Every Identified Daikaiju in Kaiju No. 8 (So Far) (2024)

There are several types of Kaiju in Kaiju No. 8, but the most fearsome are Identified Daikaiju. While not all Daikaiju are Identified Kaiju, all Identified Kaiju are Daikaiju. A handful of Identified Daikaiju have made themselves known in the anime and manga - each more intimidating than the last. Though remembering all the Identified Kaiju and their powers can be a little daunting, there are some specific characteristics to look out for.

Not all Identified Daikaiju have the same powers, but they do have things in common. They have immense Fortitudes and have unique skills that other Kaiju do not. While a regular Daikaiju could feasibly be taken out by a Captain or Vice Captain, Identified Daikaiju are much harder to break. Identified Daikaiju are fierce, single-minded beings who will do anything to bring about the Age of the Kaiju.

What Is An Identified Daikaiju?

Identified Daikaiju Are The Strongest Forms Of Kaiju

Daikaiju are the strongest form of normal Kaiju. But Identified Daikaiju are the strongest of all. They are typically large (although not always) and have abilities beyond normal Kaiju. This often includes speaking for later Identified Kaiju, but not all Identified Kaiju have this ability. Identified Kaiju are named numerically depending on when they are encountered. So far, there have been 15 Identified Kaiju. There can be long periods between Identified Kaiju showing up, but their numbers seem to be increasing in Kafka Hibino’s time.

Named Kaiju not only have abnormal abilities, but they also have unusually high Fortitudes. Any Kaiju with a Fortitude of 9 or above are typically considered Identified Kaiju. So far, Kafka Hibino/Kaiju No. 8 has the highest Identified Kaiju Fortitude at 9.8. Identified Kaiju can also be named if they take a long time to kill. In this way, Kaiju are much like hurricanes or monsoons. They aren’t named until they pose a significant enough threat to the greater public.

Who Is Kaiju No. 8?

Kaiju No. 8 Is Kafka Hibino

Kakfa Hibino is just a down-on-his-luck thirty-two-year-old when he gets the opportunity of a lifetime and joins the Defense Force. It has been his dream to be a part of the Defense Force ever since he was a child. Unfortunately, after being wounded in battle, and sent to the hospital, a small flying Kaiju forces its way into Kafa’s mouth and turns him into a Kaiju as well. Although he looks like a Kaiju and has incredible Kaiju powers, Kafka retains his human intelligence and mannerisms… for now.

Since Reno Ichikawa was in the hospital when the ordeal takes place, he is initially the only one to know Kafka’s secret. However, as time passes and Kafka becomes increasingly heroic (and reckless) regarding his transformation, even more people become aware of Kafka’s situation. Kafka is tested by the Director General, himself to ensure that Kafka is still, indeed, a human.

Thankfully, Kafka passes, and he is offered a particularly unique job. Rather than holding a weapon of any kind, Kafka is instructed to use his Kaiju powers against other Kaiju. Seeing this as his only way to participate in the Defense Force, Kafka accepts. Kafka is now the Defense Force’s secret weapon against the Kaiju as they await for another Kaiju cataclysm to occur.

Who Is Kaiju No. 9?

Kaiju No. 9 Is The Harbinger Of The Kaiju Era

Kaiju No. 9 is the first Identified Kaiju fans meet in person besides Kafka. No. 9 has the ability to use humans as skin suits to walk undetected among people. He can also talk and appears to be the ring leader when it comes to this second Kaiju reckoning. Kaiju No. 9’s first encounter is with Kikoru Shinomiya during the practical exam for the Defense Force. Despite all her success up to that point, Kikoru is no match for the ultimate villain thus far. Thankfully, Kafka is there to protect Shinomiya and beat the guy back enough that he is seemingly dead.

Kaiju No. 9 later returns and faces Reno Ichikawa and Iharu Furuhashi before encountering Kafka for a second time. However, Kaiju No. 9 reveals that Reno, Iharu, and Kafka are only encountering a copy. The real body is elsewhere. Kaiju No. 9 then leaves, vowing to return with a vengeance.

Unfortunately, No. 9 is true to his word and returns with a second identified Kaiju (No. 10) and an army of other Kaiju. His goal is to seek out Kafka and destroy him, but No. 9 faces off with Director General Isao Shinomiya instead. Sadly, even with Numbers Weapon 2, Isao is no match for No. 9 and is absorbed (with his Numbers Weapon) into No. 9. This not only increases No. 9’s power but also leaves the Defense Force flailing. No. 9 states again that he’ll be coming back for the Defense Force and promises that the Era of Kaiju is upon them.

No. 9 is very much a ring leader in the rumblings of a second cataclysm. The first cataclysm took place more than a decade ago, but this particular time seems much worse. No. 9 can talk and split himself into multiple copies, but it’s also revealed that he created No. 10. It is also currently surmised that he created Nos. 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. For the moment, Kaiju No. 9 is the “big bad” of the series.

Who Is Kaiju No. 10?

Kaiju No. 10 Is An Unlikely Ally

Kaiju No. 10 is the second-biggest problem the Defense Force Encounters. He is much larger than No. 9, and he has the power to control other Kaiju - even ones who prefer to keep to themselves. Kaiju No. 10 is first introduced when he faces off with Vice Captain Soshiro Hoshina. The two seem almost equally matched, but No. 10’s no-holds-barred approach to fighting sets Hoshina off his game. Thankfully. Captain Mina Ashiro and Officer Kikoru Shinomiya arrive in time to help take Kaiju No. 10 out.

