List of Ghost in the Shell characters

This is a list of characters from the Ghost in the Shell universe, created by Masamune Shirow.

Motoko Kusanagi

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Major Motoko Kusanagi in the movie Ghost in the Shell.

Main article: Motoko Kusanagi

Major Motoko Kusanagi (草薙素子, Kusanagi Motoko) is a cyborg in the employ of "Public Security Section 9", a fictional division of the real Japanese National Public Safety Commission, as the squad leader. In the Japanese anime movies and series, she is voiced by Atsuko Tanaka. In the English dubbing of the film, Mimi Woods provides the voice, and in the English Stand Alone Complex TV series, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn is the voice actress.

Motoko Kusanagi's various incarnations in the different manga or movies or TV series all portray her differently. Since each of these have independent storylines, the physical and mental characteristics of Motoko Kusanagi has been modified in different ways to reflect the focus of the story; these changes are reflected in the different ways that artists draw her.

Buttetsu Batou

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Batou in the movie Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Main article: Batou

Buttetsu Batou (バトー, Batō Būttetsū) is a main male character in the Ghost in the Shell series, the second best melee fighter in Section 9 and is the second in command under Major Motoko Kusanagi. Shirow has admitted that Batou is visually based off of action-movie actor Steven Seagal.

Daisuke Aramaki

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Daisuke Aramaki in Stand Alone Complex.

Daisuke Aramaki (荒巻大輔 Aramaki Daisuke) is chief of Public Security Section 9.

In Stand Alone Complex, Aramaki is a strict chief, and is referred to by others in Section 9 as the "old ape" (most likely because in the original manga he was drawn with a face that appeared to be 1/2 monkey 1/2 man). Even so, he is fiercely loyal to the members of Section 9, and often puts his own career on the line to ensure the survival of the rest of his team.

In 2nd Gig, Aramaki uses his political connections and no small amount of bargaining with the new prime minister to get Section 9 reinstated.

It is not revealed how cyberized Aramaki is, but considering that he is never shown in the field of action, it is most likely that he is fully human except for his cyberbrain.

• In the Stand Alone Complex Visual Book released by Hobby Japan, Aramaki's hair was poked at for fun in one comic strip when Batou makes some comments about it. Aramaki lifts his hair to reveal metallic parts, possibly for his cyberbrain. This incident freaked Batou out.

• Near the end of Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd Gig, Aramaki's missing brother, Yousuke Aramaki, appears to Kuze and asks him what he intends to do with the refugees. He was last seen in the last episode helping the refugees evacuate to the Dejima bridge via small boats.

The Solid State Society movie reveals that he was estranged from his mentor Colonel Tonoda whom he helped to put in prison (like his character in the original GITS manga), and that he was actually married at some point.

Togusa

Togusa, as seen in the anime Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG

Main article: Togusa

Togusa (トグサ) is the second most prominently featured male character in the Ghost in the Shell manga & anime series. In Stand Alone Complex it is stated that he is the only member of Section 9 who has not undergone cybernetic replacement in some manner as he had been referred to as a natural. In the manga, he is cybernetic like all other members. Togusa is 27 years old and is 5' 10 inches in height. In the Solid State Society movie, he is squad leader of the now expanded Section 9, after the Major's departure and Batou's refusal of the position. His Japanese voice is provided by Koichi Yamadera, and Crispin Freeman in English (only for the TV series)

Ishikawa

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Ishikawa in the anime Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

Ishikawa (イシカワ) is the information warfare/technology specialist in Public Security Section 9. It has not been stated in the series thus far as to the degree that he has been cybernetically augmented, though character dialog suggests that he is one of the least augmented members of Section 9. His appearance is characterized by a large beard and perpetually unkempt hair, and he is the oldest of Section 9's field operatives. He is voiced by Yutaka Nakano in the original Japanese and Michael McCarty in the English dub.

