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.

Powers and Abilities

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 Kakuja

Swordsmanship

Keen Intellect

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