• For the Ape Escape
  Ape Escape
  Ape Escape is a platform game published, produced and developed by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It was originally released in 1999. It was re-released for the Sony Greatest Hits and Best for Family line-ups in 2000; for the Platinum Range in 2001; and for the PSone Books...
  
  character, see Kakeru (Ape Escape)

is a manga

Manga

Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...

 created by Kenjiro Takeshita and serialized in Weekly Young Sunday

Weekly Young Sunday

was a weekly manga magazine published by Shogakukan in Japan since the first issue on April 10, 1987. It replaced Shōnen Big Comic in Shogakukan's lineup of shōnen titles, and many of the titles in Shōnen Big Comic were continued in Young Sunday...

. Kakeru, the title character, possesses supernatural powers as a result of a near death experience

Near death experience

A near-death experience refers to a broad range of personal experiences associated with impending death, encompassing multiple possible sensations including detachment from the body; feelings of levitation; extreme fear; total serenity, security, or warmth; the experience of absolute dissolution;...

 and consequently must use them to protect those close to him.

Story

Kakeru has the unforgettable memory of a time where he nearly drowned to death. As a result of this incident, he gains the supernatural ability to access the "Void Record" when his emotions begin to run high.

Accessing the "Void Record" allows Kakeru to increase the perceptions of his five senses and also physically manifest substances from his imagination. For example, he can physically change his clothes by simply thinking of it.

However, a mysterious organization has made it their goal to capture Kakeru to manipulate his abilities. Kakeru must not only fight against this organization, but also protect those precious to him.

Characters

Kakeru : The protagonist, a young man. After almost drowning to death as a child, Kakeru gained the ability to increase the perception of his senses and manifest his thoughts into reality. He is being sought out by a mysterious organization for his powers.

Aoi : Kakeru's girlfriend, she is a member of the track team at school, where she met Kakeru. She is kind and caring and watches over Kakeru.

Satoru : Kakeru's older brother. Satoru wants Kakeru to use his abilities to help Satoru's girlfriend, who has lost the ability to walk. He has developed a drug called "D", which imitates Kakeru's abilities by increasing the sensory perception of those who consume it.

Controversy

Kakeru is controversial because of the degree of violence

Violence

Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...

involved with the story. While the portrayal of the violence is unique and displays Takeshita's artistic ability, it remains extremely violent.