Kaiju No. 8, created by Naoya Matsumoto, broke the traditional shonen tropes by introducing adult characters to be the faces of the Kaiju No. 8 franchise, and is one of the major reasons behind the success of this modern shonen title. If you have been following Kafka Hibino’s journey to exterminate the kaijus, you must be curious about the ages of your favorite Kaiju No. 8 characters. Discover how old the Kaiju No. 8 main characters are, including Kafka, Kikoru, Reno, etc., here in our guide.
How Old Are the Main Characters in Kaiju No. 8?
Before we get started, remember that the author Naoya Matsumoto has revealed only some of the main characters’ ages in the story. Thus, we have estimated the ages of the rest of the characters based on their descriptions in the Kaiju No. 8 series. Without any further ado, let’s find out the ages of the main characters in Kaiju No. 8:
1. Kafka Hibino – 32 Years Old
Image Credit: Production I.G. (via X/@KaijuNo8_O)
No matter what shonen title you may pick up to watch, such as One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, etc, you will always find an aspiring teenager as the main character of the series. However, that is not the case with Kaiju No. 8, where Kafka Hibino, the protagonist, is a 32-year-old guy questioning his life choices. Don’t get me wrong, Kafka Hibino is one of the uniquely inspiring heroes, as he chases after his dream, i.e, to stand alongside his childhood friend and protect the world from kaijus even in his 30s.
2. Reno Ichikawa – 18 Years Old
Image Credit: Production I.G. (via X/@KaijuNo8_O)
There is always a deuteragonist character who wholeheartedly supports the protagonist in a shonen title, and it’s Reno Ichikawa in Kaiju No. 8. Unlike his best friend, who is in his 30s, Reno Ichikawa is just 18 years old and strives hard to become an elite officer among his peers in the Defense Force.
3. Kikoru Shinomiya – 16 Years Old
Image Credit: Production I.G. (via X/@KaijuNo8_O)
The main trio of a shonen title is incomplete without a fierce female character, and Kikoru Shinomiya fills this spot in Kaiju No. 8. Kikoru is confirmed to be 16 years old , which makes her the youngest main character in Kaiju No.8. Don’t mistake her as a young kid as Kikoru is one of the best combatants in the Defense Force.
Moreover, she is the daughter of Isao Shinomiya, the director general of the Defense Force. Kikoru has a complicated relationship with her father, but yearns to become one of the powerful officers to carry on her late mother’s legacy.
4. Mina Ashiro – 27 Years Old
Image Credit: Production I.G. (via X/@KaijuNo8_O)
Remember Kafka’s dream? It was to stand alongside his childhood friend, who is a big shot in the Defense Force. It is none other than Mina Ashiro, the captain of the Defense Force’s Third Division. Mina Ashiro is 27 years old , a few years younger than her friend, Kafka, but they share the same dream of wiping out the monsters from their world.
5. Soshiro Hoshina – 25-29 Years Old
Image Credit: Production I.G. (via X/@KaijuNo8_O)
Soshiro Hoshina, the vice captain who leads the Third Division alongside Mina, steals the spotlight every scene he is in, like Levi from Attack on Titan. Soshiro Hoshina has not been disclosed by the author in the story, but fans believe he should be around the same age as his captain, Mina, i.e., 25-29 years old . Soshiro aims to prove his strength against the people who deemed him unfit.
6. Isao Shinomiya – Around 50 Years Old
Image Credit: Production I.G. (via X/@KaijuNo8_O)
As I mentioned earlier, Isao Shinomiya is the father of Kikoru Shinomiya and works as the Director General of the Defense Force. As he is the father of a 16-year-old character in the series, Isao Shinomiya is expected to be in his mid-50s in Kaiju No.8. Isao fights with everything he can get to preserve the future of humanity.
7. Kaiju No. 9 – Age Unknown
Image Credit: Production I.G. (via X/@KaijuNo8_O)
Kaiju No. 9 is the primary villain of the Kaiju No. 8 series. This alpha kaiju was a harbinger of destruction and could take on any human form. As this kaiju’s origins remain unknown, we couldn’t estimate its age. However, it is implied that it has been around for a long time.