He formerly served with Motoko and Batou in South America when they were with the Ground Self-Defense Forces in the Japanese UN contingent. He was one of the earliest members recruited to be in Section 9 and seems to know the Major and her dislikes quite well. He is shown as being in charge of a gambling parlor called Parlor Ishikawa, and on occasion uses the cyberbrains of the old men who play there to complete particularly heavy data gathering, though it seems the men suffer no ill effects or are even aware of their situation. Ishikawa in terms of personality is the most seemingly laid-back member of the unit.

Despite being a member of Section 9, Ishikawa appears to be relatively physically weak in comparison to the other members. He is almost never shown in combat (one exception being a particular episode where he fires a shoulder-mounted cannon to disable a heavily-armored vehicle) and takes a support role during most missions in which he is dispatched. When he is captured late in the first season, he is shown as being easily overpowered by Umibozu commandos sent to arrest him. This is possibly due to the fact that he is one of the least cybernetically enhanced members along with Togusa and Saito.

• As a point of humor a bottle of what appears to be Chivas Regal is seen in his office in the closing animation of season 1, as well as a similar bottle appearing in the first Ghost in the Shell movie, though no indications are given that he is alcoholic. It is known that he smokes cigarettes and cigars on occasion, particularly in stressful circumstances.

• Ishikawa also makes an appearance in Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence to deliver important information to Batou.

Pazu

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Pazu and Saito

Pazu is an investigator in Section 9.

Before joining Public Security Section 9, Pazu was rumored by various police circles to have been a gangster in several yakuza groups in Japan. Pazu is also a known chain smoker within the unit. Upon his first encounter with the Major, he remarked, "I never sleep with the same woman twice." He uses a K-Bar in combat.

His name is spelled Paz in the TV series.

In SAC 2nd GIG episode 13, Pazu encounters an ex-lover scorned (Kaori Kawashima) who had adopted a body that was identical to his own down to the smallest detail. A knife fight ensues, and one "Pazu" is killed. It isn't made clear whether or not the victim was the real Pazu or the imposter (Kaori), as they both have cuts across their torsos, and the surviving "Pazu" says nothing. However, his behavior in subsequent episodes leads one to believe that the real Pazu survived.

Boma

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Boma

Boma (ボーマ, Bōma) is Section 9's resident explosives specialist, as shown several times during 2nd GIG. He is the only Section 9 operative with similar height and enhanced strength to Batou, though his optics are clearly a different color and might therefore be another model with different capabilities. His eyes are one of Boma's two trademarks, and the other is the fact that he's bald.

In addition to his role as Section 9's explosives specialist, Boma often handles the task of rear support. In most assignments, he's the only member to carry heavy weaponry. He also works as the team's resident cyberviral warfare expert, often developing vaccines for viruses within minutes of their creation. He is usually teamed with either Saito for sniping duties, Pazu for general operations and Ishikawa for cyberweb research and viral warfare.

Of his past, little is known though some can be guessed from speculation and comments made in the series. At one point, Boma was in the JSDF as a demolitions expert, possibly hinting that he was either a combat engineer or a special forces operative. It's also been speculated that he was a virgin at the time of his cyberization since he was affected by the Individual Eleven virus.

Azuma

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Azuma

Azuma is a fictional character in Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell anime and manga. Azuma is one of Section 9's new recruits in Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig. Azuma was recruited as one of the field operatives in Section 9. He was present at the shipyard battle in which fellow rookie Yano died and was pulled out of field duty prior to the Dejima confrontation. At the end of 2nd Gig it is implied that Azuma is now a full fledged member of Section 9.

Yoko Kayabuki

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Yoko Kayabuki in Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig

Prime Minister Yoko Kayabuki (茅葺よう子 Kayabuki Yōko) is a fictional character in Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell anime series. She is Japan's newly elected prime minister in Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig.

Kayabuki first appears in the second season of Stand Alone Complex and is elected as Japan's first female prime minister. She reinstates Section 9 after a deal was made with Aramaki in the Stand Alone Complex, before the raid by Umibozu commandos on Section 9's headquarters. Kayabuki becomes a victim of the Individual Eleven and is involved with Section 9's investigation into the case. During the refugee crisis, she is arrested under charges of treason for ordering the UN to intervene in the crisis. She appears briefly in Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. Solid State Society.