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A Kakuja (赫者, red one[1], kakuja) is a kind of ghoul with a transformed kagune that clads the ghoul's body. Though it is rare, it can occur through repeated cannibalism. When a ward has a higher ghoul to human ratio, cannibalism is more common due to turf wars and limited food supply.

Sometimes, the transformation is incomplete, and such individuals are called half-kakujas (半赫者, han kakuja).

It is said that through cannibalism, a ghoul absorbs Rc cells, and this increases the concentration of Rc cells within a ghoul's body. If the concentration becomes high enough, it may trigger a mutation and lead to the formation of a new kagune.

A kakuja can further evolve by continuing to cannibalize their kind. For instance, while the One-Eyed Owl had a human-shape and size before its disappearance, it eventually developed into a much larger and more monstrous form during the Owl Suppression Operation in the 20th ward.

The transformation seems to be affected by psychological factors as Ken Kaneki's kakuja kagune takes the form of a centipede, resembling the Red-headed Chinese Centipede Yakumo Oomori used to torture Kaneki by putting it in his ear. In addition, Kaneki compares himself to Gregor Samsa, the protagonist of the novel The Metamorphosis who turned into an insect-like creature, all while picturing a centipede in his mind. Yoshimura's kakuja mask also grew to resemble the One-Eyed Owl's mask, with the former holding the desire to keep attention towards himself and away from the latter for personal reasons.It is explained by Eto that the size of a kagune is determined by rc quantity and quality while the shape of it is determined by imagination and creativity, which also applies to kakujas hence Kaneki's centipede and Yoshimura resembling a one eyed owl.

It should be noted that members of the Tsukiyama family have a birth defect where cannibalism has little to no chance of triggering this mutation in their Rc cells due to consanguineous marriages, thereby preventing kakuja mutations.

Powers

Apart from the predatory kagune ghouls commonly possess, a kakuja has a special kagune that clads the ghoul's body and functions like an armor. The kagune amplifies the kakuja's strength or diversifies their abilities, which makes fighting one of them especially hard.

However, using a kakuja kagune is nearly impossible because most users tend to lose their minds while fighting with it.[2] It is unknown why some ghouls are able to remain sane and others are not. One reason may be that all unstable/insane ghouls using kakuja are half/incomplete as full kakuja are not observed to have any problems maintaining control.

It appears that a kakuja kagune can form a mask over the user's face if need be.

Known Kakujas

Image Ghoul Type Alias as Kakuja Forms Description
Yoshimura Ukaku Non-Killing Owl Blades and
Armor
Ukaku ghouls are known to specialize in long-range attacks and can be overwhelmed at a close-range. Having cannibalized ghouls during his missions to exterminate other ghoul organizations, Yoshimura sharpened and developed his kagune to form two large scimitar blades from his shoulders to counteract this weakness. With two large blades, he can cover the distance between his opponents, parry incoming attacks, and strike back synchronously. While his ukaku kagune extends from middle to far distances, his kakuja cuts down those in front; it is almost impossible to escape Yoshimura's reach. Yoshimura's kakuja kagune also forms a mask similar to the One-Eyed Owl's with minor differences in the eye-hole size and line curves. Unlike most kakujas, he is able to maintain his consciousness.
Yamori's kakuja Yakumo Oomori Rinkaku Jason Arm (Incomplete) After escaping the prison, Yamori cannibalized in the 13th ward and became a strong, incomplete kakuja. His kagune cladded his head and arm which acted like a flesh armor. The armor packed more punch into his attacks by enveloping more flesh into his thorned tentacles and healed his wounds at a faster rate. Since he was an incomplete kakuja, he had no control and fought like a blind berserker.
Arata's Kakuja Arata Kirishima Koukaku Corpse Collector Armor Eating ghoul corpses, Arata developed a full kakuja. Unlike most kakuja, the armor Arata developed seemed to be completely defensive in nature. It consists of metal-like plating that covers the body.
Ken Kaneki Rinkaku K-Eater

