#| V: Re means KING (OEK)

[kingrebvrn]

|♕| He’s Just really happy today, and he’ll show that by walking around the hide out, humming along and helping out where he could.

His body wasn’t being a dick to him for once, and that made this extra special~

[izayoi-hakuyu]

Foreshadowing within the character’s given names in Tokyo Ghoul :re Sasaki Haise – Ihei Hairu – Washuu Kichimura

Hello everyone,

this is my first analysis about some things I noticed while I thought about Tokyo Ghoul :re.

Note that I’m not a native speaker of the Japanese language, I only took two years of classes so far and I still have so, so much to learn. English isn’t my native language either. I hope I express myself in an understandable way.

Nethertheless I noticed some small details about the names of some characters (namely Haise, Hairu and Kichimura) and I wanted to share them in case somebody finds them interesting or useful in any way.

I hope this hasn’t be done yet. If there are any mistakes, please feel free to correct me.  

 Sasaki Haise

Sasaki’s first name Haise (琲世) is composed of the Kanji for “string of many pearls” (琲) and “world” or “genereation” (世). Interestingly, the last Kanji is the same one that is used to construct Rize’s name showing the connection between both of them. I don’t want to ramble about the whole dimensions of meaning behind his name.  Rather I would like to focus myself on the first Kanji of the name Haise. As the wiki states, the choice of the Kanji  琲 is based on the fact that it is also used to construct the word coffee. This could be interpreted as a sign that his still holds the Anteiku very dear. Also “hai” is homophone to the Japanese word for ash, giving Haise’s name the implied meaning of “ash world”.

But there may be yet another dimension of that Kanji. Looking closely, it can be seen that the Kanji is constructed of two different characters: 王 and 非. Kanji are constructed of radicals (components) put together to gain a new character with a new meaning. Even though the “official” radical for 琲 is 玉 (tama – jewel), in this case, it more resemble the Kanji 王 (ou). Interestingly 王 means King. This may foreshadow Kaneki’s later role of the One Eyed King. The second character 非 may mean “wrong”, “incorrect” or “mistake”. This could be a hint how Kaneki performed the role of the One-Eyed-King, which eventually lead to disaster and death of thousands of people.

All in all Kaneki’s position as the OEK and the miserable outcome was yet foreshadowed by the first Kanji of the given name of his Persona of Sasaki Haise.

Ihei Hairu

There’s more foreshadowing when it comes to the Kanji of a character’s name. One example is Hairu’s first name. The name “Hairu” is constructed by a single character, which looks the following: 入. It takes diverse meaning, for example “to enter”, “to go into”, “to admit” but also “to invade”. Especially the latter is quite fitting since she was an outstanding investigator and also one of the CCG’s driving forces during the Tsukiyama Operation.

The Kanji for “Hairu”( 入) looks very similar to the Kanji for “human”(人). Actually, when seen written on paper, the two Kanji seem to be mirrored versions of each other and are not easy to be told apart at the first glance. This may be a hint towards the fact that at first glance, Hairu seemed to be a human, but was in fact a half-human. Like the Kanji of her first name, Hairu was extremely similar to a human, but there’s still a slight difference.

Interestingly, an alternative reading of the Kanji serving as Hairu’s given name is “shio”. This lets her relative Ihei Shio come to mind. Even though Shio’s Name is written with different characters, the connection may be still there (or it may be just a coincidence).  

 Washuu Kichimura 

I always wondered why the name “Kichimura” was so different from the usual namesake of high-ranked Washuu, who are using “Yoshi” as part of their names (Yoshitoki, Tsuneyoshi etc.). But then I noticed that the name may be not so different: Kichimura is written as 吉福, while Yoshitoki is written as 吉時 and Tsuneyoshi is written as 常吉. The character for yoshi 吉 (meaning “good luck) is present in all the names, even in Furuta’s. The reason it is read different is, that there are serval readings for the same Kanji-character. The readings are divided into “onyomi” (sino-japanese reading) and “kunyomi”(japanese reading) (there are some more classifications of reading, but that’s not important here). In short, there is more than one way to read a Kanji and the way a Kanji is read depends on the context and the Kanji it is combined with. The Kanji looks the same, regardless how it is read. Especially in names may the way of reading not always be distinct. But this is important when it comes to the name of Kichimura.

Let’s take a look at Kanji 吉. One possible reading is “yoshi” as in Tsuneyoshi and Yoshitoki. Another possible reading for the same Kanji is “kichi” – as in Kichimura. Furuta’s name still uses the same Kanji as his father and half-brother did – but with a different way of reading. This tells us a lot about Furuta.

