TV-Series
Description
Haise Sasaki is a central figure introduced as the protagonist of the second narrative arc. He serves as a First Class Ghoul Investigator and the mentor of the Quinx Squad, a special unit within the Commission of Counter Ghoul comprised of members who possess artificial ghoul frames. His background is defined by a profound loss of identity. Haise is a special case, an artificial one-eyed ghoul who has completely lost his memories of the approximately twenty years prior to the start of this story. This amnesia resulted from a near-fatal confrontation where his head was severely wounded. Following this event, he was taken in by the CCG and rehabilitated, emerging as a dedicated investigator under the direct tutelage of the legendary Kishou Arima. The name Haise Sasaki was given to him at this time, as his past self is that of Ken Kaneki, a former human turned half-ghoul. This lost identity is a constant, unseen presence in his life.
In terms of personality, Haise is portrayed as a self-contained, good-natured, and gentle individual. He possesses excellent manners and a strong sense of responsibility, making him a trustworthy and loyal colleague. Unlike the more common, ruthless investigator archetype, he believes that ghouls should not be annihilated unnecessarily and shows a degree of mercy. However, his kind and accommodating nature often backfires, as his subordinates, the so-called problem children of the Quinx Squad, tend to take advantage of him and give him the runaround, rendering him somewhat incompetent at controlling their actions. He has a habit of scratching the back of his head when thinking or feeling uncomfortable and is known to use puns in conversation. Haise is also an avid reader, though he prefers books with more uplifting stories. Despite his cheerful and responsible exterior, he is deeply tormented by the mystery of his own existence and experiences a rejection of his ghoul side, unlike his original self who had accepted it. He is haunted by hallucinations and dreams of his previous life as Ken Kaneki, who appears as an internal voice trying to reclaim control. This internal struggle causes him great anxiety and fear of losing the life he has built.
Haise's primary role in the story is as the mentor and guardian of the Quinx Squad, working alongside them in their duties and daily life while diligently providing guidance. His duties are overseen by Akira Mado and Kishou Arima. His motivation stems from a desire to protect his squad members, whom he views almost as his own children, and to fulfill the obligations assigned by his seniors without hesitation. He is co-operative and prefers to work with his group rather than single-handedly accomplish the CCG's goals. His role is not just combative but also familial, as he often cooks meals for his team and looks after their well-being. His search for a sense of self and belonging drives his actions, as he navigates the turbulent life of a half-ghoul investigator while trying to suppress the powerful memories clawing their way back to the surface.
Key relationships define Haise's new identity. He thinks of his superiors, Kishou Arima and Akira Mado, as parental figures, viewing Arima as a father and Mado as a mother. His bond with Arima is particularly complex and strong, as Arima is not only his mentor but also the one who defeated and subsequently rehabilitated him; they frequently exchange books. In parallel, he treats the members of the Quinx Squad—Kuki Urie, Ginshi Shirazu, Saiko Yonebayashi, and Tooru Mutsuki—like his own children, showing great concern and pledging a protective streak over them. He also shares a friendly rapport with fellow investigator Juuzou Suzuya, often sharing sweets with him. As the narrative progresses, he begins to reconnect with figures from Ken Kaneki's past, such as Shuu Tsukiyama and Hinami Fueguchi, which serves as a catalyst for his identity crisis.
The character development of Haise is central to the plot. Initially, he is a stable if troubled investigator. However, as he confronts enemies linked to his past, the internal voice of Ken Kaneki grows stronger. During a critical mission, after being severely wounded and pushed to the brink of death, Haise is forced to relinquish control, allowing his original personality of Ken Kaneki to resurface. This event marks the end of Haise Sasaki as the dominant personality, as he symbolically says goodnight to his life as an investigator. Even after regaining his original memories, the persona of Haise continues to influence his actions, and he remains at the CCG under the same name for a time, now aware of his true history. This evolution forces him to mature rapidly, balancing the cheerful mentor he became with the harsh realities and memories of his past self.
Regarding notable abilities, Haise is a formidable combatant. He is recognized as a strong Special Ghoul Investigator who has received direct and intense combat training from Kishou Arima. He excels in both hand-to-hand combat and the use of a Quinque, the primary weapon of investigators. His primary Quinque is named Yukimura 1/3, a Koukaku-type weapon. As an artificial one-eyed ghoul, he possesses a Rinkaku-type kagune, a powerful predatory organ unique to ghouls. His RC factor, a measure of a ghoul's physical prowess, is nearly six times that of an ordinary human, exceeding normal limits significantly. Due to this, he cannot consume regular human food. In moments where his emotions are heightened or he loses control, his power escalates dramatically, and the CCG classifies him as an SS-rated ghoul in such a berserk state. He has also received several awards for his service, including the Kinmokusei Prize and the White Single Wing Prize.