Centipede
Dragon

Tails (Incomplete)
Arm (Incomplete)
Blades and Armor (Incomplete)
Blade (Incomplete)
Behemoth-sized Armor
Wings
After consuming Yamori's kakuja and various other ghouls and their kagune, Kaneki obtained an incomplete kakuja after his confrontation with Dr. Kanou. Kaneki's kakuja are twin centipede-like tails protruding downwards from his back with sharp talons on the side. In this form, Kaneki's kakuja forms a mask that features a hole for his left eye and a bird's beak over the middle of his face. They provide Kaneki with enough power to even overwhelm Shinohara's Arata Proto. As an incomplete kakuja, Kaneki's loses all aspects of his personality when using this form and, as a result, fights like a psychotic berserker. Due to this, Kaneki only uses his kakuja form in the direst of situations. After consuming Eto's kakuja, his kakuja takes the form of a large arm with a mouth, and his mask forms a carapace covering on his entire face. During his final battle with Arima, his third kakuja encases his upper torso and arms and is capable of producing koukaku-like blades. In this state, Kaneki retains his sanity and makes precise calculations in battle. Unlike most kakuja, this one does not sport a mask. After losing his limbs in a fight against Hanbee and Juuzou, Kaneki devours Hajime and other members of the Oggai. This leads to the forming of a gigantic and grotesque kakuja which Furuta names “Dragon”. After being freed from this form, Kaneki's Kakuja takes the form of an armor like structure wrapping around his body, forming blades from his shoulders.
The Underground king's Kagune-2 Underground King Naagaraji Behemoth-sized Armor His kakuja-like structure has a serpentine formation with various arm appendages that spread from building to building. It also appears to be stone-like.
Eto Yoshimura Ukaku One-Eyed Owl
Taxidermied Owl
Blades and
Armor
Behemoth-sized Armor
Due to living in the 24th ward where the number of ghouls are much higher than humans, Eto had to cannibalize ghouls at an early age and quickly became a kakuja. Like her father, she is able to shape her kakuja kagune into two muscular blades above her shoulders. This increased capability in close-range helps her counteract her kagune's weakness. In her full kakuja form, Eto takes the appearance of a large, monstrous creature. Her kakuja consists of large spikes protruding from her back, four large protrusions similar to Yoshimura's, and large bird-like feet. Her kakuja mask develops four horns and has a single eye in the center with three markings on both cheeks and the forehead. In this form, she is nearly unstoppable. She can shoot projectiles large enough to overwhelm most seasoned investigators with ease and her physical strength is augmented to the point she is able to knock out an Arata Proto-equipped Yukitori Shinohara and Iwao Kuroiwa through brute force alone. Unlike most kakujas, she maintains her consciousness. Much like her kagune, she is able to change the physical form of her kakuja, spawning extra appendages like limbs, mouths and eyes at will. It also has the potency of obliterating a huge disposal machinery at Cochlea. After she was captured and puppeted by Donato Porpora, her kakuja evolved again. In this form, she becomes a deadly, massive creature with six extremely long schimitar-like protrusions, similiar to blades, emerging from it's back. These protrusions are very strong, as they have been shown to send several CCG Investigators flying with a single swipe. They can also be turned into long, flexible, tentacle-like appendages that are strong to demolish surroundings structures and kill large amounts of enemies, as shown during the Defense of Tokyo. This form also gives her the extremely rare ability to perform RC Cell Blasts. It can do this by curling two of the protrusions into an upward curve above it's upper back to direct large amounts of highly-condensed RC Cells into the appendages a then releasing it in the form of an extremely large, powerful energy wave. These destructive energy beams are excessively powerful as a single use of this attack has been shown to kill an extremely high number of CCG Investigators and destroy several large structures.
Seidou Takizawa Ukaku T-Owl Blade (Incomplete) Blades and
Armor
Takizawa at first possessed an incomplete version of a kakuja. His kakuja manifested as a partial mask covering his face, and a massive blade emerging from either shoulder. Its usage significantly degraded his mental state, causing him to ramble nonsense and engage in self-harm. During the events on Rushima and while fighting Tatara, his kakuja evolved. His mask instead forms into an owl's face and despite retaining his berserk fighting style, he is calmer and more methodical. He no longer rambles incoherently, thinks about his moves, takes down Tomoe and Tatara and manages to regain his composure to converse with Houji and the CCG. Later on his kakuja evolves even further, allowing him to fight on equal ground with a highly destructive and unstable Amon who is in the kakuja state as well.
Koutarou Amon Ukaku A-Owl

