‘Tokyo Ghoul’ follows the story of Ken Kaneki, the protagonist, who faces a deadly encounter with a ghoul named Rize Kamishiro. In Kaneki’s world, ghouls haunt human society, eating the flesh of human beings. While he detests and is traumatized by these beings, he himself turns into one later on.
Kaneki goes on a date with Rize without knowing the latter is a ghoul. As Rize attacks the latter, they fall victim to an accident where Rize loses her life. Things get twisted thereafter. The doctor, in order to save Kaneki’s life, transplants some of Rize’s organs to him, making him half-ghoul and half-human. The story follows the journey of him accepting his new reality and moving forward with it.
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Ken Kaneki’s Motive For Joining The Aogiri Tree Organization
Though the main fight is between the ghouls and the military, known as the CCG organization, things aren’t so simple. Within the ghoul society the terrorist group, Aogiri Tree, traumatizes the life of humans and ghouls alike.
After wandering to find his own place, Kaneki stumbles upon a cafe named Anteiku, which is operated and is a place for ghouls. Everyone working there becomes a part of Kaneki’s family. While things have been quiet and peaceful for a few days, the Aogiri organization visits Anteiku, stumbling upon the half-human and half-ghoul being.
Their motive was to find out about Rize, and as you may guess, they kidnap Kaneki for he possesses her powers now. Also, it was because they were curious about him as he belonged to both worlds. Kaneki’s kidnapping was a pivotal point in the story’s progression.
Tokyo Ghoul deserved better pic.twitter.com/p8Vwi5XwEe
— Aren (@fatedirector) October 28, 2022
After being kidnapped, Kaneki is brutally tortured by Jason (a member of the organization). During this time, Kaneki faces identity loss and realizes he doesn’t have any power to either protect himself or to protect the people he cherishes. After reaching a breaking point, Kaneki chooses his ghoul life, turning his hair white as a symbol.
He kills and cannibalizes Jason while deciding to join Aogiri Tree. The fans thought it was weird for him to join an organization that tortured him, but his reasons were justified. He would be acting as a medium to keep tabs on the other members so that he could inform Anteiku, in case of another attack on them.
Moreover, he realized, he could be more powerful if he stayed with them. Fighting with stronger foes will only help him advance from his current standings. His third reason to join was to find out more about why the organization wanted Rize’s power so badly, and also the identity of the One-Eyed Ghoul (the leader of the organization).
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Is The Manga Different From Tokyo Ghoul Anime In This Aspect?
In Sui Ishida’s manga, there’s no mention of Ken Kaneki joining the Aogiri Tree organization. This was a section completely different from the manga. But we can’t argue, that this made things more exciting in the series.
In the manga, Kaneki does release himself from the clutches of Jason, but instead of joining, he himself creates an Anti-Aogiri organization. The group is led by him and Kazuichi Banjo. In the anime, there is mention of this group, and it indeed is ruled by Banjo, only Kaneki is absent from the plot.
Anime: Tokyo Ghoul (Opening 1)
— Anime OP/ED of the Week (@OpEDoftheWeek) October 29, 2022
Song: Unravel
Artist: Toru Kitajima
Released: 2014 pic.twitter.com/ws7ToJUjuf
The group’s goal was to help Kaneki with his goals, like defeating the Aogiri Tree organization, finding clues about Rize, and also to protect Anteiku from future threats. They also focused on warding off any threats from the CCG, but their main target set on Aogiri. Banjo’s sidetracking from the manga, made the 2nd season all the more thrilling.
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