8. Gen Narumi – 27 Years Old
Image Credit: Production I.G. (via X/@KaijuNo8_O)
Kaiju No. 8 never ran out of the coolest defense officer characters idolized by fans, and Gen Narumi easily tops this list. He is famed as the “Strongest Anti-Kaiju Combatant in Japan” for a reason. Gen Narumi made his debut very recently in season 2 of the Kaiju No. 8 anime.
Since Gen and Mina are classmates and enlisted for the Defense Force at the same time, Gen is speculated to be 27 years old , the same age as Mina. As one of the strongest officers and a gamer, Gen Narumi remains extremely popular among the fans of the series.
9. Iharu Furuhashi – Around 19 Years OId
Image Credit: Production I.G. (via X/@KaijuNo8_O)
Mina Ashiro was a savior for many lives, including Iharu Furuhashi, as the captain, who once saved a kid, Iharu, during a Kaiju attack. This ignited the spark inside Iharu, and he became a Defense Officer just like his hero. Iharu Furuhashi’s age hasn’t been revealed in the story, but he is said to be at least 19 years old , as he is confirmed to be older than Reno.
10. Aoi Kaguragi – Around 19 Years Old
Image Credit: Production I.G. (via X/@KaijuNo8_O)
Aoi Kaguragi is one of the prodigies who joined the Defense Force along with Kikoru, Reno, etc. However, he has an interesting backstory as a prospect for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), but he sacrificed that promising future and enlisted in the Defense Force instead. Since Aoi is also one of the newcomers to the Defense Force, he is expected to be 18-19 years old .
11. Haruichi Izumo – 18-20 Years Old
Image Credit: Production I.G. (via X/@KaijuNo8_O)
Haruichi is the heir to the Izumo family, one of the wealthiest families in Japan. They run the Izuma Tech company, the biggest anti-kaiju arms manufacturer in the nation. Despite being the successor of a rich household, Haruichi became a Defense Force officer in the Third Division and risked his life to protect the people. Haruichi’s age has also not been disclosed by the creators. If we are to make a guess, Haruichi should be 18-20 years old , the same as his rival Aoi.
12. Hakua Igurashi – 18-20 Years Old
Image Credit: Production I.G. (via X/@KaijuNo8_O)
The Second Division captain, Jura Igarashi, recommended Hakua, her younger sister, to enroll in the Defense Force. As a result, Hakua was also seen among the newly joined officers, Kafka, Reno, and many more. While Hakua and her sisters’ ages remain unknown, Hakua is predicted to be 18-20 years old , as she is as old as the rest of her comrades.
An entertainment writer with a passion for analyzing and sharing insights on movies, shows, and anime.
Add new comment
Name
Email ID
Δ
Except for One Piece and Hunter x Hunter, some of the top-rated shonen manga, including Bleach, Naruto, and others, have already concluded. Furthermore, with notable modern Shonen manga like Jujutsu Kaisen, My Hero Academia, Black Clover, etc. in the final stages, the future of the genre is in jeopardy. However, this also means that more Shonen manga now have the opportunity to ascend to the top. So, let’s look at a list of must-read manga that show a great deal of promise to save the next generation of Shonen.
Note: All of the manga that are included here are set to run for atleast another couple of years. Therefore, manga that are ending soon such as MHA, JJK, Black Clover, haven’t been included as they are ending their run.
10. Boruto: Two Blue Vortex (2023 – )
Image Courtesy: Akane Banashi (Press Release)
- MAL : 8.05
- Author s : Masashi Kishimoto (Story), Mikio Ikemoto (Art)
- Chapters : 10 – Ongoing
- Genre : Action, Adventure, Fantasy
The initial run of Naruto’s sequel manga, Boruto, did not meet every fan’s expectations. To top it off, the anime became a burden to watch with tons of fillers (see Boruto filler list ) because there was not enough source material to adapt. This led to mixed reactions among the fans when the Boruto series started airing. However, the tables turned completely after the post-time-skip manga called Boruto: Two Blue Vortex arrived.
Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is one of the hottest-selling manga right now as it has taken us back to the Shippuden days. Since the original author Masashi Kishimoto returned, Boruto has developed into a more mature character and the stakes have never been higher.
As a result, it is intriguing to see the story unfold, and the action sequences are simply outstanding. Fans of Naruto shouldn’t miss out on this one at all and also other fans should try this battle shonen manga.
9. Kagurabachi (2023 – )
Image Courtesy: Kagurabachi (X/@kagurabachi_x)
- MAL : 7.83
- Author : Takeru Hokazono
- Chapters : 33 – Ongoing
- Genre : Action, Fantasy
When Kagurabachi made its debut, it was heavily used as meme material. But as time progressed, this brand-new shonen manga began to grow on us and is currently one of the best ongoing manga right now. Renowned mangakas such as Kazue Kato (Blue Exorcist), Takehiko Inoue (Vagabond & Slamdunk), and many more have appreciated Takeru Hokazono’s drawing.
It is yet another action manga in the Shonen genre and has its unique qualities to stand out among others. It follows the life of Chihiro Rokuhira , a swordmaker’s son who yearns for vengeance in his heart. With interesting characters and crazy battles to look out for, Kagurabachi can become the next big thing in Shonen if Takeru nurtures it well.
8.Kaiju No. 8(2020 – )
Image Courtesy: Kaiju No. 8 (X/@KaijuNo8_O)
- MAL : 7.73
- Author : Naoya Matsumoto
- Chapters : 106 – Ongoing
- Genre : Action, Sci-Fi
The Kaiju No. 8 anime’s first season kicked off recently and is at the center of everyone’s attention right now. Even before this, the manga series by Naoya Matsumoto had amassed a sizeable fanbase with its excellent art and amazing story weaved around kaiju. With other battle shonen ending very soon, Kaiju no 8 has all the qualities to be a worthy successor in this genre.
While I’m following the anime and waiting to switch to the manga soon, my Editor has constantly praised this series and has been recommending it to me for a long time. It sure has the potential to take the Shonen throne.
7. Sakamoto Days (2020 – )
Image Courtesy: Sakamoto Days by Yuuto Suzuki (X/@SAKAMOTO_STORE)
- MAL : 8.11
- Author : Yuuto Suzuki
- Chapters : 166 – Ongoing
- Genre : Action, Comedy
Sakamoto Days is clearly a John Wick-esque manga but at the same time, it is a brilliant mashup of action and comedy. Yuuto Suzuki’s art is on another level and his quirky characters & story make it a fascinating read. The comedy and action sequences here are absolutely fantastic.
Sakamoto Days is an action-comedy manga and has racked up a massive fanbase with its brilliance. This series is one of the most popular ongoing Shonen works and is expected to receive an anime adaptation by Netflix soon. I think the anime will further elevate its popularity to greater heights as the manga ticks all the boxes to become one of the best shonen products in the future.
6. Spy x Family (2019 – )
Image Courtesy: Fandom Wiki
- MAL : 8.53
- Author : Tatsuya Endou
- Chapters :98
- Genre : Action, Comedy
We have yet another action-comedy manga here which is none other than the modern phenomenon, Spy x Family. Before the Spy x Family anime’s arrival, the series had a fairly large fanbase. However, after the anime aired, with memes flowing everywhere, the popularity of the series skyrocketed and cemented its place as one of the best ongoing Shonen manga series.
In terms of the story, Spy x Family still has a long way to go so fans can continue to enjoy the slice of comedy and action mix. It is also a Mr & Mrs. Smith-esque series but what makes it totally unique is the presence of Anya Forger, the heart of this series.
It is extremely hilarious albeit has cliched scenes and its action sequences are equally entertaining as well. Spy x Family has already secured a place in the fans’ hearts and will only continue to grow further from here on.
5. Dandadan (2021 – )
Image Courtesy: Fandom Wiki
- MAL : 8.31
- Author : Yukinobu Tatsu
- Chapters : 143 – Ongoing
- Genre : Action, Comedy, Supernatural
Dandadan’s anime adaptation is set to release later this year. However, the series is regarded as one of the best uncharacteristic shonen manga and has already amassed millions of admirers. Thus, it is not your typical action-comedy and comes with a supernatural twist, which is extremely fun to read.