Although Kaiju No. 10 is technically dead, he is still conscious through his head. His head is actually preserved at the Defense Force, and he requests to make a deal with Hoshina. Eventually, the two come to the agreement that Hoshina and the Defense Force will turn Kaiju No. 10 into a Numbers Weapon that Hoshina will wield, and No. 10 will divulge everything he knows about No. 9.

The task is grueling, but Kaiju No. 10 does become a Numbers Weapon, but he retains consciousness. He can even speak to Hoshina through the Numbers Weapon. No. 10 and Hoshina have problems syncing at first. They eventually figure things out. The two seem do clash completely in personality and fighting style, but that is what makes them such a good team.

Who Is Kaiju No. 15?

Kaiju No. 15 Is Made For Kikoru Shinomiya

Kaiju No. 15 is the most recent, persistent threat as of the 10th manga volume. When she is not transformed, No. 15 looks like a girl with pigtails, but everything is made of brain matter and nerves. This part of her appearance references her ability to link psychically to her victims. There is also a void where her face should be.

However, readers most recently saw Kaiju No. 15 as a “Dark Kikoru” persona. She looks just like Kikoru in a schoolgirl outfit, but she has all-black eyes and black hair. Since she appeared next to Kikoru on the battlefield, and because of her resemblance to Kikoru, the Defense Force surmises that No. 15 (as well as 11, 12, 13, and 14) are tailor-made for their supposed targets. No. 15 not only looks like Kikoru but trash talks Kikoru’s family while they are fighting. Her sole purpose seems to be tearing Kikoru down until she has nothing left.

Who Are Kaiju No. 1, 2, 4, 6, 11, 12, 13, and 14?

Kaiju No.s 1, 2, 4, and 6 Are From The Past While 11, 12, 13, and 14 Are In The Present

The rest of the Kaiju that are mentioned or appeared briefly in the anime and manga don’t have as much information about them, but there are some kernels of knowledge to grasp. For instance, Kaiju Nos 1, 2, 4, and 6 have all been turned into Numbers Weapons and are wielded in the story. Captain Gen Narumi of the First Division wears special contacts made from No. 1’s retinas. With them, he can see the brain impulses of others, allowing him to predict another’s movements before they happen. Director General Isao Shinomiya wore mechanical fists based on Kaiju No. 2 that could crush any Daikaiju. Kikoru Shinomiya dons the same Numbers Weapon that her mother used to. Numbers Weapon 4 is based on Kaiju No. 4 and has enhanced agility and the power of flight.

Fans know a little bit more about Kaiju No. 6 than the others. Not only has it become the icy Numbers Weapon 6 that Reno Ichikawa now wears, but it’s also the Kaiju that killed Hikari Shinomiya. So far, nothing other than acknowledgment has come from this information, but it could play a part between Kikoru and Ishikawa down the road. As for Kaiju Nos. 11, 12, 13, and 14, they appear to have been created by Kaiju No. 9 to specifically target the strongest leaders in the Defense Force. Kaiju No. 11 was created for Captain Narumi since he uses water for attacks. Water doesn’t have brain impulses, so No. 11’s attacks bypass Narumi’s Numbers Weapon.

No. 12 was created for Vice Captain Soshiro Hoshina. It not only bears a striking resemblance to Kaiju No. 10 (whom Hoshina now wields), but it also has blades for hands. Hoshina is known for using blades in battle, so fighting sword skills superior to his own could throw Hoshina off his game. Not much is known about Kaiju No.s 13 and 14. Readers know that they were specifically made to deal with Platoon Leaders Rin Sinonome and Tachibana, and Captain Mina Ashiro, respectively. However, the manga’s focus is more on Kikoru’s fighting with Kaiju No. 15 at present. Hopefully, fans will learn more about them in subsequent chapters.

Overall, Identified Kaiju are Kaiju that no one wants to mess with. Even Captains and the Director General have trouble taking Identified Kaiju out themselves. However, if they want to survive their current situation, the Defense Force Officers are going to have to fight until the bitter end to achieve their goals. Identified Kaiju can get confusing with so many numbers to memorize. However, they are all highly distinct from each other in many ways. Some have unusual powers, some can speak, and some have telepathic abilities. There are so many things about Identified Kaiju that fans are still learning. However, what readers and watchers do know is that Identified Kaiju pose a real threat to the Defense Force and Japan as a whole.

Kaiju No. 8 (2024)

Science Fiction

Action

Kafka Hibino merges with a kaiju and gains powers, leading him to attempt his childhood dream in Kaiju No. 8.

Release Date

2024-04-00

Cast

Fairouz Ai , Wataru Katou , Masaya f*ckunishi

Main Genre

Anime

Studio

Production I.G.

Main Cast

Masaya f*ckunishi, Fairouz Ai, Wataru Katou

Kaiju No. 8, Vol. 1

WRITER

Naoya Matsumoto

Artist

Naoya Matsumoto

Publisher

Viz Media

Price

$9.99 (Print)

Release Date

December 7, 2021