I’ve been thinking a lot about Touka’s character development lately, especially in how it relates to Yoshimura. Touka sees Yoshimura as a father figure, and she currently follows him in world outlook, career, and the role of waiting. Although Touka is short-tempered and can be prone to violence, Yoshimura’s guidance after her parents’ disappearance has offered her ways to partially break the cycle of abuse present throughout the series. As I thought about this, however, I remembered where Yoshimura has actually perpetuated this cycle of abuse in a fatherly role – with his own daughter, Eto. When thinking about these contrasts in Yoshimura’s parenting as well as the Eto/Touka apple parallels, I thought I should spend a bit more time analyzing how these two characters share certain similarities and how these similarities break down into contrasts overtime. Their parallels are particularly interesting when discussing their bird symbolism, their relationship to knowledge/intellectual fields and how these relate to their views on community and power.
So after months or even years of theorizing, Ishida has finally revealed how RC scanners work! (Or at least a part of it).
Apparently, ghoul’s ‘RC’ cells somehow have different ‘patterns’ or ‘frequencies’ which can be detected and monitored. The RC scanners are made to ‘ignore’ a few of these signals, which is practical since you don’t want the scanner to sound the alarm due to Investigators carrying Quinques. (I head canon that for every ghoul who has been killed/has their kakuhou made into a quinque, the RC cell scanner will ‘ignore’ their ‘pattern.’ Which begs the question if a ghoul escaped Cochlea and investigators were still using their kakuhou as Quinques, would the RC scanners still ‘detect’ the ghouls? Anyways, I digress.)
However, the main reveal is that ghouls from the organization ‘V’ will also have their ‘frequencies’ ignored, which explains how Eto is able to walk into the CCG headquarters without sounding the alarm. It also is pretty practical if you think about it–and only highlights the fact that ‘V’ are a bunch of arrogant hypocrites.
Then, how is Kaneki able to pass through the scanners? Well, he got his kakuhou from Rize…who turns out to also be running from V.
In fact, she was a part of V before she defected, so I guess that’s one step closer to unearthing who she really is.
Additionally, this reveal also supports (or at least accommodates) the Souta = Furuta theory. Since we now know Furuta works for V (probably as a mole), he could technically be a ghoul, since we know the RC scanners won’t work for him. So it does make sense that Touka would mistake Furuta for Kaneki since they smell similar (or at least ‘Ghoul-like.’)
Furuta and a ghoul, huh? I initally thought that would be impossible but this chapter taught us so much. Now that you mention it, if he really is a ghoul then this statement is actually… a bit sad…
(He actually said “maneater” and not cannibal) It could mean that he thinks lowly of himself. I still don’t know if he just said that to spite Matsumae but, again, if he is really a ghoul than this statment of his would also apply to him. So does it mean he is so confident with his nature that he has no qualms saying that or could be that he feels “out-of-place” being a ghoul, I do wonder… He is also from Sunlit Garden and the most talented children are trained there. I really ask myself if there are also ghoul children trained there, which to be honest I think so. I mean Rize was so small when she ran away from V and considering that she was still such a young child I strongly asume she was from Sunlit Garden as well. So if both ghouls and humans are trained in SG it makes me scratch my head even more why he would say something like that (referring to the panel I just put there).We also do not see his face while he is saying that so I really do question what he truly thought when he said that to her.
What I also point out is this.
If Furuta knew Rize or at least got aquainted to her why has he so much joy into subduing her? Rize, in a way, got actually quite lucky. She had a great father, had a peaceful childhood (after the escape of course) and received proper care and parental love. Furuta, now that we know that he is from SG and grew up there, quite frankly didn’t receive such things (at least after his arrival in SG. Or it could also be that he lived there since his birth… although I doubt that). He had to train with other children, didn’t receive any proper affection there (I am looking at you Kaiko) and he probably had to face terrible obstacles at a very young age. I also find it strange that Arima, Hairu and Furuta all come from SG and they didn’t care jackshit for each other. Yes, Hairu was madly in love with Arima but he didn’t bother to notice her and Furuta (I am sure he knew that she was from SG I mean he knows everything) never truly commented about Hairu’s death or seemed to care at all. So I also think that the SG children never truly befriended each other, considering that they had to compete each other constantly (just look at Hairu: she always wanted to compete and show her strength off. And Arima, to me, seems to have fun in competing with other people. He also doesn’t understand why Hirako doesn’t care about fighting and competing at all) So my question is, or rather my assumption is, that he laughed while throwing the steal beams on her because he… was envious? I know, it sounds childish and it is still too soon to assume anything, but I can’t shake off that thought… What do you think about that?