It seems to be a tradition among the Washuu-family that the name is changed the moment a member enters a major position. For example, Yoshitoki was formerly named Chika (時) before he became Bureau Director. Presumably after that, he added the Washuu-Clan’s signature Kanji 吉 in front of his given name, creating the name Yoshitoki (吉時). The new name seems to be created the following: The Kanji 吉 read “yoshi” is added in front the given name, while the Kanji of given name is modified to have a different reading than before. “Chika” and “toki”, as in Yoshitoki, are alternative readings of the same Kanji. The Kanji stayed the same – the reading altered.

At the surface, Furuta added in line of the Washuu’s traditions. Furuta as well put the Kanji 吉 in front of his given name Nimura( 二福, meaning “two happiness/good fortune”, which is a very ironic and bitter name to have considering his fade. Maybe it can be interpretet as “to be twice as happy/lucky” or  simply “very happy/lucky”. Maybe the “two” could also represent him and Rize? In the end none of them found happiness. Either way, the name has a tragic irony in it. But I digress.), which led to the Kanji combination 吉福. So far, so traditional.

But Furuta wouldn’t be Furuta if there wasn’t a twist.

Instead of altering the reading of his given name-Kanji, Furuta changed the reading of the Clansman-Kanji. He changes the traditional “Yoshi” into the alternative reading “kichi” while he keeps “mura” of his given name “Nimura”. This may be a subtle sign of his rebellion against the Washuu-Clan. It may be a traditional Washuu-name by the look of it, but it is read differently. This shows Furuta is not giving in to the clan. It is expected to change the “mura” of his name to another reading “in favor” of the clan’s Kanji. This may be a symbol of the clan undermining the identity of its members. But Furuta doesn’t change the Kanji’s reading of his given name. Instead he modifies the “yoshi” into “kichi”. Doing this stays true to himself. At the same time he breaks with the tradition of the Washuu-Clan, showing everyone in the CCG that he is the key of a new era. It may also be his way of exercise power over the Washuu-Clan once again. While the Washuu-clan had the power to altering the names of its members, Furuta has now the power to alter the character that symbols the Washuu-Clan. Also it may be a sign of alienation towards the Washuu-Clan he hated so much. That he simply didn’t want to carry a similar name as Tsuneyoshi and Yoshitoki did.

Intriguingly, if you read the name Kichimura differently (using the reading “yoshi” instead of “kichi”, as usual for the Washuu-Clan), it can be read as “Yoshimura”. Even though Eto’s surname is spelled differently (芳村 Yoshimura, meaning something similar to “fragrant village”), it is still very ironic because of their hatred for each other and the way they contrast each other. But despite their differences both of them are connected on serval levels (for example: both of them being one-eyed ghouls, were rejected by their parents, both share relationships to V, both of them plot to destroy the current world order etc.). So it fits them to have a similar name, even if the similarity shows in such a subtle way.   

I will just leave this here. Thank you very much for reading!. :D

[hysyartmaskstudio]

The Thing about The King

Now that Amon, too, has been dragged into the King game, I thought it was time to clarify a few things about the title of King and what it means and doesn’t mean, as well as how it fits thematically into the messages Tokyo Ghoul seems to be trying to convey.

Firstly, we have to remember what the One Eyed King is and is not. For all this argument over who is the “true” OEK, people seem to be losing sight of the fact that the OEK is not a prophecy that is waiting to be fulfilled, but a story that has been constructed. There is no divine decree that there shall be a one eyed ghoul that shall lead ghouls to freedom. No heavenly proclamation. Instead, we have a story Eto wrote. 

(Someone wrote “re” on that capsule, too.)

Eto claims that one eyed ghouls have historically been a force for change, and the evidence she uses is a one eye from about a hundred years ago. She herself is acting to live up to that message - that idea that her one eye status means she can or must be a force for the change she wants to see.

The term “One Eyed King” is her creation. It’s a story she crafted. A narrative she is promoting. There is no “true One Eyed King” because the term applies to whoever fits the narrative.

In many ways, Eto has made this clear herself. The King in her novel is called “Nameless.” While she ultimately settled on Kaneki to fill the role, it was never his destiny, even in her eyes. When he was first brought to Aogiri, he was rejected. If anyone was infatuated with Kaneki as a chosen one, it was Kanou, not Eto. Even as Arima was molding Sasaki, Eto was making more OEGs and bending them to her whim. The King in the book, in the narrative, is nameless, remember.

Making it seem like a prophecy, as an inevitability, is exactly what Eto’s manipulations are intended to do. We even see her make comparisons between herself and god.

