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The Japan Anti-Kaiju Defense Force (日本防衛隊, Nihon Bōei-tai)[4] or simply known as Defense Force,[5] is a military organization specialized in taking down and neutralizing kaiju.[5] It has various bases all around Japan.[6] The Defense Force is governed by the Neutralization Bureau.[7]
History[]
Ever since its creation, the Defense Force has neutralized every kaiju appeared on the scene to threaten humanity.[6]
Ten years ago, the Defense Force fought a series of cataclysms involving Kaiju No. 6. The casualties counted 200 officers and 3 Captains losing their lives, along with Director General Shinomiya's wife. Ever since that event, the Defense Force struggles to prepare its ranks for the next cataclysm event.[8]
Joining Process[]
To join the Defense Force candidates must pass a First-Stage Examination which consists of filling in some documents.[6]
The second part of the exam is a two-part system, consisting of a physical test and an aptitude test.[9] While the first one involves regular military physical training, the aptitude test changes every year and it's the real test of one's natural ability. The test can either be Kaiju Disposal or Kaiju Neutralization.[9]
Candidates who passed the exam receive their results days later and take part in the Presentation of Enlistment Certificate where they are presented as official Force members and vow to give their life to the Force.[10]
Ranks[]
Officers of the Defense Force are differentiated through ranks. The ranks represent the militants' status within the corps.
The Defense Force's ranks are as follows:
- Director General (長官, Chōkan)[2]
- Deputy Director (副長官, Fuku Chōkan)[11]
- Chief of Staff (参謀長, Sanbō-chō)[12]
- Division Captain (隊長, Taichō)[5]
- Division Vice-Captain (副隊長, Fuku Taichō)[13]
- Platoon Leader (小隊長, Ko Taichō)[14]
- Officer (隊員, Taiin)[6]
- Cadet (候補生, Kōho-sei)[10]
Other kinds of role include Operations Leaders (オペレーターのリーダー, Operētā no rīdā), these being skilled analysts who maneuver and command neutralization operations from afar.
Equipment and Arsenal[]
The members of the Defense Force possess a huge variety of equipment, with the most important item being the suit itself, equipped with a gas mask and a fair amount of utilities.[13] Most of the equipment and the weapons owned by the Defense Force are made by Izumo Tech, the biggest anti-kaiju weapon manufacturer in Japan.[15] The arsenal of most of the members consists of rifles, guns, combat knives and various kinds of bullets. Rounds are stored into a Uni-socket (ユニソケット, Yunisoketto), magazines carrying the power-bestowing organs of kaiju, known as uni-organ. This allows the bullets to recreate the kaiju's powers.[16] Known types are:
- Explosive rounds (炸裂弾, Sakutersu-dan): Made from a Honju appeared in August 4th 1970.[16]
- Freezing rounds (凍結弾, Tōketsu-dan): Made from a Honju appeared in February 19th 1988.[16]
Defense Force officers possess two kinds of official uniforms: a normal tracksuit used as the main uniform[17], and two formal military uniform.[10][18]
Combat Suit[]
Marked G-X4552 and provided by Izumo Tech, the combat suit used by members of the Defense Force[15] is a bioweapon made of kaiju cells and muscle fibers.[19] Depending on the Unleashed Combat Power (解放戦カ, Kaihō-sen Ka) of every user, it accordingly augments the wearer's physical attributes like strength, speed, precision, and reflexes.[19] The suit itself has a jet-black color with various armored guards; green on the chest, knees and for the pockets, and silver on the shoulders, waist, wrists, boots and on the metallic spine-like armor on the back, and it also sports the Izumo Tech logo on it along with the logo of the Neutralization Bureau.[13] During missions in extremely low temperatures, Defense Force officers wear large white coat and pants on their combat suit.[20]