Oh, but it would at least explain why he was at the ghoul restaurant….
He’s one of the only characters you can call both your favourite investigator and your favourite ghoul. Seidou Takizawa is one of the most well designed and furthest developed characters in Tokyo Ghoul (excluding Kaneki and his transitions of course). Unfortunately, his “second best” reputation lives up to it’s name when it comes to analysis of his behaviour, characteristics and symbolic association, which I rarely see on the internet compared to other characters. So, I took it upon myself to analyse the amazing artificial owl.
CHARACTER OVERVIEW
Seidou was an ambitious student at the CCG Academy before becoming a full-fledged investigator. Later on in life, he was reunited through his job with his rival, Akira Mado; she was the only student that came above him in class ranks despite his efforts. Although he was second best time after time, his spirit did not die. However, on a rare occasion, Seidou did have what could be described as a mental breakdown due to the overwhelming fear of death when writing a mandatory will. In the Anteiku raid, Seidou fought strong until his arm was taken by Noro and he began bleeding intensely. Seidou’s body was never recovered, and he was declared as killed in action. In :re, we find out that Seidou is in fact alive, yet no longer human. Dr. Kanou had turned Seidou into an artificial One-Eyed Owl, and he is released to fight in the auction raid after he had been starved. He quickly began killing investigators remorselessly and displayed a great turn around in attitude and personality. His speech style and the very content of his sentences confirm this, along with his behaviour and mannerisms. His appearance has also drastically changed. Takizawa also is seen mocking Ayato in a greenhouse where Aogiri members had gathered to talk about saving Hinami, which led to them having an argument. Takizawa obviously isn’t very stable, as he begins laughing to himself after seeing Ayato get so worked up during their debate. In recent chapters, Seidou can be seen still as insane as ever. Shikorae and him killed Hachikawa, or as Seidou reffered to him, Hachiko. It is Seidou who suggests eating the investigator, and Shikorae agrees.
INTERPRETATION
It’s safe to say that Seidou, at one point over the three unseen years between Tokyo Ghoul and it’s sequel Tokyo Ghoul:re, has been tortured. The change in appearance and personality is a strong indicator of this, along with him admitting to being “used to” pain. His hair has turned completely white and his nails black (as did Kaneki after his torture), his lips have also turned black. The identity of the torturer is unknown, however Eto is the one most point fingers at. Amongst his general insane rambling, Seidou talks about some very serious things. For example, he claimed that he ate his mother’s organs and went so far as to say they tasted good. As we haven’t seen Seidou’s mother since the first manga, we have no way to tell whether or not this is a side effect of trauma or the memory of an actual event. Either way, the fact he said this is seriously concerning. Seidou also speaks about “the difference between 100 and 99” and “becoming your fear”, even killing someone because they didn’t listen to his “lecture”, and this tells us that he hasn’t entirely lost his past identity; he just displays it in a neurotic way. Takizawa hasn’t changed to the severity that is suggested. Even during his argument with Ayato, he says it’s “funny” to see ghouls caring for each other. This is definitely the views he adopted as a student and investigator that haven’t been broken even after the ghoul-ification process. This is due to Seidou not empathizing with other ghouls in his attempt to achieve his own goals. As he feels no sympathy for them his viewpoint on them hasn’t changed (whereas Kaneki did sympathize with them and gained a new perspective).
SYMBOLS
HANDS In his first appearance in :re and on the cover he featured on, Seidou can be seen with his fingers in his mouth. Both times – along with other panels of him displaying this behaviour – the fingers are those from his left hand, which suggests this is more of a symbol and less of a coincidence.
The right hand is represented as assertiveness, mercy, logic and consciousness. The left hand mirrors this, symbolising passiveness, justice, emotion, death and unconsciousness. The fact that Seidou was biting down on his fingers may be indicating his control over themes associated with the left hand at that point in time (eg. controlling his emotions, having control over the life and death of others, controlling justice etc.). The biting of fingers can also be symbolic of regret, fury, rage and anger. Also, while he was a human his left arm was severed, and when he was a ghoul it was his right hand, possibly symbolising loss of control over assimilated characteristics in those particular situations.
It may also be noted that in a recent chapter, Takizawa was seen making a symbol with his left hand. Although this symbol is widely recognised to be associated with the devil in Christian views, in Buddhism (and Hinduism) this is actually a good symbol believed to ward off demons. This is interesting because Seidou is associated with the Devil tarot card, and a kanji in his name may represent Buddhism.
