Summary
One of the biggest anime last season wasKaiju No. 8, and fans are still talking about it after the sci-fi anime’s whirlwind first season. Something that madeKaiju No. 8particularly special was its cast of great characters, most of whom had unique personalities and quirks that made the audience care about them. One of the most prominent and memorable ones is Reno Ichikawa, main character Kafka Hibino’s best friend.
Reno just shows up in the first episode out of nowhere though, and by the end, is best friends with Kafka. As the series progresses, Reno ends up being one of themost formidable soldiers in his division, with incredible skill for fighting kaiju. He also remains a loyal friend to Kafka, even when things get really out of control in later episodes. So who exactly is this great friend and powerful fighter? Who is Reno Ichikawa?
Warning: The following contains spoilers for Season 1 of Kaiju No. 8.
Who is Reno Ichikawa?
One ofKaiju No. 8’s Key Characters
Reno Ichikawa has been an important part ofKaiju No. 8from the very beginning, making his first appearance in the opening chapter of the manga and the first episode of the anime. When he first appears, it is his first dayworking at Monster Sweeper Inc., where he is paired with Kafka Hibino to help him out. Reno dreams of joining the Japan Anti-Kaiju Defense Force, and is trying to learn more about kaiju disposal for the aptitude test to join. Kafka, in his 30s, had nearly given up on the dream of joining the Defense Force, which is why he is still working in the industry he is in. When Kafka can see his younger self in Reno, he quickly takes the role of senpai to Reno, teaching him what he needs to know about trade.
Their relationship has a rocky start, with Reno not able to understand why Kafka has given up on his dream. But Kafka continues to take care of his younger co-worker all the same, even while Reno’s words slowly get under his skin. At the end of the day, when they are almost ready to go home, the two are attacked by a yoju, and Kafka is willing to sacrifice himself to save Reno’s life. This deepens their bond even further. WhenKafka later becomes a kaiju himself, it is Reno that stays by his side and helps him keep his secret. He does not even have to think twice, he just helps Kafka.
Reno Ichikawa has a calm and collected demeanor, and cares deeply about other people. Throughout the rest of the series, Reno is always fighting to protect others, even at his own expense and safety. While he does make friends with other recruits, he remains most loyal to Kafka, always worried about his senpai outing his secret - and later defending Kafka when the truth does come out. He is serious when talking to his superior officers, and willing to do what he is ordered to do, as he shows when he istransferred from the Third Divisionto the Fourth. But he is not willing to sacrifice his morals for anything, and sticks to whatever he feels is the right thing to do, which is why he never betrayed or gave up on Kafka.
What are Reno’s Powers?
One of the Best Kaiju Hunters
Reno Ichikawa is a very powerful member of the Third, and later Fourth, Divisions of the Defense Force. Right from the beginning, he figured outhow to use cryo bulletsto slow down fast-moving kaiju to make them easier to hit. This shows that he is a fast learner and a problem-solver, figuring out a solution quicker than the rest of his colleagues. He is a good shot, and has high endurance, both of which are shown regularly on the battlefield when he is fighting. He is also incredibly brave, not thinking twice about putting himself in danger if it means protecting someone else or defeating an enemy.
Reno is even able tostand up to Kaiju No. 9for a limited time when he first encounters the powerful enemy. Even after sustaining horrible injuries, he does not back down, and protects Iharu Furuhashi. Vice-Captain Soshiro Hoshino recognizes the potential for Reno to become a captain, something that very few members of the Defense Force are ever able to achieve. And all of that happens when Reno is still very new to the Defense Force, showing that he has a natural talent and character for fighting kaiju.
Later in the manga, Reno is able to take his cryo abilities one step further byusing a powerful Numbers Weaponto use cryokinesis. This ability allows him to release ice and freezing power from his body using a special suit, which can freeze even multiple daikaiju at a time. Most impressively, Reno is able to use the Numbers Weapon after just one month of training, again emphasizing how fast of a learner he is and how he is able to adapt to a situation and use it to make himself stronger.
Reno’s Relationships
Friendship is Very Important inKaiju No. 8
Friendships are central to character developmentinKaiju No. 8, and Reno Ichikawa is the other half in a few of the best friendships in the series. The first has been thoroughly explored above, and that is with Kafka Hibino. Reno has stuck with Kafka from the very first episode, a calm and collected voice of reason that balances well with Kafka’s silliness and rash decisions. Reno does all he can to protect his senpai after Kafka protected him in the first episode, and the two are nearly inseparable. Reno also always stands up for Kafka in front of others, and was the main reason that Kafka returned to pursuing his dream of joining the Defense Force.
Another character important to Reno’s life ishis fellow cadet, Iharu Furuhashi. While Reno’s seemingly cold exterior can be hard to break through, Furuhashi was determined to make the other young man his friendly rival. When Kafka struggled to keep up with the other cadets, Furuhashi quickly took his place at Reno’s side on the battlefield. He is constantly trying to challenge Reno and wants to prove that he is a better fighter, though Reno never takes the bait. Reno also never tells Furuhashi to go away, though, showing that he does like the other man, despite how overwhelming Furuhashi’s personality may be at times.
As Kafka’s best friend and one of the strongest members of the Japan Anti-Kaiju Defense Force, Reno Ichikawa remains central to the plot ofKaiju No. 8. He will remain an important part of the story in both the anime and the manga for the foreseeable future, continuing to grow stronger and doing his best to protect his colleagues to the best of his ability. Reno never gives up when he is determined, and while he may seem a bit cold, he sticks to his morals and does what he feels is right.
WatchKaiju No. 8Season One now onCrunchyroll.
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 try to protect the nation from monster attacks.
