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shiroreaperneki · 5 months ago

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Kagune Breakdown

Since the anime does a horrid job of explaining this (among other things) and treating ghouls like some supernatural being when in this series they’re far from it why not give you anime only fans a breakdown of what the kagune are~

Breakdown

Basically the kagune is a ghouls “predatory organ”.

It’s equivalent to a lions claws or a crocodiles jaw. All of them are born with it and it’s this organ and the RC cells inside that make their eyes red, regenerate or any of their super human feats.

Kaneki was made into a half-ghoul by Kanou implanting Rizes kagune and other ghoul parts inside him.

Four Main Types

Each type is also located at different spots on the back. Toukas type for instance is at the highest point of the ghouls back while Nishiki’s is at the lowest.Shus is mid way and Kanekis type is located a little above the lower spine.

Each type also has perks or drawbacks. For instance people with a kagune like Toukas run out of stamina faster but they can attack from a ranged distance. Kanekis is the “balanced” type while Shus is nothing but pure power and defense at the cost of speed since his kagune is heavy.

Each is also ranked in order of superiority. Kinda like a rock-paper-scissors set up.

Type Differences

•Ukaku is spread out like feathers and is released from the shoulder area, it specializes in high speed attacks, most of the users seeming to have highly enhanced speed. The Kagune is lightweight and can be used to deliver high-speed attacks against an adversary, the primary method of attack is crystallising their Kagune to deliver a high speed torrent of spike-like projectiles, however whilst crystallised they are much stiffer and can’t be used for short range combat. While the Kagune is suited both for short-distance and long-distance attacks, short-range is considered their weakness.[1] They are able to use their Kagune as a shield and some users are shown to be able to shape them into sharp blades, reminiscent of a Koukaku, to aid in close quarters, many have shown to be able to increase the flexibility of their Kagune for short-range combat, though this makes it ill-suited for their distinctive long-range attacks. Some user can also shoot Rc projectiles from their body, not only from their Kagune.

Altogether, Ukaku-type ghouls have a high chance to end the battle after a short time. However, releasing the Rc cells extremely decreases stamina. Thus, Ukaku-type users lack endurance and are at a disadvantage if the battle drags on for a long time. Ukaku-type users can use their speed and mobility to shoot down a Bikaku-type user. However, a Koukaku-type user can surprise an Ukaku-type users by successfully guarding against the Ukaku-type user’s attacks, leaving them vulnerable to counterattacks and exhausting the Ukaku-type user in the long run.

•Koukaku are released below the shoulder blade. Due to its high density of Rc cell it is heavy and extremely robust, giving it the greatest sturdiness and making them very well suited for defense. Normally, they are generally shaped into armors or shields. But on the offense, they can be shaped like melee weapons such as drills, hammers, blades, and swords. Due to its high weight, a koukaku’s speed is inferior to all other kagunes and the kagune is hard to wield. A koukaku can fend off an ukaku onslaught using its guarding capabilities. However, a rinkaku kagune can deliver severe strikes against the slow koukaku, breaking their kagune and breaching their defenses.

•Rinkaku have an appearance similar to scaled tentacles and is released at the back around the waist. A rinkaku wielder has powerful regenerative abilities that some of them could even survive the most critical damage done to them. Its peculiar appearance and structure yield a superior striking power and they excel in brute strength. Some rinkaku users are able to manipulate the shape of their kagune, such as changing its usual tentacle form into swords or claws. This type’s regenerative power is a result of the Rc cells easily binding together. Their Rc cells are more similar to liquids. However, this means that the binding force among the Rc cells must be weak, therefore making the kagune very soft and easy to break. But because their Rc cells bind so easily, some rinkaku can bind their multiple tentacle-like kagune together to make a larger, stronger kagune.

A rinkaku kagune can deliver severe strikes against the slow koukaku, penetrating the kagune and breaching the koukaku’s defenses. However, a rinkaku has serious problems fighting against the balanced bikaku kagune: A bikaku has comprehensively high power, allowing them to fight against the brute-force rinkaku, and the rinkaku kagune’s softness makes it comparatively easy for the bikaku to cut the kagune off. This disarms a rinkaku no matter how much strength it may possess, leaving the rinkaku at a disadvantage on the defensive. It has been shown that in some cases, a Bikaku’s attack can disable a Rinkaku’s regeneration

•Bikaku typically has a tail-like appearance and is released around the tail-bone. It is good for medium-distance attacks and has decent offense, defense and speed. Thus, they have no notable strengths or weaknesses like the kagune based on other Rc types, meaning the kagune itself is treated as a surprise “trump card.” So far, the number of tails that a bikaku user can create are one to four tails. A bikaku has better speed and durability against the brute-force, breakable rinkaku, allowing them to cut off the rinkaku’s kagune. However, a bikaku will be overwhelmed by the faster ukaku’s speed and ranged attacks.

Naturally a ghouls skill does have sway and can overcome the match up. Such as Touka defeating Shu despite the kagune disadvantage.

