Why Does Mina Ashiro Have a Tiger in Kaiju No 8? Theories Explored

Mina Ashiro is one of the most popular defense force captains, thanks to her unrivaled looks and abilities. She usually has a rifle in her hand, but why does Mina Ashiro have a tiger in Kaiju No. 8?

Viewers notice that Mina Ashiro is the only character in Kaiju No. 8 with a tiger by her side, sparking plenty of discussions online.

Spoiler Warning: This article includes spoilers for the Kaiju No. 8 manga series, so proceed with caution.

Is Mina Ashiro’s Tiger a Kaiju in Kaiju No. 8?

Credit: Production I.G

First and foremost, Mina Ashiro's tiger is known as Bakko, which translates to "attack tiger."

Bakko's name appears to be derived from one of the four beast gods known as Byakko, the White Tiger of the West.

Bakko is a kaiju that appears as a tiger in the series. Bakko is an actual tiger, which dispels speculation that it is a metaphor for Mina Ashiro's indomitable spirit as the series' Third Division captain.

Bakko, unlike other kaijus with violent tendencies, is calm and collected, comparable to Mina, who refrains from reckless acts.

However, when Mina is in danger, particularly in chapter 103, Bakko desperately tries to fight Kaiju No. 9 to protect her, despite his slim chances of victory.

It launched itself at Kaiju No. 9 repeatedly, until Kaiju No. 8 arrived to take his position.

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Why Does Mina Ashiro Have a Tiger in Kaiju No. 8? Theories and Predictions

Credit: Production I.G

As of writing, it is unknown why Mina Ashiro has a tiger in Kaiju No. 8.

It is also unknown when Mina got Bakko, but the cover page of Kaiju No. 8 chapter 103 shows a young Mina feeding cat food to what looks like a younger Bakko.

If so, this would mean that Mina got Bakko at a younger age and has been taking care of it most likely for many years.

Meanwhile, some fans believe that Mina’s interest in cats led her to adopt Bakko at some point in the series. After all, Mina’s pet cat, Miko, died in the beginning after a kaiju destroyed her hometown.

For a long time, fans of Kaiju No. 8 believed that Bakko was only a metaphorical tiger. They thought Bakko was a bike that Mina rides in the series and that it only looked like a tiger to her enemies.

Chapter 103 shatters this rumor since Bakko started fighting Kaiju No. 9, throwing desperate attacks one after the other to save Mina.

What are your theories about Bakko and Mina in Kaiju No. 8? Let us know in the comments below, and follow us on Facebook for all the latest anime news!