This series, which again my Editor has been insisting I read right away, boasts an incredible cast of characters, an oddball plot, and crazy battle scenes rendered in exquisite art by Yukinobu Tatsu. It’s still refreshing to read the manga after more than 100 chapters, and I assure you this series can be a game-changer in the shonen genre.
4. Chainsaw Man (2018 – )
Image Courtesy: Fandom Wiki
- MAL : 8.72
- Author : Tatsuki Fujimoto
- Chapters : 165 – Ongoing
- Genre : Action, Supernatural
When the Chainsaw Man anime debuted, it became an instant hit because of how distinctive its plot and characters were. In this manga, we see the protagonist Denji fight devils that haunt Japan and well he’s a devil hybrid himself.
Tatsuki Fujimoto had a breakthrough in his career with CSM. As one of the three dark shonen titles, CSM has topics that are quite mature and gloomy, hence, it should be emphasized that it is not for everyone.
It is a unique contemporary shonen animanga series featuring a wacky lead and supporting cast. Chainsaw Man has been highly unpredictable from the beginning and doesn’t feature the regular shonen tropes so you can never tell what will happen next in the story.
3. One Punch Man (2012 – )
Image Courtesy: Fandom Wiki
- MAL : 8.74
- Authors : Yusuke Murata (Art), ONE (Story)
- Chapters : 200 – Ongoing
- Genre : Action, Comedy
Technically, One Punch is not a manga that has started recently as it has been in serialization since 2012. However, according to the fandom, there is still so much story left to tell that it would take at least another decade for the manga to reach its conclusion. That’s why we have included ONE’s One Punch Man in our list.
Most long-running manga are disappearing slowly and it’s good to have at least one manga that can potentially carry on the legacy in the battle shonen genre. One Punch Man is already a sensation in the animanga community and fans are madly waiting for season 3 of One Punch Man , coming later this year.
OPM is the forerunner in the action-comedy genre with its godly art and amusing characters. Thus, there is no doubt that it can keep creating history over time.
2. Blue Lock (2018 – )
Image Courtesy: Fandom Wiki
- MAL : 8.52
- Authors : Muneyuki Kaneshiro (Story), Yuusuke Nomura (Art)
- Chapters : 261 – Ongoing
- Genre : Sports, Drama
The Blue Lock manga has been released in Weekly Shonen Jump since 2018. However, when the Blue Lock anime debuted alongside FIFA Worldcup 2022, it captivated football and anime fans alike, resulting in its massive success. After Haikyuu ended its run, Blue Lock managed to take the baton for the sports genre with its egotistical take on a team sport, storytelling, and enthralling characters.
As a result, Blue Lock went on to become the highest-selling manga of 2023 beating the likes of Jujutsu Kaisen, One Piece, etc. With Blue Lock season 2 coming soon and the manga at its peak, this animanga series will continue to top the charts for years to come. Not only just football fans but all Shonen fans will get hooked once they give this series a shot.
1. Sousou no Frieren (2020 – )
Image Courtesy: Sousou no Frieren (X/@FRIEREN_PR)
- MAL : 8.80
- Authors : Kanehito Yamada (Story), Tsukasa Abe (Art)
- Chapters : 127 – Ongoing
- Genre : Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Well, drum roll, please, the animanga series that has all the potential to sit on the shonen throne and rule for ages to come is Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. When the first season of Frieren aired last year, it immediately topped the charts of MyAnimeList and ANN to become the highest-rated anime of all time .
Thanks to the anime adaptation sowing the seeds of popularity, more and more people are getting started with this anime and also reading the manga. Frieren distinguishes itself from other fantasy manga by emphasizing its non-linear storytelling and astonishing characters . This series also features some of the best action sequences I have seen in recent Shonen series.
With its popularity soaring high, the craze for Frieren will let her reign the future of Shonen without any doubts.
An entertainment writer with a passion for analyzing and sharing insights on movies, shows, and anime.
Add new comment
Name
Email ID
Δ
