Solo Leveling: Japan’s Hidden Objective, Explained

Solo Leveling‘s Jeju Island Raid Arc was set in motion when the Japanese Hunters decided to help the South Korean Hunters. The raid went well until a formidable foe appeared and disrupted things. The casualties Japan faced revealed their true motive for joining the Raid.

The Raid Party was a joint operation between the Japanese and South Korean Hunters. Previously, South Korea lacked enough firepower to deal with the ants, but Japan’s aid added 10 S-Rank Hunters to their arsenal. As soon as the Ant King appeared, it started killing S-Rank Hunters in an instant. This adversity caused the Japanese Hunters to reveal their hidden plans.

Related

Solo Leveling: What Happens If the Jeju Raid Party Fails?

The highly anticipated Solo Leveling Arc is finally here, but what happens if the Hunters fail?

Why Did Japan Help South Korea?

Also at the Risk of Danger

Regardless of whether they had a hidden objective or not, helping South Korea was still in Japan’s best interest. Being geographically close to Jeju Island also put Japan at risk. Had they not made a move, the ants would have eventually reached them and caused immense damage. After various failed attempts, it was obvious that South Korea lacked the power to deal with the threat on its own.

Japan’s Hidden Objective

Japan’s real objective was to use South Korea’s help to deal with the Jeju Island Raid and take complete credit for it. This was revealed in Solo Leveling‘s Season 2, Episode 11. During the Raid, Goto Ryuji was contacted by Matsumoto Shigeo, the Chairman of the Japanese Hunters Association. Noting their own casualties and realizing that the South Korean Hunters were bound to die too, Matsumoto asked the Japanese Hunters to retreat immediately.

They decided to leave the South Korean Hunters helpless while ensuring their own survival. They also planned to hit the island again later with the second-strike team and claim the glory of defeating an S-Rank Gate for themselves. Chapter 100 of the Solo Leveling Manhwa confirmed that this was their plan, to begin with.

How Did Japan Plan to Execute Its Goal?

When planning the Raid, the Japanese Hunters suggested putting themselves in danger. They planned to use their mana to attract the majority of the ants to themselves, while the South Korean Hunters could wipe out the nest.

But it was secretly a safer plan for them as they wanted to attract the weak ants to them while leaving the lethal ants to the South Korean Hunters. During his conversation with Ryuji, Matsumoto revealed that they had planned to “only take out the evolved variants in order to minimize risk.”

Goto Ryuji’s Personal Goal

The entirety of the Japanese forces sent were Hunters from the Draw Sword Guild, suggesting that Goto too might have something to gain for going to such lengths. Chapter 100 of the Manhwa revealed that Japan’s desperate attempt to help South Korea was also to help Goto become a Nation Level Hunter. The minimum requirement for a National Level Hunter is clearing an S-Rank dungeon, which Goto has not accomplished yet.

The following section is a spoiler from the Solo Leveling Manhwa

Will Japan Succeed?

The Ant King has already slain multiple Japanese Hunters, but right before their retreat, it also encounters Goto’s group. Goto, being overconfident in his strength, claims that he is the King that the Ant King is looking for and fearlessly goes into battle. But the Ant King, being way more powerful than Goto anticipated, kills Goto with ease. This puts a halt to Goto’s ambition of becoming a National Level Hunter.

Additionally, Jin-Woo’s appearance saves the lives of the South Korean Hunters, eliminating the chance for Japan to take the credit alone. Japan’s plans fail drastically, and they lose the majority of their country’s defenses, making them extremely weak and vulnerable.

Japanese Hunters who died at Jeju Island

Related

Solo Leveling Season 2: Who Is Beru? The Ant King, Explained

Beru, the Ant King, was introduced in the latest episode of Solo Leveling Season 2. Here’s all you need to know about the new Shadow of Jinwoo.

Solo Leveling‘s world-building once again shows that despite the existence of magical beasts, one of humanity’s biggest threats continues to be itself. Having lost most of its Hunters, we will have to see how Japan will deal with the continuous danger of Gates.

Solo Leveling is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Solo Leveling

Release Date

January 7, 2024

Directors

Shunsuke Nakashige

Writers

Noboru Kimura

• 

  Taito Ban

  Shun Mizushino (voice)

• 

  Genta Nakamura

  Kenta Morobishi (voice)