This perspective is important going forward - the OEK is a narrative and not a prophecy. Narratives gain their power through people believing in them more than any reality. Which clarifies what Eto meant when she told Kaneki it was his choice whether to destroy the throne or sit on it. It wasn’t really a choice at all. She had designed a narrative where Kaneki Ken was in the role of OEK, whether he claimed the title or not. It isn’t about what he is, but what he appears to be to others.

Which brings me to theme. The mindset of “might makes right” or “the right of the strong” has been in Tokyo Ghoul since chapter 5.

It’s been there since Touka uttered the words “If you want to blame something blame your own weakness.” It’s a phrase that reappears in the story when things are at their lowest, such as when Kaneki has lost himself and his sanity in Kanou’s lab and after Shiarzu’s death and Kaneki’s transformation (or reversion) to his depressed and suicidal self. It’s the mindset that Yamori used as his excuse. It’s an ideal that has led many characters to their death.

This mindset, and the cycle of violence it helps perpetuate, are the true enemies in Tokyo Ghoul. Which is why I have been so critical of Kaneki lately. Instead of fighting this ideal, he’s embraced it, to the point where he reinforces it in his dealings with Naki and uses it to manipulate Naki and his loyalties.

It’s why Kaya’s comments in the recent chapter, however well intentioned, feel more harmful than helpful. This idea of a King who is “The Strongest” is rooted in the toxic ideology the manga has repeatedly made out to be wrong.

And it isn’t just the OEK role. Every equivalent role is also one that is maintained and achieved through violence. Arima’s title of strongest investigator. The Washuu’s reign of the CCG. Donato was handed his Crown mask right after a moment of carnage. Even Yoshimura’s control of the 20th ward is built on gathering the strongest of the strong.

(There are exceptions to this rule, the best of which is Banjou. Banjou has never been a strong ghoul, and yet he continues to have followers. People who are loyal to him not out of fear or awe, but out of gratitude and friendship. Banjou is a shield, not a sword. A healer, not a fighter. His support comes from his genuine caring in a leadership role. It’s not that he’s immune to the message that strength is what matters, but he isn’t guided by it. He’s guided by kindness.

Another exception is Mirumo and his business empire, one that was maintained by gratitude and finance, rather than strength. But within his own household, Mirumo still, to an extent, espoused a strong power structure in which strength was a partial determining factor. Shuu certainly grew up thinking that might makes right. And their downfall also calls this into question. In the end, he called on his people to fight and die.)

So that’s the second point to keep in mind. Kingship has been associated with violence and domination, two things Tokyo Ghoul thematically casts in the negative.

This is true for every king we’ve seen. The difference though, is that in using violence, some of them seem to be aligning themselves with the idea that might makes right, and others against it. Arima used violence to secure his role as King, but his role as King was to be defeated. His violence was used to make him the enemy. And I think Furuta is the same. If nothing else, Furuta understands where violence stands in the narrative. That despite this prevalent philosophy, those who use violence to get their way are not the good guys. That ultimately, the rule of violence is the tool of the villains and not the heroes. Heroic violence is defensive and reactive - it’s done as little as possible and only when necessary. For Arima and Furuta, violence and how they wield it in their roles as King is about how violence is perceived. They aren’t justifying their actions with their strength, or using their violence as proof of their legitimacy.

That isn’t something that Kaneki seems to understand. Eto arranged it this way. Kaneki became OEK because he is now “the strongest ghoul.” His notion of his own kingly power comes entirely from his strength. Again, this is reinforced in his dealings with Naki. It’s interesting because that isn’t the reason some if not most of his team is following him. 

Yomo believes, like Yoshimura before him, that Kaneki has what it takes to do the impossible - not because of his violence but because of his heart. Hirako and the squad zero kids are following him because Arima wanted them to. Banjou’s loyalty to Kaneki is because Kaneki risked his own life - is bravery - not because of Kaneki’s strength. In a sense, the same can be said for Koma and Irimi. For Hinami and Touka, its about supporting someone they care about. Ayato is there because the people he cares about are there. Takizawa is here for Akira. Kurona because they share a target.

And yet in Kaneki’s mind, his kingship does not come from these things, but rather from being the fucking strong. It’s the same mindset he had deep underground in Kanou’s lab. The same mindset that drove him to make a suicide run into the CCG’s forces. The same thing he has always clung to because its easier than admitting he’s scared of being alone.