PINEAPPLES
A long time ago when pineapples had just been discovered by Europe, they were very hard to grow in their conditions and it took them nearly 200 years just to get the hothouse method right for growing pineapple plants. Pineapples were seen as a delicacy back in the 1600’s because of this, King Charles II even had an official painting made of him receiving a pineapple as a gift (which was at the time symbolic of royal privilege). We can relate this to Takizawa, as Dr. Kanou had made many failed attempts at creating half-ghouls before, and having one turn out so well and strong was a rare success. The fact that the pineapple has ties with royalty may be indicating Takizawa knows the One-Eyed King. Funnily enough, there is a pest against pineapples known as symphyla. They are also called pseudocentipedes, literally meaning “fake centipedes” due to having the appearance of a centipede despite not being one. This may be relevant to the fight between Sasaki and Seidou in the Auction raid, where although Sasaki looks like Kaneki and has his body, he is not really Kaneki.
TAROT CARDS
The Devil (15 upright) Bondage: Accepting an unwanted situation, feeling tied down against your will, being obsessed. Materialism: Being caught up in appearances, overindulging the senses, believing only in the physical and forgetting the spiritual. Ignorance: Being unaware, fearing the unknown, operating with a narrow range, experiencing limitation. Hopelessness: Despairing, believing the worst, lacking faith, foreseeing a bleak future, thinking negatively, doubting.
NOTE: CARD DEPICTS MAN TURNING PARTIALLY INTO A DEMON AS A RESULT OF GIVING IN TO TEMPTATION. RELEVANT TO SEIDOU’S TRANSFORMATION.
Opposing cards: Fool – having faith, believing. Star – hope, faith, optimism. Four of Wands – freedom, release. Six of Cups – good will, innocence, simple joys. Ten of Cups – joy, peace, blessings.
Supporting cards: Seven of Cups – overindulgence, dissipation. Eight of Swords – confusion, restriction. Nine of Swords – despair, lack of joy.
THE CHARIOT (7 upright) Victory: Reaching goal, winning, success, dominance, beating the competition. Will: Determined to succeed, focusing intent, sustaining an effort, fixing a goal. Self assertion: Ego focused, established identity, confidence, looking out for your interests. Control: Mastering emotions, showing authority and power, getting your way, maintaining discipline.
Opposing cards: Strength – soft control Hanged Man – accepting God’s will, putting others first. Tower – defeat, humbling experience. Eight of Swords – confusion, self-doubt. Ten of Swords – powerless, in the pits, putting others first.
Supporting cards: Magician – using your will, concentrating. Two of Wands – being in authority, dominating. Six of Wands – triumph, self-confidence. Four of Pentacles – control. Nine of Pentacles – self-control, discipline.
TOKYO GHOUL TRUMP DECK
Human:
Although Seidou is depicted as a six of clubs, his birthday (September 10) relates his to the ace of diamonds, which is somewhat less fitting of his personality, apart from the ambition.
However in the official deck, this card is taken by Tsukiyama Shuu.
Ghoul:
It is said that red/coloured jokers are superior to black/uncoloured jokers. In the first released trump deck, Juuzou Suzuya, Arima Kishou and Seidou Takizawa were the three jokers. Arima’s card was entirely black, Juuzou’s card had some colour to it in small amounts and Seidou’s card had by far the most red on it. In recent chapters, Juuzou is said to perhaps be strong enough to overtake Arima one day, which makes sense with the coloured card=superiority thing. However, this would also signify that Seidou is the most superior out of the three. Well, he is a ghoul after all. Also, that would make Seidou number one for the first time ever.
NAME
Takizawa Seidou -滝澤 政道 滝 – May be read as “waterfall” or “rapids”. 澤 – “Swamp” (seems odd to use this kanji after “waterfall”). 政 – Translated as “rule” or “government”. 道 – Read as “road”, “way”, “journey”, “Buddhist teachings” or “Taoism”.
The Japanese word “seidou”, depending on the kanji, can be read as: – (Confucian) temple, church, sanctuary, shrine. – Bronze. – Path of righteousness, path of duty, right track, correct path. – Vocal tract. – Politics. – Refined copper. – Vitality.
IRONY
The plain irony with Seidou is the most tragic aspect of his character; he wanted to become an investigator to protect his mother from ghouls, and then he allegedly ate her after becoming one himself. He went from having humane morals and maintaining order to a state of psychosis. He stopped fearing and became fearless by transforming into what he hated most.
YOU’VE ALMOST REACHED THE END
With the revelation of many parts of the story – past and present – I wonder if we will get to see just what happened to Seidou during all those years. It’s also questionable if his sanity will return, or if he will live long enough for there to even be a chance for recovery. As the chapters progress, I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say I want to see more of Seidou.
