TV-Series
Description
Ayato Kirishima is the younger brother of Touka Kirishima and a ghoul who initially serves as a prominent antagonist before evolving into a key supporting figure. Known by his alias, the Black Rabbit, he is recognizable by his curly blue hair and a perpetually scowling or menacing expression, bearing a striking resemblance to his older sister. His birthday is July 4, and he stands 159 centimeters tall during his early appearances.
Ayato’s early life was marked by tragedy. As a child, he lived in the 20th ward with his sister and father, Arata Kirishima, in a relatively peaceful household. He was once a docile and kind younger brother who promised his father he would always protect Touka. However, after his father was captured by Ghoul Investigators and his family was betrayed by a trusted neighbor, he and Touka were taken in by Yoshimura at the Anteiku café. This period of hardship and displacement began to twist his gentle nature.
In the first part of the story, Ayato is portrayed as an arrogant, brash, and exceptionally cruel teenager. He firmly believes in the ideology that "the weak perish and the strong survive," a philosophy born from his parents' fate. He harbors deep resentment toward his father for being weak and for his perceived abandonment. He despises humans and looks down on ghouls who try to coexist with them, which puts him in direct opposition to his sister and the Anteiku group. After leaving Anteiku, he wandered through the wards, bringing chaos and bloodshed until his power caught the attention of Tatara, leading to him joining the Aogiri Tree as an executive.
Despite his cold-blooded exterior, Ayato’s motivations are secretly rooted in a desire to protect his sister. While he publicly beats Touka to assert dominance, it is later understood that he did so to prevent her from being tortured and killed by the sadistic ghoul Yamori. He also adopts the "Rabbit" alias to draw the attention of the CCG away from Touka, who had previously used that name. This complex mix of cruelty and hidden care is noted by Ken Kaneki, who sees through Ayato's violent facade.
By the time of Tokyo Ghoul:re, Ayato has matured significantly. Having grown to an age comparable to his former rival Kaneki, he has become far less ill-tempered and arrogant. He speaks more calmly and rationally, though he retains his brutal efficiency in combat against Ghoul Investigators. His time in Aogiri Tree, particularly his interactions with Hinami Fueguchi and his mentor Matasaka Kamishiro, softens his perspective. He shows genuine concern for Hinami's well-being, defies orders to attempt a rescue when she is captured, and begins to question the Aogiri Tree’s willingness to treat its members as disposable pawns.
Ayato's key relationships heavily define his character arc. His bond with his sister Touka is the most significant, evolving from open hostility and estrangement to a tentative reconciliation as they fight alongside each other. His rivalry with Ken Kaneki is also pivotal; after a brutal defeat at Kaneki's hands, he gradually gains respect for him, and Kaneki ultimately becomes his brother-in-law. His loyalty to his uncle, Renji Yomo, is also notable, as they are seen cooperating in battle.
As a ghoul, Ayato possesses the Ukaku kagune type, which manifests as wing-like projections from his shoulders. Initially, his kagune takes the form of a pair of flame-like, crimson and violet wings that can fire high-velocity projectile crystals at enemies. This grants him exceptional speed and ranged attack power, though it traditionally comes with the drawback of rapid stamina depletion.
By the time of:re, Ayato has overcome many of these weaknesses through rigorous training and combat experience. He develops a second, more advanced form of his kagune, which appears as three pairs of armored wings. He masters the ability to manipulate the shape of his kagune for close-quarters combat, such as crystallizing the wings into sharp blades or a sword-like form. This adaptation compensates for the Ukaku's typical vulnerability in melee range, making him a highly versatile and deadly fighter capable of holding his own against SS-rated ghouls and Special Class Investigators.
Ayato’s early life was marked by tragedy. As a child, he lived in the 20th ward with his sister and father, Arata Kirishima, in a relatively peaceful household. He was once a docile and kind younger brother who promised his father he would always protect Touka. However, after his father was captured by Ghoul Investigators and his family was betrayed by a trusted neighbor, he and Touka were taken in by Yoshimura at the Anteiku café. This period of hardship and displacement began to twist his gentle nature.
In the first part of the story, Ayato is portrayed as an arrogant, brash, and exceptionally cruel teenager. He firmly believes in the ideology that "the weak perish and the strong survive," a philosophy born from his parents' fate. He harbors deep resentment toward his father for being weak and for his perceived abandonment. He despises humans and looks down on ghouls who try to coexist with them, which puts him in direct opposition to his sister and the Anteiku group. After leaving Anteiku, he wandered through the wards, bringing chaos and bloodshed until his power caught the attention of Tatara, leading to him joining the Aogiri Tree as an executive.
Despite his cold-blooded exterior, Ayato’s motivations are secretly rooted in a desire to protect his sister. While he publicly beats Touka to assert dominance, it is later understood that he did so to prevent her from being tortured and killed by the sadistic ghoul Yamori. He also adopts the "Rabbit" alias to draw the attention of the CCG away from Touka, who had previously used that name. This complex mix of cruelty and hidden care is noted by Ken Kaneki, who sees through Ayato's violent facade.
By the time of Tokyo Ghoul:re, Ayato has matured significantly. Having grown to an age comparable to his former rival Kaneki, he has become far less ill-tempered and arrogant. He speaks more calmly and rationally, though he retains his brutal efficiency in combat against Ghoul Investigators. His time in Aogiri Tree, particularly his interactions with Hinami Fueguchi and his mentor Matasaka Kamishiro, softens his perspective. He shows genuine concern for Hinami's well-being, defies orders to attempt a rescue when she is captured, and begins to question the Aogiri Tree’s willingness to treat its members as disposable pawns.
Ayato's key relationships heavily define his character arc. His bond with his sister Touka is the most significant, evolving from open hostility and estrangement to a tentative reconciliation as they fight alongside each other. His rivalry with Ken Kaneki is also pivotal; after a brutal defeat at Kaneki's hands, he gradually gains respect for him, and Kaneki ultimately becomes his brother-in-law. His loyalty to his uncle, Renji Yomo, is also notable, as they are seen cooperating in battle.
As a ghoul, Ayato possesses the Ukaku kagune type, which manifests as wing-like projections from his shoulders. Initially, his kagune takes the form of a pair of flame-like, crimson and violet wings that can fire high-velocity projectile crystals at enemies. This grants him exceptional speed and ranged attack power, though it traditionally comes with the drawback of rapid stamina depletion.
By the time of:re, Ayato has overcome many of these weaknesses through rigorous training and combat experience. He develops a second, more advanced form of his kagune, which appears as three pairs of armored wings. He masters the ability to manipulate the shape of his kagune for close-quarters combat, such as crystallizing the wings into sharp blades or a sword-like form. This adaptation compensates for the Ukaku's typical vulnerability in melee range, making him a highly versatile and deadly fighter capable of holding his own against SS-rated ghouls and Special Class Investigators.