So where does that leave Amon? @linkspooky wrote a fantastic set of posts [x] [x] back during the Rushima fight about how Amon’s problem is that he uses violence instead of words. That no matter how much he wants to talk, he will always fall back on violence. It’s the language he knows best. It’s what he’s most comfortable with. It’s the ideal he was raised on. Amon cannot get past his reliance on force, on strong near zealot anger, and his security in his physical strength. Even in his admittance that he’s not as strong as Takizawa as a ghoul, he still stands behind what strength he does have. He still thinks the answer is to fight.

We don’t know yet if his Kakuja is the natural result of his own RC cell mutation or if it’s because of cannibalism, but seeing as his understanding of Seidou as human is his main reason for coming to save him, it’s a near certainty that he hasn’t been eating humans. After the auction, we are even told that he left behind signs of cannibalism. But regardless of why he’s doing it, cannibalism in Tokyo Ghoul has been strongly associated both with violence and the notion of becoming stronger. It’s about literally eating those you defeat to gain their strength. In fact, as we learn in JAIL, cannibal ghouls tend to go right for the kakuhou.

Amon’s reliance on strength, on being strong is literally shown as something that overpowers him - turns him into a monster acting without the control of his reason.

(and what a lovely bit of foreshadowing this scene is for Urie’s own transformation.)

It’s also very telling that every single King uses violence in a way that is tied entirely to their freudian issues and their parental figures. 

The violence of V, like Furuta’s violence, is systemic in nature. It exploits people through systems of power and through constructing narratives. It’s swift and gets things done. And its a kind of violence that Furuta clearly understood was manipulative and oppressive from a young age, even as V paid lipservice to it being for some noble cause. Furuta and Arima grew up in a world where the negative connotations of violence were unambiguous and obvious. 

Kaneki grew up with violence as a primarily emotional force, something used to hurt and punish the weak. Be it his mother or his bullies or his aunt. His difficulties with violence, his hatred of it and it’s iron grip on his heart, are in part caused by the fact that violence and love were so twisted for him as a child. To realize violence is wrong means admitting the truth of his abuse to himself. Not just that it happened, but what it means about himself and his mother that it did. This isn’t an easy thing to do by any means and I could never fault him for not being able to untangle the love from the mistreatment. But it is important in understanding where Kaneki’s views of violence are now.

Should Amon now rise up to take the kingly mantle, it is already clear he will be following the same pattern. Amon’s childhood violence still confuses him deeply. He doesn’t know how he feels about the perpetrator, and thus he can’t figure out how he feels about violence. Like Kaneki, he cannot see violence for what it is because it’s been twisted up with caring. 

This is true of Donato, but also of the CCG, the near-military force that took him in and raised him in their image.

If this manga, like most stories, is about growing and overcoming, than it should be clear where it stands on these Kings and their actions. These are the actions of people who haven’t grown. Both Kaneki and Furuta are frequently called children or childish. Amon has been repeatedly shown as boyish, rather than manly, with his love for sweets and intolerance for spicy things, as well as his discomfort around romance.

Freudianly, they are all children because they are all trapped and controlled by the legacy of their parents. Even Arima could not envision a life for himself outside of the role his birth assigned him. Boy Kings are never good rulers. And they are rarely the real power behind the throne.

The difference, again, is who is aware of this and who is not, and to what extent. Furuta and Arima, the garden children, had no delusions that the violence of their childhood, the violence they came to use and embody, was a force for good. Whatever love they received from their family was overshadowed by the violence inflicted upon them, allowing them to act and cast their roles accordingly. Kaneki and Amon are still wrestling with that - with reconciling love and violence. 

So, will Amon be another King? It seems likely. He is the son of a Crown, after all, and there are already links between him and Eto’s Nameless King, appearance wise. But is that a good thing? 

Remember, Kings are not the fulfillers of prophecy, but roles within a narrative. They are pieces on a chess board. Kings on a chess board are not in control. They are pieces just like every other piece, being moved by someone’s hand. The chess metaphors have always existed in Tokyo Ghoul, from the ubiquitous patterning to the explicit placement of a chess board mid game in Uta’s studio.

Kings are parts of the chess game, not the ones in control of it. Whatever kingly role he inherits will be one in a narrative someone crafted, thematically linked with violence and stagnation, rather than growth.

If the answer is love and revolution, if the answer is empathy, dialogue, understanding, and growth, then the role of King seems to be set up as more of a poison than a panacea.

[kingrebvrn]

|♕| Please don’t fire at his kid, you’ll make him cry.

[kingrebvrn]

|♕| He pinched the bridge of his nose and put his book down, he had misplaced his glasses and thought he could get through at least a few pages to satisfy....

But his assumption was wrong.

Sighing.

