Kaiju No. 8: Is Isao Shinomiya dead?

Kaiju No. 8 is set in a dangerous world where death may be imminent at any point. Faced against the monstrous Kaiju, humanity’s Defense Force puts their lives on the line to uphold the peace. One of the key figures in this group of protectors is Isao Shinomiya, the Director General and Kikoru’s father.

He is a stern man, once considered the strongest soldier in the Defense Force, and remains a formidable individual even in his old age. Nevertheless, considering the greater threats introduced in the storyline, fans may worry about his fate in the series. Isao Shinomiya dies in Kaiju No. 8, and this is a deeply emotional and significant moment that marks a turning point in the story.

As the most crucial person in the Defense Force, Isao Shinomiya’s first appearance came during his confrontation with Kafka, who was revealed to be Kaiju No. 8. Despite his cold and intense demeanour, however, he soon proved to be much more caring than expected.

After an electrifying battle against Kafka, Isao concluded that the protagonist could be used as a weapon by the Kaiju forces and decided to recruit him. From that point on, his impact on other characters became evident. Isao had motivated Gen Narumi to become a strong soldier and was also purposefully strict with Kikoru to encourage her growth following the death of her mother.

He proved why he had earned the admiration and respect of all those around him, skillfully wielding his weapon, crafted from Kaiju No. 2. Regrettably, despite the immense improvement shown by the Defense Force during his tenure, they still couldn't match up to the incredibly powerful and cunning Kaiju No. 9.

During the Kaiju Weapon Arc, the main cast was engaged in a high-stakes battle against Kaiju No. 9 while Isao looked on from headquarters. Right after the antagonist was defeated and the day seemed to be saved, Kafka discovered that the opponent they had fought was just a decoy.

At that point, the real body of Kaiju No. 9 manifested near Isao and the workers at headquarters. As the Director General ordered all personnel to evacuate, he stepped up to face the enemy with the powers of Kaiju No. 2. Despite putting up a valiant effort, however, Kaiju No. 9’s body had evolved far beyond expectations.

As a result, despite Isao’s convictions, he was beaten. When Narumi and Kafka arrived at the scene, they saw a body resembling Isao standing on top of a Kaiju corpse. However, the protagonist immediately recognized that it was not Isao.

Rather, it was Kaiju No. 9, who had taken Isao’s form. The Kaiju expressed that it had killed Isao Shinomiya and fused with him. This shocked the entire cast, forcing them to take action to defeat their enemy. However, Kaiju No. 9 ended up retreating, putting off the revenge of the Defense Force till later.

Can Isao Shinomiya come back to life in Kaiju No. 8?

There have been subtle clues hinting at the potential return of Isao Shinomiya in Kaiju No. 8. During the final battle against Kaiju No. 9, his spirit could resist from within the creature, allowing Kafka to deal a finishing blow and kill it.

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While Kaiju No. 9 did say that it had killed Isao Shinomiya, it could have simply considered his absorption to be the same as death. Additionally, there have been monsters sealed inside Kaiju No. 9, such as the Meireki Era Mega Monster, that have returned to life.

Hence, Isao Shinomiya's return in Kaiju No. 8 remains a definite possibility. This would also be supported by the fact that the manga is yet to show any major death among the main cast and seems to be taking a more standard shonen approach of a happy ending where everyone survives. Should the series maintain its tone, Isao Shinomiya’s return would also stay consistent with its themes.

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