Kaneki is the main protagonist of Tokyo Ghoul, a dark fantasy manga and anime series created by Sui Ishida. He begins as a shy and bookish college student who lives a relatively normal life until a chance encounter with a mysterious girl named Rize Kamishiro changes everything. After a near-fatal accident, Kaneki undergoes an emergency surgery that transplants Rize's organs into him. Unbeknownst to him at the time, Rize was a ghoul—a creature that survives by feeding on human flesh. As a result, Kaneki becomes a half-ghoul, caught between the human and ghoul worlds.
This transformation forces Kaneki to grapple with intense physical and emotional pain, including a constant hunger that can only be satisfied by human flesh. His journey is marked by a deep internal conflict as he struggles with his identity and the morality of his existence. Throughout the series, Kaneki evolves significantly, both mentally and physically. He goes from a timid, gentle person who refuses to hurt others to someone willing to embrace his darker side in order to protect those he cares about. His hair turns white as a symbolic result of his trauma and transformation, marking a major turning point in his character development.
Kaneki’s character is defined by his enduring humanity, even in the face of monstrous circumstances. He constantly questions what it means to be human and wrestles with guilt, loneliness, and the desire to belong. His relationships with other characters, both humans and ghouls, play a crucial role in shaping his identity. As the story progresses, Kaneki becomes a central figure in the struggle between humans and ghouls, embodying the possibility of coexistence between the two. His story is tragic, powerful, and ultimately about self-acceptance and the search for purpose in a broken world.