Floppy

Behemoth-sized Armor
Blades and
Armor
Amon's kakuja is similar to Eto's, both having similar abilities, a single eye on the head of the kakuja and being behemoth-sized. However, his is incomplete and his head can be seen emerging from the side of the kakuja's head. It is capable of withstanding damage and shoot massive ukaku projectiles able to break through an enemy's kagune. Additionally, it can merge with Doujima 1/2, creating a kakuja quinque he can use in battle. In his second kakuja form, he has a large humanoid form that closely resembles Yoshimura's kakuja form, which have multiple large scimitar blades protruding from his back. In this form, he has been able to fight off both Takizawa and Kurona with ease.
Noro Bikaku Noro Mouths Noro's kakuja is unlike most kakuja. Instead of forming armor, Noro's body transforms into a huge mass of kagune which is covered by large mouths, similar to that of his regular kagune. Noro is unable to move while in this state, as this lump of kagune rages uncontrollably. While in this form, Noro is capable of withstanding a high quantity of firepower.
Kurona's Kakuja Re Anime Kurona Yasuhisa Rinkaku B-Eater

Floppy

Arms (Incomplete) Kurona's developed a deformed kakuja that consists of four arms and numerous eyes forming over her upper face, combined with scale-like armor covering her body.
Tatara's Kakuja (Anime) Tatara Tatara Armor Tatara's kakuja wraps around his upper body as a bulky armor. Developing two hammer like appendages and numerous eyes forming over his upper face. Through the head, he is capable of breathing fire at 4000°C, easily overwhelming investigators. Tatara can change the quantities of fire produced, simply from a small stream in front of his face or a large wave of fire that can engulf multiple enemies in one quick attack. While in this state, Tatara is consumed by rage.
Roma's kakuja anime Roma Hoito Dodgy Mother Behemoth-sized Armor A serial cannibal in her youth, Roma mutated into a powerful kakuja. Her mutated kagune can generate a massive form, resembling a multi-limbed creature with a gaping mouth similar to the Lamprey fish. In this form, her real body is embedded into the forehead of the creature with extra limbs poking out of the face and sides.
Uta's Kakuja Uta No-Face Arms (Incomplete) Uta possesses an unknown kakuja that takes the form of several large arms sprouting from his shoulders and back with flesh that covers most of his face. Uta is capable of morphing his head into a three sectioned mouth with jaws, akin to that of a venus flytrap, which he can use to devour his enemies whole.
Furuta's Kakuja anime Kichimura Washuu Rinkaku Washuu King Armor Kichimura possesses a rinkaku kakuja formed with Rize's kakuhou. It takes the form of full body black  armor with several tentacles sprouting from the back and shoulders. A full mask forms around his face and head, letting only his hair out, forming a single, glowing eye and a large jaw and teeth.
Shikorae Kakuja Shikorae Ukaku, Koukaku, Rinkaku and Bikaku Jail Armor After absorbing the remainings from the Dragon Orphans, Shikorae developed a chimera kakuja giving him a larger appearance and extra limbs.

Trivia

  • The dragon form was never called a kakuja, only a dragon. Therefore it is unknown if it is one or a mutation other than a kakuja.

References

  1. Here, "one" stands for a person.
  2. Tokyo Ghoul Chapter 104
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