Based on a popular manga, one of the hottest anime airing right now in the Spring 2024 season is Kaiju No. 8. But plenty of the people who are watching the anime did not read the manga, and the first episode got right into the action without explaining much context. While this worked to its advantage by drawing in audiences looking for fast-paced sci-fi action and didn't waste time getting into the plot, it may have left some viewers with questions.
Kaiju No. 8 is set in an alternate modern Japan where kaiju, which are huge monsters, regularly attack the populace. Attacks are so common and devastating that a special organization has been made to deal with them and protect normal citizens. That organization is the Japan Anti-Kaiju Defence Force, and they are critical not only to the lore but to the story of Kaiju No. 8. The first episode of the anime did little to explain who they are and where they came from, though, so let's take a deeper look at who they are.
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What is the Japan Anti-Kaiju Defence Force?
Organization Name | Japan Anti-Kaiju Defence Force |
Anime Title | Kaiju No. 8 |
Anime Debut | Episode 1 |
Manga Debut | Chapter 1 |
The Japan Anti-Kaiju Defence Force is known colloquially as simply the Defence Force. It is an organization that exists specifically to fight back against kaiju that attack Japan, known as "neutralizing" them. It has bases across the country. According to the Kaiju No. 8 manga in Chapter 3, since it was established, the Defence Force has never failed to neutralize a kaiju threatening the people of Japan.
However, 10 years before the events of the main story, there was what was called a "cataclysmic" event, described in Chapter 38. Kaiju No. 6, a powerful daikaiju, killed 200 soldiers and 3 captains during its reign of terror. Since then, the Defence Force has always been preparing for the next inevitable cataclysmic kaiju. To join, prospective members have to first pass the First-Stage Examination, which is written, followed by an intensive two-part Second-Stage Examination. The first part is a physical test, but the second is an ever-changing aptitude test which is meant to be impossible to prepare for in advance.
The Defence Force members wear a special combat suit which is actually made from kaiju cells and muscle fibers, according to Chapter 20. Because of this, the suit is able to augment its power to suit the needs of the wearer using a technique called Unleashed Combat Power. This can only be used for a short time before overheating, though, which can severely injure the person wearing the suit. Captains and Vice-Captains in the Defence Force also get to use special customized weapons because of their rank, with each of them being worth the same as dozens of regular soldiers in terms of power and ability.
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Why is the Defence Force Important to the Story?
The Japan Anti-Kaiju Defence Force is critical to the story of Kaiju No. 8 for a few reasons. Firstly, the anime is, at its most simple, a story about fighting kaiju, and the Defence Force does exactly that! Beyond that, though, the existence of an organization as big, well-organized, and well-funded as the Defence Force is important for world-building. The world of Kaiju No. 8 is under constant threat of kaiju attacks, and the Defence Force shows just how much of a problem that is by its very existence.
The Defence Force is also critical to the character development and personal story of the main character, Kafka Hibino. As a child, he lost part of his neighborhood to a devastating kaiju attack. After the mayhem, Kafka and his childhood friend, Mina Ashiro, vowed to grow up to join the Defence Force together to get revenge for everything that was lost that day. In reality, though, only Mina passed the intense examinations to enter, whereas Kafka failed.
When Kaiju No. 8 opens, Mina Ashiro is already an accomplished and celebrated Captain in the Defence Force, and is even shown neutralizing a kaiju with ease at the start of the first episode of the anime. Meanwhile, Kafka is stuck in a job he hates, cleaning up the kaiju corpses after the Defence Force is done with them. Thanks to encouragement and pushing from his new coworker, though, Kafka considers returning to the Defence Force...
...though, of course, everything changes when he becomes a kaiju himself! Skip the remainder of this paragraph if you do not want spoilers for upcoming episodes in the anime. With his newfound powers, Kafka is finally able to join the Defence Force himself, and even rises to the rank of being an officer. He is able to find who he always wanted to be, and find a place for himself in the world even as a half-kaiju, thanks to the Defence Force. Not to mention, he can reconnect with Mina at long last!
The Japan Anti-Kaiju Defence Force is a powerful private military organization that keeps the people of Japan safe from monsters with an incredible success rate. It is also a huge part of the story and world of Kaiju No. 8, and critical to understanding Kafka's personal journey. The Defence Force has a lot of cool features, like its bio-weapon combat suits and powerful weapons, which adds interesting lore and even more sci-fi elements to the world of Kaiju No. 8.
You can watch Kaiju No. 8 now on Crunchyroll.
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Kaiju No. 8 (2024)
Production I.G's Kaiju No. 8 is a Spring 2024 anime based on Naoya Matsumoto's Shonen Jump+ manga. Set in an alternate version of Japan, the story follows the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force as they try to protect the nation from monster attacks.