If I’ve left something out, not noticed something you have or you just have something you’d like to say, be sure to tell me. Same goes if you have any questions or a request.
Ishida and his symbolism stuff etc. makes me crazy (in a good way of course).
We probably have Eto as the Tree of Life (Yggdrasil) (x) and the serpent in the Garden of Eden (x). She wrote a book called the “
The Hanged Man’s MacGuffin (x) and Kaneki is associated with the Hanged Man Tarot Number (you can see it on his arms (x)). Now the new book title of Eto is a reference to Odin (x) who is associated with the Hanged Man’s Tarot Card and Knowledge (x). The whole Garden of Eden story from the bible is associated with knowledge and apples symbolise it. Three people (Eto, Touka and Kaneki were shown with an apple in the manga or official art (x)(x)).
Symbolism, Symbolism, Symbolism ….THIS MANGA KILLS ME
Also I believe Furuta is associated with Huginn and Muninn from norse mythology (the ravens who accompanied Odin and bringed him information about what’s going on over the world), just look at his trump card.
Though Ishida could draw there some other birds, maybe doves??
It gets even better. Furuta’s calendar picture shows him with a crayfish which you can also see on the moon tarot card (a stage which we haven’t reached yet; here’s a good post about it (x)). We know Furuta and Arima are both now involved with V and the funniest thing is that the moon tarot card SHOWS A SUN AND A MOON AND A DOG AND A WOLF…and yes there’s sun and moon symbolism in Arima’s and Furuta’s names (x) and there’s still the ringing bell quote under Arima’s picture and therefore the “wolf” ringing bell theory (x).
So in short: I don’t even know anymore. Is this all a coincidence or not?
“Just the simple flutter of a butterfly can change the world”. In short, this is the principle of the Butterfly Effect, the principal element of the chaos theory. A small change, a little effect can cause bigger consequences. A big and important repercussion. Can, simply, change the world.
And that’s all about, after all, change the world. Remake the way that the ghouls are view for the human beings. Be able to change the paradigm that they don’t feel, they can’t love.
They cannot live, because they are wrong creatures.
The balance of the world is based in that. That the people continue believing that the ghouls are monsters, and the CCG keep doing their work, erasing them. That’s the status quo. And that is the same balance that Eto is trying to break. That’s same balance that is locking them, like a cage.
That is the cage that doesn’t let them live peacefully. That forced them to live hidden, alone and with a latent fear of being murdered in pro of “a better world”. Be a martyr of the cleaning of “this wrong world” because they are the ones that are corrupting it in the first place.
That’s what Eto is trying to end. With her revelation, with she being the public figure of the known and loved Takatsuki Sen. She, like the famous autor with thousands of fans and millions of selled books. She is who revels her true nature to the press, no just for the cameras but in front of the whole world that’s watching her, astonished. Humans, maybe fearful, other curious. Ghouls maybe also fearful but hopeful. Because Eto is now the visible face of a silent and invisible population, she’s the icon of a possible transformation. She, with her book, will the fruit of a possible and amazing revolution. The books are more than words printed in paper. Are ideas, values, thoughts that move masses and they’re the fulcrum which, like Archimedes say, moves the world. There are books that, really, have changed the way that society moves, from the Bible, the Koran or the Torah to books like “ On the Origin of Species “ by Darwin or “The Communist Manifesto“ by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
This are the books that leave a mark in a person, this are the ones that changes you, the ones that make you reconsider everything you knew and you took like the truth. This is what Eto is doing with her writting. She, with her dark words and corrupted characters, reveals a grim realities and the true nature of the human being. This is why, a book from her, a text written with the point of view from the ghouls, is so important. Because i doubt that this was made before, because i really doubt that, beside from the books like Ogura’s, there’re others written about them. But about them, not “what they are”, but rather about them. What they feel, what they live. The things that many time had been denied, so many times questioned and labeled like something imposibble, there, printed in paper and written by the best contemporary autor in Tokyo.
We know that Eto was working in her books since years.
And, it’s very likely, that her idea of revolution had started since the moment that she read Ukina’s notes, and her desire of a different world was born inside of her. A world where her “fellow comrades ghouls” didn’t have to live terrified. And this is the perfect way to start a revolt.
