First Impressions: Twisted Village Secrets Are Finally Revealed in “Gannibal” Season 2
Content Warning: This article contains mentions of violence, death, and child abuse. This article also contains spoilers for Gannibal Season 1 + 2.
During the 2024 Disney APAC Content Showcase, a diverse slate of upcoming original international series was revealed, including the much-anticipated second season of Gannibal. Based on a manga of the same name by Masaaki Ninomiya, the Japanese mystery thriller series takes place in a small village, revolving around Daigo Agawa (Yuya Yagira), a police officer who uncovers a grim secret while investigating the mysterious disappearance of his predecessor.
First premiering in December 2022, the series garnered massive attention, becoming the most viewed Japanese original series in the world. Following its success, it was revealed that Gannibal was renewed for a second season, which premiered on March 19, 2025. New additions to the cast include Yuki Kura, Yuri Tsunematsu, Rila Fukushima, and Atsushi Yanaka. Join EnVi as we recap Gannibal season 1 and dive into season 2, providing insight and analysis of the intensifying narrative.
Let’s Rewind: Gannibal Season 1
In his previous position, Daigo Agawa (Yuya Yagira) — despite his tendency to beat suspects to a pulp — held a reputation for being one of the most efficient police officers in his unit. Although he received an abundance of accolades for his work, his eight-year-old daughter Mashiro (Kokone Shimizu) shows immense disapproval towards his usage of violence, as she believes “even bad guys feel pain.” Mashiro’s naïve and empathetic nature led her to befriend a child predator, who was later shot and killed by her father in her presence. The violent act, although done in good faith, resulted in Mashiro developing PTSD, with selective mutism as a primary symptom. Following the event, Agawa and his wife Yuki (Riho Yoshioka) decided it would be in everyone’s best interest to embrace a new scenery.
The picturesque town of Kuge, surrounded by cascading mountains and luxuriant foliage, seems like the perfect place to start anew, but sinister secrets are hidden in the trees — in more ways than one. Prior to Agawa’s arrival, his predecessor Osamu Kano (Toshihiro Yashiba) went berserk while investigating the inner workings of the Goto’s, the wealthiest family and effective village owners. Following an outburst on the Goto family property, where he accused them of practicing cannibalism, Officer Kano disappeared, leaving a vacancy — and an unsolved case.
Unaware of his predecessor’s investigation, Agawa chose to keep his head down while quietly adjusting to his small-town life. This attempt at acclimation was curtailed when Gin Goto (Mitsuko Baisho), the Goto family matriarch, is found dead in the woods, with the townspeople insisting it was simply a bear attack. Agawa, who examined the body, harbors heavy doubts about the assumption, since he observed what looked like human teeth marks on Gin’s corpse. In the face of deception, a justice-seeking Agawa picks up where Officer Kano left off, slowly learning of a twisted secret that makes up the foundation of the prosperous Goto family tree.
The Investigation: Peeling Back The Layers
During the course of season one, Agawa’s personal investigation revealed several interconnected revelations, including knowledge of the suspiciously low population of children in the village. After coming into contact with Sumire Kano (Kita Kana) — Officer Kano’s daughter — Agawa learns of all the gossip surrounding the Goto’s, and he sets out on what he believes to be a straightforward investigation. In a manner that mirrors his predecessor’s, Agawa attempts to coerce the Gotos into revealing whether Kano is dead or alive — to no avail. He quickly learns that his belligerence holds no weight in Kuge, as there is an entity known as ‘That Man’ (Kazuki Sawai) whose main duty seems to be protecting the Goto family at all costs.
Even after a near-death experience and various warnings from townspeople, Agawa still searched incessantly for answers, putting both himself and his family into grave danger. Going down a rabbit hole, Agawa discovers Kano was in contact with Kyosuke Terayama (Mahiro Takasugi), a boy whose existence is confirmation of the sinister practices that take place in Kuge village.
Kyosuke — who possesses only half his face — is revealed to be a survivor of a cannibalism attempt by ‘That Man,’ which was set in motion by the Goto family. Stolen from his mother at birth, Kyosuke was harvested along with various other children (or livestock as the Goto’s refer to them) to be sacrificed during Kuge’s annual Votive Festival. The purpose of the over 700-year-old festival is to reduce the number of mouths to feed while praying to the gods above for abundance. With the presence of survivor’s guilt and a desire to put an end to the sacrifices, Kyosuke reached out to Officer Kano for help, but after his untimely demise, he only accumulated a deeper sense of anguish.
The big question for Agawa is,”How is it that no one has caught on to the barbaric practice before?” Regarding the previous six centuries, it is quite unclear, but in her lifetime, Gin Goto effectively played the role of God in the village — or so she thought. Sometime before her death, Gin’s true nature was displayed to Kanako Yamaguchi (Rio Yamashita), a grieving mother and daughter to Gin’s secret underling, Sabu Yamaguchi (Baijaku Nakamura). It had been almost three years since the loss of her child, but that didn’t make the pain any less — especially since Kanako knows her child is still very much alive. Through the entirety of season one, audiences see Kanako constantly written off as crazy as she accuses Gin — who was, conveniently, the village’s midwife — of stealing her baby under the guise of a stillbirth. The only person who believes her is Agawa, as he holds all the pieces to a very twisted puzzle.
