Kanda, Yuu
Summary
Kanda Yuu is a central protagonist in Katsura Hoshino’s D.Gray-man, serving as an exorcist for the Black Order. He is a handsome Japanese man who rarely displays positive emotions, often appearing cold, stoic, and arrogant toward his fellow exorcists. His long black hair, which appears dark blue in the anime, is a source of vanity for him; the mangaka notes he uses soap to wash it, while Lavi describes him as a "pretty-type character" and Allen remarks on his feminine facial features. He possesses dark eyes in the anime and blue eyes in the manga. Despite his abrasive demeanor and belief that exorcists are not saviors, he harbors a hidden care for his nakama, though he masks his true feelings by claiming, "It's none of my business." Kanda is notoriously difficult, disliking group activities and a vast array of people and traits, including naive individuals, those who break promises, cursed people, talkative people, and "sweet things." He strongly dislikes being called by his given name, Yuu, and prefers to keep his distance. His rivalry with Allen Walker is intense, with Kanda often calling him "bean sprout" and the two rarely seeing eye-to-eye. He also threatens Lavi if the latter uses his real name, yet he clearly values the Finders and exorcists despite his protests. In battle, Kanda is ruthless, willing to risk his teammates’ lives to secure victory, once even joking about leaving them to die. His Innocence is Mugen, a sword with supernatural powers that takes the form of a katana after being reforged post-battle with Skin Boric. To activate it, he runs his index and middle fingers along the back of the blade, declaring "Mugen Unsheathe, Innocence Activate," which turns the weapon silver. Originally a small butcher blade with wings on the hilt during his childhood, Mugen later appeared as a chokuto with a black cross-emblazoned hilt and sheath. Kanda enjoys gardening and making soba, with his favorite foods being soba noodles and tempura made from pumpkin, green peppers, and lotus root.