An unleashed combat power of 40% or higher is stated to be Platoon Leader level.[13][4] According to Soshiro Hoshina, an unleashed combat power of 84% is high enough to attain the rank of captain anywhere in the Defense Force.[21]
Abuse or extented use of the combat suit's power can cause overheat, injuring its wearer and causing physical pain to the point of making them bleed due to exhaustion.[22]
Known Unleashed Combat Powers[]
| Officer | Unleashed Combat Power | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Soshiro Hoshina (with Numbers Weapon 10) | 100%[23] | Division Vice-Captain |
| Gen Narumi (Base) | 98%[24] | Division Captain |
| Mina Ashiro (Base) | 96%[25] | Division Captain |
| Kikoru Shinomiya (with Numbers Weapon 4) | 94%[26] | Officer |
| Hikari Shinomiya (with Numbers Weapon 4) | 93%[26] | Division Captain |
| Soshiro Hoshina (Base) | 92%[27] | Division Vice-Captain |
| Iharu Furuhashi (Base) | 88%[28] | Officer |
| Rin Shinonome (Base) | 73%[29] | Platoon Leader |
| Kikoru Shinomiya (Base) | 60%[30] | Officer |
| Kikoru Shinomiya (Base) | 55%[31] | Officer |
| Reno Ichikawa (with Numbers Weapon 6) | 51%[32] | Officer |
| Iharu Furuhashi (Base) | 42%[33] | Officer |
| Haruichi Izumo (Base) | 36%[34] | Officer |
| Aoi Kaguragi (Base) | 25%[31] | Officer |
| Gen Narumi (Base) | 24%[35] | Officer |
| Reno Ichikawa (Base) | 18%[31] | Officer |
| Kafka Hibino (Base) | 1%[31] | Officer |
Personal Weapons[]
Due to them being the strongest combatants within their division, the Captains and Vice-Captains are given customized weapons to suit their personal fighting styles. A Platoon Leader or an officer with exceptional combat skills may also be given a personal weapon.[36]
Some of these weapons include.
- First Division Captain Gen Narumi's GS-3305 bayonet.[8]
- First Division Vice-Captain Eiji Hasegawa's unnamed battle armor.[4]
- First Division Platoon Leader Rin Shinonome's unnamed machine gun.[37]
- First Division Platoon Leader Tachibana's unnamed shotgun.[38]
- First Division Officer Kikoru Shinomiya's AX-0113 axe.[39]
- Second Division former Captain Hikari Shinomiya's LC-0039 spear.[40]
- Third Division Captain Mina Ashiro's T-25101985 cannon.[14]
- Third Division Captain Mina Ashiro's Anti-Giant-Class Kaiju Rail Gun, a giant version of a cannon.[41]
- Third Division Vice-Captain Soshiro Hoshina's SW-2033 twin swords.[25]
- Third Division Vice-Captain Soshiro Hoshina's SW-1023 katana.[42]
- Sixth Division Captain Soichiro Hoshina's unnamed katana.[43]
Numbers Weapons[]
The corpses of Identified Kaiju are turned into particularly powerful weapons known as Numbers (
When users of Numbers Weapons sync with the energy and cells of a Daikaiju, it triggers stimulation in their brains and causes an abnormal spike in neurotransmitter level and trasmittion rate.[45] As a result, the user's basic human desire and nature come to surface and, depending on their personality, the impulse is so strong to risk injuries in the user's body.[45] Repeated usage of a Numbers weapon costs a lot of strain on the users body and shaves years off their life that could ultimately be fatal.[46]
As reported by Captain Akutsu of the Northern Division, a Numbers Weapon user can see the Ghost (
Due to being made from the body of a living kaiju, Numbers Weapon 10 is the only case of a "sentient weapon", with the suit containing the conscience of Kaiju No. 10 and thus being able to speak and, although partially, move on its own.[48]
Some of these weapons include.
