Strongest Japanese Hunters In Solo Leveling

In the Solo Leveling universe, hunters possess the power to shape the future of a country in both constructive and destructive ways. Countries that are blessed with many powerful hunters boast more influence over those with few or weaker hunters.

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In Asia, Japan perhaps has the strongest hunters after China before Sung Jin-Woo’s second awakening. The island country’s hunting business is monopolized by the Blade Guild, whose members are some of the strongest combatants in the continent. Here are the best Japanese hunters ranked based on powers, abilities, experience, and achievements.

7

Ippei Izawa

Blade Guild’s S-rank Hunter

• Webtoon Debut: Chapter 90
• Weapons: Bladed Tonfas
• Class: Assassin
• Guild/Affiliations: Jeju Island Raid Party and Blade Guild

Ippei Izawa is a member of the Blade Guild and also a top Japanese hunter. Because of his experience dealing with dangerous dungeons and fighting against magical beasts, Ippei is chosen for the Jeju Island raid. He plays a crucial role in supporting the initial attack by killing off scores of powerful ants. The S-ranker is too skilled even for the evolved ants at Jeju and puts his bladed tonfas to good use during the battle.

6

Kanae Tawata

Arguably Japan’s Best Female Hunter

• Webtoon Debut: Chapter 90
• Weapons: Katanas
• Class: Fighter
• Guild/Affiliations: Jeju Island Raid Party and Blade Guild

Kanae Tawata is a hot-headed young woman who cares deeply about her colleagues. As a S-rank hunter, she has a lot of experience working under pressure, which comes in handy during the Jeju Island raid.

When faced with the horrors inflicted by the Ant King, Kanae was not only able to maintain her sanity but also helped Hoshino to come back to his senses. Showing remarkable courage, she was one of the few Japanese hunters who survived the raid.

5

Kenzo Tanaka

One of Japan’s Top Hunters

• Webtoon Debut: Chapter 90
• Weapons: N/A
• Class: Fighter
• Guild/Affiliations: Blade Guild and Jeju Island Raid Party

Kenzo Tanaka is a fighter-class S-rank hunter who is one of the few people shortlisted for the fourth and final Jeju Island raid party. Before the mission, he also participated in the joint sparring session, during which he comfortably defeated Korean S-rank hunter Ma Dongwook. Kenzo has demonstrated that he is on par, or in some cases, even better than top Korean hunters.

During the Jeju Island raid, Tanaka also fought bravely against the horde of ants and managed to dominate them until he met the Ant King.

4

Minoru Hoshino

Member of the Blade Guild

• Webtoon Debut: Chapter 90
• Weapons: N/A
• Class: Fighter
• Guild/Affiliations: Jeju Island Raid Party and Blade Guild

Minoru Hoshino is a fighter-class hunter who is affiliated with Japan’s most powerful guild. He is one of the few Japanese hunters who survived the Jeju Island raid and went on to participate in the fight that broke out following the S-rank dungeon break in the Japan Crisis arc.

Minoru is a strong S-rank hunter who even challenged other hunters on par with his rank and managed to sometimes outclass them completely. In the days leading up to the Jeju Island raid, he demonstrated his strength by defeating Korean S-rank hunter Lim Tae-Gyu during a sparring session. Since Lim is the guild master of the Fiend Guild, it’s safe to assume that Hoshino is no pushover.

3

Atsushi Kumamoto

Japan’s Most Feared Hunter

• Webtoon Debut: Chapter 90
• Weapons: N/A
• Class: Fighter
• Guild/Affiliations: Jeju Island Raid Party and Blade Guild

One of the most talented hunters from Japan, Atsushi Kumamoto, is capable of single-handedly clearing B-rank gates. Even Cha Hae-in recognizes that he is incredibly fast and can easily overwhelm most hunters.

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The S-ranker is rated highly by Goto and is unsurprisingly chosen for the Jeju Island raid. Gifted with enhanced strength and durability, he is almost unstoppable when he gets mad.

2

Reiji Sugimoto

Goto’s Potential Successor

• Webtoon Debut: Chapter 94
• Class: N/A
• Guild/Affiliations: Japanese Hunters Association and Blade Guild

After Goto Ryuji, Reiji Sugimoto is perhaps the most influential Japanese hunter. He has been associated with the Japanese Hunters Association and the country’s most powerful guild, playing a crucial role in shaping the country’s hunter policy.

Reiji is also an experienced S-rank hunter himself who has a wealth of experience raiding dangerous dungeons. Considering that he is busy handling many responsibilities outside his duty as a hunter, Sugimoto is perhaps quite confident in his skill.

1

Goto Ryuji

Japan’s Strongest Hunter

• Webtoon Debut: Chapter 85
• Weapons: Katana
• Class: Fighter
• Guild/Affiliations: Blade Guild, Jeju Island Raid Party, and Japanese Hunters Association

Guild Master of Japan’s powerful Blade Guild, Goto Ryuji, is an aspirational hunter who dreams of becoming a national-level hunter. Although he is not on par with some of the best hunters in the world, he is still regarded as Japan’s greatest hunter and arguably the second-best in Asia after China’s Liu Zhigang until Sung Jin-woo’s second awakening.

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Like most S-rankers, Goto is muscular and extremely powerful. He is also quite perceptive, as he can tell that Sung Jin-woo is special after he sees him for the first time. But his influence and fame have corrupted him to the point that he is willing to sacrifice others for his own benefit. Goto is also unremorseful of his actions and barely shows any compassion for his own fallen comrades.

Solo Leveling

Release Date

January 7, 2024

Directors

Shunsuke Nakashige

Writers

Noboru Kimura

• 

  Taito Ban

  Shun Mizushino (voice)

• 

  Genta Nakamura

  Kenta Morobishi (voice)