“Just the simple flutter of a butterfly can change the world” The simple fact that she confesses in front of a million of people, in front on her fans, in front of people that loves her is the tiny flutter which will start to form big storms and maybe an hurricane. And the CCG, little or nothing can do. Because it’s public, because Takatsuki Sen is a public figure and they cannot make her disappear (Well, they can but i don’t think that move will end well) Because she just confess, and more than one will want an interview, more than one will want to read her book. Even if the CCG wants to forbid that, they won’t be able to do it, because the power of the masses is too big. The containment that they will do or attempt to give to a theme like this, will put in testing all we know about the power of the CCG. And not only them, but V too. Because the balance between ghouls and humans maybe will break because of what Eto did. With a confession like this, more than one will change their vision about ghouls. More than one, at the moment to read Eto’s words, will see from a different perspective, from a point of view that they never were able to think it was possible. After all, this is the gift that biggest authors have.
And without doubt, Eto is one of them.
The wings of the butterfly has begun to shake, and the winds are changing. Whatever happens from now on, will change the world. And nothing will ever be the same.
The thing about Arima is that he’s very much the child soldier all grown up. It’s heavily implied he has something to do with the garden, either coming from it or being its forerunner. He has had no life outside of the CCG. And I’m willing to bet that he’s been part of V for a very long time as well.
I’m honestly, and maybe mistakenly still kind of rooting for him, but not to turn out to secretly be a hero – rather to make a choice that saves Kaneki or that ultimately saves everyone.
Fura calls Arima a “yes man” and I think we’ll be coming back to that. I think for his entire life, Arima has been ordered around by these large powers and performed perfectly for them. Their perfect little soldier, their ideal puppet and tool.
Arima is hyped up as a destroyer and a power to be feared, but in a way, he’s sort of ironically without any agency of his own.
The struggle for agency is actually a pretty central one for Kaneki, and thematically in both Tokyo Ghoul and Tokyo Ghoul RE.
The struggle for self definition despite how the world and greater powers would define you.
To play your own role despite the role others would have you play.
It is, in a way, the central struggle of tragedy – the struggle against Fate and the Inevitable.
I think that Arima’s time will come when he finally makes a choice of his own, maybe to stay his hand when he is ordered to kill, or maybe to kill when he is ordered to stay his hand. Since his character is so wrapped up in death, those two possibilities seem most likely. But I think Arima will get one shining moment to say “no,” that will earn him that place on the Joker card.
In this way, he is a clear contrast to Eto, who is defined by agency and defiance – by charting her own course and defying the rules of others.
pictured above: agency; charting one’s own course; defying the rules of others; also, eyeball licking.
I really hope these two are actually pals. Rio and Takizawa were both such precious children. Look what happened to them. I really hope they’re in this crazy, crazy boat together.
I’d like to think they are. When you think back to the original series, sharing meals was always how Takizawa would express friendship towards others.
Having dinner with Amon.
Trying to share crackers with Amon. (And being rejected.)
Having lunch with Hide.
And the one time we see his family, it’s while he’s eating his mother’s cooking. So while we never clicked on it before, Takizawa had a lot of associations with food in the original series and the warmth/kindness involved in sharing meals with others.
As a Ghoul, he seems to be something of a Binge Eater that enjoys chowing down on large numbers of people. But here he is, offering to share a meal with Shikorae just like the old days.
I already suspected this yesterday morning when only the spoilers from baidu are out. But I had homework so I wasn’t able to make a post like this. But it seems littlemissymonster has beaten me to it. orz
But, however I do want to point out that Shikorae does indeed have all 4 kagune types. Because he is Rio, and Rio in Tokyo Ghoul Jail, have 4 kagune types that you can chose from.
Rinkaku
When the Quinx were in Uta’s mask shop, Haise was holding what is likely to be Rio’s Rinkaku mask
This implies that Rio has a rinkaku kagune type, and since Shikorae is Rio, Shikorae has a rinkaku kagune.
At first I thought rinkaku was his only kagune type because of that, but chapter 63 shows more.
Bikaku
From chapter 63, Shikorae finally uses his kagune. He first showed his bikaku kagune, and it’s similar to Rio’s bikaku kagune
Ukaku
and then Shikorae uses his ukaku kagune which is also similar to Rio’s ukaku.
Koukaku
There is no evidence yet that Shikorae also has a koukaku, but since we now know that he has 3 kagune types, it’s highly likely that he has a koukaku kagune too, and he might use it later in the manga.
Whoa, a ghoul with all 4 kagune types. What does that make him? He doesn’t have a dual kagune. He has quadruple kagune (⊙0⊙)
Oh my. I read nice (positive interpretations) of this (change, butterfly effect,
agehamodoki > a moth that mimics a poisonous butterfly etc.) and now there’s you Anon who wants to make me scared again. Thank you ;D! Whatever comes change (positve/negative) is on its way :’).
Relatable FE Quote or Something 
