Touka’s Bestowed Wings

Touka revealing her two-winged kagune in the chapter ‘Bestowed Wings’ was an epic moment but beyond that, it’s also rich in symbolism which has followed her throughout the entire series. Birds, bird cages and wings have been a motif consistently surrounding the Kirishimas [x] and these themes are beginning to come full circle.

Touka’s character design has always reflected her status of walking between the human and ghoul world, with one kakugan covered by her hair and one ‘injured’ wing

If you separate her two sides, one has all the appearance of a human, while the other a ghoul. Considering half-ghouls are meant to be the bridge between the human and ghoul world, this is important for Touka as a ghoul whose deepest wish is to be human. In such a way, she is one of the key characters we’ve seen who wants to breach the gap between the worlds.

This symbolism began back in her childhood with Chunta the sparrow, when the CCG came for her, and the human and ghoul world first collided in Touka’s life. Chunta had a broken wing and was unable to fly, so was kept in his cage to keep him safe and warm as he recovered.

The day the CCG came for Touka and Ayato, they went back to free Chunta and he pecked Touka’s right eye; the eye she covers with her hair

This was also the first time Touka used her kagune, much earlier than a ghoul her age was expected to

Ever since, Touka had only been able to use ‘one wing’ of her kagune and covered that eye. She also developed ornithophobia, a fear of birds. Birds are a classic symbol of freedom and Touka’s aversion to them is a reminder of that day when she lost her home, when her Father was taken from her. Fast forward years later, at Anteiku and School she has another home that she’s afraid to lose.

In the chapter ‘Caged Bird’ Kaneki checks on Touka to find her sitting in contemplative silence with Hetare [x]:

She pities Hetare trapped in his cage but … everything she says applies to herself too. Touka is also the caged bird.

She was being kept safe in the bubble she built around herself at Anteiku and school but at the price of hiding her true self. As Ayato says, “that incomplete wing that isn’t able to fly”.

Touka lived her life blending in with humans for survival. It’s difficult not being able to ‘fly around freely’ but just like Chunta and Hetare, that is whats enabling her to keep her place in the world. The stability she found at Anteiku. The imaginary cage surrounding her among humans.

… I think this line shows a lot about her own self-image- aka “I’m pretty pitiful”.

Yet in :re we see Touka with two wings.

The reason why?

She hasn’t seen Yoriko since the Anteiku Raid. Yoriko was Touka’s connection to the human world just as much as Hide is for Kaneki. Touka being forced to abandon Yoriko also signified her leaving behind the human world. No matter how much :re was made as a new home; a new replacement for Anteiku, it was never made with the same intent- a place for humans and ghouls to come together in harmony. :re was a place for return, for all those lost to come home to. Touka’s disconnect from the human world meant it could never really become the haven for peace between the two worlds.

Since she’s no longer walking the tightrope between humans and ghouls, her kagune reflects that. She now has two wings at the price of her place side by side with Yoriko. Yet she still hasn’t reached a place of self-acceptance.

These are all descriptions of Touka about herself, about ghouls.

Following the scene in the church, Kaneki mentions this;

Touka has been irrevocably changed by her friendship with Yoriko and her time in the human world. And now Yoriko has whole heatedly accepted Touka after knowing the truth

The next step for Touka would be reconnecting with Yoriko and instead of wishing to be human, coming to accept herself as she is.