Kafka Hibino, also known as Kaiju No. 8, is the main protagonist of the Kaiju No. 8 manga series. Formerly a worker for the Professional Kaiju Cleaning Company, he is now a Defense Force officer with the ability to transform into a humanoid Kaiju after one entered his body. Initially part of the Third Division, he was recently transferred to the First Division.

Kafka has a comically childish personality, making him an easy target for teasing despite his determination and dedication in serious situations. He is a genuinely caring and kind individual, often going out of his way to help others, offering solutions to problems, saving people from danger, and scolding them for not taking care of themselves.

He strives to avoid disappointing those who trust in him. This fear of breaking connections leads to insecurity and uncertainty about his future. When he loses control of his transformed body, the horror of becoming what he has always hated drives him to take drastic action. The fear of hurting those he cares about initially prevents him from using his Kaiju form until Kikoru Shinomiya encourages him to trust his comrades and the Defense Force.

Kafka gets annoyed when labeled an “old man,” often reminding others of his seniority.

Powers & Abilities

After a kaiju entered his body, Kafka gained the power to transform into a humanoid daikaiju with immense strength and abilities. He can change specific parts of his body without a full transformation, allowing him to appear completely human. However, his kaiju nature limits his ability to draw more than 1% of power from the Defense Force combat suit. His kaiju form has a fortitude level of 9.8, making him one of the most powerful kaiju ever.

Kafka can overpower other kaiju, resist attacks, and demonstrate significant dexterity. However, his transformation can sometimes lead to a raging, out-of-control Kaiju No. 8. Prolonged transformation risks his human body permanently turning into a kaiju. Despite his strength, Kafka’s body can’t withstand the full force of his powers due to his age.

Abilities

• Unleashed Combat Power: Kafka is the only Defense Force member to release 0% of their combat suit’s power, later increasing to 1%. Despite this limitation, he can tear into dead kaiju bodies with ease.
• Kaiju Transformation: Kafka’s transformation grants him immense strength, durability, speed, reflexes, energy attacks, shapeshifting, gigantification, regeneration, and kaiju localization sense.

Kafka’s extensive knowledge of kaiju anatomy aids him in identifying weaknesses and types of kaiju. Despite his low released force as a human, his kaiju form’s fortitude and abilities make him a formidable opponent. To minimize time spent as Kaiju No. 8, Kafka trained in Squadron-Style Combat Technique and the hand-to-hand techniques of the Hoshina Family, evolving his fighting style to critically damage Kaiju No. 9.