on the power he gained from her. Over time, Rize’s influence on him waned, but her significance remained a crucial part of his development, especially during his internal battles and hallucinations.
Koutarou Amon
Amon and Kaneki share a complicated relationship, serving as foils to each other in the story. Their first battle left a lasting impact on both of them, as Amon’s words forced Kaneki to confront the endless cycle of revenge between humans and ghouls. Despite being enemies, Kaneki respected Amon, and in their final encounter, he wished for Amon’s survival. Later, as Haise Sasaki, Kaneki felt immense guilt over Amon’s presumed death, believing he had killed him. When they reunited after Amon’s rescue, the two shared a mutual understanding and respect, making them kindred spirits in the ongoing conflict.
Juuzou Suzuya
Although Juuzou and Kaneki didn’t interact much initially, they later formed a unique bond. Juuzou referred to him by his first name and seemed to remember Kaneki, despite the changes in his appearance. As colleagues in the CCG, they became friendly, and Juuzou often teased him playfully. Even after Kaneki defected from the CCG, Juuzou held no animosity towards him, and they remained connected through their shared history.
Trivia
- The name “Haise” was formed by combining kanji for “coffee” (珈) and “world” (世), symbolizing his dual life between humanity and ghouls. The kanji used for “Ken” (研) means “to sharpen,” representing his sharpened ghoul abilities and intellect.
- “Kaneki” translates as “gold tree,” while “Sasaki” means “Helpful Wood,” each holding symbolic significance about his growth and identity.
- Kaneki has a subconscious habit of touching his chin with his left hand when hiding something, even doing so after losing his memory as Haise Sasaki.
- Kaneki ranked first in the first character popularity poll and second in the latest, with his Haise Sasaki persona taking third place.
- Kaneki shares a birthday with Kishou Arima, further connecting the fates of the two characters.
- He enjoys reading, beautiful language, intellectual women, and hamburgers—giving insight into his more human traits.
- Throughout the series, Kaneki has been associated with the number “12,” a reference to the tarot card “The Hanged Man” (XII), which reflects his struggle and transformation.
- The number “seven” also appears on Kaneki’s forehead before his first fight with Arima, symbolizing “The Chariot” card, representing strength and determination, themes central to Kaneki’s character.
- Kaneki’s quinque,Yukimura 1/3, was previously wielded by Kishou Arima and Take Hirako, symbolizing a shared connection of strength and legacy.
- Kaneki frequently compares himself to Gregor Samsa from Franz Kafka’sThe Metamorphosis, resonating with themes of identity and transformation. He also discussed Kafka’sA Crossbreedwith Arima, further exploring parallels in his journey.
- Kaneki’s dramatic hair color changes are attributed to the suppression of his Rc cell activity, which leads to temporary shifts in melanin production.
- His surname “Kaneki” is a reference to novelist Osamu Dazai, and his transformation parallels the themes in Dazai’sNo Longer Human.
- The relationship between Kaneki and his mental projection of “Rize” in the past mirrors the relationship between “Kaneki” and “Haise” in Tokyo Ghoul
, symbolizing his internal battle with his ghoul side.
- Both Kaneki and Yamori endured similar torturous experiences that drastically changed them—Yamori into a psychotic killer and Kaneki into a cold yet protective figure.
- Kaneki and Sasaki are both featured as the “Ace of Hearts” inTokyo Ghoul Trump, with Kaneki appearing on the “Queen of Hearts” card alongside Rize, symbolizing his internal struggles with his ghoul nature.
- The anime adaptation ofTokyo Ghoul √Adiverged significantly from the manga, having Kaneki join Aogiri Tree instead of forming his own group.
- In earlier drafts of the anime, Tatara demanded Kaneki eat Taguchi to prove loyalty to Aogiri, but Noro intervened. This scene was cut from the final version.
- Due to Tooru Mutsuki’s similar design, creator Sui Ishida often forgets which eye Kaneki’s eyepatch should cover.
- Kaneki’s white hair is tied to a Japanese media trope where half-demons or beings with duality often have white hair.
- His appearance resembles Hiroto, a character from Sui Ishida’s previous workPenisman, sharing the black-to-white hair transition and wearing an eyepatch.
- Fans often compare Kaneki to characters like Alex Mercer fromPrototype, Shinichi fromParasyte, and Fuminori fromSaya no Uta, due to shared themes of identity, transformation, and humanity.