Tokyo Ghoul is home to one of the if not the most catchy opening song. The opening music for this anime, “Unravel,” is one of the most iconic anime openings of all time. This beautifully orchestrated piece gives a great description of the anime as a whole. As the opening starts up all calm and somber, it then begins to increase in intensity which is used in the anime to show a sense of destruction. From the piano solo to the electric guitar riff the song as a whole made me love this anime more than I already did.
Tokyo Ghoul is set in an alternate reality where ghouls, cannibalistic ‘monsters’ who look exactly like normal people but can only survive by eating human flesh, live among the human population in secret, hiding their true nature in order to evade pursuit from the authorities. Including enhanced speed, senses, and regenerative ability, a regular ghoul is several times stronger than a normal human, has a skin resistant to ordinary piercing weapons and has at least one special predatory organ called a kagune (Japanese: 赫子), which it can manifest and use as a weapon during combat. The story follows Ken Kaneki, a college student who barely survives a deadly encounter with Rize Kamishiro, his date who reveals herself as a ghoul. He is taken to the hospital in critical condition. After recovering, Kaneki discovers that he underwent a surgery that transformed him into a half-ghoul. This was accomplished because some of Rize’s organs were transferred into his body, and now, like normal ghouls, he must consume human flesh to survive. The ghouls who manage the coffee shop “Anteiku” take him in and teach him to deal with his new life as a half-ghoul. Some of his daily struggles include fitting into the ghoul society, as well as keeping his identity hidden from his human companions, especially from his best friend Hideyoshi Nagachika.
Ken Keneki’s Kagune (赫子)
A kagune is composed of Rc cells, which flow just like blood, can become as solid as teeth and can be described as “liquid muscles.In the anime, there are four different types of Kagune; Ukaku, Koukaku, Rinkaku, and Bikaku. The type of kagune determines the location and power a ghoul will have. Below is an image showing where each type of kagune is located. Ken Keneki was given the power of the Rinkaku kagune which is the most offensively based and most powerful kagune.
Ukaku kagune (羽赫, ukaku, “feather-red”) is spread out like feathers and is released from the shoulder area, it specializes in high-speed attacks.
Koukaku kagune (甲赫, kōkaku, “shell-red”) is released below the shoulder blade. Due to its high density of Rc cells, it is heavy and extremely robust, giving it the greatest sturdiness and making them very well suited for defense.
Rinkaku kagune (鱗赫, rinkaku, “scale-red”) has an appearance similar to scaled tentacles and is released at the back around the waist. A rinkaku wielder has powerful regenerative abilities and some could even survive the most critical of damage. Its peculiar appearance and structure yield a superior striking power and they excel in brute strength.
Bikaku kagune (尾赫, bikaku, “tail-red”) typically has a tail-like appearance and is released around the tail-bone/coccyx. It is good for medium-distance attacks and has decent offense, defense, and speed.
Tokyo Ghoul is my favorite anime that is still running on the air. Tokyo Ghoul is now into its fourth season as a show and is still able to amaze me with its incredible fight scenes to plot-twisting episodes. I highly recommend this anime to anyone that is trying to introduce themselves into the world of anime. When you watch this show it will make you think “would I rather be a ghoul or a human?”
アニメ (Anime) 