The Kakuja

They are mutations of the kagune that occurs when a ghoul devours other ghouls. The influx of RC cells mutates the kagune they have into a kakuja after so long.

Kanekis was last seen as incomplete in the original manga after eating ghouls for six months so you can imagine how many Eto has had to devour to get a kakuja as huge as her Owl.

Chimera’s

Hinami’s type of kagune. These kagune are usually just a combination of the parents. Hinami for example has her mother and her fathers kagune traits.

Others

There are other more unique types as well. So far in the Re manga the ghoul Nutcracker has shown the ability to detach parts of her kagune and lay them as traps.

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shiroreaperneki · 2 years ago

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Hands, Pineapples and Irony - Seidou Takizawa Analysis

He’s one of the only characters you can call both your favourite investigator and your favourite ghoul. Seidou Takizawa is one of the most well designed and furthest developed characters in Tokyo Ghoul (excluding Kaneki and his transitions of course). Unfortunately, his “second best” reputation lives up to it’s name when it comes to analysis of his behaviour, characteristics and symbolic association, which I rarely see on the internet compared to other characters. So, I took it upon myself to analyse the amazing artificial owl.

CHARACTER OVERVIEW

Seidou was an ambitious student at the CCG Academy before becoming a full-fledged investigator. Later on in life, he was reunited through his job with his rival, Akira Mado; she was the only student that came above him in class ranks despite his efforts. Although he was second best time after time, his spirit did not die. However, on a rare occasion, Seidou did have what could be described as a mental breakdown due to the overwhelming fear of death when writing a mandatory will. In the Anteiku raid, Seidou fought strong until his arm was taken by Noro and he began bleeding intensely. Seidou’s body was never recovered, and he was declared as killed in action. In :re, we find out that Seidou is in fact alive, yet no longer human. Dr. Kanou had turned Seidou into an artificial One-Eyed Owl, and he is released to fight in the auction raid after he had been starved. He quickly began killing investigators remorselessly and displayed a great turn around in attitude and personality. His speech style and the very content of his sentences confirm this, along with his behaviour and mannerisms. His appearance has also drastically changed. Takizawa also is seen mocking Ayato in a greenhouse where Aogiri members had gathered to talk about saving Hinami, which led to them having an argument. Takizawa obviously isn’t very stable, as he begins laughing to himself after seeing Ayato get so worked up during their debate. In recent chapters, Seidou can be seen still as insane as ever. Shikorae and him killed Hachikawa, or as Seidou reffered to him, Hachiko. It is Seidou who suggests eating the investigator, and Shikorae agrees.

INTERPRETATION

It’s safe to say that Seidou, at one point over the three unseen years between Tokyo Ghoul and it’s sequel Tokyo Ghoul:re, has been tortured. The change in appearance and personality is a strong indicator of this, along with him admitting to being “used to” pain. His hair has turned completely white and his nails black (as did Kaneki after his torture), his lips have also turned black. The identity of the torturer is unknown, however Eto is the one most point fingers at. Amongst his general insane rambling, Seidou talks about some very serious things. For example, he claimed that he ate his mother’s organs and went so far as to say they tasted good. As we haven’t seen Seidou’s mother since the first manga, we have no way to tell whether or not this is a side effect of trauma or the memory of an actual event. Either way, the fact he said this is seriously concerning. Seidou also speaks about “the difference between 100 and 99” and “becoming your fear”, even killing someone because they didn’t listen to his “lecture”, and this tells us that he hasn’t entirely lost his past identity; he just displays it in a neurotic way. Takizawa hasn’t changed to the severity that is suggested. Even during his argument with Ayato, he says it’s “funny” to see ghouls caring for each other. This is definitely the views he adopted as a student and investigator that haven’t been broken even after the ghoul-ification process. This is due to Seidou not empathizing with other ghouls in his attempt to achieve his own goals. As he feels no sympathy for them his viewpoint on them hasn’t changed (whereas Kaneki did sympathize with them and gained a new perspective).

SYMBOLS

HANDS In his first appearance in :re and on the cover he featured on, Seidou can be seen with his fingers in his mouth. Both times - along with other panels of him displaying this behaviour - the fingers are those from his left hand, which suggests this is more of a symbol and less of a coincidence.

The right hand is represented as assertiveness, mercy, logic and consciousness. The left hand mirrors this, symbolising passiveness, justice, emotion, death and unconsciousness. The fact that Seidou was biting down on his fingers may be indicating his control over themes associated with the left hand at that point in time (eg. controlling his emotions, having control over the life and death of others, controlling justice etc.). The biting of fingers can also be symbolic of regret, fury, rage and anger. Also, while he was a human his left arm was severed, and when he was a ghoul it was his right hand, possibly symbolising loss of control over assimilated characteristics in those particular situations.

It may also be noted that in a recent chapter, Takizawa was seen making a symbol with his left hand. Although this symbol is widely recognised to be associated with the devil in Christian views, in Buddhism (and Hinduism) this is actually a good symbol believed to ward off demons. This is interesting because Seidou is associated with the Devil tarot card, and a kanji in his name may represent Buddhism.

