[Karakuri Circus] What kind of person is Narumi Kato? Introducing his fascinating fate!

Karakuri Circus, which began airing in the fall of 2018, is a story in which the characters are manipulated by strange fates like mechanical devices. In this article, we'll be talking about the appeal of Kato Narumi, one of the main characters in Karakuri Circus.

[Karakuri Circus] Discussing the Appeal of Narumi Kato

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

First of all, if I were to express my personal impression of "Karakuri Circus," I would say it's a masterpiece born from adding, adding, and adding more and more settings.
The setting is so incredibly complex that it's hard to believe that author Kazuhiro Fujita planned it from start to finish. So, taking this complexity into consideration, I'd like to explore Narumi Kato's life and introduce his charms.

[Karakuri Circus] What kind of character was Narumi Kato when he first appeared?

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

Narumi Kato is a 17-year-old young man who studied martial arts in China from a young age, where his parents moved to, and who has possessed high combat abilities since his first appearance. Even though he doesn't look it. Although he's clumsy, he's a passionate man whose body moves on its own when someone is in a critical situation. He's a strong, kind character with a warm, human touch.

He suffers from the comically ridiculous Zonaha disease.

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

He was working part-time while wearing a bear costume. There was a deep reason why he was doing this. Narumi Kato suffers from a mysterious and rare disease called Zonaha disease. He ends up taking on this part-time job to stop the attacks.

What is Zonaha disease?

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

When attacks occur, Zonaha disease causes breathing difficulties and excruciating pain. There's only one way to stop the attacks. (At this point) it's about making someone laugh. Zonaha disease patients are apparently acutely aware of when others are laughing, so even approaching someone who is laughing from the start is no good. It's said that if they don't make someone laugh themselves, they could die. However, in the worst case scenario, they won't die (meaningful).

[Karakuri Circus] Narumi Kato's performance in the Katsu arc (prologue)

What happened to him?

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

Narumi Kato happens to witness the assassination of Masaru Saiga, the son of Sadayoshi Saiga, the president of the Saiga Group, and ends up saving him. He then learns that Masaru Saiga's relatives are trying to kill him because, despite being the son of a mistress, he inherited her entire estate. Together with the beautiful puppeteer Shirogane Saiga, who appears to protect Katsu, he throws himself into the battle to protect Katsu.

At the end of the Katsu arc

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

Kato Narumi's clumsy yet strong and kind demeanor gave courage and laughter to the small and timid Katsu Saiga, and it can be said that he had a major influence on both Katsu Saiga and Shirogane's later lives. However, at the end of the Katsu arc, he gets caught up in a huge explosion while protecting Katsu. His disappearance, leaving only one arm behind, had a major impact on the lives of Katsu and Shirogane.

[Karakuri Circus] This is what makes him so appealing! A strong and kind older brother

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

The character depicted here, Narumi Kato, is a strong and kind older brother. Narumi Kato's strength and kindness are perhaps the greatest part of his charm. However, his strength and kindness change as the story progresses. I believe this transformation is his greatest charm.

[Karakuri Circus] Narumi Kato's Performance in the Karakuri Arc

The Karakuri Arc Begins

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

Narumi Kato suddenly finds himself in France, where he somehow finds his lost arm, but he has lost his memory and is practicing circus acts. However, after nearly being rear-ended by a car, he regains his memory and confronts Guy-Christophe Rech, who transplanted the prosthetic arm into Narumi.

As a Shirogane, he becomes embroiled in a battle against automatons.

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

Guy learns that the dying Narumi has been revived by the omnipotent elixir "Water of Life," and has become a Shirogane (a doll destroyer) who defeats the automatons that are the enemy of humanity. Although Narumi is reluctant at first, he decides to become Shirogane and fight against the automaton organization "Midnight Circus" to protect everyone from the automatons that are spreading the Zonaha disease.

What are automatons?

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

An enemy in the Karakuri Arc, it possesses high combat abilities and spreads the Zonaha disease, requiring regular feeding on human blood. A man gave the first automaton, the Francine doll, the Water of Life, creating a human-like doll, but the Francine doll was unable to laugh. In order to become the ideal for a certain man, he created automatons and spread Zonaha disease throughout the world, hoping that one day someone would appear who would be able to laugh at him.

