Talk:Ken Kaneki/@comment-198.91.182.204-20140913155243/@comment-68.34.121.235-20140913163317

You're only looking at ONE weak hint that suggests Kaneki is alive (it could just be Touka in denial) when there are many more that suggest he's dead.

In volume 1, Kaneki himself mentioned that a story with him as a protagonist would end up as a tragedy. In volume 14, Arima tells Kaneki that he won't be able to go past Area V14, a reference to Kaneki dying in volume 14. It's clear that Uta and co are flat out convinced that Kaneki is dead, after trying to save Yoshimura. Then during the CCG briefing with Arima, it shows a picture of Kaneki's face crossed out and labeled as "Erased". Then the leader of CCG tells Arima "ownership rights are yours..." before it flashes to a picture of the black briefcase. This heavily implies that they were talking about the ownership rights to the quinque made from Kaneki's kagune/kakuja.

There are just way too many hints and suggestions to think that Kaneki is alive. Touka saying she believes in Kaneki and waiting in vain for the rest of her life for him to return was only added to show the tragic aspect of the story, not to suggest that Kaneki is alive. What emphasizes the tragedy even more is the final picture - it's white silhouette of Arima carrying the briefcase with Kaneki in it. This means, yes Kaneki will return to Anteiku, but it'll be as a Quinque.