He got up to go looking for them.

[kingrebvrn]

|♕| “Did I miss anything?” 

[kingrebvrn]

|♕| He’s currently deep into a book, laying on a couch with a leg hanging off, hand on the other knee, while the reminder held the book expertly.

To say he’s distracted was an understatement.

[kingrebvrn]

@bunbuns-many-muses

|♕|”It’s just been so long since i heard you talk like that” Putting his cup down, “i forgot how straight forward you tend to be...n...not that i don’t mind” locks his fingers together and smiles a bit.

  “thanks for the concern tho..”

[midnight-in-town]

Hi, do you think Amon would have made a better king than Kaneki? Because honestly, i think Kaneki's reason would not make a strong foundation for a peace. And, i laughed way too hard at amoneki and toukira :D, that amoneki scene tho!

Hey Anon! Haha, thanks for reading! xD

About Amon being a better king though, honestly no, I don’t think so…

He said it himself, even though he became a OEG, he’s not ready to fight for the ghoul’s side, even if he probably doesn’t entirely reject the idea of a coexistence between ghouls and humans. 

Amon might appear to be more noble when what Kaneki said in the new chapter seemed to be so selfish in comparison, but I think deep down they’re the same, you know?

It’s because Amon had the childhood he had that he came to resent ghouls, yet becoming a OEG didn’t make him like ghouls more nor did he start to despise people like Mado Kureo, on the contrary. 

Kaneki is the one who made him realize that ghouls didn’t have to be the monsters the CCG depicted and Amon is aware that this world “is wrong”, but in the end he fights for the people he cares about (Akira, Takizawa, Kurona), exactly like Kaneki.

Honestly Anon… I might be lacking enough basis to really vouch for this silly idea of mine but, the more we get chapters like the last 3, the more I tell myself that Touka would be a good alternative for the King/Queen role, instead of Kaneki or Amon.

Not that I’m going to start rambling but… it looks like she’s the less selfish character for many different reasons and she wants the coexistence too, so theoretically speaking, I think she could make a good “queen”, even if the fact she’s a ghoul and less famous than Kaneki (”who killed Arima”) would make it harder for her, on top of not knowing if Ishida-sensei even wants for this to happen. xD

Anyway, Amon, Takizawa and Kaneki are more or less the same to me :) It’s just that Amon is just more honest with his feelings and doesn’t pretend wanting to Fight For the Greater Good™ when he just wants to protect the people he cares about. 

I hope I managed to answer your question :) Have a nice weekend Anon! ^^

Hey Anon :) 

I agree, I don’t think Kaneki not fighting for coexistence means that he cannot truly feel that he only wants to fight (mainly) for ghouls because most of the people he cares about are ghouls (with the Qs, Akira and Hide as the exceptions I guess), but then again, Kaneki’s selfish answer is understandable. :/

He had a really rough childhood and, according to Ishida himself, Hide was basically the only reason Kaneki managed to deal with his loneliness until he met Touka and the rest of Anteiku, but that’s just the beginning of his story.

I really think Kaneki is still depressed, even if Arima’s death gave him a false purpose that allowed him to stay alive for a little while longer. So him saying that he only fights for the people he cares about isn’t surprising in the least for me (I was mostly surprised to see him admitting it so easily to Amon in the first place).

So you’re right, Kaneki’s answer is probably too simple when he’s supposed to act as the OEK and make people believe in him but… This answer might be all that he can cling to for now…

And it’s better than nothing at all, as depressing as it sounds. :/

Thanks for passing by Anon, I hope my thoughts made sense. :)

Have a nice weekend!

Look just above Anon-chan! :D And also you can look at this post too! 

Have a nice weekend and thanks for passing by! ^3^

Hey Anon ^^ Look just above and at this post too! :)

Actually I really liked the chapter, even if it felt really depressing because of…

Akira’s confusion and pain

Amon being hurt about Akira’s rejection

Kaneki admitting that the chain that’s holding him to life is simply :Re and the pretense that he can fulfill Arima’s wish half-heartedly

Touka being actually less scared to go and face Akira rather than to face Kaneki and ask him for a talk again

no sign of Hinami meaning she’s probably not doing better :/

Rize in a tank again and being used again by Furuta and V to turn poor kids into massive killing machines :/

So I loved it, but it hit right in the kokoro with all the feels. ;_;

I hope you enjoyed it too, Anon! Thanks for passing by and please have a nice weekend :3

[kingrebvrn]

|♕| “You learn a lot as you grow older....wish i knew what i know now when i was a teenager...maybe i’d have enjoyed that time better.”