The latest episode of Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 showcased Isao Shinomiya’s valiant stand against Kaiju No. 9 despite the antagonist’s surprising attack on the Defense Force Headquarters. Though far past his prime, Isao held his own against Kaiju No. 9 for a great part of the battle.
However, since the monster had evolved beyond expectations, it ended up winning and assimilating Isao’s body. When Kafka and Gen caught up to the battle, they saw Kaiju No. 9 taking on the form of Isao Shinomiya, which seemingly confirmed that the Director General had died.
Nevertheless, given the grey area surrounding Isao Shinomiya’s death and absorption at the hands of the enemy, many fans may wonder whether this is simply another shonen fake-out and whether the beloved character will make a return in the series. No, Isao Shinomiya does not come back to life in Kaiju No. 8, and he is decisively dead.

Isao Shinomiya’s final appearance in Kaiju No. 8
While Isao Shinomiya may be dead in Kaiju No. 8, this does not mean that fans have seen the last of him. Rather, right until the very end of the manga, he plays a crucial role in humanity’s fight against the Kaiju, supporting Kafka and Kikoru through his conscience and spirit.
Firstly, during Kafka’s concluding battle against Kaiju No. 9, Isao’s spirit managed to hold back the monster, allowing Kafka to destroy its core and defeat it. Soon after, the true villain, the Meireki Era Mega Monster, made its appearance, posing a monumental challenge for the main cast.
However, refusing to fear it, the Defense Force worked together and killed the Meireki Era Mega Monster. Immediately after, Kafka fainted and was prepared to accept his death, having turned his heart into a core for the sake of greater power. Right when the protagonist’s fate seemed sealed, Isao’s conscience appeared yet again.
While Kafka began apologizing for the destruction caused by the Kaiju, Isao expressed that humanity had the strength to recover, learn, and adapt from countless catastrophes, and that it wouldn’t be any different this time.
He then tasked the protagonist with assisting in humanity’s efforts and placed his own heart inside Kafka, stating that he didn’t need it any longer. As he faded away with the other spirits trapped inside the Meireki Era Mega Monster, Isao told Kafka to take care of everyone, especially Kikoru.

Hence, even after his death, Isao Shinomiya arguably plays the most important role in Kaiju No. 8. Through just the remaining part of his conscience, he aided in Kaiju No. 9’s defeat and helped Kafka survive. In the final chapter of the manga, while Kafka was expecting to have lost his powers, he was surprised to find that the vengeful spirits within him had decided to stay.
The protagonist hypothesized that the Director General may have forced all the spirits to stay back, enlisting their help to protect the nation. Therefore, while there may be no heartwarming reunion between Isao and Kikoru for the rest of the anime, fans of Chief Shinomiya are in for several exciting moments.