What happens to Kafka Hibino after his arrest in Kaiju No. 8? Explained

Modified Jun 23, 2024 13:30 GMT

Kaiju No. 8 has quickly become one of the most popular new manga and anime series, centering around protagonist Kafka Hibino and his ability to transform into a Kaiju. In Episode 10 of the Kaiju No. 8 anime, Kafka is forced to reveal his Kaiju transformation to stop a massive bomb attack from Kaiju No. 10.

Despite saving countless lives, Kafka Hibino is apprehended by Captain Mina Ashiro immediately after reverting to human form. This leaves fans wondering as to what happens to Kafka after his arrest in the series.

After his arrest, Kafka is imprisoned at the Ariake Maritime Base but ultimately spared from execution, with Director General Isao Shinomiya deciding to use him as a weapon for the Defense Force.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from the Kaiju No. 8 manga.

Kafka's arrest by the defense force in Kaiju No. 8

Expand Tweet

The reason for Kafka's arrest stems from the Defense Force's fear of his Kaiju capabilities. As a "Daikaiju" or extremely powerful Kaiju infiltrating the military, Kafka represents a major security threat in the eyes of the higher-ups.

Even Captain Ashiro's faith in Kafka isn't enough to overturn standing protocol regarding Kaiju identification and detainment. After being arrested, the future looks dire for Kafka Hibino. Kaiju No. 8's manga explores what happens next, with Defense Force leaders debating whether to dispose of Kafka or keep him captive.

Following his arrest, Kafka Hibino is transferred to the maximum security Ariake Maritime Base. Here, he is held prisoner, awaiting judgment on how exactly the Defense Force plans to make use of their newly revealed Kaiju asset.

Captain Mina Ashiro vows she will continue lobbying for Kafka's good treatment and against his termination. Before parting ways, she reassures Kafka that none of the Third Division see him as a monster.

Director General Shinomiya decides to use Kafka as weapon

General Shinomiya as shown in manga (Image via Naoya Matsumoto)

Director General Shinomiya meets face-to-face with the incarcerated Kafka, collecting blood samples while warning him that his monstrous alter-ego remains dangerously uncontrolled.

When Kafka transforms involuntarily during their confrontation, he proves Shinomiya's point, but also demonstrates his hard-fought ability to forcefully turn back into human form. Importantly, the kaiju that originally infected Kafka is revealed to still be present inside him.

After this incident, Shinomiya emphasizes to Kafka that his ongoing survival will depend on proving his worth to the Defense Force. This implies Kafka will stay under strict supervision at Ariake, only allowed outside if he can show his Kaiju transformations provide meaningful value against other threats.

Shinomiya stops short of clarifying what tests or battles may decide Kafka's eventual fate. Most favor using Kafka's body to develop new anti-Kaiju weapons, much to the dismay of Captain Ashiro and Kafka's Third Division allies.

However, Director General Isao Shinomiya decides against killing Kafka, instead seeing potential in utilizing his abilities. This sparks intense disagreement among the Defense Force's top officials. Yet Shinomiya's authority prevails, keeping Kafka alive for the time being and use as a weapon for the Defense Force.

Conclusion

Expand Tweet

Kafka Hibino survives his initial arrest, but continues facing an uncertain future in Kaiju No. 8 following his imprisonment. While no longer directly marked for termination, he must still struggle to master his Kaiju alter ego and secure lasting acceptance in the Defense Force, which has become both his aspiration and his cage.

Anime-only fans eagerly awaiting Episode 11 will finally see the next phase of Kafka's story play out on-screen. Early episode summaries indicate Episode 11 will adapt Kafka's transfer to Ariake Maritime Base from the manga's Chapter 33.

Viewers can expect more tense debates between Defense Force leaders over Kafka's fate, and his first in-depth interactions with Director General Shinomiya. The episode likely concludes with Kafka confined in Ariake as Shinomiya emphasizes the expectations for him to control his Kaiju alter-ego and prove its worth.