[Karakuri Circus] Narumi Kato's Performance in the Karakuri Arc (Mid-Season)

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

Becoming a Doll Destroyer (Shirogane) changes the color of one's hair and eyes, and as an Avenger, one's emotions and consciousness are almost entirely rewritten. However, this did not affect Narumi, and he retained his humanity. Narumi then travels to a facility in Illinois, USA, where patients with Zonaha disease are housed, and there he experiences hell.

The Hell Experienced by Narumi Kato

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

In order to alleviate the symptoms of the Zonaha disease patients who are admitted there one after another, the staff members administer narcotic-like drugs to themselves to force themselves to laugh. However, research into Zonaha disease has not progressed, and the staff are forced to watch as patients die. They are all at their wits' end.

Zonaha Disease Stage 3

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

Narumi quickly realizes that this is hell as patients disappear one after another, and is told of the even more hellish aspects of Zonaha disease. Zonaha disease has three stages. In the first stage, not making someone laugh causes deathly pain, and in the second stage, various complications occur. And for those unlucky enough to survive, in the third stage, there is no way to kill them and they can only continue to live in pain.

What about Narumi, who has seen hell?

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

After experiencing hell at the detention facility, Narumi promises the detention facility staff that he will continue to destroy automatons and destroy the Midnight Circus in order to prevent any further increases in the number of patients suffering from Zonaha disease, and to one day prevent any further increases in the number of patients suffering from Zonaha disease. He vows to become a demon to the automatons.

[Karakuri Circus] This is what makes him so appealing! Narumi Kato has become even stronger and kinder.

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

Even after becoming a Shirogane, Narumi Kato remained unconstrained by his desire for revenge and maintained his humanity. After experiencing hell at a facility for Zonaha disease patients, he decided to continue fighting automatons. It could be said that his strength and kindness allowed him to do so, but those same strength and kindness gradually robbed him of his humanity.

[Karakuri Circus] Narumi Kato's Performance in the Karakuri Arc (Second Half)

The Final Battle with the Midnight Circus

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

Days of encounters, farewells, and struggles have made Narumi Kato stronger. It was a superhuman strength for a Shirogane, but Kato Narumi still maintained his humanity, surprising the Shirogane members who had been gathered as a fighting force for the final battle. Kato Narumi then faced the Midnight Circus in a decisive battle with the gathered Shirogane forces.

Narumi Gives Up Being Human

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

The final battle between the Shirogane and the automatons was extremely fierce. Though the Shirogane killed many automatons, they were also injured and dropped out one by one. Narumi, too, was left so battered during the battle that it was a wonder he was still alive.

Narumi is entrusted to us

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

Wounded and unconscious in the battle, Narumi's surviving Shirogane guardians are driven by something to protect him. Shirogane and the others lose their lives, entrusting everything to Narumi, who fought as humans and not as Shirogane until the very end. Narumi also receives the arms of the Shirogane's marionettes, who had lost both their arms and legs in the battle, and awakens to destroy the Francine doll. Her hair has changed color from its former black to silver.

What about the Francine doll?

Source: Karakuri Circus ©Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

Carrying the hopes of the Shirogane who died entrusting all their feelings to Narumi and the children suffering from Zonaha disease, Narumi pursues the Francine doll, the source of all evil... but it turns out that the real Francine doll set out on a journey to be destroyed 90 years ago. Shirogane and Narumi, who had been fighting with the belief that the war was over, confess, "So what were we fighting for...?" and destroy the fake Francine doll.

Narumi Gives Up His Humanity During the Battle

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

Most of Shirogane's compatriots died in the battle over the automatons. During the battle, Narumi lost both his arms and legs, and while he had marionette legs transplanted onto him, he fought on carrying everyone's hopes, and this curse-like responsibility turned Narumi's hair silver, a sign of iron. Because he was stronger and kinder than anyone, he lost his humanity...this is depicted in stark contrast to the story of the characters in the Circus arc, who come to terms with their humanity, and this is perhaps the charm of Kato Narumi and Karakuri Circus.

