This is a list of fictional characters in the Ghost in the Shell media franchise created by Masamune Shirow.
Public Security Section 9 members
Section Chief Directors
Chief Daisuke Aramaki Voiced by: Tamio Oki (Japanese, films), Osamu Saka (Japanese, Stand Alone Complex), Ikkyu Juku (Japanese; ARISE); Kazuhiro Yamaji (Japanese, 2026 series); William Frederick Knight (English; films, Stand Alone Complex TV series, Bandai Visual dub; 1997 game, 2004 game, 2005 game), Russell Roberts (English; Stand Alone Complex OVAs, Ocean dub), Rik Thomas (English; Stand Alone Complex, Animax Asia dub), John Swasey (English; ARISE, Funimation dub); SungWon Cho (English, 2026 series) Portrayed by: "Beat" Takeshi Kitano (2017 film)
is the Chief Executive Director of Public Security Section 9.
In Stand Alone Complex, Lt. Col. Aramaki is a strict chief, and is informally referred to by Section 9 agents as the "old ape" (most likely because in the original manga he was drawn with a face that appeared to be half monkey, half man). Even so, he is fiercely loyal to the members of Section 9, and often puts his own career on the line to ensure the survival of the rest of his team.
In 2nd GIG, Aramaki uses his political connections and no small amount of bargaining with the new prime minister to get Section 9 reinstated. He is shown to have a disconnected brother of similar age in the Dejima with the refugees, and in Solid State Society it is implied that he is the student of a once-feared military general, as well as that he was once married.
It is revealed in Mamoru Oshii's Ghost in the Shell that Aramaki, together with Togusa, are the only fully human members of Section 9 (aside from a cyberbrain). In the Stand Alone Complex Visual Book released by Hobby Japan, Aramaki's hair was poked at for fun in one comic strip when Batou makes some comments about it. Aramaki lifts his hair to reveal metallic parts, possibly for his cyberbrain. This incident freaked Batou out. Near the end of Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG, Aramaki's missing brother, , appears to Kuze and asks him what he intends to do with the refugees. He was last seen in the last episode helping the refugees evacuate to the Dejima bridge via small boats. The Solid State Society film reveals that he was estranged from his mentor Colonel Tonoda whom he helped to put in prison (like his character does in the course of the original G.I.T.S manga) sometime before the SAC series began, and that he was actually married at one point.
Lead Investigators
Major Motoko Kusanagi
Voiced by: Atsuko Tanaka (Japanese; films, Stand Alone Complex), Maaya Sakamoto (Japanese, ARISE, 2026 series); Mimi Woods (English; first film, 1997 game), Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (English; second film, Stand Alone Complex TV series, Bandai Visual dub; 2004 game, 2005 game, First Assault Online), Alison Matthews (English; Stand Alone Complex OVAs, Ocean dub), Andrea Kwan (English; Stand Alone Complex, Animax Asia dub), Elizabeth Maxwell (English; ARISE, Funimation dub); Suzie Yeung (English, 2026 series); Portrayed by: Scarlett Johansson (2017 film) is a cyborg counter-cyberterrorist field commander in the employ of "Public Security Section 9", a fictional division of the real Japanese National Public Safety Commission, as the squad leader and lead investigator.
Batou
Voiced by: Akio Otsuka (Japanese; films, Stand Alone Complex), Kenichirou Matsuda (Japanese; ARISE); Hiroki Yasumoto (Japanese, 2026 series); Richard Epcar (English; films, Stand Alone Complex TV Series, Bandai Visual dub; 1997 game, 2004 game, 2005 game, First Assault Online), David Kaye (English; Stand Alone Complex OVAs, Ocean dub), Russell Wait (English; Stand Alone Complex, Animax Asia dub), Christopher Sabat (English; ARISE, Funimation dub); Bill Butts (English, 2026 series); Portrayed by: Pilou Asbæk (2017 film)
is the lead investigator and main male character in the Ghost in the Shell series. Recruited from the Rangers, Batou is the second best melee fighter in Section 9 and is the second-in-command under Major Motoko Kusanagi. In the movie adaptations of Shirow's manga, Batou is a direct representation of Mamoru Oshii's opinions, views, and feelings that are presented throughout the story.
Although not officially stated, he seems to jointly hold the position of 3rd in command with Ishikawa. He served in the military with Motoko and Ishikawa (under both of them), and has cybernetic eyes that are used by Rangers, improved strength from cybernetic arms, legs, and also contains other unlisted parts (these parts are not stated, but rather implied). He primarily does field work with Togusa, and takes point for the Major on serious occasions.
Batou keeps his private life away from work and his background is mostly unknown. He also gave his favorite Tachikoma an unapproved, non-synthetic oil until the Major caught him. In the first Stand Alone Complex series, the Laughing Man hacked into his eyes so that Batou could not see him. According with Tachikomatic Days of episode 21 (Season 1), he has a can of beer after his bath and he takes out his eyes before going to sleep. Batou is also a chain smoker. He also cares for a cloned basset hound named Gabriel, and Oshii himself possesses a female basset hound named Gabriel. Stand Alone Complex character designer Hajime Shimomura said that Batou's image was based on the Minotaur.Official Log 1, page 84.