PINEAPPLES

A long time ago when pineapples had just been discovered by Europe, they were very hard to grow in their conditions and it took them nearly 200 years just to get the hothouse method right for growing pineapple plants. Pineapples were seen as a delicacy back in the 1600’s because of this, King Charles II even had an official painting made of him receiving a pineapple as a gift (which was at the time symbolic of royal privilege). We can relate this to Takizawa, as Dr. Kanou had made many failed attempts at creating half-ghouls before, and having one turn out so well and strong was a rare success. The fact that the pineapple has ties with royalty may be indicating Takizawa knows the One-Eyed King. Funnily enough, there is a pest against pineapples known as symphyla. They are also called pseudocentipedes, literally meaning “fake centipedes” due to having the appearance of a centipede despite not being one. This may be relevant to the fight between Sasaki and Seidou in the Auction raid, where although Sasaki looks like Kaneki and has his body, he is not really Kaneki.

TAROT CARDS

The Devil (15 upright) Bondage: Accepting an unwanted situation, feeling tied down against your will, being obsessed. Materialism: Being caught up in appearances, overindulging the senses, believing only in the physical and forgetting the spiritual. Ignorance: Being unaware, fearing the unknown, operating with a narrow range, experiencing limitation. Hopelessness: Despairing, believing the worst, lacking faith, foreseeing a bleak future, thinking negatively, doubting.

NOTE: CARD DEPICTS MAN TURNING PARTIALLY INTO A DEMON AS A RESULT OF GIVING IN TO TEMPTATION. RELEVANT TO SEIDOU’S TRANSFORMATION.

Opposing cards: Fool - having faith, believing. Star - hope, faith, optimism. Four of Wands - freedom, release. Six of Cups - good will, innocence, simple joys. Ten of Cups - joy, peace, blessings.

Supporting cards: Seven of Cups - overindulgence, dissipation. Eight of Swords - confusion, restriction. Nine of Swords - despair, lack of joy.

THE CHARIOT (7 upright) Victory: Reaching goal, winning, success, dominance, beating the competition. Will: Determined to succeed, focusing intent, sustaining an effort, fixing a goal. Self assertion: Ego focused, established identity, confidence, looking out for your interests. Control: Mastering emotions, showing authority and power, getting your way, maintaining discipline.

Opposing cards: Strength - soft control Hanged Man - accepting God’s will, putting others first. Tower - defeat, humbling experience. Eight of Swords - confusion, self-doubt. Ten of Swords - powerless, in the pits, putting others first.

Supporting cards: Magician - using your will, concentrating. Two of Wands - being in authority, dominating. Six of Wands - triumph, self-confidence. Four of Pentacles - control. Nine of Pentacles - self-control, discipline.

TOKYO GHOUL TRUMP DECK

Human:

Although Seidou is depicted as a six of clubs, his birthday (September 10) relates his to the ace of diamonds, which is somewhat less fitting of his personality, apart from the ambition.

However in the official deck, this card is taken by Tsukiyama Shuu.

Ghoul:

It is said that red/coloured jokers are superior to black/uncoloured jokers. In the first released trump deck, Juuzou Suzuya, Arima Kishou and Seidou Takizawa were the three jokers. Arima’s card was entirely black, Juuzou’s card had some colour to it in small amounts and Seidou’s card had by far the most red on it. In recent chapters, Juuzou is said to perhaps be strong enough to overtake Arima one day, which makes sense with the coloured card=superiority thing. However, this would also signify that Seidou is the most superior out of the three. Well, he is a ghoul after all. Also, that would make Seidou number one for the first time ever.

NAME

Takizawa Seidou -滝澤政道滝 – May be read as “waterfall” or “rapids”. 澤 – “Swamp” (seems odd to use this kanji after “waterfall”). 政 – Translated as “rule” or “government”. 道 – Read as “road”, “way”, “journey”, “Buddhist teachings” or “Taoism”.

The Japanese word “seidou”, depending on the kanji, can be read as: - (Confucian) temple, church, sanctuary, shrine. - Bronze. - Path of righteousness, path of duty, right track, correct path. - Vocal tract. - Politics. - Refined copper. - Vitality.

IRONY

The plain irony with Seidou is the most tragic aspect of his character; he wanted to become an investigator to protect his mother from ghouls, and then he allegedly ate her after becoming one himself. He went from having humane morals and maintaining order to a state of psychosis. He stopped fearing and became fearless by transforming into what he hated most.

YOU’VE ALMOST REACHED THE END

With the revelation of many parts of the story - past and present - I wonder if we will get to see just what happened to Seidou during all those years. It’s also questionable if his sanity will return, or if he will live long enough for there to even be a chance for recovery. As the chapters progress, I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say I want to see more of Seidou. If I’ve left something out, not noticed something you have or you just have something you’d like to say, be sure to tell me. Same goes if you have any questions or a request.

As always, thank you for reading.

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