[Karakuri Circus] Narumi Kato's Performance in the Karakuri Circus Series

Narumi Kato Reunites with Eleanor

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

After a fierce battle, Narumi Kato arrives in Japan and learns that the real Francine doll is Eleonore. He attempts to learn from her the cure for Zonaha disease and destroy it. Meanwhile, Narumi reunites with Eleonore, but this is not the same Narumi Kato he once knew.

[Karakuri Circus] Here's What Makes It So Great! Eleanor has regained her humanity, while Narumi Kato has given up her humanity.

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

When they reunite, Narumi is no longer the strong, kind Narumi he once was. Narumi, entrusted with the thoughts of the children infected with Zonaha disease and the fallen Shirogane, has abandoned everything except for finding out the cure for Zonaha disease from Eleanor and destroying it, becoming just like a doll like the former Eleanor. Seeing Narumi like this, Eleanor begins to want to save Narumi just as she was once saved.

Kato Narumi was still Kato Narumi

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

Kato Narumi had abandoned his humanity, but his strength and kindness remained intact. Narumi then explains what he has experienced over the past eight months and the evidence that Eleanor is the real Francine doll, and it is understandable why Kato Narumi lost his humanity as he experienced such a horrific experience.
Afterwards, after passing through the Sahara Desert, Narumi and Mincia learn about the Francine doll and the mastermind behind it from the heretic Shirogane, Fuu Claude Boileau.

Becoming a Member of Nakamachi Circus

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

Subsequently, with Eleanor's guidance, Narumi becomes a member of Nakamachi Circus, seeking an opportunity to discover a cure for Zonaha disease from Eleanor and kill her. However, during this time, Faceless, the mastermind behind most of the incidents that have occurred at Karakuri Circus, unleashes a terrifying plan.

[Karakuri Circus] This is what makes it so appealing! Narumi has become a vengeful demon.

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

Even though he lost his limbs and became a mechanical body, Narumi dedicated everything to the fallen Shirogane and the Zonaha disease, becoming like a moving doll with only one goal: revenge. This puts her in a completely opposite position to Eleanor, who became human after meeting Katsu and Narumi and living in the circus. The fact that she gave up being human because of her strength and kindness is a reflection of Kato Narumi's life, and I think it's a big part of her charm.

[Karakuri Circus] Narumi Kato's Performance in the Clockwork God Arc

In Search of Harry

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

The only option left for the remaining members was to obtain the command to change the nanomachine's instructions from Faceless. They then devised a plan to put "Harry" on a space shuttle and pursue Faceless into space while disrupting the nanomachines that were disrupting electronic devices. To avoid the nanomachines, the group heads to the shuttle by steam locomotive. Thanks to the crew's efforts, they manage to reach the shuttle, but a horde of automatons approaches.

Teamwork

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

Narumi attempts to defeat the horde of automatons alone. However, even he is overwhelmed by the overwhelming force. At that moment, for some reason, the attacks from behind stopped. It was Katsu who had grown, but Narumi had no idea. Without revealing his true identity, Katsu boarded the shuttle and faced the final battle with Faceless.

Becoming a Human Narumi

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

After seeing off Katsu, Narumi chases after Eleonore, who is being chased by Harlequin, rescues her, and sees off Souji Entou (Katsu), who regains his memories and humanity and faces the final battle.

After the Final Battle

Source: Karakuri Circus © Kazuhiro Fujita, Shogakukan / Twin Engine

Afterward, after the Zonaha disease was eradicated from Earth, Narumi married Eleanor and traveled the world as a traveling entertainer. There, he found Eleanor and his arm, preserved in the state it had been lost while protecting Katsu.

Summary of Narumi Kato's Appeal

Narumi Kato was a man of unparalleled strength, kindness, and humanity. After experiencing hell at a Zonaha facility and entrusting his feelings to the Shiroganes, Narumi, who was stronger and kinder than anyone, abandoned his humanity and ultimately returned to it. This is a character with a peculiar fate. I believe that the life that Narumi Kato led is what makes him so appealing in the Karakuri Circus series.