Kaiju No. 8: How did Kafka turn into a Kaiju?

Kaiju No. 8, published in Weekly Shonen Jump on June 16, 2025, is an immensely popular shonen series that follows Kafka Hibino, a middle-aged man who gains the ability to turn into a humanoid Kaiju and fight against the monsters threatening humanity. Since the anime has yet to explain the circumstances surrounding how the protagonist obtained this power, many fans may be curious about the answer.

Kafka turned into a Kaiju after consuming a mysterious larva that carried the hatred and regrets of ancient warriors. The larva sets up the introduction of the main antagonist in Kaiju No. 8, the Meireki Era Mega Monster, while adding to the lore and history of the series.

At the very beginning of Kaiju No. 8, Kafka Hibino, who was an ordinary man without strength, had an enigmatic insect-like monster enter his mouth, turning him into a humanoid Kaiju. Apart from that one scene, the story did not delve into the specifics of the protagonist’s transformation.

Nevertheless, Kafka grew to tame his powers, becoming an invaluable asset to humanity in the battle against Kaiju No. 9 and the other antagonists. However, during the Last Wave Arc, the true villain that was fused inside Kaiju No. 9, called the Meireki Era Mega Monster, was revealed.

As soon as it appeared, it fatally wounded Kafka, pushing him to the brink of death. At that moment, the protagonist had a vision of an ancient warrior and finally discovered the origin of his powers. During the Meireki Era, in the year 1657, warriors and samurai wielded parasitic weapons and bravely fought against the monsters threatening humanity.

During one of their expeditions, however, the Meireki Era Mega Monster emerged from within a Kaiju. Despite their best efforts, everyone was defeated, after which their homes and loved ones were wiped out, leaving the warriors helpless.

As the slaughtered men piled up, their collective resentments merged and became a core. This core, combined with the dragon vein beneath the surface, results in the creation of a tiny larva. The larva had presumably been waiting for the right host and ended up selecting Kafka.

Does Kafka lose the ability to turn into a Kaiju in Kaiju No. 8?

The recently released Kaiju No. 8 chapter 128 brought forth several revelations, the most groundbreaking of which was the hint that Kafka may end up losing his ability to turn into a Kaiju. After defeating the Meireki Era Mega Monster, the vengeance of the ancient warriors that Kafka was carrying had been settled, leading to them fading away.

Since the protagonist had turned his own heart into a core and brought his connection closer to them, he himself was in danger of dying. Thankfully, this was avoided due to Isao Shinomiya’s appearance, who then gave Kafka his heart.

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While Kafka was saved because of this, all traces of the Meireki Era and the consciences trapped by the monster were freed. Hence, although Kaiju No. 8 chapter 129, which is the final installment of the manga, will likely give a definitive answer, it is safe to assume that Kafka Hibino has lost his ability to transform into a Kaiju.

At the same time, since Isao entrusted him with helping humanity rebuild society, the protagonist may find some other source of strength to continue playing his role as a protector.

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