- First Division Captain Gen Narumi's Numbers Weapon 1, a combat suit made from the corpse of Kaiju No. 1[49] and a pair of outer-shell light spectacles made from its retina, marked RT-0001.[24]
- Director General Isao Shinomiya's Numbers Weapon 2, marked FS-1002, a pair of gauntlets and a combat suit made from the corpse of Kaiju No. 2.[11]
- Numbers Weapon 3, a weapon made from the corpse of Kaiju No. 3 and used by an unnamed Northern Division member.[50]
- First Division Officer Kikoru Shinomiya's Numbers Weapon 4, a combat suit made from the corpse of Kaiju No. 4.[43]
- Numbers Weapon 5, a weapon made from the corpse of Kaiju No. 5 and used by an unnamed Northern Division member.[50]
- Fourth Division Officer Reno Ichikawa's Numbers Weapon 6, marked EC-0115, a combat suit made from the corpse of Kaiju No. 6.[51]
- Numbers Weapon 7, a weapon made from the corpse of Kaiju No. 7.[50]
- Third Division Vice-Captain Soshiro Hoshina's Numbers Weapon 10, a combat suit made from the corpse of Kaiju No. 10.[39]
Fighting Styles[]
Officers in the Defense Force who gain access to powerful weapons use specific repertoires of technques, named Squadron Style (隊式, Tai-shiki). Going from armed to hand-to-hand combat, the Squadron Style is a Defense Force-exclusive fighting style learnt and used by the officers in battle. Aside from the aid of weapons, the style is effective nonetheless.[52]
It's worth noting that, since officers from the Hoshina Family use their own swordsmanship style, the Squadron Style is not mandatory for every officer.
Most of the styles involve six techniques overall. Some of these are:
- Axe Technique: A axemanship style used by Kikoru Shinomiya.[36]
- Bayonet Technique: A bayonet-centered style used by Gen Narumi[53]
- Combat Technique: A hand-to-hand fighting style perfected by Isao Shinomiya[52] and mainly used in battle by him.[54] Soshiro Hoshina is also a practitioner of the style and taught it to Kafka Hibino[52] After absorbing Director General Shinomiya, Kaiju No. 9 also learned to used this style.[55]
Known Members[]
Director General[]
Other Members[]
Former Members[]
Divisions[]
The Defense Force is divided in Divisions (部隊, Butai), large military groups who engage in kaiju killing missions all over their stabilized area. Each division has its own Captain and Vice-Captain, along with many platoons led by a remarkably powerful soldier.[44] Division operations are guided by the aid of Operations Leaders, who assess the situation from data and computers and announce kaijus' arrivals or deaths.
The Japanese Defense Force currently counts sixteen divisions, located all over the nation and divided in four groups.[39]
- Eastern Divisions (東方師団, Tōhō Shidan): First Division, Second Division, Third Division and Fourth Division, operating in the Chubu and Kanto regions.
- Western Divisions (西方師団, Seihō Shidan): Fifth Division, Sixth Division, Seventh Division and Eighth Division, operating in the Chugoku, Kansai and Shikoku regions.
- Northern Divisions (北方師団, Hoppō Shidan): Ninth Division, Tenth Division, Eleventh Division and Twelfth Division, operating in the Tohoku and Hokkaido regions.
- Southern Divisions (南方師団, Nanpō Shidan): Thirteenth Division, Fourteenth Division, Fifteenth Division and Sixteenth Division, operating in the Kyushu and Okinawa regions.
| Captain | ||||
| Vice-Captain | ||||
| Platoon Leaders | ||||
| Officers | ||||
| Other Members | ||||
| Former Captains | ||||
| Former Members | ||||
| Captain | ||||
| Former Captains | ||||
| Former members | ||||
| Captain | ||||
| Vice-Captain | ||||
| Platoon Leaders | ||||
| Officers | ||||
| Other members | ||||
| Former members | ||||
| Captain | ||||
| Officers | ||||
| Former members | ||||
| Captain | ||||
| Officers | ||||
Mentioned-only members[]
- Northern Division Captain Akutsu (
阿 久 津 , Akutsu).[47]
Known Bases[]
- Ariake Maritime Base[2]
- Kanazawa Base (金沢基地, Kanazawa Kichi)[18]
- Kumagaya Base (
態 谷 基地, Kumagaya Kichi)[6] - Tachikawa Base[6]
- Matsumoto Base[18]
Trivia[]
- The author, Naoya Matsumoto, stated that the Defense Force suit was initially designed to fit Mina Ashiro because it was supposed to be Mina's character design.[56]
- Matsumoto had the Defense Force logo resemble a chery blossom and a torii to bring a Japanese feel to a defensive squad-like atmosphere.[57]
- The Defense Force allows only people under 33 years of age to join the Selection Exam.[5]
- Ever since Hikari Shinomiya joined its ranks, the Defense Force saw a rising numbers of female officers enrolling.[58]
- The Defense Force's name and winged logo may be based on the Pan Pacific Defense Corps from the movie Pacific Rim.
