Summary
The Anti-Kaiju Defense Force is the best chance for human survival inKaiju No. 8, employing the strongest fighters to combat Kaiju threats in Japan. The Anti-Kaiju Defense Force is broken down into several divisions, with the First Division being the strongest of all. Divisions are led byCaptains and Vice-Captains, and typically follow the same ladder involving Platoon Leaders, Officers, Cadets, and other members that don’t engage in combat. The First Division is led by none other than Gen Narumi, the Anti-Kaiju’s strongest Captain and the best chance at success in every mission.
While Gen Narumi’s character is further developed in the manga, his introduction and activity duringKaiju No. 8’s first season were limited to the final episode, when he shows his face for the first time after the battle between Kafka Hibino and General Isao Shinomiya. Though his eyes were cold, and his nature was aloof, Narumi is considered to be the strongest member of the Anti-Kaiu Defense Force and should never be taken lightly. Carrying a weapon that is much larger than his body, Narumi is capable of wielding it with ease due to his unbelievable combat power and experience on the battlefield.
Gen Narumi’s Introduction To Kaiju No. 8
A Troubled Young Man With Endless Potential
Following the events of Kafka and General Shinomiya, theKaiju No. 8manga further explores the members of the Anti-Kaiju Defense Forces First Division after Kikoru Shinomiya is transferred there fromthe Third Division. In pure comic fashion, the audience learns that behind all that latent power, Narumi is a careless person who wishes for nothing more than to be left alone and allowed to play his video games. His Vice-Captain, Eiji Hasegawa, is tasked with playing more of a father-figure role, constantly having to chastise and berate Narumi for his lack of duty and his disregard for keeping up his appearance as First Division Captain.
Beyond his lack of etiquette, Narumi reveals that he is unlike any other Captain in the sense of personal pride and loud speeches. Narumi couldn’t care less about a heroic declaration to save humanity, but rather he wishes to see his fellow Officers and Platoon Leaders show their worth on the battlefield by using their skills to defeat Kaiju quickly, and with grace. When he first interacts with Kikoru, who is determined to make a first impression, Narumi shows little interest in promises and asks Shinomiya to prove her worth on the battlefield and use all her skills to impress the members of the First Division.
During Kikoru’s first mission as a member of the First Division, Narumi steps in and showcases his brute force and battle strategy, backing up the confidence behind his words. Narumi is not only capable ofdefeating Yoju-level threatswithout breaking a sweat, he also has the intelligence to dictate the pace of a battle, calculate threats in the nearby area, and deploy the necessary officers to handle each situation. Narumi is in a class of his own, one that not even Mina Ashiro, the Captain of the Third Division, can ever hope to attain. Narumi excels in combat and can handle all sized Kaiju with little difficulty.
Narumi’s Foresight Is Overpowered
The Power Of A Kaiju In The Eye Of Its Beholder
In battle, Narumi relies on his bayonet weapon to stab enemies at close-range with tremendous force, while firing off multiple rounds to take out others in waves. On the surface, his combat suit and weapon appear to be powerful enough to take care of most opposition, but Narumi has a secret up his sleeve that he only reveals in dire situations. During theKaiju No. 9conflict, Narumi brought out the power of his Numbers weapon, the RT-0001 weapon, when dealing with a Daikaiju-level monster. Unlike other Numbers weapons, Narumi’s power is within his retinas, which can be seen when he awakens the power.
Made from the retinas of Kaiju No. 1, Narumi uses outer-shell light spectacles to measure a Kaiju’s brainwaves and dictate every thought and movement before they are made. This allows Narumi to see into the near future, giving him the advantage of determining a counterattack before the Kaiju can even begin its movement. Paired with hisNumbers Weapon 1 combat suit, Narumi can read all movements of electrons, fluctuations in temperature, any rumblings in the earth’s soil, and all details of the location of any living organism. This enhanced power allows Narumi to predict actions before they are taken, giving him the ability of foresight.
On top of the overpowered Numbers weapon abilities, Narumi is an expert in martial arts and has bayonet mastery. Narumi has six levels of attacks with his bayonet, ranging from Number One: Eruption Slash to Number Six: Seven-Branched Sword. His strongest attack can branch out in seven different directions, creating explosions in their wake and destroying anything in its path. Narumi’s Seven-Branched Sword is powerful enough to create an explosion that surpasses the height of buildings in the surrounding area, and his level of expertise in combat made a battle with a Honju-level Kaiju look easy, despite having a fortitude of 7.2.
Kaiju No. 8
Production I.G’s Kaiju No. 8 is a Spring 2024 anime based on Naoya Matsumoto’s Shonen Jump+ manga. Set in an alternate version of Japan, the story follows the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force as they attempt to protect the nation from monster attacks.