In terms of personality, Haise is portrayed as a self-contained, good-natured, and gentle individual. He possesses excellent manners and a strong sense of responsibility, making him a trustworthy and loyal colleague. Unlike the more common, ruthless investigator archetype, he believes that ghouls should not be annihilated unnecessarily and shows a degree of mercy. However, his kind and accommodating nature often backfires, as his subordinates, the so-called problem children of the Quinx Squad, tend to take advantage of him and give him the runaround, rendering him somewhat incompetent at controlling their actions. He has a habit of scratching the back of his head when thinking or feeling uncomfortable and is known to use puns in conversation. Haise is also an avid reader, though he prefers books with more uplifting stories. Despite his cheerful and responsible exterior, he is deeply tormented by the mystery of his own existence and experiences a rejection of his ghoul side, unlike his original self who had accepted it. He is haunted by hallucinations and dreams of his previous life as Ken Kaneki, who appears as an internal voice trying to reclaim control. This internal struggle causes him great anxiety and fear of losing the life he has built.
Haise's primary role in the story is as the mentor and guardian of the Quinx Squad, working alongside them in their duties and daily life while diligently providing guidance. His duties are overseen by Akira Mado and Kishou Arima. His motivation stems from a desire to protect his squad members, whom he views almost as his own children, and to fulfill the obligations assigned by his seniors without hesitation. He is co-operative and prefers to work with his group rather than single-handedly accomplish the CCG's goals. His role is not just combative but also familial, as he often cooks meals for his team and looks after their well-being. His search for a sense of self and belonging drives his actions, as he navigates the turbulent life of a half-ghoul investigator while trying to suppress the powerful memories clawing their way back to the surface.
Key relationships define Haise's new identity. He thinks of his superiors, Kishou Arima and Akira Mado, as parental figures, viewing Arima as a father and Mado as a mother. His bond with Arima is particularly complex and strong, as Arima is not only his mentor but also the one who defeated and subsequently rehabilitated him; they frequently exchange books. In parallel, he treats the members of the Quinx Squad—Kuki Urie, Ginshi Shirazu, Saiko Yonebayashi, and Tooru Mutsuki—like his own children, showing great concern and pledging a protective streak over them. He also shares a friendly rapport with fellow investigator Juuzou Suzuya, often sharing sweets with him. As the narrative progresses, he begins to reconnect with figures from Ken Kaneki's past, such as Shuu Tsukiyama and Hinami Fueguchi, which serves as a catalyst for his identity crisis.
The character development of Haise is central to the plot. Initially, he is a stable if troubled investigator. However, as he confronts enemies linked to his past, the internal voice of Ken Kaneki grows stronger. During a critical mission, after being severely wounded and pushed to the brink of death, Haise is forced to relinquish control, allowing his original personality of Ken Kaneki to resurface. This event marks the end of Haise Sasaki as the dominant personality, as he symbolically says goodnight to his life as an investigator. Even after regaining his original memories, the persona of Haise continues to influence his actions, and he remains at the CCG under the same name for a time, now aware of his true history. This evolution forces him to mature rapidly, balancing the cheerful mentor he became with the harsh realities and memories of his past self.
Regarding notable abilities, Haise is a formidable combatant. He is recognized as a strong Special Ghoul Investigator who has received direct and intense combat training from Kishou Arima. He excels in both hand-to-hand combat and the use of a Quinque, the primary weapon of investigators. His primary Quinque is named Yukimura 1/3, a Koukaku-type weapon. As an artificial one-eyed ghoul, he possesses a Rinkaku-type kagune, a powerful predatory organ unique to ghouls. His RC factor, a measure of a ghoul's physical prowess, is nearly six times that of an ordinary human, exceeding normal limits significantly. Due to this, he cannot consume regular human food. In moments where his emotions are heightened or he loses control, his power escalates dramatically, and the CCG classifies him as an SS-rated ghoul in such a berserk state. He has also received several awards for his service, including the Kinmokusei Prize and the White Single Wing Prize.