Kanda Yu

From D.Gray-Man

by Katsura Hoshino

Kanda Yu is a prominent character in the manga and anime series D.Gray-Man. He is a Second Exorcist of the Black Order, known for his stoic and often cold demeanor.

Kanda wields the anti-Akuma weapon Mugen, a katana with multiple abilities. Despite his harsh exterior, he deeply cares for his comrades and has a strong sense of duty. Kanda's past is marked by tragedy and mystery, particularly concerning his search for a certain person. His regenerative abilities and enhanced combat skills make him a formidable exorcist in the battle against the Millennium Earl and his Akuma.

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Biography

Kanda Yu

Birthday: (day of birth as the second exorcist) June 6th (Gemini)

Age: 18 years old → 19 years old (currently)

Height: (initial) 175cm → 177cm → 180cm (current)

Weight: (initial) 61kg → 59kg → 63kg (current)

Blood type: AB type

Nationality: Japan

Hobbies: Soba making, plant cultivation

Favorite things: Soba and tempura (especially pumpkin, shishito pepper, lotus root)

Things dislike: Crowds, and many other things

Voice actors: Takahiro Sakurai (2006 anime), Takuya Sato (2016 anime)

Mugen

Kanda activates his sword's supernatural powers by running his fingers along its back and saying "Mugen Unsheathe, Innocence Activate," turning the blade silver.

The sword's form has changed over time: as a child, it was a small butcher blade with winged hilt. At the series start, it was a chokuto with a cross-emblazoned hilt and sheath, after battling Skinn Bolic, it became a traditional katana.

Crystal Type Mugen

Kanda retrieved his sword, Mugen, from the Asian Branch, transforming it from a rusted sword into a black cube that liquefied. He drank the liquefied Innocence, causing stigmata to open on his arms and forming a new, more durable Mugen.

This new Mugen retains all his original moves but with stronger, faster attacks. Kanda can now activate Mugen more quickly, and his skill has reached a critical level of synchronization, though it's unclear if he was aware of this.

First Illusion: Netherworld Insects (界蟲「一幻」, Kaichū: Ichigen)

Kanda swings his sword and releases a small swarm of supernatural creatures that devour his opponents.

Double Illusion Sword (二幻刀, Nigentō)

Kanda covers his sword and scabbard in a coat of energy and generates an energy blade, creating two impossibly sharp weapons. The second blade that he creates over his scabbard can also be just a pure energy blade if the scabbard is not used.

Eight Flower Mantis (八花蟷螂, Hakka Tōrō): Using Nigentou, Kanda quickly slashes the enemy eight times. The slashes collectively resemble a flower.

Forbidden Spell: Triple Illusion (禁忌「三幻式」, Kinki: Sangenshiki)

Kanda can drastically increase his speed and strength at the cost of his life. The technique Triple Illusion allows him to repair Mugen's blade using his life force with the command "Drink up." His Exploding Spirit Cut, used when Sangenshiki is active, creates small explosions and is powerful enough to cut through a Level 4 Akuma. He can also use this attack with the Fifth Illusion Style.

Fourth Illusion Style (四幻式, Yongenshiki)

Kanda's pupils changes to four dots and he gains another drastic increase in speed and power as shown by being able to severely damage Alma Karma

Fifth Illusion Style (五幻式, Gogenshiki)

Mugen's blade changes color and emits a large amount of dark, lightning-like energy. Like the Triple Illusion, it uses up Kanda's life force, though on a larger scale. Forcing the Fifth Illusion causes excessive strain on Kanda's body and soul, eating away at his life force quicker than any of the previous Illusionary Styles. It also causes him to enter a berserker-like state, and causes his hair to pale to a light purple (silver in the anime).

Ripping Flash Claw (五幻・裂閃爪, Gogen: Ressensō) : Kanda unleashes seven sharp energy beams.

Yu Kanda, a powerful Exorcist from the Black Order in D.Gray-man, first appears in the fifth manga chapter, attacking newcomer Allen Walker due to a misunderstanding. Despite this, Kanda maintains a poor relationship with Allen during their first mission together. He often clashes with his master, General Froi Tiedoll, and continues to have conflicts with Allen.[ch. 89, 90] Driven to find a "certain person," Kanda uses a weapon called Mugen, which can create "illusions" to fight Akuma and the Noah Family.

During a mission in Edo, Kanda is trapped in Noah's Ark and battles the Noah Skin Bolic to help his allies. Despite defeating Bolic, Kanda pushes Mugen to its limit, destroying the room. Allen later restores the Ark, and Kanda returns to the Black Order.

Kanda is revealed to be a "Second Exorcist," an artificial body with the brain of an Exorcist who died thirty years prior. His body heals rapidly due to an Om tattoo. Kanda's friend, Alma Karma, also a Second Exorcist, becomes insane upon learning their origins and is killed by Kanda, who was seeking his past lover. Alma is later found alive as an Akuma and tries to kill Kanda again. Allen discovers Alma is the reincarnation of Kanda's past lover, leading to an emotional resolution.

Three months after Alma's death, Kanda returns to the Order, makes peace with the scientist behind the Synthetic Disciple Project, and Mugen evolves into a Crystal-type weapon. Kanda then embarks on a mission with scientist Johnny Gill to find Allen, who had fled the Order, to thank him for his help and seek redemption. During their mission, Kanda is attacked by Apocryphos but is saved by Froi Tiedoll, who convinces him to become a General.

Kanda Yu