As the first season of Gannibal came to a close, Agawa teams up with an outside organization and attempts to find the missing town children. The previously peaceful facade of Kuge village begins to waver as the Goto family reaches their breaking point, and chaos threatens to break loose.
What Is Hidden Will Come to Light
After a nail-biting cliffhanger, Gannibal returned with its second season, where director Shinzo Katayama promised a clear resolution to the story. During a press event, the series’ lead actor, Yuya Yagira, expressed his excitement for the new season, stating, “We are moving towards the conclusion, so the pace picks up a lot. There are more options [regarding how the story is told], and I don’t think it would be surprising [for viewers] to start from season two and go to season one, episode zero. I can proudly say the quality of the series is really good because you can see it in many different ways.” Following a much-needed recap, the first episode of season two hastily jumps around, illustrating high-intensity moments and exposing hidden conflicts from major players. Going into episode two, the fierce pacing refuses to let up, and a new central plotline is revealed.
Daigo Agawa
As the season begins, the story picks up right where it left off in the investigation. Daigo Agawa (Yuya Yagira), who is in the underground facility where the missing town’s children are supposed to be held, once again finds himself feeling the wrath of ‘That Man.’ After surviving by the skin of his teeth, he quickly recuperates and solicits backup from an outside police task force. This group, which Agawa was working with previously, joins in the investigation with no idea what they’re up against.
In an attempt to discreetly find the real location of the missing children, the police visit the Goto property under the guise of a firearms inventory check — but things quickly backfire. Once the Gotos catch on to the real reason for the visit, a major battle ensues, with the majority of the police team ultimately wiped out. Elsewhere in the village, Agawa finally finds the location of the missing children, and he is under the impression that this means a clean-cut end to the investigation. But, unbeknownst to him, his family, who was supposed to be in the safety of the police, were kidnapped and brought back to Kuge village. Will Agawa be able to save Yuki and Mashiro, or will they become ‘That Man’s’ newest meal?
Keisuke Goto
In season two, Keisuke’s (Sho Kasamatsu) cards are finally on full display — for the viewing audience at least — as he sheds his aloof exterior in the face of chaos. After the death of his grandmother, Gin Goto, Keisuke was thrust into a position of power, becoming the new heir of the Goto family. Bred for this very moment, Keisuke knew this day would come, and he secretly held plans to dismantle the callous practices of his family from the inside out, but a variety of factors makes things more difficult than he could have ever imagined.
Previously, it was revealed that he had a romantic relationship with Sumire Kano (Kita Kana), and she found out at the end of season one that she was pregnant with his child. If circumstances were better, his reaction would’ve been different, but Keisuke is distraught, as he’s terrified of bringing Sumire and their child into an aberrant environment. Throughout season two, Keisuke’s personal decisions are challenged by presently living Iwao Goto (Mitsuo Yoshihara), as well as his deceased grandmother. It could be the alleged endocannibalism that is causing Keisuke to have visions of Gin, or it might simply be all in his head. The most likely and unfortunate rationale is that his pent-up stress is manifesting into visions of his controlling grandmother. But regardless, audiences can only hope for Keisuke to finally break free from the vicious system.
Gin Goto
Throughout the first two episodes of Gannibal season two, several scenes depict just how much power Gin holds over the village — even in death. The true extent of Gin’s domineering authority is felt when her collaborator, Sabu Yamaguchi (Baijaku Nakamura), condemns Agawa for interrupting what he perceives to be a peaceful social system. “What do outsiders like you know? You’re the ones who disturbed our peace! We’ve always lived this way in the village. There is order in Kuge village. As long as we obey, our families can live safely. We share our suffering with each other equally,” he says in episode two. Coincidentally, following his ever-so-passionate speech, Sabu was shot down by the same people he thought would protect him. With an obedient follower like Sabu meeting his demise after abiding by the rules, it begs the question, what is the point of it all?
As the season progresses, information regarding Gin’s past comes to light through flashback sequences guided by those who witnessed her twisted upbringing. Was it possible that Gin Goto was also a victim of a larger issue, or was she simply wrapped up in herself? Through ensuing divulgences, the Goto family — and viewers alike — come to learn the truth behind a centuries-long practice and finally see the departed matriarch’s true colors.
Dysfunction Through a Horror Lens
On the surface, Gannibal is the story of a barbarous family who commits cannibalism for their self-interest. But diving deeper, it highlights the realities of dysfunctional families and the brutal effects that environment can have on its members. Some effects are obvious, while others are more subtle, such as the sacrifices. The children, before they are even born, are marked for sacrifice, as opposed to older members of the family. This particular situation could be seen as a metaphor for the abuse and neglect they face in a broken family. If, however, they are marked for survival, their only option is to fall in line, forced to become another cog in the machine. Once the broken system is set in place, it continues until someone is eventually willing to reject it — even if it means taking a drastic departure from a perceived sense of safety and comfort.
All seasons of Gannibal are available for streaming on Disney+ or Hulu, depending on your region!
Looking for more shows to add to your watchlist? Check out EnVi’s list of 7 New March Releases to Watch This Spring here!
