Warning: Contains spoilers for Chainsaw Man Chapter #188One ofChainsaw Man’s defining qualities is its weirdness, andits most recent chapters might just be the strangest in the series so far. Trapped in the Aging Devil’s worldas Pochita does battle back on Earth, Asa has been left to watch in horror as Denji eats tree people while pulling the starter on his chest. If anyone unfamiliar with the series happened to stumble upon its most recent arc, they might just think its creator is one abnormal person.
And they wouldn’t be entirely wrong, as the latest chapter #188, titled “Octopus, War, Chainsaw”, opens with the series protagonist throwing up an entire person. Standing over the regurgitated body, Asa and Denji become shocked to find thatYoshida has been delivered from the main character’s stomach and into Aging’s World, reuniting the trio of characters that spent the early portion of Part Two together. And though Yoshida’s presence may prove helpful in an escape from the realm, it does also raise questions about the mysterious devil hunter.
Since reappearing inChainsaw Manat the beginning of Part Two, Yoshida has remained strictly in the shadows. His demeanor and cold confidence communicated clearly that he wasn’t exactly on the protagonists' side, and recent events pinned him up against the terrifying full-power Pochita, who ate the hunter alongside his Octopus Devil. Now, Yoshida has returned from Chainsaw Man’s stomach in one piece, reigniting discussion aroundolder theories of his potentially being a devil.
Yoshida’s Return Raises Questions About the Mysterious Devil Hunter
Theories Have Pinned Yoshida as the Series' Newest Devil
Earlier in Part Two’s ongoing publication, fan theories surrounding the nature of multiple characters gained traction in theChainsaw Mancommunity. The Death Devil, an entity that has loomed over every event in the series similar to Part One’s Gun, sent the fanbase into a frenzy,causing readers to point a finger at everyone with even a small role in the story. Among those characters accused wasthe ever-mysterious and smug Yoshida.
His return in chapter #188 has caused the theory-crafting to resume, as Yoshida returned from the bottomless depths of Pochita’s stomach entirely unharmed. Chapter #174 saw the erasure of the Octopus, Mouth, Snow, and Bitterness Devils,each of which has since been returned, except for Yoshida’s Octopus. The hunter himself was not seen to be eaten, causing fans to pivot from the belief that the devil hunter might be Death, and instead question if he is actually the Octopus Devil.
Theexact details of Pochita’s erasure abilitiesare still ambiguous. Until the current chapter, it had been established that any devil eaten by Chainsaw Man would have the memory of their existence wiped away.However, nothing has been shared about the consequences of eating a human, or if Pochita is even capable of doing so. The Hero of Hell has eaten a hamburger, and the concept of one was not erased, leaving the exact rules of his power a mystery.
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If erasing only affects devils, then Yoshida’s unharmed appearance becomes suspicious,especially given that Asa reacted to the devil hunter as if she had only just remembered he existed. He may very well be a devil, though which exact one remains a mystery.
Another Theory Surrounding Yoshida Is Gaining Traction
Yoshida Resembles Another Prominent Character in the Series
While the theories pinning Yoshida as a devil have resurfaced, they aren’t the only ones focusing in on his character. Given his major role in the series and largely ambiguous personality, there are endless possibilities for his backstory or the nature of his true intentions. One of the more popular theoriesis that Yoshida is actually the son of Kishibe, the drunken teacher of Denji and Power who played a large role in Part One’s story. Their vague familiarity with one another lends to the idea, while their resemblance to one another is uncanny.
Chainsaw Manis one of the most unpredictable stories in modern shōnen, and with the recent return of the Asa, Denji, and Yoshida trio, the mysterious devil hunter has once again become the center of attention in theories regarding the series' future. Regardless of whether he is the Octopus Devil or Kishibe’s son,Team Denji must find a way to escape the Aging Devil’s worldbefore any questions surrounding the character can be answered. The showdown between Pochita and Aging is sure to dominate upcoming chapters, and fans won’t want to miss out on the action.
Chainsaw Man
Chainsaw Manis a dark fantasy manga created by Tatsuki Fujimoto. The series follows Denji, a young man who merges with his devil-dog Pochita to become Chainsaw Man. He joins the Public Safety Devil Hunters to fight devils threatening Japan. The series explores themes of violence, power, and survival. Since its debut in 2018,Chainsaw Manhas gained immense popularity, leading to a critically acclaimed anime adaptation.