- The most commonly seen weapons carried by the Defense Force are reminiscent of Sig Sauer MCX SBR 11.5" equipped with a SIG-Sauer Romeo-5 Red-dot, magnifier, and SureFire SOCOM556-RC2 Suppressor. For small arms, Glock 17 gen 4's are seen frequently equipped with Surefire X300 weapon mounted lights and Trijicon RMRs.
- From Matsumoto's illustration in France, homage to a worker at Kaze, the author states discussing about the French equivalent of the Defense Force.[59]
- According to Fourth Division Captain Jugo Ogata, Numbers Weapons augment the user's desire and instinctive nature.[45] Examples of such instances among confirmed users can be:
- Isao Shinomiya, equipped with Numbers Weapon 2, giving his life to kill Kaiju No. 9 in order to preserve Kikoru's future.[60]
- Reno Ichikawa, equipped with Numbers Weapon 6, trying to defeat a Mole Type 67 Honju on his own and with no aid in order to prove his worth on the battlefield and become strong enough to save his comrades.[45]
- Kikoru Shinomiya, equipped with Numbers Weapon 4, trying to surpass her mother's Ghost to prove her worth as a Defense Force officer and earn her parents' praise.[47]
- Gen Narumi, equipped with Numbers Weapon 1, evolving No. 1 powers to kill Kaiju No. 11 in order to finally beat his former master Isao Shinomiya.[61]
- Soshiro Hoshina, equipped with Numbers Weapon 10, switching to his single-blade form, trying to prove his worth and skills compared to his older brother Soichiro.[42]
References[]
- ↑ Chapter 57
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Chapter 33
- ↑ Official Twitter Post
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Chapter 39
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Chapter 1
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Chapter 3
- ↑ Official Twitter Post
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Chapter 38
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Chapter 4
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Chapter 10
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Chapter 35
- ↑ Episode 11
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Chapter 5
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Chapter 13
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Chapter 22
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Defense Force equipment extra
- ↑ Chapter 4
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Chapter 54
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Chapter 20
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Chapter 59
- ↑ Chapter 77
- ↑ Chapter 28
- ↑ Chapter 92
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Chapter 47
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Chapter 14
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Chapter 80
- ↑ Chapter 19
- ↑ Chapter 102
- ↑ Chapter 82
- ↑ Kaiju No. 8: B-Side Chapter 8
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 Chapter 11
- ↑ Chapter 61
- ↑ Chapter 63
- ↑ Chapter 25
- ↑ Kaiju No. 8: B-Side Chapter 10
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 Chapter 26
- ↑ Chapter 42
- ↑ Chapter 43
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 Chapter 72
- ↑ Chapter 45
- ↑ Chapter 75
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 Chapter 89
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 Chapter 71
- ↑ 44.0 44.1 Chapter 12
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 Chapter 62
- ↑ Chapter 44
- ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 47.3 Chapter 79
- ↑ 48.0 48.1 Chapter 73
- ↑ Chapter 70
- ↑ 50.0 50.1 50.2 Chapter 68
- ↑ Chapter 60
- ↑ 52.0 52.1 52.2 Chapter 66
- ↑ Chapter 48
- ↑ Chapter 36
- ↑ Chapter 106
- ↑ Mina Ashiro's character profile
- ↑ Defense Force logo extra
- ↑ Hikari Shinomiya's character profile
- ↑ Volume 7 illustration
- ↑ Chapter 50
- ↑ Chapter 87
