TV-Series
Description
Professor Kakuzawa is a supporting antagonist in the anime and manga series Elfen Lied. He is the elder son of Chief Kakuzawa, the director of the Diclonius Research Institute, and the brother of Anna Kakuzawa. He works as a scientist associated with the institute and as a biology lecturer at a university, where the protagonists Kouta and Yuka are coincidentally enrolled in his course.
In terms of background, Professor Kakuzawa comes from a family that believed itself to be descended from the earliest diclonius, a fictional mutant subspecies with telekinetic abilities. However, generations of interbreeding with ordinary humans diluted this heritage. Although he was born with vestigial horns on his head, they are smaller than those of true diclonius, and he possesses no telekinetic vectors. He usually conceals his horns under a brown wig and presents himself as friendly and carefree. In his mid-thirties, he attended university alongside Kurama, and it was Kakuzawa who first drew Kurama into the study of diclonius. He later recruited Kurama to take over his position as the day-to-day operations manager at the research institute.
The professor shares his family's larger ambitions. As a scientific genius of low morals, he supports the goal of replacing humanity with diclonius, with the Kakuzawa family hoping to restore and strengthen its diluted bloodline and eventually rule as leaders of a new species. His personal ambition is also evident when he unsuccessfully attempts to scheme against his father in alliance with Lucy, one of the most powerful diclonius in the story. This betrayal shows a willingness to work against his own family when it serves his interests.
His role in the story is mostly that of a background antagonist whose connections shape events at the research facility. His former friendship with Kurama and his academic position bring him into contact with both the institute and the university students. His failed plot involving Lucy defines his development within the narrative, portraying him as an opportunistic figure rather than a loyal subordinate to his father.
His notable abilities lie in his intellect rather than in combat. As a watered-down diclonius, he lacks the invisible telekinetic arms, or vectors, that give true diclonius their superhuman power, and he is not shown engaging in direct physical confrontation. His strengths are his scientific expertise, his academic standing, and his ability to hide his origins behind a pleasant public persona.
In terms of background, Professor Kakuzawa comes from a family that believed itself to be descended from the earliest diclonius, a fictional mutant subspecies with telekinetic abilities. However, generations of interbreeding with ordinary humans diluted this heritage. Although he was born with vestigial horns on his head, they are smaller than those of true diclonius, and he possesses no telekinetic vectors. He usually conceals his horns under a brown wig and presents himself as friendly and carefree. In his mid-thirties, he attended university alongside Kurama, and it was Kakuzawa who first drew Kurama into the study of diclonius. He later recruited Kurama to take over his position as the day-to-day operations manager at the research institute.
The professor shares his family's larger ambitions. As a scientific genius of low morals, he supports the goal of replacing humanity with diclonius, with the Kakuzawa family hoping to restore and strengthen its diluted bloodline and eventually rule as leaders of a new species. His personal ambition is also evident when he unsuccessfully attempts to scheme against his father in alliance with Lucy, one of the most powerful diclonius in the story. This betrayal shows a willingness to work against his own family when it serves his interests.
His role in the story is mostly that of a background antagonist whose connections shape events at the research facility. His former friendship with Kurama and his academic position bring him into contact with both the institute and the university students. His failed plot involving Lucy defines his development within the narrative, portraying him as an opportunistic figure rather than a loyal subordinate to his father.
His notable abilities lie in his intellect rather than in combat. As a watered-down diclonius, he lacks the invisible telekinetic arms, or vectors, that give true diclonius their superhuman power, and he is not shown engaging in direct physical confrontation. His strengths are his scientific expertise, his academic standing, and his ability to hide his origins behind a pleasant public persona.