The anime series "Kaiju No. 8," scheduled to air in April 2024, is a hot topic among the Shonen Jump+ series! Featuring powerful battle scenes and a classic Jump storyline, it's a highly entertaining series, making it one of the most anticipated spring anime. The story is captivating, even just reading the first volume of the manga. Here's a quick summary of the contents of Volume 1! Warning: Contains spoilers!
In the world of Kaiju No. 8, gigantic monsters emerge like disasters!
In the world of Kaiju No. 8, gigantic monsters reminiscent of special effects movies emerge like disasters, threatening people's lives. The sheer size of these monsters poses a threat, and their emergence can cause devastating damage. However, humanity also has an organization dedicated to dealing with these monsters, using special equipment. This organization is the Japan Defense Force, and the story revolves around the Defense Force.
Kafka Hibino, 32, single, working in a monster-specializing cleaning business!
This film depicts the struggles of the Defense Force members, but the protagonist, Kafka Hibino, is not even a member of the Defense Force. He is a 32-year-old man who works for Monster Sweeper Co., Ltd., a monster-specializing cleaning company that cleans up after the Defense Force defeats monsters. Heroes risk their lives fighting giant monsters, earning deep respect and gratitude from the people despite the dangers they face. However, Kafka and his friends are unsung heroes, performing the smelly, grueling, and backbreaking labor behind the scenes.
Hibino Kafka is a sad man in his 30s whose dreams have been shattered by reality.
Kafka is a reliable and capable cleaner at the cleaning company where he works. However, Kafka's goal was to join the Defense Forces with his childhood friend, Mina Ajiro, and fight alongside her. However, only Mina was able to join, and she blossomed into a valuable member of the Defense Forces. Eventually, Kafka's dream was shattered by the age limit for the Defense Forces entrance exam, and he was forced to face the gap between him and Mina.
Meeting Reno Ichikawa, a New Part-Time Employee
A turning point for Kafka came when Reno Ichikawa came to work part-time. Like Kafka, 18-year-old Reno also shared his goal of joining the Defense Forces. Perhaps due to his youth, Reno was fearless, working a tough cleaning job while aiming to join the Defense Forces. However, Reno was no mere talker; he possessed the strength to face even the most invincible enemies without flinching. Kafka, too, possessed the same bravery.
Kafka and Reno aim to join the Defense Forces once again
A monster left behind during cleaning duties appears, and the two foolishly confront it. They are hospitalized together. During their stay, Reno encourages Kafka, telling him that the age limit for Defense Force recruitment has been lowered and that he should join the Defense Forces. Kafka's words inspire him and he resolves to take the Defense Forces entrance exam again. Thus, the age-gap duo—a man in his 30s and an 18-year-old—work together in a Tiger & Bunny-esque fashion toward their goal of joining the Defense Forces.
A Sudden Turn! Hibino Kafka Transforms into a Monster!
So, just as everyone thought the battle between Hibino Kafka, a man in his 30s whose dreams have been shattered, and Ichikawa Reno, a cheeky young man, to join the Defense Forces was about to begin... Just then, a mysterious monster invades Kafka's body. Kafka suddenly transforms into a terrifying humanoid monster! His transformation into the Devilman monster sends Kafka and Reno into chaos, and the chaos only escalates when they see him in this state.
Hibino Kafka, the Man Who Became a Monster!
Hibino Kafka has transformed into a monster! However, he does not lose his sense of self. Kafka and Reno attempt to evacuate to a secluded location, but on the way, they come across a monster attacking a parent and child who were unable to escape in the evacuation zone. Abandoning them would have meant no way to save the mother and child, and going to help would have exposed his true identity and put him at risk of being defeated by the Defense Force. Kafka, however, didn't hesitate to go and help the mother and child. His power as a monster was so incredible that he was able to defeat a giant monster with a single punch.
Taking the Defense Force Entrance Exam While Hiding His Identity!
Kafka was named Monster No. 8 and became a target for the Defense Force. However, he regained the ability to return to human form and transform into a monster at will. Reno is the only one who knows his true identity. Joining the Defense Forces risks revealing his true identity, but Kafka decides to take the entrance exam, as it's his last chance to fulfill his promise to Mina.
The Haughty Lady, Shinomiya Kikoru, Appears!
At the entrance exam for the Defense Forces, Kafka encounters the haughty and cheeky blonde girl, Shinomiya Kikoru, and they end up arguing over something really trivial. However, this young lady is not all talk. Despite being a woman, she placed fifth in the physical fitness test among a group of talented applicants. Meanwhile, Kafka, with her long absence and surrounded by highly skilled applicants, is bottom of the class.
Part 2 of the Exam Begins!
After failing the physical fitness test, Kafka is betting on the second part. As usual, the exam involves disposing of monster corpses, which would allow her to put her experience in the cleaning industry to good use. However, this year's exam is a practical test requiring her to actually defeat a captured monster, and dark clouds are once again gathering over Kafka.
Hibino Kafka, the Man with 0 Liberation Power!
The second part of the exam involves wearing the suit officially adopted by the Defense Forces. The suit, like the one in GANTZ, greatly enhances the wearer's physical abilities, but experience is required to fully utilize its power. The suit's liberation power is measured as a numerical value. While Reno, wearing the suit for the first time, achieved an 8% Liberation Power, Kikoru, who had already undergone independent training, achieved a 46% Liberation Power, far exceeding that of regular members, achieving the highest Liberation Power ever achieved before joining the Defense Forces. However, Kafka's liberation power was 0, also the lowest it had been before joining the corps.
First Actual Combat! Shinomiya Kikoru: Unrivaled!
This was the first time the candidates experienced actual combat, even though it was just training. Kafka's low liberation power meant he couldn't even move properly, but he used his knowledge and experience of monsters to provide support. During the training, Shinomiya Kikoru displayed overwhelming skill, annihilating monsters with such force that he left the other candidates behind. Kikoru's unrivaled combat skills marked the end of the final examination. The judges were also amazed by Kikoru's talent.
An Accident Occurs! A Mysterious Humanoid Monster Appears!
Just as Kikoru was finally able to catch his breath after defeating the monster he was aiming for, a mysterious, unfamiliar humanoid monster appeared before him. The mysterious monster spoke human language, and it was an opponent that quickly inflicted serious damage on the already unstoppable Kikoru. As if responding to the monster's appearance, the defeated monster revived, sending the scene into a state of total panic.
Who rushed to Kikoru's aid in dire straits?
Shinomiya Kikoru is the only daughter of Shinomiya Isao, commander of the Defense Forces. She has always been expected to be perfect, and she has always lived up to those expectations. It's all for the sake of protecting the future of this country. Kikoru was a talented individual who would one day carry the future of this country on her shoulders, but she was about to lose her life fighting an overwhelming enemy that she could not defeat. Just as Kikoru was on her knees in this desperate situation, that man rushed onto the battlefield. He unhesitatingly unleashed a power that should never be revealed, and battled a mysterious humanoid monster.
[Kaiju No. 8] Volume 1 Story Summary
I've summarized the story of Volume 1 of Kaiju No. 8! The breathtaking plot and battle development are exactly what you'd expect from a Shonen Jump manga, and it looks like it would be a seriously entertaining anime! I think it'll be a powerful anime that will leave you feeling both despair and exhilaration, so it's definitely one of the most anticipated spring anime titles! If you're interested, be sure to check it out!
