As a Tokyo Ghoul fan, it stunned me when Ken Kaneki joined the Aogiri tree. It just seemed so out of character, and you’ve probably felt the same way.
The twist began when Kaneki stumbled upon the Aogiri terrorist ghoul organization, and they kidnapped him. For ten days, Ken sat in a chair while being brutally tortured by an all-time sadist ghoul, Jason.
Although it was gut-wrenching, the dramatic scene wasn’t what haunted me the most. Instead, it was the motives that puzzled me.
So, why did Kaneki join Aogiri? Did they just let him in and trust him after all that torment?
In this article, we dive into all that and more. Hang tight!
Why Did Kaneki Join Aogiri?
In the Tokyo Ghoul anime, the captivity, torture, breaking free, and sweet rush of revenge gave Ken Kaneki quite the identity crisis between the human and ghoul inside him.
The ultimate shock was when he decided to join the Aogiri Tree instead of going back to Anteiku. Rest assured, the plot twist wasn’t void of logical reasoning.
It became obvious to him that there was nowhere around joining if he wanted to reclaim his power and sense of identity while keeping an insider’s eye on the Aogiri Tree members. Plus, it was a golden opportunity to dive deeper into Rize’s history.
It all really comes down to if you think that the ends justify the means or not, but let’s entertain his motives before judging him:
Reclaim His Power and Identity
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Kaneki’s exposure to Jason’s torture made him realize he can’t protect the ones he cares about unless he gained power.
Being part of the Aogiri tree would serve his growth and hone his fighting skills in ways he couldn’t imagine before.
When you look at it this way, you’ll find that it was the ultimate move to bring himself back from the tremendous trauma he had witnessed.
Get an Insider’s Eye
The Aogiri Tree ruined Kaneki’s life beyond description. It only makes sense that he’d try to keep his friends close and his enemies closer.
Joining them would allow him to gain knowledge about their plans before everyone else. This way, he could have a chance to save Anteiku if Aogiri ever decided to strike.
Additionally, it would give him the chance to divert the Commission of Counter Ghoul, keeping everyone at the cafe safe.
Satisfy His Curiosity Towards Rize
We know that for Kaneki, it all started with Rize Kamishiro. Her organs might have saved his life, but it cost him his humanity.
Yet, he still wanted to appease his curiosity about Rize. After all, her entire character and abilities were quite puzzling to most of us.
I imagine Kaneki thought he’d be able to get to the bottom of it with access to the Aogiri Tree’s resources.
Why Did the Aogiri Let Kaneki In?
You might think that the Aogiri ghouls got a bit full of themselves to accept Kaneki in their ranks. They believed the torture had brainwashed him into being a lawful minion.
However, the organization was aware of Kaneki’s powers and welcomed him. After all, there wasn’t an abundance of people who could be both human and ghoul at once!
Is Ken Kaneki’s Anime Twist True to the Manga?
No, the whole “Kaneki being a pawn for the Aogiri” never really happened in the original manga by Sui Ishida. Instead, he formed a new crew and worked alongside them to defeat the Aogiri.
In a Nutshell
If you’re a Tokyo Ghoul fan, odds are, Kaneki joining the Aogiri shook you to your core.
So, why did Kaneki join Aogiri?
While you thought Jason’s hideous torture made him go bonkers, Ken Kaneki had solid reasons for his decision.
He concluded that only great power could protect Anteiku. That’s why he joined the organization to grow stronger and get closer to the leaders. His desire to know more about Rize only pushed him further.
Of course, that flabbergasting twist never even took place in the manga!
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