Batou often uses up his paycheck buying muscle training equipment for the upper body, which others find useless, considering his extensive number of cyborg parts (mainly torso and arms). In the first season of Stand Alone Complex, it is inferred that he uses it to remind himself of who he is, despite his cyberization, much like the watch the Major wears. In an interview on the DVD releases of Stand Alone Complex, Batou's Japanese voice actor theorized that Batou's use of exercise equipment was more for the purpose of exercising his mind and self-discipline rather than enhancing his body.
Togusa
Voiced by: Kōichi Yamadera (Japanese; films, Stand Alone Complex), Tarusuke Shingaki (Japanese, ARISE); Yuichi Nakamura (Japanese, 2026 series); David Richard Thompson (English; first film; 1997 game), Crispin Freeman (English; second film, Stand Alone Complex TV series, Bandai Visual dub; 2004 game, 2005 game), Trevor Devall (English; Stand Alone Complex OVAs, Ocean dub), Darren Pleavin (English; Stand Alone Complex, Animax Asia dub), Alex Organ (English; ARISE, Funimation dub); Nick Apostolides (English, 2026 series); Portrayed by: Chin Han (2017 film)
is the lead investigator and second most prominently featured male character in the Ghost in the Shell manga and anime series. In Stand Alone Complex it is stated that he is the only "entirely human" member of Section 9 who has not undergone cybernetic replacement in some manner as he had been referred to as "natural". Togusa is openly suspicious and has reservations regarding technology; while Section 9 agents may respect Togusa's rejection of cybernetic enhancements, the rest of society views people like him as a Luddite. In the 1995 film it is claimed that this is precisely because of his lack of cybernetic enhancements that he was chosen for Kusanagi's team. In the manga, it is unclear as to what extent he has undergone cybernization, although in both anime films and television series he only has cybernetic memory upgrades and other small communication brain implants like all other members.
Togusa is also the only member of Section 9 to not have military experience, having only served as a civilian police officer in the past. To Section 9, Togusa is a reminder to them all of true humanity, because he is a normal person compared to the rest of Section 9. He has a family, and strong moral beliefs that visibly get in his way. He primarily does work with Batou, but also investigates on his own at times. Togusa often plays the role of the idealist in Ghost in the Shell, and could easily be said to be the least likely to win in an even fight against anyone else in Section 9.
Togusa is 27 years old and is in height. In Solid State Society, he is squad leader of the now expanded Section 9, after Kusanagi's departure and Batou's refusal of the position. It is also stated in Solid State Society that Togusa had finally undergone cyberization, the extent of which, however, is unknown. According to character designer Hajime Shimomura, he did the designs of Togusa based on him being the gentle lion.Official Log, page 85. In addition, Shimomura mentions that he was hard to do since his appearance in the manga looks deformed.
Ishikawa Voiced by: Yutaka Nakano (Japanese; films, Stand Alone Complex), Shunsuke Sakuya (Japanese, ARISE); Kousuke Goto (Japanese, 2026 series); Michael Sorich (English, films), Michael McCarty (English; Stand Alone Complex, Bandai Visual dub; 2004 game, 2005 game), John Payne (English; Stand Alone Complex OVAs, Ocean dub), Brandon Potter (English; ARISE, Funimation dub); John Bentley (English, 2026 series); Portrayed by: Lasarus Ratuere (2017 film)
is the lead investigator, covert intelligence, information warfare and technology specialist in Public Security Section 9.From Bandai Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Limited Edition DVD Pamphlet. Ishikawa is a master at recognizing data manipulation, along with being highly skilled at hacking in general. He has a low prosthetic percentage; his character dialogue (and his long recovery time from an injury) suggests that he is one of the least augmented members of Section 9. His appearance is characterized by a large beard and perpetually unkempt hair, and he is the oldest of Section 9's field operatives. Ishikawa is especially well known for his frequent, long-winded and often rather complicated expository speeches to the other characters, in order to inform them (and the show's audience) of new story developments.
He formerly served with Kusanagi and Batou in South America when they were with the Ground Self-Defense Forces in the Japanese UN contingent. He was one of the earliest members recruited to be in Section 9 and seems to know the Major and her dislikes quite well. He is shown as being in charge of a pachinko parlor called Parlor Ishikawa, and on occasion uses the cyberbrains of the old men who play there to complete particularly heavy data gathering (though it seems the men suffer no ill effects or are even aware of their situation, and are in fact 'paid' with wins at pachinko for use of their 'processor' time). Ishikawa is the most seemingly laid-back member of the unit.
Despite being a member of Section 9, Ishikawa appears to be relatively physically weak in comparison to the other members. He is almost never shown in combat (though in one episode he fires a shoulder-mounted cannon to disable a heavily armored vehicle) and takes a support role during most missions in which he is dispatched. When he is captured late in the first season, he is shown as being easily taken into custody by Umibozu commandos sent to arrest him. This is possibly due to the fact that he is one of the least cybernetically enhanced members (along with Togusa and Saito) and thus, would have been at a disadvantage had he physically resisted. Late into the second series, Ishikawa is wounded in a suicide bomb attack on Section 9's tilt wing aircraft. Following this he is seen hospitalized and wearing a bandage on his left arm, this lends credit to the theory that he has little external cyberization, especially when in contrast to Batou's quick recovery from wounds in the same episode. As a point of humor, a bottle of what appears to be Chivas Regal is seen in his office in the closing animation of season 1, as well as a similar bottle appearing in the first Ghost in the Shell movie, though no indications are given that he is alcoholic. It is known that he smokes cigarettes and cigars on occasion, particularly in stressful circumstances.