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Kaiju No. 8is one of the newer anime adaptations from the online platform Shonen Jump+, set in a world where kaiju are a constant threat to humanity. In an attempt to stop their assault, Japanputs together the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force, handing out the state-of-the-art weaponry needed to combat these monsters. Season 1 was pretty good, and season 2 has gotten off to a solid start. More importantly, the manga has recently concluded its run, coming to a polarizing end (which seems to be standard practice nowadays).
The Anti-Kaiju Defense Force is host to a variety of diverse characters, each one from different backgrounds and situations. While still relatively early in the adaptation process, the anime has done a decent of introducing most of the story’s most important figures. Here are theages, heights, and birthdays ofKaiju No. 8’smain characters(provided that information has been revealed).
Updated on Jul 31, 2025, by Mark Sammut:Kaiju No. 8 is airing its second season as part ofSummer 2025, and it should be one of the year’s biggest series. On June 17, 2025, the manga came to an end after roughly 5 years, producing 129 chapters in the process. Like with seemingly any modern long-running series, the ending was somewhat divisive, and that can be said for most of the source material’s final arc. Still,Kaiju No. 8’s characterswill be remembered for years to come, especially since the anime adaptation has a long way to go before rolling its final credits.
Character Chart
The majority of the characters inKaiju No. 8are soldiers who make up the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force. With so many soldiers involved in defending the country against all kinds of kaiju attacks, it can be hard to keep track of all of them. Here’s a quick chart detailing a few personal notes about the major characters present in the series.
32
5'11 (181 cm)
18
5'8.5 (174 cm)
16
5'2 (157 cm)
27
5'7 (169 cm)
???
5'7 (171 cm)
5'10 (177 cm)
5'8 (178 cm)
6'0 (183 cm)
6'0 (185 cm)
6'5 (200 cm)
Kafka Hibino
The Man Who Became A Kaiju
Kafka Hibinoused to dream of joining the Defense Force, but after failing to get in, he ends up as a member of the clean-up crew, disposing of kaiju remains after they have been killed. In a refreshing change of pace for a shonen anime, Kafka is in his 30s, making him way older than the typical protagonist. That said, he still kind of acts like a traditional shonen MC.
Though he takes pride in his work, Kafka still regrets not being able to join the Defense Force, and after being encouraged by Reno, he decides to attempt the exam once more. However, just as he decides this,his body is invaded by a strange parasite, which transforms him into what becomes known as the mysterious Kaiju No. 8.
Reno Ichikawa
A Passionate Defense Force Hopeful
Reno Ichikawais a young man hoping to join the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force. While initially he does not seem to get along with Kafka, they end up forming a friendship fairly quickly, with Reno becoming his best bro and almost a secondary protagonist in his own right.
Though Reno Ichikawa seems prickly at first, he is a passionate young man who has a heroic spirit. He befriends Kafka quickly after working with him in the clean-up crew, andhe is the first to discoverKafka’s transformation into a kaiju. Though he helps Kafka hide his transformation, he frequently gets exasperated at his senior’s lack of discretion.
Kikoru Shinomiya
A Proud And Talented Prodigy
Kikoru Shinomiyais a young woman who takes the Defense Force Exam alongside Kafka and Reno. Depicted as a prodigy, Kikoru is the youngestKaiju No. 8main character, at least when it comes to confirmed ages (which is just four).
Kikoru is easily the strongest of the new entrants, having trained to fight against kaiju since her youth.Though she is incredibly haughtyand cares little about people she has no interest in, she is unmistakably skilled for her age. Though she initially starts on the wrong foot with Kafka and Reno, the three soon become a tight trio of comrades. She has issues with her father, and she does end up respecting Kafka as he treats her with way more respect than her parent.
Mina Ashiro
The Long-Estranged Childhood Friend
Mina Ashirois the captain of the Third Division of the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force,and essentially one of its aces, often killing massive kaiju single-handedly. Mina is young for a captain, but she has been hunting kaiju as part of the Defense Force since she was 18, so she is quite experienced by this point. She is also one of the most consistently dangerous and dependable soldiers, although she is very much a ranged fighter.
In her childhood, she and Kafka Hibino made a promise to join the Defense Force and defeat the kaiju once and for all. However, she was the only one to make it into the force, with Kafka unable to pass the exam. Despite this, she still hopes to one day be able to fulfill the promise she made with him as a child.
Soshiro Hoshina
The Wise-Cracking Vice-Captain
Soshiro Hoshinais the Vice-Captain of the Third Division, serving as a subordinate to Mina Ashiro. One of the most belovedKaiju No. 8characters, Soshiro is just really likable, all the while being a capable operative who is also a pretty good leader. The “Hoshina’s Day Off” episode showed just how much he does for his community.
Unlike the other members of the Defense Force, who generally use firearms,Hoshina uses bladed weapons in battle, a skill that he uses to slaughter smaller kaiju. Though he can at times seem like an unserious joker, Hoshina is one of the strongest members of the Defense Force’s Third Division, and his ability is unquestioned.
Iharu Furuhashi
A Hot-Blooded, Competitive Soldier
Iharu Furuhashiis another new Defense Force applicant who took the exam with Kafka and Reno, and he comes across as pretty arrogant at first. However, like all of the anime’s core characters, Iharu is ultimately trying to make a positive difference while risking his life, so he very much has the makings of a hero. He also forms a fun friendship with Reno.
Iharu is someone with a lot of pride in his skills, which often makes him butt heads with other soldiers who happen to match him in terms of achievement and ability. He quickly strikes upa one-sided rivalry with Reno Ichikawafor this reason, though he can still back up his boasts.
Haruichi Izumo
Has a Lot of Natural Talent and Dedication
Haruichi Izumo is yet another member of the Third Division of the Defense Force in which Kafka Hibino serves. He has a very casual and laid-back demeanor and is known for being the heir to the Izumo Tech company. This company serves as the largest manufacturer of weaponry used to fight against Kajus.
He has shown that this is not just some rich-kid thrill-seeking venture, but rather that he takes this position quite seriously. He actively strives to improve and has a higher aptitude than most of the other members of the Third Division. While initially high to begin with, the total percentage he can pull from his suite has been shown to double when he needs it.
Aoi Kaguragi
Former Member of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force
While Haruichi Izumo is a very impressive member of the Third Division, he actively competes against the performance of Aoi Kaguragi. Haruichi pulled an initial 18% from his special suit, while Aoi only managed 15%.
Despite this lower percentage, he has an established background in the JGSDF (Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force) and has served in numerous different divisions. This gives him the edge in terms of experience and seniority to keep up with Haruichi’s natural talent. This dynamic is awell-known anime stapleof hard work vs. being a genius.
Hakua Igarashi
A Highly Skilled and Likable Member of the Third Division
Just like Aoi and Haruichi, Hakua is a member of the Third Division of the Defense Force. She is the younger sister of Jura, who serves as the active captain of the Second Division. She has very stoic features akin to those of a stereotypical soldier archetype.
She is very energetic and strong-willed, and easily imposes her presence in social settings by being friendly. She has been shown to possess a high level of skill and prowess in her combat. Some of this can be credited to her background with Kendo.
Kaiju No. 9
One of the Biggest Threats to the Defense Force
Kaiju No. 9 serves as a major antagonist inKaiju No. 8. He can also be seen as the main antagonist for the first season of the anime, as he is one of the only Kaiju to possess human-level intelligence and is in a high hierarchical place of power.
He can take on the appearance of humans, to assume an alternate identity and infiltrate different groups. Later in the Manga, he goes on to achieve an unspecified size that rivals massive Kaijus.
