Kishou Arima

Biodata

Power Progression

• Rank-label inconsistency: Arima is called “First Class” in one exchange and “Rank 1” in later passages, despite his Associate Special Class introduction and subsequent Special Class identification. These references do not establish a clear demotion or separate advancement 3 15 16.

Background / History

Arima joined the CCG while still in high school. Publicly, he appeared to be an ordinary investigator; privately, he also carried out missions for another organization, eliminating forces that opposed it. The repetitive work and constant plunder eventually left him disgusted with that life 6.

Accounts of the earlier Owl extermination battle credit the then-obscure Arima with repelling the Owl. Huiqi knows the incident largely through rumors and takes it as evidence that Arima conceals his true capabilities 1.

Before their encounter during the 24th Ward expedition, Arima had already defeated Eto Yoshimura. Eto spent a year strengthening herself through cannibalism, only to lose more decisively when they fought again 8.

Appearance

• Slender build, contrasting with the tremendous strength of his sword strikes 3.
• Blue hair, recalled by Rise when she recognizes his fighting style 6.
• Glasses, which he adjusts before confronting Eto’s Kakuja 7.

Personality

Arima usually speaks gently and maintains an unreadable, composed expression. During the underground expedition, he reassures his junior partners, checks their condition after combat, and allows Kawashima to treat his wounds rather than press ahead immediately 1 2 3.

His concern does not prevent him from acting ruthlessly. He orders Rise’s extermination if capture proves impossible, remains outwardly calm upon seeing Kawashima’s corpse, and forcibly makes Huiqi collateral for his agreement with Eto 6 7 8.

Beneath his obedient public role, Arima resents the organization’s exploitation and pursues an independent agenda. He privately rejects Yoshitoki Washuu’s instructions and seeks a way to end the conflict by creating the One-Eyed King 2 6 8.

Abilities & Skills

Quinque Swordsmanship

Arima’s long-bladed Quinque is his principal weapon in the 24th Ward expedition. Its precision and speed distinguish him even among powerful investigators 3 7.

• Kills two Ghouls with a single stroke during the initial ambush 3.
• Cuts through Rise’s overlapping Rinkaku defenses and wounds her chest 6.
• Deflects Eto’s dense Ukaku barrage, occasionally redirecting projectiles toward her eye 7.
• Decapitates Eto’s mutated Kakuja, then splits its torso with a vertical cut 7.

Physical Strength, Speed, and Stamina

Arima’s combat performance far exceeds what his introductory rank suggests. Huiqi becomes exhausted fighting the underground Ghouls while Arima continues with apparent ease 3.

• Advances through Eto’s projectile barrage at extraordinary speed 7.
• Inflicts Kakuja wounds with one strike where Huiqi needs two or three 7.
• Remains calm while delivering the decisive attacks against Eto’s enlarged, mutated form 7.

Unarmed Combat

Arima can fight effectively without a Quinque, exchanging heavy blows with Huiqi before exploiting a momentary distraction to knock him unconscious 8.

• Recognizes the unusual mixture of grappling, boxing, and Chinese martial arts in Huiqi’s technique 8.
• Has previously defeated a Ghoul without a Quinque, although that opponent was substantially weaker than Eto 41.
• Limit: His victory over Huiqi is not painless; afterward, he suspects that the bones in his kicking leg have cracked 8.

Tactical Awareness

• Knows the 24th Ward’s underground environment and explains its mixture of escaped prisoners, fugitives, and wandering Ghouls 2 3.
• Abandons his pursuit of Rise when Eto’s Kakuja becomes the more important threat 7.
• Anticipates the end of Eto’s projectile barrage and coordinates a counterattack with Huiqi 7.
• Conceals his alliance with Eto by reporting that Rise’s capture failed and that the sought child was not found 8.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Long-bladed Quinque — Used against the underground Ghouls, Rise, and Eto’s Kakuja; its name and rating are not provided 3 6 7.
• Quinque case — Opened before advancing through the underground passages 3.
• Earpiece — Receives Yoshitoki Washuu’s confidential mission instructions separately from the general briefing 2.
• Personal collection room — Listed among the Special Class Investigators’ weapon rooms at CCG headquarters; its contents are not shown 38.
• Midnight Bell Quinque — An S-rate weapon made from Midnight Bell’s Kakuja, supplied to Huiqi after his previous Quinque was reported damaged 9.

Relationships

• Huiqi — Junior teammate turned hostile collateral. Arima protects him during the Kakuja battle, then knocks him unconscious and gives Eto his identification card. Huiqi refuses another partnership and later seeks to settle their grudge 7 8 9 16 18.
• Eto Yoshimura / Sen Takatsuki — Former opponent and secret collaborator. After defeating her again, Arima recruits her to create the One-Eyed King and oppose the Washuu 8.
• Yoshitoki Washuu — CCG superior who privately authorizes Arima to use his junior partners as bait. Arima rejects those instructions internally and later conceals the expedition’s true outcome 2 8.
• Rise / Rize Kamishiro — Previous acquaintance from the same unnamed organization. She condemns his obedience and her own intended treatment as a breeding machine; he attempts to capture her 6.
• Kaede Kawashima — Junior expedition teammate. Arima reassures him, allows him to rest after injury, and saves him from an ambushing Ghoul, but cannot bring him back alive 2 3 5 7.

Story Role / Major Arcs

24th Ward Expedition

• Leads Huiqi and Kawashima through an entrance separate from the main force, pursuing his own agenda rather than simply following Washuu’s orders 2.
• Leaves Huiqi updating underground data while scouting with Kawashima; later encounters and attacks Rise 4 5 6.
• Defeats Eto’s Kakuja with Huiqi’s assistance and chooses negotiation instead of extermination 7.

One-Eyed King Alliance

• Proposes creating someone capable of defeating the hidden controllers and ending the conflict 8.
• Uses Huiqi as collateral but stops Eto from eating him; gives her his identification card and takes him back to the CCG 8.
• Warns Huiqi against revealing what happened underground. Eto subsequently claims that both she and Arima will pursue him if he flees their arrangement 8 12.

Continuing Feud with Huiqi

• Becomes one of the figures Huiqi intends to confront after gaining Special Class-level strength 16.
• Is frequently absent on assignments, preventing Huiqi from settling their dispute and limiting his availability during other CCG crises 18 35 38.
• Remains the benchmark against which Huiqi’s mission success and rapid rise through the ranks are compared 38.

Notable Quotes

“I want to create the One-Eyed King, to end this conflict through that... and shatter the cage of this world.” 8