Kaku

Seiyū: Ryōtarō Okiayu

Key: 5 (This is the key that opened Robin's handcuffs)

2200 Douriki

Kaku (カク, Kaku) is first seen as one of the five foremen of Galley-La Company's Dock One. Kaku's name most likely comes from the Japanese word kaku (角, angle), a reference to his rectangular nose. It was Kaku that inspected the Going Merry and informed the Straw Hats that it was irreparable. He is able to move incredibly fast and leap from buildings from amazing heights and distances without a scratch. A lot of the characters mistake him for Usopp since he too has a long nose. During his disguise as a shipwright, Kaku uses a variety of pavers/chisels as projectile weapons (used against Luffy in Dock 1.) After his true identity is revealed, he clashed with Zoro using two giant chisels as swords in Iceburg's room. Kaku was also the one responsible for sending the Going Merry into the midst of the Aqua Laguna and to its apparent demise.

After being revealed as one of the Water 7 CP9 agents, Kaku's personality becomes cold and rather emotionless in contrast to his character on Water 7 where he was mainly seen laughing and smiling. Despite this, he often taunts his opponents during battle, ate a Devil Fruit for the fun of it, and exclaimed "This is fun!" during his life-and-death battle with Zoro. He also seems to place a chance to fight over easy accomplishment of a mission; when Zoro and Sogeking were cuffed together he wished to help them, so he wouldn't be forced to share his target with Jyabura. When neither agent had the key, both agreed that the prey was up for grabs. Surprsingly however he is very honest even to his enemies and even more so then Fukurou, though doesn't seem to take insults well as no sooner then his giraffe/human form was mocked he sliced the Tower of Justice in half.

At Enies Lobby, he and Kalifa were given Devil Fruits by Spandam and, under the urging of Lucci, ate them. Kaku's fruit is Ushi Ushi no Mi Model: Giraffe (ウシウシの実 モデル麒麟(ジラフ) Cow Cow Fruit, Model: Giraffe), which allows him to transform into a giraffe-human hybrid and a full giraffe. Although he was initially going to face off with Zoro, he ended up causing the floor to cave in by transforming into his full giraffe form instead of his half-giraffe form. The two fell into the room where Sogeking and Jyabura were fighting, and were involved in that fight as well. The individual fights went on, until Kaku was defeated by Zoro. Kaku showed great sportsmanship after his defeat where he laughed at Zoro's comment of working in a zoo, and handing over his key without Zoro having to say a word, leading one to believe that he is not as cold-hearted or evil as he appears.

Kaku's expertise seems to be in rankyaku, due to his many variations of it. He is also the most proficient swordsman of CP9, being a user of the Yontou-Ryuu Attacks (四刀流, Four Swords Style) by the use of two swords and both legs (with rankyaku).

Attack List
 * Kama Kirin (鎌麒麟, kama kirin, "scythe giraffe"): Used in half-giraffe form. Kaku strikes an airbone enemy with his somewhat rectangular, and possibly hardened neck. He appears to use Soru to increase the speed of the attack. Possibly a pun with kamakiri (praying mantis).


 * Kirin Houdai (キリン砲台, kirin hōdai, "giraffe cannon stand"): Used in half-giraffe form. Kaku stands like a normal giraffe, but pulls his neck into his body, making his neck smaller.


 * Pasta Machine (パスタマシン, pasuta mashin): Used in half giraffe form, this is Kaku's most ridiculous technique. After pulling his neck in too much from Kirin Houdai, his neck is completely gone, but his arms and legs become very long, like putting dough through a pasta machine. After saying this, he immediately named this attack and got yelled at by Zoro to not name his attacks on the spot. In this mode, he uses his 4-sword technique to the greatest effect, because of his added reach.


 * Henchikirin (鞭竹林, henchikirin, "bamboo whip forest"): Used in half-giraffe form. With his neck, Kaku whips his neck, hitting the opponent repeatedly with his head. Written with emphasis on kirin (giraffe) and can also mean "weird".


 * Mouchikirin (猛竹林, mōchikirin, "fierce bamboo forest"): Used in half-giraffe form. In this attack, Kaku thrusts his head at his opponent with even more ferocity, probably using soru to increase the speed. Has the same emphasis on kirin as in henchikirin.


 * Gekirin (逆鱗, gekirin, "imperial wrath"): After using Pasta Machine, Kaku uses his yontouryuu technique this way. He uses his arms and legs to fire multiple slashes at the opponent. Has an emphasis on kirin.

Trivia
 * He has a giraffe theme, due to his devil fruit.
 * Kaku's birthday was revealed in a Volume 43 SBS to be August 7. This is because in Japanese, 8 can be pronounced as ha, and 7 can be pronounced as na. Put together, these make hana, the Japanese word for nose.
 * He is 23 years old, although he speaks as if he were much older.
 * Kaku ranked 9th place in the most recent popularity contest, making him the most popular CP9 member, as well as the most popular villain in general and the second most popular character outside the Straw Hat crew (However, in the last fan poll, Mr. 2 Bon Clay had the same spot as Kaku does now).